Numerical simulation CFD in the quenching process / Simulação numerica CFD no processo de tempera

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

In the quenching heat treatment is a great difficulty to understand the different cooling profiles occurring at the surface and subsurface of the material, that define the structure formed and the final properties desired. The formation of different types of structures in the material can occurs due to uneven cooling caused by fluid dynamic conditions of the tank, which determine the cooling rates and the heat transfer coefficient. Moreover, there is very little literature concerning the criteria for the construction of quenching tanks. Therefore in this work was analyzed by means of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), two configurations of submerged agitation system and the impact of fluid dynamic conditions and the physical properties of the fluid on the cooling uniformity and the heat transfer coefficient at the interface of the steel block. The simulations performed allow the verification of alternatives of how the process can be improved from this type of analysis. The physical process studied consist in the cooling of a steel block with dimensions 2.3m x 1.2m x 0.86m immersed in water tank with dimensions 8.7m x 2.8m x 4.0m with submerged agitation system. There were two simulations, the first involving the agitation system located under the block. In the second, however, was added agitation system located next the sides of the material in an attempt to homogenize the fluid flow around the block, consequently on the uniformity of cooling. The results indicate that the system was susceptible to variations in the fluid properties and fluid flow on the material which led to large variations in the cooling curve for the first case. The implementation of the sideway agitation system led to a significant improvement in uniformity of quenching, in addition, the model was able to predict the cooling curves, the heat transfer coefficient at the interface of the material, and fluid flow in the tank. The analysis provides information about how software can improve the control of the cooling process by studies of quench uniformity, which can help engineers in the design and development of new tank taking into account the type of agitation system, tank geometry and material, and the fluid used in the process. This approach can produce significant improvements in the quality of the material while simultaneously provide conditions to reduce distortions in the material during heat treating.

ASSUNTO(S)

computational fluid dynamics fluidodinamica computacional numerical analysis thermal process processo termico análise numérica

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