Fluid dynamics during forced convective quenching of flat-end cylindrical probes

摘要

The hydrodynamic behavior of the quenchant around a flat-end cylindrical probe was studied to explain the anomalies observed when quenching this type of probe in a fluid moving at relatively high velocities. Both, physical and mathematical models were developed and compared with the observations made during the actual quenches which were conducted with water at 60°C flowing at 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 m/s. The computed streamlines compared favorably with the measured ones which validated the mathematical model. The computed pressure field shows a significant gradient near the probe corner which produces backflow and an area of negative pressure which favors the occurrence of a localized thicker vapor blanket. Thus, the use of the flat-end cylindrical probe for wetting kinematics studies is not recommended.