Thermochemical treatment processes are used to produce a surface layer of the workpiece with improved mechanical properties. One of the important parameters during the gas nitriding processes is the temperature of the surface. In thermochemical treatment processes, there is a problem in precisely determining the surface temperature of heat-treated massive components with complex geometries. This paper presents a simulation of the heating process of a die used to extrude aluminium profiles. The maximum temperature differences calculated in the die volume, on the surface and at the most mechanically stressed edge during the extrusion of the aluminum profiles were analysed. The heating of the die was simulated using commercial transient thermal analysis software. The numerical calculations of the die assumed a boundary condition in the form of the heat transfer coefficient obtained from experimental studies in a thermochemical treatment furnace and the solution of the nonstationary and non-linear inverse problem for the heat conduction equation in the cylinder. The die heating analysis was performed for various heating rates and fan settings. Major differences in the surface temperature and in the volume of the heated die were obtained. Possible ways to improve the productivity and control of thermochemical treatment processes were identified. The paper investigates the heating of a die, which is a massive component with complex geometry. This paper indicates a new way to develop methods for the control of thermochemical processing of massive components with complex geometries.

The paper discusses the possible determination of steam parameters in a new type of piston machine for steam compression to generate supercritical water parameters. It presents a calculation model that allows one to simulate the process of steam compression in a cylinder with volume regulated by the piston position. In each calculation step, the steam parameters were determined on the basis of fast adiabatic changes which were corrected by the effect of leakage and heat transfer occurrence. The seal of the reactor was assumed to be a compression ring. Depending on the pressure drop on the seal, subcritical and supercritical flow was taken into account. The leak was corrected by the coefficient of flow contraction. Heat transfer was determined by equations for the Nusselt number for water and steam from the homogenous area. The programmed model allows one to simulate changes in the thermodynamic parameters of steam during the process of steam compression with any calculation step. The results presented in this paper show that the application of one compression ring allows us to obtain supercritical steam parameters. Various degrees of sealing leak tightness and their impact on the changeability of steam parameters were analyzed. Heat transfer was shown to have an impact not only on changes in steam temperature, but also on pressure. This paper analyzes the impact of the temperature of the walls of the compression chamber on the value and direction of heat transfer.