A simulation method for the optimization of cooling water slot structure in slab continuous casting mold combined with submerged entry nozzle

The temperature field in the full 3D finite element mold model (FEMM) combined with submerged entry nozzle (SEN) (Full SEN-3D FEMM) is simulated by using Fluent of ANSYS 18.0 Package. The maximum heat flux on the heat face of mold copper plate obtained through this simulation is applied to the element model of the copper plate, and thermal stress and strain simulations on the copper plate and stainless back ones are conducted with Workbench of ANSYS 18.0 Package, confirming the reasonable designing factors for the water slot structure on the copper plate. The maximum heat flux on the wide and narrow heat faces of the copper plates is given on the initial shock areas of molten steel flux injected through SEN. With constant heat flux on the heat face, the more thickness of copper plate increases, the more the max and min temperatures increase, and the difference between them decreases. Elastic and plastic deformations on the copper plate are made during continuous casting (CC) process; the former occurs around water slots and the latter around heat face. The cooling water slots depths of mold copper plate must be designed for minimizing of elastic and plastic deformations.