Oil Tempering Lines

Q.E.D.'s Oil Tempering Lines consist of an Austenitizing Furnace, Quenching System, Tempering Furnace and Cooling and Coating Tanks. The Austenitizing Furnace can be Direct Fired, Fluidbed or Muffle Tube for atmosphere control. Following the heating section, the wires are rapidly quenched in a cooling medium of mineral based oil or water based polymer fluids. The quench fluid is temperature controlled and re-circulated through a cooling heat-exchanger and filters. After wiping, the wires enter the Tempering Section that is usually a Fluidbed Furnace but can also be a Lead Furnace. Quenching System The Quench Tank is designed on the "overflow" principle. The tank is constructed in two pieces, the tray section where the wires will be quenched and a reservoir tank below to catch the overflow oil/quench fluid. The oil will be pumped from the reservoir tank through a heat exchanger and strainer to the tray section. The pump rate is sufficient to create the high turbulence and agitation necessary to provide uniform quenching. Two pumps are supplied, one operational and one stand-by, complete with a duplex inlet strainer, and mounted on a common steel base.

Dump Tank The quench system is supplied with a dump/holding tank located below the main quench tank in a purpose made pit in the floor. The oil in the quench tank is automatically evacuated to the dump tank in the event of a serious fire. A fusible link valve is installed in the dump line and is designed to open if the link is broken by heat. A pump is provided to return the oil back to the quench tank.

Fume Hood and Extraction A full length fume hood is constructed to remove the smoking oil fumes above the quench tank. An extraction fan, damper assembly and duct work discharge them to atmosphere. The fume extraction system can be used in conjunction with our optional afterburner combustion system.

Control System During normal operation the oil temperature is controlled by cooling through an air-oil heat exchanger. A cooling temperature controller governs the operation of the fans in the heat-exchanger. At start-up the oil is heated to operating temperature by electric immersions heaters controlled by a heating temperature controller. A quench tank low oil level switch and low oil flow switch provide warning alarms prior to the system reaching a dangerous condition. Additional alarms and interlocks are provided for high oil temperature, exhaust fan operation and pump operation.

Wiping System A two stage soft rubber pad wiping system is used to wipe the majority of the oil from the wire surface. The excess oil that is removed by the pads drains back into the oil quench tank.