AbstractThe quenching process within the heat treatment of workpieces can be optimized by applying locally adapted quenching conditions. Locally variable heat transfer conditions at the workpiece surface are realizable by impressing and regulation of adjustable flexible flow fields on the basis of arrays for jet flow impingings on surfaces inside the quenching media. With use of these adapted jet fields it is possible to generate spatially and or timewise varying quenching conditions with high cooling intensities for a systematic locally heat transfer during the quenching process.For the analysis of workpiece distortion activated by heat treatment, the heat transfer and hardening process by quenching in adapted flexible flow fields is modelwise described. By controlled quenching with liquid media, the quenching intensities can be increased for specific local hardening results on massive workpieces. By that, the heat treatment process and the quenching result can be affected and optimized by controlling the boiling process and the establishing of the rewetting front on the workpiece surface.