Analysis of Thermal Behavior for Beam Blank Continuous Casting Mold

Finite element models of steady heat conduction in the meniscus region of beam blank mold were developed by using ABAQUS software. The effect of mold grinding thickness, cooling water velocity, diameter of restrictor rods and water channel design on hot face temperature was analyzed in detail. Attention was focus on the peak temperature and temperature uniformity along hot face. The results showed that the peak temperature of existing mold, about 337.2 oC, is located in the fillet, and two valleys of hot face temperature are found in flange corner and junction of wide face and narrow face, respectively. Decreasing mold thickness, increasing cooling water velocity and increasing diameter of restrictor rods can all reduce peak temperature and improve temperature uniformity along hot race at the expense of lower overall temperature. Redesigning the water channel can decrease peak temperature and thermal gradient of mold without lowering overall temperature of hot face. In particular, the small hole design can improve temperature uniformity across hot face to the best advantage.