HIP Pressing Arrangement Cooling Rate Control for Temperature Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hot isostatic pressing (HIP) methods lack the flexibility to control cooling rates effectively, leading to uneven temperature distributions and internal stresses in treated articles.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling the cooling rate in a pressing arrangement using a pressure medium circulation flow generator, pressure medium heating device, and temperature sensors to adjust the cooling power and temperature distribution, allowing for flexible adaptation to different requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If rapid cooling is applied to reduce cooling time, then productivity is improved, but temperature uniformity deteriorates causing internal stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different cooling rates to different regions of the pressure medium. The circulation flow generator creates enhanced cooling in specific zones while other regions cool more gradually, allowing the system to achieve both rapid overall cooling and maintain temperature uniformity within the load compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the cooling process by controlling the circulation flow generator to provide time-varying cooling rates. The cooling rate is modulated during the cooling phase to first achieve rapid temperature reduction when uniformity is less critical, then slows down to maintain uniformity as the article approaches final temperature.
2Manufacturing precision
If controlled cooling rate is applied to maintain temperature uniformity, then manufacturing precision is improved, but cooling time increases reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation flow generator operates in periodic cycles, alternating between high-speed operation for rapid cooling and reduced-speed operation for uniformity maintenance. This periodic modulation allows the system to achieve both fast cooling and temperature uniformity by applying different cooling intensities at different time intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the cooling parameter (circulation flow rate) dynamically during the cooling process. By adjusting the flow rate parameter, the system transitions from rapid cooling mode to controlled cooling mode, achieving both short cooling time and temperature uniformity through parameter optimization.
3Productivity
If high cooling power is applied to achieve fast cooling, then productivity is improved, but temperature distribution becomes non-uniform causing harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation flow generator acts as an intermediary between the cooling system and the pressure medium. It distributes cooling effects uniformly throughout the load compartment by circulating the pressure medium, preventing direct contact cooling that would cause localized thermal shocks and internal stresses while maintaining high overall cooling power.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates equipotential temperature distribution in the load compartment by using the circulation flow generator to equalize temperatures across different regions. This ensures that no significant temperature gradients exist that would generate internal stresses, while the overall cooling power remains high for productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Achieves a uniform temperature distribution and reduced internal stresses in treated articles by controlling the cooling rate within a large range with high precision, facilitating consistent material processing.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure medium circulation flow generator, which is configured to provide a circulation of pressure medium within the pressure vessel, wherein during the circulation of the pressure medium the pressure medium passes through the furnace chamber
Implementation Method 2
a pressure medium heating device configured to selectively and controllably heat the pressure medium within the pressure vessel for increasing the temperature of the pressure medium in the treatment region
Data Source
AI summary
Pressing arrangement (100) comprising a pressure vessel (1, 16, 17) and a furnace chamber (18) arranged therein defining a treatment region for an article (5), the treatment cycle including a cooling phase. The pressing arrangement (100) comprises a fan (35) configured to circulate a pressurised gas within the pressure vessel (1, 16, 17) and a heating device (36) for heating the pressurised gas in the treatment region. It further comprises a control and processing module (6) configured to, during the cooling phase: obtain temperature values in the treatment region; based on these values, determine a cooling power for cooling of the pressurised gas in the treatment region; determine a difference between a cooling power required to obtain a selected value of cooling rate of the pressurised gas and the determined cooling power; and based on this difference, control the fan's (35) rotational speed so as to make the difference decrease. If the cooling power provided by the operation of the fan (35) exceeds a cooling power corresponding to the desired cooling rate of the pressurised gas, the control module (6) is configured to, based on the determined difference, heat the pressurised gas using the heating device (36) to make the difference decrease.