Computer Simulation Provides Accurate Thermal Data for Exothermic/Insulating Feeding Systems

This article, reprinted with permission from Foundry Practice Issue 230, published by Foseco inc., Cleveland, OH and Staffordshire, England, describes the use of computer simulation software to predict and enhance feeding system performance for casting.

Casting process simulation uses first principle fluid dynamics and thermodynamics to predict the filling and solidification characteristics of the casting process. Accurate thermal information is required for all of the materials in the casting process so that the thermodynamic characteristics of the system can be predicted.

Until now, the software databases for insulating feeding system materials were generalized, and as a result, not accurate for specific feeding system products. More importantly, exothermic feeding system thermal data was not readily available. Even when simulation software users made various adjustments to insulating feeding system performance to approximate exothermic properties, they were not able to consistently predict the performance of exothermic/ insulating feeding systems across the broad range of product sizes and shapes.