Note: Heating an Engine Valve Head for Stress Testing

Objective:

To heat the face of an engine valve head to 900 °F and maintain the temperature for an extended time, high temperature stress test.

End Product:

engine valve head

Equipment:

Ambrell 3.5kW power supply, remote heat station with one 0.66 μF capacitor
a specially-designed, multi-turn induction coil
optical pyrometer.

Materials:

Engine valve head (two sizes)
temperature sensing paint

Temperature:

900 °F

Frequency:

223 kHz for large part; 271 kHz for smaller part

Testing:

A specially-designed multi-turn pancake coil was used to provide uniform heat to the part. To provide optimum coupling, the face of the valve head was placed approximately 3/8 in away from the coil. RF power was applied for 4 minutes to heat the larger valve to 900 °F; the smaller valve head required 2 minutes to reach the same temperature. For closed-loop temperature control, the optical pyrometer was then used to maintain the temperature at 900 °F.

Benefits:

Uniform and repeatable results were obtained with the Ambrell power supply and induction coil at 900 Ă °F. Depending on the part size, the correct temperature was
reached in 2 to 4 minutes.
Heating an Engine Valve Head for Stress Testing

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