Analysis of effect on temperature field of tire curing process by initial temperatures and condensate discharging

[Display omitted] •A 3D model of the steam-heating vulcanization process was established.•The effects of initial temperature and condensate discharging were investigated.•The increase of initial temperature helps to raise the tire temperature uniformity.•The volume fraction of condensate is recommended to controlled at 0.2 % ∼ 0.3 %. To improve the heat transfer efficiency and temperature distribution uniformity of steam-heating vulcanization processes, a 3D simulation model was established by Solidworks and transient simulation studies were carried out by Fluent 2021 R1. The effects of four initial tire temperatures and five condensate discharging schemes on the heat transfer efficiency and temperature distribution uniformity were investigated. The study finds that: (1) At the end of the stage of filling the capsule with high-temperature and high-pressure steam, the temperature of the lower mold sidewall is 152.08 °C which is significantly higher than that of the lower mold bead with 128.03 °C, the lower mold shoulder with 115.00 °C, and the lower mold crown with 109.57 °C. (2) With the initial tire temperature increasing from 25 °C to 55 °C, the final temperatures at the lower mold crown and the upper mold sidewall are increased by 12.00 °C and 2.27 °C, respectively, indicating that the increase in the initial temperature helps to raise the temperature at difficult vulcanization locations of the tire. (3) It is recommended to carry out condensate discharging when the volume fraction of condensate at the lower mold sidewall is 0.2 %∼0.3 %, which improves the temperature uniformity in the steam-heating vulcanization process.