Thermal activation mechanisms and methods for use in oilfield applications

An apparatus associated with the production of hydrocarbons comprising:

• a body having a passage to allow hydrocarbons to flow through the apparatus;
• one or more actuators associated with the body, each of the actuators comprising:
• at least one heating element, wherein each of the at least one heating elements is disposed within a chamber of the body along with an actuator material,
• a member at least partially coupled to the chamber and adapted to move in a direction substantially parallel to the passage, wherein the member is configured to:
• extend to a first configuration when the at least one heating element converts at least a portion of the actuator material from a first phase to a second phase;
• contract to a second configuration when the actuator material converts from the second phase to the first phase;
• a hydraulic chamber in communication with the member, wherein the first configuration increases the hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic chamber and the second configuration reduces the hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic chamber;
• and
• a sleeve in communication with the hydraulic chamber, wherein the sleeve provides a first configuration that provides a sleeve passage, a second configuration that blocks fluid flow through the sleeve passage, and other configurations that limit the amount of fluid flow through the sleeve passage.