Optimization of Cooling Simulation in Press Hardening

Abstract

This paper compares methods used for integration of cooling system in the press hardening simulation. For this purpose an experimental tool was developed and constructed. This tool makes it possible to compare and validate different simulation methods applicable for cooling systems and resolves the question of their importance. The simplified shape of the tool has been chosen to break down the problem to less numerous parameters limited to thermodynamics and fluid dynamics. Such a simplified problem can better address the parameters like heat transfer coefficient in channels depending on channel geometry and flow speed of cooling water, and can easily relate them to the reality. A temperature distribution on the tool surface for different geometries of channels is presented under chosen flow speeds of cooling medium and heating power of integrated heating elements and compared to the results from both FEM and CFD simulation methods. Resultant heat transfer coefficients for different flow speeds of water and cooling channels geometries will be calculated through the inverse calculation, compared to the analytical calculation. The conclusion should reveal whether it is better, for a given geometry, to use a constant analytically calculated heat transfer coefficient, constant coefficient from the inverse calculation, or variable heat transfer coefficient from CFD simulation.