CARBURIZING

How To Reduce Carbon Footprint During Heat Treatment

/ CARBURIZING, CARBURIZING TECHNICAL CONTENT, HARDENING, HARDENING TECHNICAL CONTENT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT TECH

Given changing ecological and economic conditions, carbon neutrality is becoming more important, and the heat treatment shop is no exception. In the context of this article, the focus will be on how manufacturers — especially those with in-house heat treat — can save energy by evaluating heating systems, waste heat recovery, and the process gas aspects of the technology.

This article, written by Dr. Klaus Buchner, head of Research and Development at AICHELIN HOLDING GmbH, was released in Heat Treat Today April/May 2024 Sustainable Heat Treat Technologies print edition.

Introduction

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Uncertainties in energy supply and rising energy costs remind us of our dependence on fossil fuels. This underlines the need for a sustainable energy and climate policy, which is the central challenge of our time.

European policymakers have already taken the first steps towards a green energy revolution, and the heat treatment industry must also take responsibility. Many complementary measures, however, are needed that can be applied to new and existing thermal and thermochemical heat treatment lines.

Heat Treatment Processes and Plant Concepts

The heat treatment process itself is based on the requirements of the component parts, and especially on the steel grade used. If different concepts are technically comparable, it is primarily the economic aspect that is decisive, and not the carbon footprint — at least until now. Advances in materials technology and rising energy costs are calling for production processes to be modified.

Figure 1. Donut-shaped rotary-hearth furnace for carburizing with press quenching
Source: AICHELIN HOLDING GmbH

An example is the quenching and tempering of automotive forgings directly from the forging temperature without reheating, which has shown significant potential for energy and CO2 savings. Although the reduced toughness or measured impact energy of quenching and tempering from the forging temperature may be a drawback due to the coarser austenite grain size, this can be partially improved by Nb micro-alloyed steels and higher molybdenum (Mo) contents for more temper-resistant steels; it may also be necessary to use steels with modified alloying concepts when changing the process.1, 2 AFP steels (precipitation-hardening ferritic pearlitic steels) and bainitic air-hardening steels can also be interesting alternatives, since reheating (an energy-intensive intermediate step) is no longer necessary.

Similar considerations apply to direct hardening instead of single hardening in combination with carburizing processes because of the elimination of re-austenitizing. Distortion-sensitive parts often need to be quenched in fixtures due to the dimensional and shape changes caused by heat treatment. Heat treated parts are often carburized in multipurpose chamber furnaces or small continuous furnaces, cooled under inert gas, reheated in a rotary-hearth furnace, and quenched in a hardening press. In contrast, ring-shaped (aka donut-shaped) rotary-hearth furnaces allow carburizing and subsequent direct quenching in the quench press in a single treatment step. Figure 1 shows a typical ring-shaped rotary-hearth furnace concept for heat treating 500,000 gears per year/core hardness depth (CHD) group 1 mm.

Table 1. Saving potential due to increased process temperature for gas carburizing (pusher type furnace, 20MnCr5, CHD-group 1 mm)
Source: AICHELIN HOLDING GmbH

This ring-shaped rotary-hearth concept can save up to 25% of CO2 emissions, compared to an integral quench furnace line (consisting of four single-chamber furnaces, one rotary hearth furnace with quench press and two tempering furnaces as well as two Endothermic gas generators). Due to the reduced total process time (without reheating) and the optimized manpower, the total heat treatment costs can be reduced by 20–25%.

The high-temperature carburizing aspect should also be mentioned, although the term “high-temperature carburizing” is not fully accepted nor defined by international standards. As the temperature increases, the diffusion rate increases and the process time decreases. As shown in Table 1, the additional energy consumption is less than the increase in throughput that can be achieved. Therefore, the relative energy consumption per kg of material to be heat treated decreases as the process temperature increases.

There are three key issues to consider when running a high-temperature carburizing process:

  • Steel grade: Fine-grain stabilized steels are required for direct hardening at temperatures of 1832°F (1000°C). Microalloying of Nb, Ti, and N as well as a favorable microstructure of the steels reduce the growth of austenite grains and allow carburizing temperatures up to 1922°F (1050°C) for several hours.
  • Furnace design: In addition to the general aspects of the optimized furnace technology (e.g. heating capacity, insulation materials, and feedthroughs), failure-critical components must be considered separately in terms of wear and tear, whereby condition monitoring tools can support maintenance in this area.
  • Distortion: This is always a concern, especially in the case of upright loading of thin-walled gear sections. As such, numerical simulations and/or experimental testing should be performed at the beginning to estimate possible changes in distortion and to take measures if necessary.
Figure 2. Recuperative burner with SCR system for NOx reduction Source: AICHELIN HOLDING GmbH

Heating System

Based on an energy balance that considers total energy losses, and preferably also temperature levels, it can be seen that the heating system plays a significant role. In addition to the obvious flue gas loss in the case of a gas-fired thermal processing furnace, the actual carbon footprint must be critically examined.

In the case of natural gas, the upstream process chain is often neglected in terms of CO2 emissions, but the differences in gas processing (which are directly linked to the reservoirs) and in gas transportation can be a significant factor.3 However, the analysis of energy resources in the case of electric heating systems is much more important. This results in specific CO2 emissions between 30–60 gCO2/kWh (renewable-based electricity mix) and 500–700 gCO2/kWh (coal-based electricity mix). Therefore, a general comparison between natural gas heating and electric heating systems in terms of carbon footprint is often misleading.

Figure 3. Comparison of specific CO2 emissions Source: AICHELIN HOLDING GmbH

Nevertheless, in the case of gas heating, the aspect of combustion air preheating should be emphasized, as it has a significant influence on combustion efficiency. The technical possibilities in this area are well known and include both systems with central air preheating and decentralized concepts, where the individual burner and the heat exchanger form a single unit. Recuperator burners are often used in combination with radiant heating tubes (indirect heating) in the field of thermochemical heat treatment. With respect to oxy-fuel burners, it should also be noted that the formation of thermal NOx increases with increasing combustion temperature and temperature peaks. To avoid exceeding NOx emissions, staged combustion and so-called “flameless combustion” — characterized by special internal recirculation — and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) can be used. The latter secondary measure, together with selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR), has been state-of-the-art in power plant design for decades and has become widely known because of its use in the automotive sector. This system can also be adapted to single burners (Figure 2). In this way, NOx emissions can be reduced to 30 mg/Nm3 (5% reference oxygen), depending on the injection of aqueous urea solution, as long as the exhaust gas temperature is in the range of 392/482°F (200/250°C) to 752/842°F (400/450°C).4

Whether electric heating is a viable alternative depends on both the local electricity mix and the design of the heat treatment plant, which may limit the space available for the required heating capacity. In addition to these technical aspects, the security of supply and the energy cost trends must also be considered. Both of these factors are significantly influenced by the political environment. Figure 3 shows an example of the specific carbon footprint per kg of heat treated material with the significant losses based on the example of an integral quench furnace concept in the double-chamber and single-chamber variants electrically heated (E) and gas heated (G). The electric heating is based on a fossil fuel mix of 485 gCO2/kWh. Once again, it is clear that a general statement regarding CO2 emissions is not possible; rather, the boundary conditions must be critically examined.

Waste Heat Recovery — Strengths and Weaknesses of the System

Although improvements in the energy efficiency of heat treatment processes, equipment designs, and components are the basis for rational energy use, from an environmental perspective it is important to consider the total carbon footprint. An energy flow analysis of the heat treatment plant, including all auxiliary equipment, shows the total energy consumption and thus the potential savings. Quite often the temperature levels and time dependencies involved preclude direct heat recovery within the furnace system at an economically justifiable investment cost. In this case, cross-plant solutions should be sought, which require interdepartmental action but offer bigger potential.

In addition to the classic methods of direct waste heat utilization using heat exchangers, also in combination with heat accumulators, indirect heat utilization can lower or raise the temperature level of the waste heat by using additional energy (chiller or heat pump) or convert the waste heat into electricity. The overview in Table 2 provides reference values in terms of performance class and temperature level for the alternative technologies listed.

Process Gas for Case Hardening

Case hardening — a thermochemical process consisting of carburizing and subsequent hardening — gives workpieces different microstructures across the cross-section, the key factor being high hardness/strength in the edge region. A distinction can be made between low pressure carburizing in vacuum systems and atmospheric carburizing at normal pressure. Both processes have different advantages and disadvantages, with atmospheric heat treatment being the dominant process.

Table 2. Overview of alternative waste heat applications5, 6
Source: AICHELIN HOLDING GmbH

In terms of carbon footprint, atmospheric heat treatment has a weakness due to process gas consumption. To counteract this, the following aspects have to be considered: thermal utilization of the process gas — indirectly by means of heat exchangers or directly by lean gas combustion (downcycling); reprocessing of the process gas (recycling); reduction of the process gas consumption by optimized process control; and use of CO2-neutral media (avoidance). This article focuses on avoidance by optimizing process gas consumption and using of CO2-neutral media.

Typically, heat treatment operations are still run with constant process gas quantities based on the most unfavorable conditions. Based on the studies of Wyss, however, process control systems offer the possibility to adapt the actual process gas savings to the actual demand.7 In a study of an industrial chamber furnace, a 40% process gas savings was demonstrated for a selected carburizing process. In this heat treatment process with a case hardness depth of 2 mm, the previously used constant gas flow rate of 18 m3/h was reduced to 16 m3/h for the first process phase and further reduced to 8 m3/h after 3 hours. Figure 4 shows the analysis of the gas atmosphere, where an increase in the H2 concentration could be detected due to the reduction of the gas quantities. With respect to the heat treatment result, no significant difference in the carburizing result was observed despite this significant reduction in process gas volume (and the associated reduction in CO2 emissions). The differences in the carbon profiles are within the expected measurement uncertainty.

Figure 4. CO and H2/CO concentration at various process gas volumes Source: AICHELIN HOLDING GmbH

The carbon footprint of the process gas, however, must be fundamentally questioned. In the field of atmospheric gas carburizing, process gases based on Endothermic gas (which is produced by the catalytic reaction of natural gas or propane with air at 1832–1922°F/1000–1050°C) and nitrogen/methanol and methanol only systems have established themselves on a large scale. Methanol production is still mostly based on fossil fuels (natural gas or coal), the latter being used mainly in China. Although alternative CO2-neutral processes for partial substitution of natural gas — keywords being “power to gas” (P2G) or “synthetic natural gas” (SNG) — have already been successfully demonstrated in pilot plants, there are no signs of industrial penetration. Nevertheless, there is a definite industrial scale in the area of bio-methanol synthesis, though so far, purely economic considerations speak against it, as CO2 emissions are still not taken into account.

The question of the use of bio-methanol in atmospheric gas carburizing has been investigated in tests on an integral quench furnace system. A standard load of component parts with a CHD of 0.4 mm was used as a reference. Subsequently, the heat treatment process was repeated with identical process parameters using bio-methanol instead of the usual methanol based on fossil fuels. Both the laboratory analyses of the methanol samples and the measurements of the process gas atmosphere during the heat treatment process, as well as the evaluation of the sample parts with regard to the carbon profile during the carburizing process, showed no significant difference between the different types of methanol. Although this does not represent long-term experience, these results underscore the fundamental possibility of media substitution and the use of CO2-neutral methanol.

Conclusion

Facing the challenges of global warming — intensified by the economic pressure of rising energy costs — this article demonstrates the energy-saving potential in the field of heat treatment. In addition to already established solutions, the possibilities of the smart factory concept must also be integrated in this industrial sector. Thus, heat treatment comes a significant step closer to the goal of a CO2-neutral process in terms of Scopes 1, 2, and 3 regarding emissions under the given boundary conditions.

References

[1] Karl-Wilhelm Wegner, “Werkstoffentwicklung für Schmiedeteile im Automobilbau,” ATZ Automobiltechnische Zeitschrift 100, (1998): 918–927, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03223434.
[2] Wolfgang Bleck and Elvira Moeller, Steel Handbook (Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, 2018).
[3] Wolfgang Köppel, Charlotte Degünther, and Jakob Wachsmuth, “Assessment of upstream emissions from natural gas production in Germany,” Federal Environment Agency (January 2018): https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/publikationen/bewertung-der-vorkettenemissionen-beider.
[4] Klaus Buchner and Johanes Uhlig, “Discussion on Energy Saving and Emission Reduction Technology of Heat Treatment Equipment,” Berg Huettenmaenn Monatsh 168 (2021): 109–113, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00501-023-01328-5.
[5] Technologie der Abwärmenutzung. Sächsische Energieagentur – SAENA GmbH, 2. Auflage, 2016.
[6] Brandstätter, R.: Industrielle Abwärmenutzung. Amt der OÖ Landesregierung, 1. Auflage, 109–113, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00501 02301328-5.
[7] U. Wyss, “Verbrauch an Trägergas bei der Gasaufkohlung,” HTM Journal of Heat Treatment Materials 38, no. 1 (1983): 4-9, https://doi.org/10.1515/htm-1983-380102.

About the Author

Dr. Klaus Buchner Head of Research and Development AICHELIN HOLDING GmbH

Klaus Buchner holds a doctorate and is the head of research and development at AICHELIN HOLDING GmbH. This article is based on Klaus Buchner’s article, “Reduktion des CO2-Fußabdrucks in der Wärmebehandlung” in Prozesswärme 01-2023 (pp. 42-45).

For more information: Klaus at klaus.buchner@aichelin.com.

This article content is used with the permission of heat processing, which published this article in 2023.

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All About the Quench and Keeping Cool: Thru-process Temp Monitoring and Gas Carburizing

/ ATMOSPHERE AIR FURNACES TECHNICAL CONTENT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT TECHNICAL CONTENT, CARBURIZING, CARBURIZING TECHNICAL CONTENT, CONTROLS, CONTROLS TECHNICAL CONTENT, FEATURED NEWS, QUENCHING TECHNICAL CONTENT

The future of heat treating requires new manufacturing solutions like robotics that can work with modular design. Yet so also does temperature monitoring need to be seamless to know how effectively your components are being heat treated — especially through being quenched. In this Technical Tuesday, learn more about temperature monitoring through the quench process.

Gas Carburization

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Carburizing has rapidly become one of the most critical heat treatment processes employed in the manufacture of automotive components. Also referred to as case hardening, it provides necessary surface resistance to wear, while maintaining toughness and core strength essential for hardworking automotive parts.

Figure 1. Typical carburizing heat treat temperature profile showing the critical temperature/time steps: (i) carburization, (ii) quench, and (iii) temper. (Source: PhoenixTM)

The carburizing process is achieved by heat treating the product in a carbon rich environment (Figure 1), typically at a temperature of 1562°F–1922°F (850°C–1050°C). The temperature and process time significantly influence the depth of carbon diffusion and other related surface characteristics. Critical to the process is a rapid quenching of the product following the diffusion in which the temperature is rapidly decreased to generate the microstructure, giving the enhanced surface hardness while maintaining a soft and tough product core.

The outer surface becomes hard via the transformation from austenite to martensite while the core remains soft and tough as a ferritic and/or pearlitic microstructure. Normally, carburized microstructures following quench are further tempered at temperatures of about 356°F (180°C) to transform some of the brittle martensite into tempered martensite to enhance ductility and grindability.

Critical Process Temperature Control

As discussed, the success of carburization is dependent on accurate, repeatable control of the product temperature and time at that temperature through the complete heat treatment process. Important to the whole operation is the quench, in which the rate of cooling (product temperature change) is critical to achieve the desired changes in microstructure, creating the surface hardness. It is interesting that the success of the whole heat treat process can rest on a process step which is so short (minutes), in terms of the complete heat teat process (hours). Getting the quench correct is not only essential to achieve the desired metal microstructure, but also to ensure that the physical dimensions and shape of the product are maintained (no distortion/warping) and issues such as quench cracking are eliminated.

Obviously, as the quench is so critical to the whole heat treat process, the correct quench selection needs to be made to achieve the optimum properties with acceptable levels of dimensional change. Many different quenchants can be applied with differing quenching performances. The rate of heat transfer (quench rate) of quench media in general follows this order from slowest to quickest: air, salt, polymer, oil, caustic, and water.

Technology Challenges for Temperature Monitoring

When considering carburization from an industry standpoint, furnace heat treat technology generally falls into one of two camps, embracing either air quench (low pressure carburization) or oil quench (sealed gas carburization/LPC with integral or vacuum oil quench). Although each achieves the same end goal, the heat treat mechanisms and technologies employed are very different, as are the temperature monitoring challenges.

To achieve the desired carburized product, it is necessary to control and hence monitor the product temperature through the three phases of the heat treat process. Conventionally, product temperature monitoring would be attempted using the traditional trailing thermocouple method. For many modern heat treat processes including carburization, the trailing thermocouple method is difficult and often practically impossible.1 The movement of the product or product basket from stage to stage, often from one independent sealed chamber to another (lateral or vertical movement), makes the monitoring of the complete process a significant challenge.

With the industry driving toward fully automated manufacturing, furnace manufacturers are now offering the complete package with full robotic product loading that includes shuttle transfer systems and modular heat treat phases to process both complete product baskets and single piece operations. Although trailing thermocouples may allow individual stages in the process to be measured, they cannot provide monitoring of the complete heat treat journey. Testing is therefore not under true normal production conditions, and therefore is not an accurate record of what happens in normal day to day operation.

Figure 2 shows schematic diagrams of two typical carburizing furnace configurations that would not be possible to monitor using trailing thermocouples. The first shows a modular batch furnace system where the product basket is transferred between each static heat treat operation (preheat, carburizing furnace, cooling station, quench, quench wash, temper furnace) via a charge transfer cart. The second shows the same heat treat operation but performed in a continuous indexed pusher furnace configuration where the product basket moves sequentially through each heat treat operation in a semi-continuous flow.

Figure 2.1. Modular batch furnace system (Source: PhoenixTM)
Figure 2.2. Continuous pusher furnace schematic (Source: PhoenixTM)

Thru-process temperature monitoring as a technique overcomes such technical restrictions. The data logger is protected by a specially designed thermal barrier, therefore, can travel with the product through each stage of the process measuring the product/process temperature with short, localized thermocouples that will not hinder travel. The careful design and construction of the monitoring system is important to address the specific challenges that different heat treat technology brings including modular batch and continuous pusher furnace designs (Figure 2).2

The following section will focus specifically on monitoring challenges of the sealed gas carburizing process with integral oil quench. Technical challenges of the alternative low pressure carburizing technology with high pressure gas quench have previously been discussed in an earlier publication.3

Monitoring Challenges of Sealed Gas Carburization — Oil Quench

Figure 3. “Thru-process” temperature monitoring system for use in a sealed carburizing furnace with integral oil quench — (3.1) Monitoring system entering furnace with thermocouple fixed to automotive gears, product test pieces (3.2) System exiting oil quench tank (3.3) System inserted into wash tank with product basket (Source: PhoenixTM)

Presently, the most common traditional method of gas carburizing for automotive steels is often referred to as sealed gas carburizing. In this method, the parts are surrounded by an endothermic gas atmosphere. Carbon is generated by the Boudouard reaction during the carburization process, typically at 1562°F–1832°F (850°C –1000°C). Despite the dramatic appearance of a sealed gas carburizing furnace, with its characteristic belching flames (Figure 3), from a monitoring perspective, the most challenging aspect of the process is not the heating, but the oil quench cooling. For such furnace technology, the historic limitation of “thru-process” temperature profiling has been the need to bypass the oil quench and wash stations, missing a critical process step from the monitoring operation. Obviously, passing a conventional hot barrier through an oil quench creates potential risk of both system damage from oil ingress and barrier distortion, as well as general process safety. However, the need to bypass the quench in certain furnace configurations by removing the hot system from the confined furnace space could create significant operational challenges, from an access and safety perspective.

Monitoring of the quench is important as ageing of the oil results in decomposition (thermal cracking), oxidation, and contamination (e.g. water) of the oil, all of which degrade the viscosity, heat transfer characteristics, and quench efficiency. Control of physical oil temperature and agitation rates is also key to oil quench performance. Quench monitoring allows economic oil replacement schedules to be set, without risk to process performance and product quality.

Figure 4. “Thru-process” temperature monitoring system oil quench compatible thermal barrier design: (1) Robust outer structural frame keeping insulation and inner barrier secure; (2) Internal thermal barrier — completely sealed with integral microporous insulation protecting data logger; (3) Mineral insulated thermocouples sealed in internal thermal barrier with oil tight compression fitting; (4) Multi-channel high temperature data logger; and (5) Sacrificial insulation blocks replaced after each run. (Source: PhoenixTM)

To address the process challenges, a unique thermal barrier design has been developed that both protects the data logger in the furnace (typically three hours at 1697°F/925°C) and also protects during transfer through the oil quench (typically 15 mins) and final wash station (Figure 3). The key to the barrier design is the encasement of a sealed inner barrier with its own thermal protection with blocks of high-grade sacrificial insulation contained in a robust outer structural frame (Figure 4).

Quench Cooling Phases

Monitoring the oil quench in carburization gives the operator a unique insight into the product’s specific cooling characteristics, which can be critical to allow optimal product loading and process understanding and optimization. From a scientific perspective, the quench temperature profile trace, although only a couple of minutes in duration, is complex and unique. From a zoomed in quench trace (Figure 5) taken from a complete carburizing profile run, the three unique heat transfer phases making up the oil quench cool curve can be clearly identified:

Figure 5. Oil quench temperature profile for different locations on an automotive gear test piece shows the three distinct heat transfer phases: (1) film boiling “vapor blanket”, (2) nucleate boiling, and (3) convective heat transfer. (Source: PhoenixTM)
  1. Film boiling “vapor Blanket”: The oil quenchant creates a layer of vapor (Leidenfrost phenomenon) covering the metal surface. Cooling in this stage is a function of conduction through the vapor envelope. Slow cool rate since the vapor blanket acts as an insulator.
  2. Nucleate boiling: As the part cools, the vapor blanket collapses and nucleate boiling results. Heat transfer is fastest during this phase, typically two orders of magnitude higher than in film boiling.
  3. Convective heat transfer: When the part temperature drops below the oil boiling point. the cooling rate slows significantly. The cooling rate is exponentially dependent on the oil’s viscosity.

From a heat treat perspective, the quench step relative to the whole process (hours) is quick (seconds), but it is probably the most critical to the performance of the metallurgical phase transitions and achieving the desired core microstructure of the product without risk of distortion. By being able to monitor the quench step, the process can be validated for different products with differing size, form, and thermal mass. As shown in Figure 6, the quench curve profile over the three heat transfer phases is very different for two different automotive gear sizes.

Figure 6. Oil quench temperature profile for different automotive gear sizes (20MnCr5 case hardening steel) with different thermal masses: Passenger Car Gear (2.2 lbs) and Commercial Vehicle Gear (17.6 lbs) (Source: PhoenixTM)

Summary

As discussed in this article, one of the key process performance factors associated with gas carburization is the control and monitoring of the product quench step. Employing an oil quench, the measurement of such operation is now very feasible as part of heat treat monitoring. Innovations in thru-process temperature profiling technology offer specific system designs to meet the respective application challenges.

References

[1] Dr. Steve Offley, “The light at the end of the tunnel – Monitoring Mesh Belt Furnaces,” Heat Treat Today, February 2022, https://www.heattreattoday.com/processes/brazing/brazing-technical-content/the-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-monitoring-mesh-belt-furnaces/.

[2] Michael Mouilleseaux, “Heat Treat Radio #102: Lunch & Learn, Batch IQ Vs. Continuous Pusher, Part 1,” interviewed by Doug Glenn, Heat Treat Radio, October 26, 2023, audio, https://www.heattreattoday.com/media-category/heat-treat-radio/heat-treat-radio-102-102-lunch-learn-batch-iq-vs-continuous-pusher-part-1/.

[3] Dr. Steve Offley, “Discover the DNA of Automotive Heat Treat: Thru-process Temperature Monitoring,” Heat Treat Today, August 2023, https://www.heattreattoday.com/discover-the-dna-of-automotive-heat-treat-thru-process-temperature-monitoring/.

About the Author

Dr Steve Offley (“Dr O”), Product Marketing Manager, PhoenixTM

Dr. Steve Offley, “Dr. O,” has been the product marketing manager at PhoenixTM for the last five years after a career of over 25 years in temperature monitoring focusing on the heat treatment, paint, and general manufacturing industries. A key aspect of his role is the product management of the innovative PhoenixTM range of thru-process temperature and optical profiling and TUS monitoring system solutions.

For more information: Contact Steve at Steve.Offley@phoenixtm.com.

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ThermTech Expands Heat-Treat Furnace Line to Support Oil & Gas Industry

/ CARBURIZING, ENERGY HEAT TREAT, FEATURED NEWS, HARDENING

ThermTech, based in Waukesha, WI, recently added a batch integral quench furnace to their atmosphere heat-treat furnace line. The expansion is in response to an increase in demand for carburizing, carbonitriding, and neutral hardening services from their oil & gas and heavy equipment industry clients.  ThermTech acquired the ATLAS furnace from Ipsen USA, adding to existing atmosphere furnace and ancillary equipment already in operation.

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Carbon Sensor Troubleshooting

/ CARBURIZING, FEATURED NEWS, HARDENING, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES

Jim Oakes, Super Systems, Carbon Sensor Troubleshooting, Stephen Thompson

by Stephen Thompson – President – Super Systems, Inc.

There are several key components in all atmosphere control systems. When a difficulty arises, it is important to identify the cause with minimum effort and expended time. The procedure that follows is designed to aid in that process.

INTRODUCTION

The starting point for any troubleshooting procedure is to properly identify the symptom that necessitates it. The cause of the symptom can often be elicited by answering some preliminary questions. Is this a startup problem, or has the system been operating under control? If this is a startup problem, it is necessary to establish that all system components have been properly connected and configured for the application. If the system has been operating properly and there has been either a gradual or sudden change in the control performance, it may conceivably be a problem with the probe. In order to establish the correct performance of the carbon sensor, resist the temptation to remove the sensor from the furnace. All of the tests outlined here must be done while the sensor is located in the furnace, at temperature, and exposed to a reducing atmosphere. This procedure can be performed on the SSi Gold Probe and on most other manufacturers’ sensors. We strongly recommend that you call us at 800-666-4330 before you remove the probe.

NOTE: IF YOU HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE PROBE AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS…..THE PROBE MAY NOT BE THE PROBLEM!

PROCEDURE

Does a shim stock analysis, a 3-gas analysis (SSi PGA3000) or a dew point analysis (SSi DP2000) verify the indicated value from the probe? If the values are close to the same, the problem is not likely the Gold Probe. If the values are not similar, continue with the following steps:

  1. Verify that both mV and t/c cables between the sensor and the controller are clean and connected firmly to the Gold Probe and controller terminals. Verify polarity.
  2. Verify that the reference air supply is connected to the reference air fitting. This will be the fitting closest to you when you face the probe. It has been found that on occasion the reference air has been connected in error to the burn off fitting, causing low readings.
  3. Check that the reference air is flowing. Disconnect the air supply at the probe and submerge it in a cup of water. Bubbles verify the flow.
  4. Verify that no air is flowing into the burn off fitting by submerging the burn off tubing in a cup of water. (Flow can occur if the burn off air pump is subject to external vibration.)
  5. Leak test- this test can detect a cracked or broken substrate in your Gold Probe. Verify that reference air is flowing at 0.5 to 2.0 scfh. Turn off the reference air for one minute and read the Gold Probe output millivolts. Turn the reference air back on and note the change in mV. It should not display more than a 5 mV increase.
  6. Is the controller COF set to the proper value? This factor is referred to by other descriptions such as Process Factor, Furnace Factor, CO Factor, Circulation Factor, Calibration Factor, etc. The factor may require adjustment to eliminate any offset or discrepancy between the indicated carbon potential and the actual achieved result in the work pieces or shim stock.
  7. Do the sensor temperature and MV output as measured by an independent digital calibrator agree with the indicated values on the controller with one sensor and one t/c lead disconnected? If not, there is most likely a controller calibration problem or a cable problem.
  8. Does the Gold Probe mV signal return to within 1mV of it’s original value in 1 minute as measured by a digital VOM after it has been shorted for 5 seconds? If it does not, go to step 10.
  9. Probe impedance (resistance) test-this is one of several electrical tests that determine the electrical integrity and reliability of the Gold Probe. Some contemporary controllers can perform it. If yours does not, conduct this simple test: at process temperature, disconnect the controller cable at the Gold Probe mV output and measure the mV value with a VOM. Then shunt the signal with a 100 kilohm resistor. After 10 seconds, read the new mV value, divide the original value by the new value, subtract 1 from the result and multiply by the value of the shunt resistor (=100K). The calculated value is the sensor resistance in kilohms, which should be less than 25 kilohms.
  10. If the problem is not corrected by probe and/or furnace burnout as described in the Gold Probe Manual and your system manual, and the problem is a faulty probe, contact SSi at (800)666-4330 and describe your problem to our technician. You may then request a Returned Material Authorization for repair or replacement of your Gold Probe.
  11. WARNING- even though you suspect a faulty sensor, DO NOT remove your Gold Probe from a hot furnace at a rate faster than 2 inches per minute. Cool the sensor on an insulating medium to avoid thermal shock. This will prevent damage that is expensive to repair.

Author information:
Stephen Thompson
Super Systems Inc.
7205 Edington Drive, Cincinnati,  OH 45249
Phone: 513-772-0060
Fax: 513-772-9466
www.supersystems.com

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Majority of Heat Treatment Done In-House at SKF — New Equipment Purchased

/ ANNEALING, BRAZING, CARBURIZING, FEATURED NEWS, HEAT TREAT NEWS INDUSTRIES, QUENCHING NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES NEWS

Ipsen recently installed both atmosphere and vacuum heat-treating systems at SKF’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in St. Louis, Missouri. With the relocation of their existing facility to a new location, SKF continues to focus on enhancing the quality, efficiency and overall effectiveness of their heat-treating equipment. Among this new Ipsen equipment was a complete ATLAS atmosphere heat-treating system, including two ATLAS integral quench batch furnaces and ancillary equipment – washer, temper, endo generator, loader/unloader and a feed-in/feed-out station. SKF also purchased a TITAN® vacuum heat-treating system to round out their production capabilities.

Heat-treating is considered a core competency at SKF, and this new equipment will allow them to bring the majority of heat treatment in-house and efficiently handle the increase they’ve seen in production demands and volume of parts. Reflecting on the equipment purchased and what appealed to SKF, Bryan Stanford said, “Initially, I would say it was the general purposefulness of these Ipsen products that appealed to us. We run a very large variety of parts and batch quantities here. A custom solution designed to run tens of thousands of the same parts was not going to work for us. We wanted a low-cost, off-the-shelf-type solution that would allow us the flexibility we required – which is what the ATLAS and TITAN delivered. Now after having performed some pre-training, I would say what stands out the most is the ease of use and control of the equipment.”

The ATLAS batch furnaces feature a 24″ W x 36″ D x 30″ H (610 mm x 910 mm x 760 mm) load size with an 1,100-pound (500 kg) load capacity. They also operate at temperatures of 1,400 °F to 1,800 °F (750 °C to 980 °C) and have a quench oil capacity of 1,030 gallons (3,900 L). The TITAN vacuum furnace features an 18″ W x 24″ D x 18″ H (455 mm x 610 mm x 455 mm) load size with a 1,000-pound (454 kg) load capacity. It operates at temperatures of 1,000 °F to 2,400 °F (538 °C to 1,316 °C). Overall, this Ipsen equipment will be used for carburizing, carbonitriding, brazing and annealing and will process a wide variety of parts that support SKF’s Lubrication Business Unit.

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Heat Treatment and Wicked Problems

/ CARBURIZING, FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS

BOTW-50w  Source:  Linked In – Peter Sherwin

“I am wide awake on a late night flight from Kolkata to Delhi (India) so I pick up my phone to continue reading “Design to Grow – How Coca Cola learned to combine scale and agility.” I happened on the chapter discussing wicked problems – with sustainability of water use being one of Coke’s wicked problem (basically a wicked problem is one that is ill-defined, has many uncontrollable variables and has no so-called right or optimal solutions).

Having spent the week traveling around India and visiting customers with typical heat treat problems and seeing and hearing about and presenting the latest technology solutions in Heat Treat – I have come to the conclusion Heat Treatment is itself a wicked problem.”

Read More:  Peter Sherwin – Eurotherm – Linked IN

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Enhancing Energy Efficiency of Thermochemical Vacuum-Processes and Systems

/ AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT, AUTOMOTIVE HEAT TREAT NEWS, CARBURIZING, FEATURED NEWS, VACUUM FURNACES TECHNICAL CONTENT

BOTW-50w  Source:  Heat Processing

“The energy optimization of thermoprocessing equipment is of great ecological and economical importance. Thermoprocessing equipment consumes up to 40 % of the energy used in industrial applications in Germany. Therefore it is necessary to increase the energy efficiency of thermoprocessing equipment in order to meet the EU’s targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In order to exploit the potential for energy savings, it is essential to analyze and optimize processes and plants as well as operating methods of electrically heated vacuum plants used in large scale production. For processes, the accelerated heating of charges through convection and higher process temperatures in diffusion-controlled thermochemical processes are a possibility. Modular vacuum systems prove to be very energy-efficient because they adapt to the changing production requirements step-by-step. An optimized insulation structure considerably reduces thermal losses. Energy management systems installed in the plant-control optimally manage the energy used for start-up and shutdown of the plants while preventing energy peak loads. The use of new CFC-fixtures also contributes to reduce the energy demand.”

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Record Gas Quenching Speeds Achieved in Ipsen’s ARGOS Heat Treating System

/ CARBURIZING, FEATURED NEWS, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT, MANUFACTURING HEAT TREAT NEWS, QUENCHING NEWS

KLEVE, GERMANY – Ipsen’s Global Development Team recently celebrated the first build and testing of the ARGOS heat-treating system. The ARGOS uses low-pressure carburizing (AvaC®) in combination with 20-bar nitrogen quenching to provide metallurgical properties never before seen in gas quenching systems – even those utilizing 20-bar helium quenching. One industry visitor who witnessed the test run commented, “The ARGOS is likely the fastest inert gas quench furnace in the world.”

This initial test was performed on one of the most difficult to quench vacuum carburized components: layshafts for large gears. Until now, helium gas, which is both expensive and declining in availability, was required to fully transform parts with very high cross-sectional thicknesses.

Test outcomes showed that the shafts processed in the ARGOS system with 20-bar nitrogen quenching achieved higher surface hardness and core hardness values than shafts processed in the existing vacuum heat-treating furnaces that use 20-bar helium quenching. The ARGOS heat-treating system also offers several benefits, including:

  • Flexible installation with a selectable number of carburizing, nitriding, subzero and high vacuum process chambers with a nitrogen gas and/or oil quench module
  • Excellent temperature uniformity during heating and cooling
  • Minimal and controllable distortion due to temperature homogeneity throughout the entire load and the reversible gas flow during cooling
  • Extremely high gas velocity and volume due to Ipsen’s unique cooling system design

Overall, the ARGOS furnace line represents a significant milestone in the growing trend to operate low-pressure carburizing (LPC) lines in combination with inert gas quenching.

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