A new semi-analytical model for prediction of the strand surface temperature in the continuous casting of steel in the mold region

In this research, a new semi-analytical model is presented for the strand surface temperature in the continuous casting of steel. Firstly with a dimensional analysis approach a general relation between the strand surface temperature and the other effective variables such as conductivity of the steel, pouring temperature, casting velocity, distance from the meniscus, volume rate of cooling water, solidus temperature and heat flux density at the meniscus is deduced. The constants appeared as coefficients or powers of variables in presented relation were computed by a numerical simulation of continuous casting for a breakout bloom. The resulted semi-analytical model for strand surface temperature was extended to predict the solidified shell thickness. The resulted semi-analytical model was validated with comparison to experimental, analytical and numerical results of slab; billet and bloom and good agreement was seen. The new presented model at this research is in versus of controllable parameters and specifications of the mold and it can be used for design of a process control system for continuous casting of slab, billet and bloom.