Abstract
A forging company developed a quench system for the heat treatment of large-scale open-die forgings used in power generation, nuclear, and subsea oil and gas applications, accommodating weights of up to 25 tons. To optimize the uniformity and intensity of quenchant flow and heat transfer rates, a partner engineering firm utilized computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to analyze the flow and mixing generated by the agitation systems. An optimized tank geometry, flow capacity, agitation vectors, and mechanical systems were developed through an iterative CFD design approach, demonstrating significant performance improvements over the original design. Physical trials confirmed enhancements in the magnitude, uniformity, and repeatability of quenchant flow and heat transfer rates. This presentation provides an overview of the CFD design process, key CFD findings, and quenching trial data.
