Study of Heat Transfer Characteristics and Kerf Quality of Flame Jet Cutting

Abstract

The aim of this research is to study heat transfer rate of impinging flame jet and cutting quality of steel plate using flame jet. The cutting torch was used for heating on the impingement surface, and it was used for cutting the steel plate samples. LPG at constant flow rate of 0.14 kg/s was mixed with pure oxygen at varied flow rate corresponding to equivalence ratio, =0.78, 0.93 and 1.16. The nozzle-to-plate distance was examined at h=3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 mm. Heat transfer rate on the impingement surface was measured using water cooled heat flux sensor. In order to investigate cutting quality, steel plate with 6 mm in thickness was cut by this flame jet with cutting speed at 260 mm/min. The surface roughness, slag quantity and kerf characteristics were considered for cutting quality. The results show that the flame jet for condition of =0.78 at h=4 mm gives the highest heat transfer rate. The flame jet for condition of =0.93 at h=6 mm is optimal for using cutting steel plate in this study.