Thermal flow simulation and visualisation of PAG quenchants in cooling evaluation equipment with twin stir

Abstract

In this research, the formation and movement of bubbles in boiling film during quenching process was investigated with high speed video camera and particle image velocimetry (PIV) technology as the visualisation method. Cooling curves of surface temperature during quenching of a silver cylinder were measured and the heat transfer coefficients between quenchant and quenching parts were identified. The cooling ability of the coolant used for the quenching technology was evaluated relative to the quality the machine part. As for this paper, the cooling capacity of the PAG quenchants (polyalkylene glycol solutions) was evaluated. In addition, the heat transfer behaviour in the quenching process is clarified with regard to the generation and the destruction of the thermal flow and collapse of the steam film by using the PIV method of visualisation. The effect of mechanical stirring of the quenchant on the steam film and heat transfer is also studied.