Use of titanium and zirconium in centrifugally cast heat resistant steel

Abstract

Low carbon 25Cr–35Ni steel (HP type steel) modified with titanium and zirconium has been produced by centrifugal casting. The different phases present in the as cast and aged conditions were described by light optical and scanning electron microscopy with secondary electron imaging and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Results suggest that the use of titanium as a microalloying element reduces secondary precipitation during aging. Moreover, secondary precipitates in the microalloyed steel are much finer and more evenly distributed. On the other hand, zirconium oxides was found to be potential nucleation sites for primary titanium rich carbides contributing to an optimum distribution of these carbides in the tubes. These differences together with the higher stability of the titanium containing primary carbides are responsible for the improvement on ductility and creep resistance found in the present work.     

浅谈活塞式压缩机运转条件的改善

通过对管路振动及噪声这两个主要影响活塞式压缩机运转条件的因素进行分析，提出了相应的改善措施。     

Effect of VC addition on microstructural evolution of WC–Co alloy: mechanism of grain growth inhibition

Abstract

Specimens of WC–30Co and WC–1VC–30Co (wt-%) were heat treated at 1500°C for up to 64 h. During the early stage of heat treatment, it was observed that the addition of VC has effectively retarded the coarsening of WC grains. After the prolonged heat treatment, however, the abnormally grown, very large WC grains appeared in the WC–1VC–30Co specimen. The role of VC has been interpreted in terms of grain coarsening which is suggested to occur by a two-dimensional nucleation mechanism.     

NEW SCALING METHOD FOR COMPRESSOR MAPS USING AVERAGE INFINITESIMAL STAGE

The estimation of the precise performance of existing multistage axial-flow compressors of gas turbine engines is fast becoming a great concern, as the use of gas turbine engines in the power generation and in the military industry increases. In order to reduce the analysis performance error of the traditional scaling method, a new scaling method for estimating the characteristics of multistage axial flow compressors is proposed. This novel method is based on experimental and partial data provided by engine manufacturers. Taking the effect of density-change into account, we introduce the average infinitesimal stage concept, and thereby divide the compression process into an infinite number of infinitesimal processes corresponding to infinitesimal stages. Subsequently, we adopt the corrected Reynolds analogy method for compressible flow calculation in order to ensure much better compliance with the similarity criterion. Validation checks show that the proposed method has enough precision to predict the off-design performance characteristics of multistage axial flow compressors.     

COMPARISON OF TWO METHODS TO INCREASE TIP CLEARANCE AND ITS EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE OF TURBOCHARGER CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR STAGE

Tip clearance between the blade tip and casing of a centrifugal compressor can be varied through two methods:by changing the blade height(M1)or by changing the casing diameter(M2). Numerical simulations are carried out to compare these two methods and their effect on the stage and impeller performance.The impeller and diffuser are connected through rotor stator boundary using frozen rotor approach.Overall stage performance and the flow configuration have been investigated for nine tip clearance levels from no gap to 1 mm.Impeller and diffuser performances are also pre- sented separately.It has been found that the overall and impeller performance are comparatively better for M1 below tip clearance of 0.5 mm whereas M2 is found advantageous above 0.5 mm of tip clear- ance.Both M1 and M2 show performance degradation with the increase in tip clearance.Two models have been proposed for the stage total pressure ratio and efficiency,which are found to be in agree- ment with experimental results.The impeller efficiency and the pressure ratio are found to be maxi- mum at tip clearance of 0.1 mm for both the cases however minimum diffuser effectiveness is also observed at the same clearance level.Diffuser effectiveness is found to be maximum at zero gap for both cases.As it is practically impossible to have zero gap for unshrouded impellers so it is concluded that the optimum thickness is 0.5 mm onwards for M1 and 0.5 mm for M2 in terms of diffuser effec- tiveness.Mass averaged flow parameters,entropy,blade loading diagram and relative pressure fields are presented,showing the loss production within the impeller passage with tip clearance.     

Investigation of Fe2O3–Al and Cr2O3–Al reactions using a high speed video camera

Abstract

Self propagating high temperature synthesis is a simple, fast and energy efficient process with a wide range of applications, one of which is the coating of the internal surfaces of steel pipes using a centrifugal thermit process. The process involves a highly exothermic reaction between powder reactants distributed around a steel tube rotating at high speed. Although the process has been widely studied, important features, particularly how the reaction propagates, have not been completely revealed due to extremely high reaction rates and temperatures. In the present work, Fe₂O₃–Al and, to a lesser degree, Cr₂O₃–Al reactions were studied under stationary (non-rotating) and rotating conditions using a high speed video camera by which the centrifugal thermit process was, for the first time, recorded optically. Video recordings clearly demonstrate that, in contradiction to current belief, the reaction does not always propagate in a well ordered (spiral) pattern, but involves multiple, randomly distributed ignition sites.     

Manufacture of centrifugal cast high speed steel rolls for wire rod mills

Abstract

By means of a centrifugal casting method, high speed steel (HSS) rolls with excellent wear resistance have been manufactured. The hardness of the HSS rolls was 65–67 HRC, the range of hardness variation was smaller than 2 HRC and the impact toughness exceeded 15 J. The wear rate of the rolls was 2.5 × 10^?4 mm t^?1 of steel passing through the prefinishing stands of the high speed hot wire rod rolling mill. Casting cracking of the HSS rolls was definitely decreased and the rejection rate owing to the presence of cracks was less than 3%, as a result of the use of a two layer paint and varying the rotation rate. In addition, the segregation of alloying elements could be decreased by adding a suitable amount of niobium (0.6–2.0%).     

EFFECTS OF SPLITTER BLADES ON THE LAW OF INNER FLOW WITHIN CENTRIFUGAL PUMP IMPELLER

Analysis on the inner flow field of a centrifugal pump impeller with splitter blades is carried out by numerical simulation. Based on this analysis, the principle of increasing pump head and efficiency are discussed. New results are obtained from the analysis of turbulence kinetic energy and relative velocity distribution: Firstly, unreasonable length or deviation design of the splitter blades may cause great turbulent fluctuation in impeller channel, which has a great effect on the stability of impeller outlet flow; Secondly, it is found that the occurrence of flow separation can be decreased or delayed with splitter blades from the analysis of blade loading; Thirdly, the effect of splitter blades on reforming the structure of "jet-wake" is explained from the relative velocity distribution at different flow cross-sections, which shows the flow process in the impeller. The inner flow analysis verifies the results of performance tests results and the PIV test.     

Centrifugal casting of functionally graded aluminium matrix composite components

Abstract

Centrifugal casting is one of the potential manufacturing techniques used for producing near net shaped components with improved properties. The emergence of new class of functionally graded materials has made it an important technique for the fabrication of engineering components and structures with graded property. The present paper describes the studies carried out on processing and characterisation of functionally graded Al matrix composites components based on Al–SiC ex situ and Al–Si in situ composites. The microstructural and mechanical characteristics of the composites are evaluated. In the case of Al–SiC functionally graded metal matrix composites discs, the particles are segregated gradiently towards the outer periphery of the casting exhibiting high strength and hardness towards the outer periphery. The Al–Si in situ composite cylinder shows the dispersion of primary Si particles towards the inner periphery of the casting which can lead to higher hardness and wear resistance.     

Dimensional stability and thermal stress of 6061 Al/SiCw composite during thermal cycles

Abstract

The variations of dimensions and thermal stress of 6061Al/20 vol.-%SiC_w composites were investigated during thermal cycles between 25 and 300°C. Testing results showed that the dimensional stability and thermal stress are mainly related to the whisker distribution in the composite. For the as cast composite, owing to the whiskers being oriented randomly, the temperature cycles hardly affect the dimensions of the specimen, so this material has good dimensional stability. However, for the as extruded composite, owing to whisker alignment, the thermal cycles can evidently affect the dimensions of the specimen, i.e. the dimension is elongated in the alignment direction of whiskers and shortened in another direction. The dimensional stability of the as extruded composite can be improved somewhat by thermal precycles.