Enhancing lubrication efficiency in grinding wheels through internal channels structure optimization: A computational study

Abstract

Effective control of heat and debris removal during grinding operations is critical for process optimization. The distribution of grinding fluids in the contact zone is being studied using different approaches (structured surfaces…). This study proposes an innovative methodology employing grinding wheels with an internal network of cooling channels designed to deliver grinding fluid directly from the wheel's center to the contact zone. The objective is to deliver the cooling fluid directly into the grinding area and, simultaneously, mitigate the air barrier effect and regulate heat generation within this zone. Computational simulations (ANSYS Workbench software) were conducted using a 32 internal channels structure arranged in single-layer or dual-layer configurations. In all simulations, the inlet conditions were the same: the lubricating fluid used was water with a flow rate of 0.5 L/min per channel and a wheel rotation speed of 2000 rpm.