An experimental study of temperature distribution in an autoclave

Abstract

In this work, the temperature distribution on an industrial mold tool is monitored during autoclave runs with three settings. In one of the settings, the temperature and pressure follow a scheme used in real moldings, while in the other two cases, the temperature is increased as fast as possible with and without an applied pressure. The temperature difference over the tool is relatively large and varies between 29℃ and 76℃ validating a detailed investigation of the temperature at different points. Two results of this are that positions on the up-stream side of the tool are heated faster than positions down-stream and the heating over the tool is symmetric while that within is asymmetric. Roughly estimated heat transfer coefficients reveal that the temperature ramping has no significant effect on the local heat transfer coefficients while the applied pressure more than doubled them. In addition flow field measurements with particle image velocimetry are performed, revealing a very slow flow near the roof of the autoclave and a velocity peak near the floor of it, indicating that the flow profile within the autoclave and variation in heat transfer coefficients should be considered in autoclave simulations.