Cooling curve analysis of a PAG polymer quenchant using two spray quench rings designs

The analysis of quenching curves by immersion has been widely characterized throughout its appearance, for instance, methods such as ISO 9950 and ASTM D 6482 refer to the use of an Inconel 600 specimen which is quenched to obtain the cooling curve of a given fluid; however, spray quenching is being mostly used in induction hardening processes. In this work, the quenching characteristics of a PAG polymer at 6 and 12 % concentration were determined and compared with water as a baseline, the fluid was heated at 30 °C, while the solution flow rate was set at 90 L/min, two different quenching rings were designed and finally the quenching ring designs were simulated in CFD to obtain flow patterns inside the quenching devices. From the results obtained, the cooling rate curves showed no vapor phase, and the maximum cooling rate was found to be higher in one of the quench ring designs. The design of the quench ring device has a significant influence on the quenching characteristics of the quenchant, mainly at medium and lower temperatures of the cooling curve rate.