Flow-Optimization to Enhance Gas Quenching Efficiency for Helical Gears Specimen

Abstract

Numerical simulations based on a conjugate heat transfer solver have been carried out to analyze various gas quenching configurations involving a helical gear streamed by an air flow at atmospheric pressure in a gas quenching chamber. In order to optimize the heat transfer coefficient distribution at key positions on the specimen, configurations involving layers of gears and flow ducts comprising single to multiple gears have been simulated and compared to standard batch configurations in gas quenching. Measurements have been performed covering the local heat transfer for single gears and batch of gears. The homogeneity of the heat transfer coefficient is improved when setting up a minimal distance between the gears (batch density) and when introducing flow ducts increasing the blocking grade around the gears. An offset between layers of the batch as well as flow channels around the gears plays a significant role in increasing the intensity and the homogeneity of the heat transfer in gas quenching process.