EP1476585B1 - Gas quenching installation and the corresponding quenching method - Google Patents

Gas quenching installation and the corresponding quenching method Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1476585B1
EP1476585B1 EP03720608A EP03720608A EP1476585B1 EP 1476585 B1 EP1476585 B1 EP 1476585B1 EP 03720608 A EP03720608 A EP 03720608A EP 03720608 A EP03720608 A EP 03720608A EP 1476585 B1 EP1476585 B1 EP 1476585B1
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European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
buffer
cell
quenching
pressure
gas
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1476585A1 (en
Inventor
Bruno Roques
Linda Lefevre
Jean-Martial Leger
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LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
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Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
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Application filed by Air Liquide SA, LAir Liquide SA a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude filed Critical Air Liquide SA
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
    • C21D1/62—Quenching devices
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D1/00—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering
    • C21D1/56—General methods or devices for heat treatment, e.g. annealing, hardening, quenching or tempering characterised by the quenching agents
    • C21D1/613—Gases; Liquefied or solidified normally gaseous material
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C21—METALLURGY OF IRON
    • C21D—MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING
    • C21D2241/00—Treatments in a special environment
    • C21D2241/01—Treatments in a special environment under pressure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a gas quenching plant, type comprising a quenching cell for receiving objects to be quenched and adapted to withstand a given quenching pressure of quenching gas, and pressurized quench gas supply means connected to this cell.
  • Gas quenching plants are known. Such an installation comprises a quenching cell in which are placed the objects to be quenched and pressurized quench gas supply means connected to this cell.
  • quenching plants generally include a capacity intermediate gas storage buffer located between the gas source and the quenching cell.
  • the gas supply means comprise a compressor permanently connected to the source of quenching gas.
  • the object of the invention is to overcome these disadvantages by means of a tempering installation that is economical.
  • high pressure reservoir should be understood to mean a reservoir whose storage pressure (P storage ) is greater than the buffer pressure (P buffer ), and is between 15 and 40 bars.
  • the single figure shows a gas quenching installation according to the invention, designated by the general reference 2.
  • the installation is intended for tempering an object 3 by treatment thermal.
  • the object is for example a steel piece.
  • the tempering plant 2 includes a high storage tank pressure 4 of a quench gas 6 in the liquid state, an evaporator 8 of this gas, a buffer tank 10 and a quenching cell 12.
  • the storage tank 4 is a so-called "high pressure" storage tank.
  • the quenching gas 6 is stored therein at a storage storage pressure P of between 15 and 40 bar.
  • the quenching gas 6 is, for example, nitrogen.
  • the storage tank 4 is provided with an outlet 14, which is connected to a inlet 16 of the evaporator 8 by a first connecting line 18.
  • the evaporator 8 is preferably a so-called "high pressure" evaporator, which is suitable for generate a gas under high pressure, from the storage tank 4. This pressure is located slightly below the storage pressure.
  • the evaporator 8 has an outlet 20 which is connected to an inlet 22 of the buffer tank 10 by a second connecting pipe 24 provided with a first stop valve 26.
  • the first stop valve 26 is disposed at the inlet of the reservoir buffer 10.
  • connection means are devoid of any means of compressing the gas between the evaporator and the buffer tank.
  • the buffer tank 10 is adapted to withstand a pressure of the gas during the operation of the installation, called buffer pressure P buffer . It is substantially identical to the gas pressure at the outlet of the evaporator 8.
  • An outlet 28 of the buffer tank 10 is connected to an inlet 30 of the quenching cell 12 via a third connecting line 32 equipped with a second stop valve 34.
  • the quenching cell 12 is adapted to withstand a gas pressure during quenching, called quenching pressure P quenching .
  • the buffer tank 10 itself has a volume V buffer .
  • the volume of the third pipe 32 consists of a first portion V ct associated with the buffer tank 10, extending between the buffer tank 10 and the second stop valve 34, as well as a second portion V cc , associated the quenching cell 12 and extending between the second valve 34 and the cell 12.
  • the quenching cell has a volume V cell .
  • the two volumes V buffer and V ct taken together define an effective buffer buffer V eff- volume, while the two volumes V cell and V cc taken together define an effective cell volume V eff-cell .
  • the effective buffer volume V eff-buffer is greater than the effective cell volume V eff-cell .
  • the effective buffer volume V eff-buffer is greater than 1.2 times the effective cell volume V eff-cell , and is in particular between 1.4 times and 5 times this volume.
  • the effective buffer volume V buffer-eff advantageously satisfies the condition V buffer eff ⁇ V cell-eff P temper P P buffer temper .
  • the installation also comprises means for evacuating the quenching cell 12. These means of evacuation are constituted by a vacuum pump 36 connected to the quenching cell 12 by a fourth pipe 38.
  • the installation according to the invention operates as follows.
  • the buffer tank 10 comprises quenching gas at a residual pressure
  • the quenching cell 12 comprises a residual atmosphere generally at a pressure below atmospheric pressure. In the cell quenching there is no object to soak.
  • the second stop valve 34 is closed and the first stop valve 26 is open.
  • the evaporator 8 is thus turned on and produces quenching gas, which has substantially the buffer pressure P buffer , and a temperature T buffer .
  • This buffer pressure P is here between 25 and 35 bar.
  • the evaporator 8 is stopped by closing the first valve 26.
  • the filling of the buffer tank 10 typically lasts between 5 and 20 minutes.
  • the pressure prevailing in the quenching cell 12 is often the ambient pressure i.e. about 1000 hPa (but it could also be under empty initially), and the temperature is the ambient temperature.
  • the quench gas 6 contained in the buffer tank 10 flows rapidly through the third conduit 32 into the quench cell 12 until the desired quenching pressure is reached.
  • This pressure P quench hardening is between 10 and 25 bar, preferably between 10 and 20 bar.
  • the cell quench 12 is depressurized, and the quenched object 3 is removed from the cell. Finally, second stop valve 34 is closed and the first stop valve 26 is open.
  • the treatment cycle can start again.
  • the installation according to the invention has the following advantages.
  • the gas pressure in the tank P buffer buffer is relatively small, for a given quench P quench pressure.
  • the wall thickness of the buffer tank 10 may be relatively small.
  • this installation is devoid of a compressor disposed between the evaporator 8 and the buffer tank 10, which eliminates the consumption of electrical energy during the generation of pressurized gas P buffer .
  • the installation is also highly available due to the low maintenance time required.
  • the buffer tank 10 may be disposed adjacent to the quenching cell 12, so that the third conduit 32 may be omitted.
  • the volumes V ct and V cc are equal to 0, and the actual volumes V eff-buffer and V eff-cell are identical to the respective volumes of the buffer tank 10 and the quenching cell 12.
  • the invention has been particularly illustrated in the foregoing by a structure where the buffer tank is fed only from the high pressure liquid storage / evaporator assembly, it is conceivable that it is also possible and extremely advantageous to provide according to the invention.
  • the invention the possibility of supplying the buffer tank also with a quenching auxiliary gas, via an auxiliary source of quenching gas connected to the buffer tank by auxiliary connecting means, such quenching gas auxiliary gas advantageously comprising at least one of the gases of the group formed by hydrogen and helium, for example so as to have nitrogen-helium quench mixtures, nitrogen-hydrogen, CO 2 -helium etc ...
  • high storage tank the quenching gas pressure in the liquid state to signify that a high-pressure reserve in liquid form of the quenching gas.
  • This reserve will advantageously simply be in the form of a storage high pressure but it is conceivable that one can also (for example for practical reasons related to the local site), and without departing in any way from the framework of the present invention, consider this "high pressure storage tank” under the form of the combination of a storage tank in liquid form at low pressure, which feeds a quench gas pressurization system in the state liquid.

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas quenching installation comprising a quenching cell ( 12 ), a buffer tank ( 10 ) which is intended to contain the quenching gas ( 6 ), gas connection means ( 32 ) which link the buffer tank ( 10 ) with the quenching cell ( 12 ) and gas supply means. Said gas supply means consist of an evaporator ( 8 ), the outlet ( 20 ) of which is connected to an inlet ( 22 ) in the buffer tank ( 10 ), and a high pressure storage tank ( 4 ) for the liquid-state quenching gas ( 6 ) which is connected to an inlet ( 16 ) in the evaporator ( 8 ), the connection means between the evaporator and the buffer tank having no gas compression means. The invention applies to installations used for the nitrogen quenching of steel parts.

Description

La présente invention concerne une installation de trempe par gaz, du type comprenant une cellule de trempe destinée à recevoir des objets à tremper et adaptée pour résister à une pression de trempe déterminée du gaz de trempe, et des moyens de fourniture de gaz de trempe sous pression, raccordés à cette cellule.The present invention relates to a gas quenching plant, type comprising a quenching cell for receiving objects to be quenched and adapted to withstand a given quenching pressure of quenching gas, and pressurized quench gas supply means connected to this cell.

Elle s'applique notamment aux installations de trempe par gaz de pièces en acier.It is particularly applicable to gas quenching plants in steel.

On connaít des installations de trempe par gaz. Une telle installation comprend une cellule de trempe dans laquelle sont disposés les objets à tremper et des moyens de fourniture de gaz de trempe sous pression, raccordés à cette cellule. De telles installations de trempe comprennent généralement une capacité tampon de stockage intermédiaire du gaz située entre la source de gaz et la cellule de trempe.Gas quenching plants are known. Such an installation comprises a quenching cell in which are placed the objects to be quenched and pressurized quench gas supply means connected to this cell. Such quenching plants generally include a capacity intermediate gas storage buffer located between the gas source and the quenching cell.

Dans le cas d'une installation de trempe à haute pression (par exemple 20 bars et plus), les moyens de fourniture de gaz comprennent un compresseur relié en permanence à la source de gaz de trempe.In the case of a high pressure quenching installation (for example 20 bar and more), the gas supply means comprise a compressor permanently connected to the source of quenching gas.

L'utilisation d'un compresseur dans une telle installation présente notamment les inconvénients suivants : le coût de l'investissement du compresseur, l'indisponibilité de l'installation de trempe pour le temps d'entretien du compresseur, la consommation électrique du compresseur et les nuisances sonores dues au compresseur.The use of a compressor in such a facility presents the following disadvantages: the cost of the compressor investment, the unavailability of the quenching system for the maintenance time of the compressor, the compressor's power consumption and the noise pollution caused by compressor.

L'invention a pour but de pallier ces inconvénients au moyen d'une installation de trempe qui soit économique.The object of the invention is to overcome these disadvantages by means of a tempering installation that is economical.

A cet effet, l'invention a pour objet une installation conforme à la revendication 1, et notamment caractérisée en ce que les moyens de fourniture de gaz comprennent:

  • un évaporateur dont la sortie est reliée à une entrée du réservoir tampon, par des deuxièmes moyens de liaison, et
  • un réservoir haute pression de stockage du gaz de trempe à l'état liquide, sous une pression de stockage (Pstockage) comprise entre 15 et 40 bars, relié à une entrée de l'évaporateur par des troisièmes moyens de liaison;
  • lesdits deuxièmes moyens de liaison étant dépourvus de tout moyen de compression du gaz entre l'évaporateur et le réservoir tampon.
For this purpose, the invention relates to an installation according to claim 1, and in particular characterized in that the gas supply means comprise:
  • an evaporator whose output is connected to an inlet of the buffer tank, by second connecting means, and
  • a high pressure storage tank for quenching gas in the liquid state, under a storage pressure (P storage ) of between 15 and 40 bar, connected to an inlet of the evaporator by third connecting means;
  • said second connecting means being devoid of any means for compressing the gas between the evaporator and the buffer tank.

On doit entendre par « réservoir haute pression » selon la présente invention un réservoir dont la pression de stockage (Pstockage) est supérieure à la pression tampon (Ptampon), et est comprise entre 15 et 40 bars.The term "high pressure reservoir" according to the present invention should be understood to mean a reservoir whose storage pressure (P storage ) is greater than the buffer pressure (P buffer ), and is between 15 and 40 bars.

Suivant des modes particuliers de réalisation de l'installation, celle-ci peut comporter l'une ou plusieurs des caractéristiques suivantes :

  • les premiers moyens d'obturation divisent lesdits premiers moyens de liaison en une partie tampon associée au réservoir tampon et en une partie cellule associée à la cellule de trempe et en ce que le volume (Vtampon) du réservoir tampon et le volume (Vct) de la partie tampon des moyens de liaison forment un volume tampon effectif (Vtampon-eff), tandis que le volume (Vcellule) de la cellule de trempe et le volume (Vcc) de la partie cellule des moyens de liaison forment un volume de cellule effectif (Vcellule-eff), le volume tampon effectif (Vtampon-eff) étant supérieur au volume de cellule effectif (Vcellule-eff).
  • le volume tampon effectif (Vtampon-eff) est supérieur à 1,2 fois le volume de cellule effectif (Vcellule-eff), et notamment compris entre 1,4 fois et 5 fois ce volume.
  • la pression tampon (Ptampon) est supérieure à la pression de trempe (Ptrempe), et le volume tampon et le volume de cellule effectifs sont liés par la relation V tampon-eff ≥ V cellule-eff P trempe P tampon-P trempe .
  • le volume tampon effectif et le volume de cellule effectif sont liés par la relation V tampon-eff = V cellule-eff P trempe P tampon-P trempe .
  • la pression tampon (Ptampon) est supérieure ou égale à 1,2 fois la pression de trempe (Ptrempe), et est de préférence comprise entre 1,2 et 1,8 fois cette pression.
  • la pression tampon (Ptampon) est comprise entre 15 et 35 bars.
  • la pression de trempe (Ptrempe) est comprise entre 10 et 20 bars.
  • l'installation comprend en outre une source auxiliaire de gaz de trempe reliée au réservoir tampon par des moyens auxiliaires de liaison, aptes à alimenter le réservoir tampon en gaz auxiliaire de trempe.
  • la source auxiliaire de gaz de trempe comprend au moins l'un des gaz du groupe formé par l'hydrogène et l'hélium.
  • ledit gaz de trempe est de l'azote.
  • ledit gaz de trempe est du CO2 ou comporte du CO2.
According to particular embodiments of the installation, it may comprise one or more of the following features:
  • the first sealing means divide said first connecting means into a buffer part associated with the buffer tank and into a cell part associated with the quenching cell and that the volume (V buffer ) of the buffer tank and the volume (V ct) ) of the buffer part of the connecting means form an effective buffer volume (V buffer-eff ), while the volume (V cell ) of the quenching cell and the volume (V cc ) of the cell part of the connecting means form an effective cell volume (V eff-cell ), the effective buffer volume (V eff-buffer ) being greater than the effective cell volume (V eff-cell ).
  • the effective buffer volume (V eff-buffer ) is greater than 1.2 times the effective cell volume (V eff-cell ), and in particular between 1.4 times and 5 times this volume.
  • the buffer pressure (P buffer ) is greater than the quenching pressure (P quench ), and the buffer volume and the effective cell volume are linked by the relation V buffer eff ≥ V cell-eff P temper P P buffer temper .
  • the effective buffer volume and the effective cell volume are linked by the relation V buffer eff = V cell-eff P temper P P buffer temper .
  • the buffer pressure (P buffer ) is greater than or equal to 1.2 times the quenching pressure (P quenching ), and is preferably between 1.2 and 1.8 times this pressure.
  • the buffer pressure (P buffer ) is between 15 and 35 bar.
  • the quenching pressure (P quenching ) is between 10 and 20 bar.
  • the installation further comprises an auxiliary source of quenching gas connected to the buffer tank by auxiliary means of connection, able to supply the quenching auxiliary gas buffer tank.
  • the auxiliary source of quenching gas comprises at least one of the gases of the group formed by hydrogen and helium.
  • said quenching gas is nitrogen.
  • said quenching gas is CO 2 or comprises CO 2 .

L'invention a en outre pour objet un procédé d'exploitation d'une installation telle que définie ci-dessus, caractérisé par les étapes successives suivantes :

  • le réservoir tampon est empli de gaz de trempe à la pression tampon ;
  • l'objet à tremper est disposé dans la cellule de trempe;
  • les premiers moyens d'obturation commandables sont ouverts, établissant une liaison entre le réservoir tampon et la cellule de trempe, jusqu'à l'établissement de la pression de trempe dans la cellule de trempe,
  • l'objet à tremper est refroidi à une température déterminée ; et
  • l'objet trempé est retiré de la cellule de trempe.
The invention further relates to a method of operating an installation as defined above, characterized by the following successive steps:
  • the buffer tank is filled with quenching gas at the buffer pressure;
  • the object to be quenched is disposed in the quenching cell;
  • the first controllable shutter means are open, establishing a connection between the buffer tank and the quenching cell, until the quenching pressure is set in the quenching cell,
  • the object to be quenched is cooled to a predetermined temperature; and
  • the quenched object is removed from the quenching cell.

L'invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture de la description qui va suivre, donnée uniquement à titre d'exemple et faite en se référant au dessin annexé dont la Figure unique représente schématiquement une installation suivant l'invention.The invention will be better understood on reading the description which will follow, given only as an example and made with reference to the drawing annexed, the single figure of which shows schematically a following installation the invention.

La Figure unique montre une installation de trempe par gaz selon l'invention, désignée par la référence générale 2.The single figure shows a gas quenching installation according to the invention, designated by the general reference 2.

L'installation est destinée à la trempe d'un objet 3 par traitement thermique. L'objet est par exemple une pièce en acier.The installation is intended for tempering an object 3 by treatment thermal. The object is for example a steel piece.

L'installation de trempe 2 comprend un réservoir de stockage haute pression 4 d'un gaz de trempe 6 à l'état liquide, un évaporateur 8 de ce gaz, un réservoir tampon 10 ainsi qu'une cellule de trempe 12.The tempering plant 2 includes a high storage tank pressure 4 of a quench gas 6 in the liquid state, an evaporator 8 of this gas, a buffer tank 10 and a quenching cell 12.

Le réservoir de stockage 4 est un réservoir de stockage dit « haute pression ». Le gaz de trempe 6 y est stocké sous une pression de stockage Pstockage comprise entre 15 et 40 bars. Le gaz de trempe 6 est par exemple de l'azote. The storage tank 4 is a so-called "high pressure" storage tank. The quenching gas 6 is stored therein at a storage storage pressure P of between 15 and 40 bar. The quenching gas 6 is, for example, nitrogen.

Le réservoir de stockage 4 est muni d'une sortie 14, qui est reliée à une entrée 16 de l'évaporateur 8 par une première conduite de liaison 18. L'évaporateur 8 est préférentiellement un évaporateur dit « haute pression », qui est adapté pour générer un gaz sous une haute pression, à partir du réservoir de stockage 4. Cette pression est située légèrement au-dessous de la pression de stockage.The storage tank 4 is provided with an outlet 14, which is connected to a inlet 16 of the evaporator 8 by a first connecting line 18. The evaporator 8 is preferably a so-called "high pressure" evaporator, which is suitable for generate a gas under high pressure, from the storage tank 4. This pressure is located slightly below the storage pressure.

L'évaporateur 8 comporte une sortie 20 qui est reliée à une entrée 22 du réservoir tampon 10 par une deuxième conduite de liaison 24 munie d'une première vanne d'arrêt 26. La première vanne d'arrêt 26 est disposée à l'entrée du réservoir tampon 10.The evaporator 8 has an outlet 20 which is connected to an inlet 22 of the buffer tank 10 by a second connecting pipe 24 provided with a first stop valve 26. The first stop valve 26 is disposed at the inlet of the reservoir buffer 10.

Conformément à l'invention, ces moyens de liaison sont dépourvus de tout moyen de compression du gaz entre l'évaporateur et le réservoir tampon.According to the invention, these connection means are devoid of any means of compressing the gas between the evaporator and the buffer tank.

Le réservoir tampon 10 est adapté pour résister à une pression du gaz pendant l'exploitation de l'installation, appelée pression tampon Ptampon. Elle est sensiblement identique à la pression du gaz à la sortie de l'évaporateur 8.The buffer tank 10 is adapted to withstand a pressure of the gas during the operation of the installation, called buffer pressure P buffer . It is substantially identical to the gas pressure at the outlet of the evaporator 8.

Une sortie 28 du réservoir tampon 10 est reliée à une entrée 30 de la cellule de trempe 12 par l'intermédiaire d'une troisième conduite de liaison 32 munie d'une seconde vanne d'arrêt 34.An outlet 28 of the buffer tank 10 is connected to an inlet 30 of the quenching cell 12 via a third connecting line 32 equipped with a second stop valve 34.

La cellule de trempe 12 est adaptée pour résister à une pression du gaz lors de la trempe, appelée pression de trempe Ptrempe.The quenching cell 12 is adapted to withstand a gas pressure during quenching, called quenching pressure P quenching .

Le réservoir tampon 10 proprement dit a un volume Vtampon. Le volume de la troisième conduite 32 est constituée d'une première partie Vct associée au réservoir tampon 10, s'étendant entre le réservoir tampon 10 et la seconde vanne d'arrêt 34, ainsi que d'une seconde partie Vcc, associée à la cellule de trempe 12 et s'étendant entre la seconde vanne 34 et cette cellule 12. La cellule de trempe a un volume Vcellule.The buffer tank 10 itself has a volume V buffer . The volume of the third pipe 32 consists of a first portion V ct associated with the buffer tank 10, extending between the buffer tank 10 and the second stop valve 34, as well as a second portion V cc , associated the quenching cell 12 and extending between the second valve 34 and the cell 12. The quenching cell has a volume V cell .

Les deux volumes Vtampon et Vct pris ensemble définissent un volume tampon effectif Vtampon-eff, tandis que les deux volumes Vcellule et Vcc prises ensemble définissent un volume de cellule effectif Vcellule-eff.The two volumes V buffer and V ct taken together define an effective buffer buffer V eff- volume, while the two volumes V cell and V cc taken together define an effective cell volume V eff-cell .

Selon un mode avantageux de mise en oeuvre de l'invention, le volume tampon effectif Vtampon-eff est supérieur au volume de cellule effectif Vcellule-eff. De préférence, le volume tampon effectif Vtampon-eff est supérieur à 1,2 fois le volume de cellule effectif Vcellule-eff, et est notamment compris entre 1,4 fois et 5 fois ce volume.According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the effective buffer volume V eff-buffer is greater than the effective cell volume V eff-cell . Preferably, the effective buffer volume V eff-buffer is greater than 1.2 times the effective cell volume V eff-cell , and is in particular between 1.4 times and 5 times this volume.

Le volume tampon effectif Vtampon-eff satisfait avantageusement la condition V tampon-eff ≥ V cellule-eff P trempe P tampon-P trempe . Dans un mode de réalisation particulier, le volume tampon effectif et le volume de cellule effectif sont liés par la relation V tampon-eff = V cellule-eff P trempe P tampon-P trempe ,    ce qui permet de minimiser l'encombrement du réservoir 10.The effective buffer volume V buffer-eff advantageously satisfies the condition V buffer eff ≥ V cell-eff P temper P P buffer temper . In a particular embodiment, the effective buffer volume and the effective cell volume are linked by the relationship V buffer eff = V cell-eff P temper P P buffer temper , which makes it possible to minimize the bulk of the tank 10.

L'installation comporte par ailleurs des moyens de mise sous vide de la cellule de trempe 12. Ces moyens de mise sous vide sont constitués par une pompe à vide 36 reliée à la cellule de trempe 12 par une quatrième conduite 38.The installation also comprises means for evacuating the quenching cell 12. These means of evacuation are constituted by a vacuum pump 36 connected to the quenching cell 12 by a fourth pipe 38.

L'installation selon l'invention fonctionne de la façon suivante.The installation according to the invention operates as follows.

Initialement, le réservoir tampon 10 comprend du gaz de trempe à une pression résiduelle, et la cellule de trempe 12 comprend une atmosphère résiduelle généralement à un pression inférieure à la pression atmosphérique. Dans la cellule de trempe il n'y a pas d'objet à tremper.Initially, the buffer tank 10 comprises quenching gas at a residual pressure, and the quenching cell 12 comprises a residual atmosphere generally at a pressure below atmospheric pressure. In the cell quenching there is no object to soak.

La seconde vanne d'arrêt 34 est fermée et la première vanne 26 d'arrêt est ouverte. L'évaporateur 8 est ainsi mis en route et produit du gaz de trempe, qui a sensiblement la pression tampon Ptampon, et une température Ttampon. Cette pression Ptampon est comprise ici entre 25 et 35 bars.The second stop valve 34 is closed and the first stop valve 26 is open. The evaporator 8 is thus turned on and produces quenching gas, which has substantially the buffer pressure P buffer , and a temperature T buffer . This buffer pressure P is here between 25 and 35 bar.

Lorsque la pression dans le réservoir tampon 10 atteint la pression Ptampon, l'évaporateur 8 est arrêté par fermeture de la première vanne 26. L'emplissage du réservoir tampon 10 dure typiquement entre 5 et 20 minutes.When the pressure in the buffer tank 10 reaches the pressure P buffer , the evaporator 8 is stopped by closing the first valve 26. The filling of the buffer tank 10 typically lasts between 5 and 20 minutes.

Pendant ce temps, l'objet à tremper 3 subit un traitement thermique (non représenté).During this time, the object to be quenched 3 undergoes a heat treatment (no represent).

Puis l'objet 3 à tremper chaud est disposé dans la cellule de trempe 12 et celle-ci est fermée. La pression régnant dans la cellule de trempe 12 est souvent la pression ambiante i.e. environ 1000 hPa (mais elle pourrait également être sous vide initialement), et la température est la température ambiante. Then the object 3 to be hot quenched is placed in the quenching cell 12 and this one is closed. The pressure prevailing in the quenching cell 12 is often the ambient pressure i.e. about 1000 hPa (but it could also be under empty initially), and the temperature is the ambient temperature.

Ensuite, la seconde vanne d'arrêt 34 est ouverte. Le gaz de trempe 6 contenu dans le réservoir tampon 10 s'écoule rapidement par l'intermédiaire de la troisième conduite 32 dans la cellule de trempe 12, jusqu'à ce que la pression de trempe désirée soit atteinte. Cette pression de trempe Ptrempe est comprise entre 10 et 25 bars, de préférence entre 10 et 20 bars. Par ailleurs, il est avantageux que la pression tampon Ptampon soit choisie entre 1,2 et 1,8 fois la pression de trempe afin de pouvoir utiliser un réservoir tampon qui ne soit pas très encombrant.Then, the second stop valve 34 is open. The quench gas 6 contained in the buffer tank 10 flows rapidly through the third conduit 32 into the quench cell 12 until the desired quenching pressure is reached. This pressure P quench hardening is between 10 and 25 bar, preferably between 10 and 20 bar. Moreover, it is advantageous for the buffer buffer pressure P to be chosen between 1.2 and 1.8 times the quenching pressure in order to be able to use a buffer tank which is not very bulky.

Lorsque l'objet à tremper 3 a atteint la température souhaitée, la cellule de trempe 12 est dépressurisée, et l'objet trempé 3 est retiré de la cellule. Enfin, la seconde vanne d'arrêt 34 est fermée et la première vanne d'arrêt 26 est ouverte.When the object to be quenched 3 has reached the desired temperature, the cell quench 12 is depressurized, and the quenched object 3 is removed from the cell. Finally, second stop valve 34 is closed and the first stop valve 26 is open.

Le cycle de traitement peut recommencer.The treatment cycle can start again.

L'installation suivant l'invention présente les avantages suivants.The installation according to the invention has the following advantages.

Etant donné que le volume tampon effectif Vtampon-eff est supérieur au volume de cellule effectif Vcellule-eff, la pression du gaz dans le réservoir tampon Ptampon est relativement faible, pour une pression de trempe Ptrempe donnée. En conséquence, l'épaisseur de paroi du réservoir tampon 10 peut être relativement faible.Given that the effective buffer volume V buffer-eff is greater than the effective cell volume V cell, eff, the gas pressure in the tank P buffer buffer is relatively small, for a given quench P quench pressure. As a result, the wall thickness of the buffer tank 10 may be relatively small.

En outre, cette installation est dépourvue d'un compresseur disposé entre l'évaporateur 8 et le réservoir tampon 10, ce qui supprime la consommation d'énergie électrique pendant la génération de gaz sous pression Ptampon. L'installation présente également une haute disponibilité grâce au faible temps d'entretien nécessaire.In addition, this installation is devoid of a compressor disposed between the evaporator 8 and the buffer tank 10, which eliminates the consumption of electrical energy during the generation of pressurized gas P buffer . The installation is also highly available due to the low maintenance time required.

De plus, l'installation est peu encombrante et produit peu de bruit.In addition, the installation is compact and produces little noise.

En variante, le réservoir tampon 10 peut être disposé adjacent à la cellule de trempe 12, de telle sorte que la troisième conduite 32 peut être supprimée. Dans ce cas, les volumes Vct et Vcc sont égaux à 0, et les volumes effectifs Vtampon-eff et Vcellule-eff sont identiques aux volumes respectifs du réservoir tampon 10 et de la cellule de trempe 12.Alternatively, the buffer tank 10 may be disposed adjacent to the quenching cell 12, so that the third conduit 32 may be omitted. In this case, the volumes V ct and V cc are equal to 0, and the actual volumes V eff-buffer and V eff-cell are identical to the respective volumes of the buffer tank 10 and the quenching cell 12.

Si l'invention a été tout particulièrement illustrée dans ce qui précède par une structure où le réservoir tampon est alimenté uniquement à partir de l'ensemble stockage liquide haute pression/évaporateur, on conçoit qu'il est possible également et extrêmement avantageux de prévoir selon l'invention la possibilité d'alimenter le réservoir tampon également en un gaz auxiliaire de trempe, via une source auxiliaire de gaz de trempe reliée au réservoir tampon par des moyens auxiliaires de liaison, un tel gaz auxiliaire de gaz de trempe comprenant avantageusement au moins l'un des gaz du groupe formé par l'hydrogène et l'hélium, par exemple afin de disposer ainsi de mélanges de trempe azote-helium, azote-hydrogène, CO2-hélium etc....If the invention has been particularly illustrated in the foregoing by a structure where the buffer tank is fed only from the high pressure liquid storage / evaporator assembly, it is conceivable that it is also possible and extremely advantageous to provide according to the invention. the invention the possibility of supplying the buffer tank also with a quenching auxiliary gas, via an auxiliary source of quenching gas connected to the buffer tank by auxiliary connecting means, such quenching gas auxiliary gas advantageously comprising at least one of the gases of the group formed by hydrogen and helium, for example so as to have nitrogen-helium quench mixtures, nitrogen-hydrogen, CO 2 -helium etc ...

De même comme il apparaítra clairement à l'homme du métier, on a utilisé dans tout ce qui précède la terminologie « réservoir de stockage haute pression du gaz de trempe à l'état liquide » pour signifier que l'on dispose ainsi d'une réserve haute pression sous forme liquide du gaz de trempe. Cette réserve se présentera avantageusement tout simplement sous la forme d'un stockage haute pression mais on conçoit que l'on peut également (par exemple pour des raisons pratiques liées au site local), et sans sortir en aucune façon du cadre de la présente invention, envisager ce « réservoir de stockage haute pression » sous la forme de la combinaison d'un réservoir de stockage sous forme liquide à basse pression, qui alimente un système de pressurisation du gaz de trempe à l'état liquide. Ceci bien sur dans la mesure où la condition selon l'invention selon laquelle les deuxièmes moyens de liaison entre l'évaporateur et le réservoir tampon sont dépourvus de tout moyen de compression du gaz est bien respectée.Likewise, as it will be clear to the skilled person, we have used in all of the above terminology "high storage tank the quenching gas pressure in the liquid state "to signify that a high-pressure reserve in liquid form of the quenching gas. This reserve will advantageously simply be in the form of a storage high pressure but it is conceivable that one can also (for example for practical reasons related to the local site), and without departing in any way from the framework of the present invention, consider this "high pressure storage tank" under the form of the combination of a storage tank in liquid form at low pressure, which feeds a quench gas pressurization system in the state liquid. This of course to the extent that the condition according to the invention that the second connecting means between the evaporator and the buffer tank are without any means of gas compression is well respected.

Claims (13)

  1. Gas quenching plant of the type comprising:
    a quenching cell (12) intended to receive objects (3) to be quenched and suitable for withstanding a specified quenching pressure (Pquench) of the quench gas, which pressure is between 10 and 25 bar; and
    pressurized quench gas delivery means connected to this cell, the gas delivery means comprising:
    i) a buffer tank (10) suitable for containing the quench gas (6) and for withstanding a specified buffer pressure (Pbuffer) of the quench gas,
    j) first gas connecting means (32) that connect the buffer tank (10) to the quenching cell (12),
    k) first controllable shut-off means (34) of the said first connecting means (32) and
    l) means (4, 8, 18, 24, 26) for feeding the buffer tank (10) with quench gas at a pressure above atmospheric pressure comprising:
    an evaporator (8), the outlet (20) of which is connected to an inlet (22) of the buffer tank (10) via second connecting means (24) and
    a high-pressure storage tank (4) for storing the quench gas (6) in the liquid state, under a storage pressure (Pstorage) between 15 and 40 bar, the said high-pressure storage tank being connected to an inlet (16) of the evaporator (8) via third connecting means (18); and
    the said second connecting means having no gas compression means between the evaporator and the buffer tank.
  2. Plant according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first shut-off means (34) divide the said first connecting means (32) into a buffer part associated with the buffer tank (10) and into a cell part associated with the quenching cell (12) and in that the volume (Vbuffer) of the buffer tank (10) and the volume (Vct) of the buffer part of the connecting means (32) form an effective buffer volume (Vbuffer,eff), whereas the volume (Vcell) of the quenching cell (12) and the volume (Vcc) of the cell part of the connecting means (32) form an effective cell volume (Vcell,eff), and in that the effective buffer volume (Vbuffer,eff) is greater than the effective cell volume (Vcell,eff).
  3. Plant according to Claim 2, characterized in that the effective buffer volume (Vbuffer,eff) is greater than 1.2 times the effective cell volume (Vcell,eff), and especially between 1.4 times and 5 times this volume.
  4. Plant according to either of Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the buffer pressure (Pbuffer) is higher than the quenching pressure (Pquench), and in that the effective buffer volume and the effective cell volume are related by the relationship: V buffer,eff ≥ V cell,eff P quench P buffer - P quench .
  5. Plant according to Claim 4, characterized in that the effective buffer volume and the effective cell volume are related by the equation: V buffer,eff = V cell,eff P quench P buffer - P quench .
  6. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the buffer pressure (Pbuffer) is greater than or equal to 1.2 times the quenching pressure (Pquench) and is preferably between 1.2 and 1.8 times this pressure.
  7. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the buffer pressure (Pbuffer) is between 15 and 35 bar.
  8. Plant according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the quenching pressure (Pquench) is between 10 and 20 bar.
  9. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes an auxiliary quench gas supply connected to the buffer tank via auxiliary connecting means that are capable of supplying the buffer tank with auxiliary quench gas.
  10. Plant according to Claim 10, characterized in that the said auxiliary quench gas supply comprises at least one of the gases of the group formed by hydrogen and helium.
  11. Plant according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said quench gas is nitrogen.
  12. Plant according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the said quench gas is CO2 or comprises CO2.
  13. Process for the gas-quenching of objects (3) to be quenched, in a quenching cell (12), at a quenching pressure (Pquench) of between 10 and 25 bar, in which:
    A/ quench gas is delivered to the cell by pressurized quench gas delivery means that are connected to this cell, the gas delivery means comprising:
    i) a buffer tank (10) suitable for containing the quench gas (6) and for withstanding a specified buffer pressure (Pbuffer) of the quench gas,
    j) first gas connecting means (32) that connect the buffer tank (10) to the quenching cell (12),
    k) first controllable shut-off means (34) of the said first connecting means (32) and
    l) means (4, 8, 18, 24, 26) for feeding the buffer tank (10) with quench gas at a pressure above atmospheric pressure comprising:
    an evaporator (8), the outlet (20) of which is connected to an inlet (22) of the buffer tank (10) via second connecting means (24) and
    a high-pressure storage tank (4) for storing the quench gas (6) in the liquid state, under a storage pressure (Pstorage) between 15 and 40 bar, the said high-pressure storage tank being connected to an inlet (16) of the evaporator (8) via third connecting means (18);
    the said second connecting means having no gas compression means between the evaporator and the buffer tank:
    B/ the buffer tank (10) is filled with quench gas at the buffer pressure (Pbuffer);
    C/ the object (3) to be quenched is placed in the quenching cell (12);
    D/ the first controllable shut-off means (34) are opened, establishing a connection between the buffer tank (10) and the quenching cell (12) until the quenching pressure (Pquench) is established in the quenching cell (12);
    E/ the object (30) to be quenched is cooled to a specified temperature; and
    F/ the quenched object (3) is removed from the quenching cell (12).
EP03720608A 2002-02-12 2003-02-10 Gas quenching installation and the corresponding quenching method Revoked EP1476585B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0201701 2002-02-12
FR0201701A FR2835907B1 (en) 2002-02-12 2002-02-12 GAS QUENCHING INSTALLATION AND CORRESPONDING QUENCHING METHOD
PCT/FR2003/000412 WO2003068998A1 (en) 2002-02-12 2003-02-10 Gas quenching installation and the corresponding quenching method

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EP1476585A1 EP1476585A1 (en) 2004-11-17
EP1476585B1 true EP1476585B1 (en) 2005-10-12

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AT (1) ATE306565T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2003224189A1 (en)
DE (1) DE60301860T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2250887T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2835907B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2003068998A1 (en)

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DE10251486A1 (en) * 2002-11-05 2004-05-19 Linde Ag Recovering gas for re-use, from process chamber operating under pressure, e.g. quenching, involves using one or more compression stages for extraction, in accordance with chamber internal pressure
FR2858983B1 (en) * 2003-08-21 2005-09-23 Air Liquide GAS TREATMENT METHOD USING A RECYCLING FACILITY
FR2863628B1 (en) * 2003-12-11 2006-11-17 Etudes Const Mecaniques DEVICE FOR TEMPERING STEEL PARTS
US20050193743A1 (en) * 2004-03-05 2005-09-08 John Foss High-pressure cryogenic gas for treatment processes
FR2879474B1 (en) * 2004-12-16 2008-06-13 Air Liquide PROCESS FOR CLEANING AN INCORPORATING MIXTURE COMPRISING CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) AND CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) CONTAINED IN THIS MIXTURE
US8820098B2 (en) 2011-05-17 2014-09-02 Air Products And Chemicals, Inc. Method and apparatus for quenching of materials in vacuum furnace
CN106498136B (en) * 2016-12-30 2018-04-03 上海颐柏热处理设备有限公司 A kind of device of high-pressure liquid or above-critical state quenching

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DE3524729A1 (en) * 1985-07-11 1987-01-15 Leybold Heraeus Gmbh & Co Kg DEVICE FOR CLEANING SMOKE GASES SULFUR AND NITROGEN
DE3736501C1 (en) * 1987-10-28 1988-06-09 Degussa Process for the heat treatment of metallic workpieces
FR2634866B1 (en) * 1988-07-26 1990-10-19 Thierry Dimier Traitements The METHOD AND DEVICE FOR RECOVERING A FLUID FOR REUSE
FR2644557A1 (en) * 1989-03-17 1990-09-21 Etudes Const Mecaniques DEVICE FOR THE INJECTION OF PRESSURIZED GASES AND HIGH FLOW RATES IN A SEALED HOUSING WITH GAS RECOVERY
FR2660669B1 (en) * 1990-04-04 1992-06-19 Air Liquide METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF OBJECTS WITH TEMPERING IN GASEOUS MEDIA.
DE19820083A1 (en) * 1998-05-06 1999-11-11 Ald Vacuum Techn Gmbh Process for quenching workpieces and heat treatment system for carrying out the process

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AU2003224189A1 (en) 2003-09-04
FR2835907B1 (en) 2004-09-17
ATE306565T1 (en) 2005-10-15
US20060037678A1 (en) 2006-02-23
EP1476585A1 (en) 2004-11-17
ES2250887T3 (en) 2006-04-16
DE60301860D1 (en) 2006-02-23
FR2835907A1 (en) 2003-08-15
DE60301860T2 (en) 2006-06-22
WO2003068998A1 (en) 2003-08-21

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