ProstKühl2

Grinding processes involve the risk of thermal damage, which is why cooling lubricants are used to dissipate heat and reduce friction. Despite empirical findings, there is a lack of detailed studies on the flow behavior of the cooling lubricant after it hits the moving grinding wheel, as well as suitable measurement methods for the contact zone.

This project aims to gain a fundamental understanding of the flow behaviour and heat transfer during grinding in order to optimize cooling performance and minimize coolant consumption by investigating both the coolant flow in the contact zone and the flow-dependent heat transfer coefficient during the interaction between tool and workpiece. To analyze the flow, a transparent workpiece replacement is integrated into the grinding machine, which allows optical access to the contact zone. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and Shadow Image Velocimetry (SIV) are used to record and analyze the flow in this area. At the same time, any disturbing influences are identified and quantified. The heat transfer coefficient is determined by expanding a test rig with additional temperature sensors in order to analyse and minimize systematic deviations in the heat balance.

The findings are incorporated into a grinding process model that is used to predict the cooling capacity. Validations with grinding tests help to identify necessary adjustments for production and material parameters in order to develop an optimized model to describe the influence of flow conditions on cooling performance and workpiece temperature.