Thermal management systems incorporating shape memory alloy actuators and related methods

A thermal management system configured to regulate a temperature of a process fluid via thermal exchange between the process fluid and a thermal management fluid, the thermal management system comprising:

• a heat transfer region within which the thermal exchange between the process fluid and the thermal management fluid occurs;
• a process fluid conduit configured to convey a process fluid stream of the process fluid in heat exchange relation with the heat transfer region;
• a thermal management fluid conduit configured to convey a thermal management fluid stream of the thermal management fluid in heat exchange relation with the heat transfer region;
• and
• a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator assembly configured to selectively regulate a flow rate of the thermal management fluid stream, the SMA actuator assembly including:
• (i) an SMA element in thermal contact with the process fluid stream and configured to assume a conformation among a plurality of conformations, wherein the conformation of the SMA element is based, at least in part, on a temperature of the process fluid stream;
• and
• an actuation element coupled to the SMA element, wherein the actuation element is configured to assume a position among a plurality of positions defined between a restrictive position, in which the actuation element restricts flow of the thermal management fluid stream within the thermal management fluid conduit, and an open position, in which the actuation element permits flow of the thermal management fluid stream within the thermal management fluid conduit, and further wherein the position of the actuation element is based, at least in part, on the conformation of the SMA element.