Optimization of Induction Heating Coil in the Surface Hardening Process

Abstract

Induction surface hardening, which is used in various fields in the aerospace industry, is an important technology due to its accuracy, repeatability and energy efficiency. By modeling this heat treatment, the process parameters and efficiencies will be understood and its effective use in critical aircraft application areas will be expanded by contributing to the development of this technology. In this study, the induction surface hardening process of the cylindrical sample from AISI 4340 steel issimulatedusing couple field analysis. The coil geometry isoptimized using two approaches to achieve homogeneous temperature distribution on the heated sample surface. One is to change the diameter of the coil rings and the other is to change the interval of the coil rings. After the diameters of the coil rings optimization, uniformity isachieved at the sample surface temperature, with deviations up to ±4°C from the austenitizing temperature. After the intervalsof the coil rings optimization, homogenous temperature distribution isachieved at the sample surface temperature, and deviations from the austenitizing temperature areup to ±3°C. The current value required for heating the sample surface to the austenitizing temperature in 2s has beenreduced, and energy savinghave beenobtained.

Keywords

• electromagnetic field
• finite elements method
• induction heating
• optimization
• temperature distribution