GAS QUENCHING METHOD USING A RECYCLING FACILITY

摘要

The invention relates to a gas quenching method of the type that makes use of (i) a quenching cell (V1) which is intended to receive objects to be quenched with a quenching gas and (ii) a buffer capacity (V2) which is designed to contain the quenching gas. The invention is characterised in that following a quenching operation, all or part of the gas contained in the cell (V1) is recycled in the following manner consisting in: obtaining a first intermediate storage balloon (V3) which can receive the quenching gas from the cell; after a quenching operation, performing one or more operations comprising the partial emptying of the contents of the cell (V1) into the first intermediate storage balloon (V3), by means of partial or total pressure balancing between the two volumes of the cell (V1) and the first intermediate storage balloon; transferring the gas stored in the first intermediate storage balloon (V3) to the buffer capacity (V2); and, if necessary, releasing part of the contents of the cell (V1) into the atmosphere.