Lukáš Koudela, Václav Kotlan and Ivo Doležel
The paper aims to deal with shape optimization of a novel thermoelastic clutch working on the principle of induction heating. The clutch consists of a driving part, with a…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to deal with shape optimization of a novel thermoelastic clutch working on the principle of induction heating. The clutch consists of a driving part, with a ferromagnetic ring, and a driven part. The driving part rotates in a static field produced by appropriately arranged static permanent magnet. Currents induced in the rotating ferromagnetic ring cause its temperature to rise and increase its internal and external radii. As soon as its external diameter reaches the diameter of head of the driven part, it starts also rotating because of mechanical friction between both parts.
Design/methodology/approach
Presented is the complete mathematical model of the device, taking into account all relevant nonlinearities (saturation curve of the processed steel material and temperature dependences of its physical parameters). The forward solution is realized by the finite element method, and the shape optimization is solved using heuristic algorithms.
Findings
The clutch was found to be fully functional and may be used in applications with limited access into the device.
Research limitations/implications
The coefficient of expansion of material of the driven part must be substantially lower than the same coefficient of the driving part to keep the necessary friction torque. The clutch can be only used in applications where higher temperatures (such as 300°C) are not dangerous to the environment.
Practical implications
The presented model and methodology of its solution may represent a basis for design of devices for transfer of generally mechanical forces and torques.
Originality/value
This paper presents an idea of induction-produced thermoelastic connection of two parts capable of transferring mechanical forces and torques.
Details
Keywords
Ivo Doležel, Václav Kotlan, Roman Hamar and David Pánek
This paper aims to present a three-dimensional (3D) model of hybrid laser welding of a steel plate. Before welding, the plate is pre- and/or post-heated by induction to avoid…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a three-dimensional (3D) model of hybrid laser welding of a steel plate. Before welding, the plate is pre- and/or post-heated by induction to avoid mechanical stresses in material due to high gradients of temperature. Welding itself is realized by laser beam without welding rod. The model takes into account existence of both solid and liquid phases in the weld.
Design/methodology/approach
Presented is the complete mathematical model of the above heat treatment process, taking into account all relevant nonlinearities (saturation curve of the processed steel material and temperature dependences of its physical parameters). Its numerical solution is realized by the finite element method. Some important results are compared with experimental data.
Findings
In comparison with the former model developed by the authors that did not take into account the phase change, the results are more realistic and exhibit a better accordance with measurements. On the other hand, they strongly depend on sufficiently accurate knowledge of material parameters in both solid and liquid levels (that represent the input data).
Research limitations/implications
The quality of calculated results strongly depends on the material properties and their temperature dependencies. In case of alloys (whose chemical composition may vary in some range), such data are often unavailable and must be estimated on the basis of experiments. Another quantity that has to be calibrated is the time dependence of power delivered by the laser beam, which is due to the production of a plasma cloud above the exposed spot.
Practical implications
The presented model and methodology of its solution may represent a basis for design of the complete technology of laser welding with induction pre-heating and/or post-heating.
Originality/value
Fully 3D model of hybrid laser welding (supplemented with pre- and/or post-heating by magnetic induction) taking into account both solid and liquid phases of welded metal and influence of the plasma cloud is presented.
Details
Keywords
Václav Kotlan, Roman Hamar, Lenka Šroubová and Ivo Doležel
A model of hybrid fillet welding is built and solved. No additional material (welding rod, etc.) is used. Heating of the welded parts is realized by laser beam with induction…
Abstract
Purpose
A model of hybrid fillet welding is built and solved. No additional material (welding rod, etc.) is used. Heating of the welded parts is realized by laser beam with induction preheating and/or postheating. The purpose of these operations is to reduce the temperature gradient in welded parts in the course of both heating and cooling, which reduces the resultant hardness of the weld and its neighborhood and also reduces undesirable internal mechanical strains and stresses in material.
Design/methodology/approach
The complete mathematical model of the combined welding process is presented, taking into account all relevant nonlinearities. The model is then solved numerically by the finite element method. The methodology is illustrated with an example, the results of which are compared with experiment.
Findings
The proposed model provided satisfactory results even when some subtle phenomena were not taken into account (flow of melt in the pool after irradiation of the laser beam driven by the buoyancy and gravitational forces and evaporation of molten metal and influence of plasma cloud above the irradiated spot).
Research limitations/implications
Accuracy of the results depends on the accuracy of physical parameters of materials entering the model and their temperature dependencies. These quantities are functions of chemical composition of the materials used, and may more or less differ from the values delivered by manufacturers. Also, the above subtle physical phenomena exhibit stochastic character and their modeling may be accompanied by non-negligible uncertainties.
Practical implications
The presented model and methodology of its solution may represent a basis for design of welding processes in various branches of industry.
Originality/value
The model of a complex multiphysics problem (induction-assisted laser welding) provides reasonable results confirmed by experiments.
Details
Keywords
Ivan Alexandrovich Smolyanov, Václav Kotlan and Ivo Doležel
This paper aims to propose a number of approaches to reduce the temperature gradient of titanium billets in the heat treatment process.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose a number of approaches to reduce the temperature gradient of titanium billets in the heat treatment process.
Design/methodology/approach
Modeling physical processes in the induction unit is calculated by the finite element method. Required power was calculated based on the fact that all the induced power is allocated in a certain layer and there are loss flows and heating flows. Also, an opportunity is offered to reduce temperature difference using numerical optimization, control system based on proportional-integral regulator and ballast blank.
Findings
The asymmetry of the magnetic field at the ends of the inductor significantly affects the temperature uniformity along the length of the workpiece. Increasing the length of the workpiece by adding ballast blanks reduces the temperature drop. Also, increasing the non-magnetic gap in some cases it is possible to improve the quality of through heating.
Research limitations/implications
The results of this study are verified only for a number of titanium alloys. Therefore, this knowledge is appropriate to apply for this type of materials. In future studies, it is possible to expand the possibilities of the considered approaches for other types of materials.
Practical implications
Part of the study will be used to industrial plant for purpose of heat treatment of titanium alloys workpiece. Especially, control system will be basically made based on the model.
Originality/value
A novel methodology of induction heating of titanium alloy Ti6Al4V in the form of cylindrical billets is presented that simplifies the process and improves temperature uniformity along the radius and length of the billet by optimizing the shape of the inductor and selecting suitable power modes.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to present the development and comparison of selected time‐domain and Laplace‐domain methods for the simulation of waves propagating along…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the development and comparison of selected time‐domain and Laplace‐domain methods for the simulation of waves propagating along multiconductor transmission lines (MTLs), both uniform and nonuniform, and sensitivities with respect to distributed and lumped parameters of MTL systems.
Design/methodology/approach
A methodology is based on discrete, semidiscrete and continuous MTL models formulated and solved both in the time and Laplace domains, latter combined with a numerical inverse Laplace transform (NILT).
Findings
The most accurate method is that based on the MTL Laplace‐domain continuous model, processed via the MTL chain matrix and connected with an NILT. This method concurrently shows minimal RAM requirements, and in case of uniform MTLs, it runs fastest. For nonuniform MTLs, however, the implicit Wendroff formula is fastest, as long as the RAM is available.
Research limitations/implications
The research is limited to linear MTLs only and the methods suppose terminating circuits based on their generalized Thévenin equivalents. They can be, however, generalized for more complex systems via more sophisticated boundary conditions treatment. The time‐domain methods have further potential to be generalized towards nonlinear MTLs.
Practical implications
The methods considered can contribute to solving signal integrity issues in high‐speed electronic systems, the Matlab routines developed can serve in education process as well.
Originality/value
The implicit Wendroff formula has been adapted to enable simulation of voltage and/or current distributions and their sensitivities along the nonuniform MTLs' wires. Besides, semidiscrete and continuous nonuniform MTL models have been elaborated to enable sensitivities determination, both in the time and Laplace domains, latter connected with the NILT technique based on fast Fourier transform/inverse fast Fourier transform and quotient‐difference algorithms.
Details
Keywords
I. Doležel, V. Kotlan, E. Krónerová and B. Ulrych
The purpose of this paper is to present a new device (thermoelastic actuator) for accurate control of position whose principle is based on thermal dilatation of its working unit…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a new device (thermoelastic actuator) for accurate control of position whose principle is based on thermal dilatation of its working unit brought about by induction heating.
Design/methodology/approach
The device must satisfy the prescribed operation parameters (mainly the above thermal dilatation). The task to find them is a multiply coupled problem (interaction of electromagnetic field, temperature field and field of thermoelastic displacements) that is solved by the finite element method supplemented with a number of other procedures.
Findings
The control of position based on the described thermoelastic effect is very accurate and ranges from 1×10−6 to 1×10−3 m.
Research limitations/implications
The device also contains two self‐locking friction clutches of conical shapes whose purpose is to fix the position of the plunger in the prescribed position. Further attention should be paid to their dynamic behaviour during the process of fixing.
Practical implications
The device can be used in various technical domains such as optics and laser or microscope techniques.
Originality/value
The principal part of the device contains no movable element, which is a substantial advantage in comparison to other systems based on mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic principles working with movable elements or media.
Details
Keywords
David Pánek, Pavel Karban, Tamás Orosz and Ivo Doležel
The purpose of this paper is to compare different reduced-order models for models of control of induction brazing process. In the presented application, the problem is to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare different reduced-order models for models of control of induction brazing process. In the presented application, the problem is to reconstruct temperature at the points of interests (hot spots) from information measured at accessible places.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper describes the process of induction brazing. It presents the full field model and evaluates the possibilities for obtaining reduced models for temperature estimation. The primary attention is paid to the model based on proper orthogonal decomposition (POD).
Findings
The paper shows that for the given application, it is possible to find low-order estimator. In the examined linear case, the best estimator was created using POD reduced model together with the linear Kalman filter.
Research limitations/implications
The authors are aware of two main limitations of the presented study: material properties are considered linear, which is not a completely realistic assumption. However, if strong coupling and nonlinear material parameters are considered, the model becomes unsolvable. The process and measurement uncertainties are not considered.
Originality/value
The paper deals with POD of multi-physics 3 D application of induction brazing. The paper compares 11 different methods for temperature estimator design.
Details
Keywords
Ivan Alexandrovich Smolyanov and Fedor Tarasov
This paper aims to create mathematical models and control algorithms allowing the authors to study and form effective modes of operation of multi-inductor system of electrical…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to create mathematical models and control algorithms allowing the authors to study and form effective modes of operation of multi-inductor system of electrical heating of moving hollow cylindrical blanks.
Design/methodology/approach
The developed mathematical models were based on the finite-difference method, the control volume method and their combination. The reliability of the results obtained was verified by comparing the calculated results with the experimental ones. The temperature control system was synthesized using methods of the object management theory with distributed parameters.
Findings
A set of mathematical instruments has been created that allow modelling the operation modes of installation for induction heating of moving hollow cylindrical blanks. Recommendations were given on the formation of an automatic control system that provides heating of a moving hollow cylindrical billet to the required temperature with simultaneous equalization of temperature along the length of the billet in case of highly uneven initial temperature along the length of the billet.
Practical implications
Part of the paper will be used by the industrial plant for the purpose of heat treatment of iron alloys workpiece. Particularly, a control system will be basically formed based on the models.
Originality/value
The scientific novelty of the paper is to create control algorithms and mathematical models for the induction heating system of tubular workpieces allowing to explore interrelated electromagnetic and thermal processes taking into account nonlinearities and design features of the system, as well as to form effective modes of its operation based on transfer functions and methods of the object management theory with distributed parameters.
Details
Keywords
Vladimir Alexeevich Prakht, Vladimir Alexandrovich Dmitrievskii, Fedor Nikitich Sarapulov, Anton Aleksandrovich Dmitrievskii and Nail Ramazanovich Safin
Nowadays, various software is available for simulating physical processes in induction heating. The software is often limited in its ability to simulate the billet movement…
Abstract
Purpose
Nowadays, various software is available for simulating physical processes in induction heating. The software is often limited in its ability to simulate the billet movement, sometimes assuming uniform distribution of voltages on the inductor winding, uniformity of the physical properties of the billet, etc. The mathematical model of moving cylindrical ferromagnetic billets described in this paper takes into account the billet's movement, the billet phase heterogeneity and the nonuniformity of the supply voltage distribution in the inductor turns. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The research methodology is based on FEM analysis of the coupled problem, including the electromagnetic and thermal boundary problem with additional algebraic equations, using Comsol 3.5a software.
Findings
The electromagnetic and temperature field in the billet and the voltage distribution on the winding turns have been calculated. The phase distribution in the billet has been predicted. Significant interaction of the nonuniformity of the supply voltage distribution, the billet's movement, the billet phase heterogeneity and side effect on the ends of the inductor have been shown.
Practical implications
The results received can be used for designing the induction heating unit for moving cylindrical billets made from ferromagnetic material and improving their characteristics.
Originality/value
Investigation of moving cylindrical ferromagnetic billets induction heating can be done by numerical solving the coupled problem including the electromagnetic and thermal boundary problem with additional algebraic equations for the supply voltage distribution.
Details
Keywords
Paolo Di Barba, Michele Forzan and Elisabetta Sieni
The purpose of this paper is to investigate a bi-objective optimization problem characterized by coupled field analysis. The optimal design of a pancake inductor for the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate a bi-objective optimization problem characterized by coupled field analysis. The optimal design of a pancake inductor for the controlled heating of a graphite disk is considered as the benchmark problem. The case study is related to the design of industrial applications of the induction heating of graphite disk.
Design/methodology/approach
The expected goal of the optimization process is twofold: to improve temperature uniformity in the disk and also electrical efficiency of the inductor. The solution of the relevant bi-objective optimization problem is based on multiphysics field analysis. Specifically, the direct problem is solved as a magnetic and thermal coupled problem by means of finite elements; a mesh-inspired definition of thermal uniformity is proposed. In turn, the Pareto front trading off electrical efficiency and thermal uniformity is identified exploiting evolutionary computing.
Findings
By varying the problem targets, different Pareto fronts are identified trading off thermal uniformity and electrical efficiency of the induction-heating device.
Practical implications
These results suggest how to improve the design of this kind of device for the epitaxial growth of silicon wafer; the advantage of using a magnetic concentrator placed close to the inductor axis is pointed out.
Originality/value
The coupling of a multiphysics direct problem with a multiobjective inverse problem is presented as a benchmark problem and accordingly solved. The benchmark provides a simple analysis problem that allows testing various optimization algorithms in a comparative way.