Mathematical Model and Soft for the Heating Simulation of Metallic Parts in Solar Furnaces

Abstract

Lately, more and more experimental research regarding the use of solar furnaces was conducted in order to thermally process different materials. In this direction, Transilvania University made a soft to simulate the heating of metallic parts in such furnaces. The soft is based on a 3D mathematical model, presented here with finite differences. The data concerning the structure of the soft and the results that can be delivered are also shown. This soft is useful to preset, by computer simulation, the working parameters of solar furnaces with concentrated flux regarding the concrete processing of some metallic pieces (volume thermal treatments, surface thermal treatment, melting, welding, covering with surface layers, etc.).

Experimental Verification of a Software for Simulation of Heating Metallic Parts in Solar Furnaces

“…In the second part of the research, simulation of heating was performed using the software developed at Transilvania University (SIM-3D-SOLAR-1) [15].…”

“…The simulation method has the following advantages [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]: -the values of all installation operating parameters can be easily changed, -information on process processing parameters (temperature, heating and cooling speed, temperature gradient, etc.) can be obtained for any point in the piece; -no test parts, work devices, apparatus for determining structure and properties are required; -reduced working time; -low number of experiments to validate the results.…”

“…It reproduces the thermophysical processes in the heat-treated part, including phase transformations. The mathematical model and the software were presented in a previous paper [15]. The purpose of this paper is to experimentally verify the results obtained with this software regarding the simulation of heating of metal parts for heat treatments.…”

Advantages and Limitations Regarding the Processing of Materials in Concentrated Energy Solar Furnaces

“…It is possible to perform a predetermination of the working conditions required for thermal processing in solar furnaces by computer simulation of heating in such furnaces [17,18]. In research and industry, software is used to simulate the heating and cooling of thermally processed parts, in order to design and optimize work technologies.…”

“…Simulation research can significantly reduce experimental research. Such software was developed and validated at the Transilvania University of Brașov [17,18]. It allows the establishment of recommended work cycles for surface heat treatments, but also studies on obtaining volume heating.…”