To　preserve　the　seed　crystal　in　the　melting　process　and　improve　the　thermal　field　in　the　hot-zone　during　the　solidification　process　aiding　the　formation　of　a　quasi-single　crystalline　silicon　ingot,　an　insulation　partition　block　was　designed　for　use　in　the　hot-zone　of　an　industrial　seeded　directional　solidification　furnace.　A　global　model　taking　into　account　thermal　conduction,　thermal　radiation,　melt　convection　and　argon　flow　was　established　to　investigate　the　effects　of　the　insulation　configuration　design　on　the　thermal　field,　solidification　interface　shape,　melt　convection,　argon　recirculation　and　power　consumption.　In　addition　to　comparing　insulation　configuration　designs　with　and　without　the　partition　block,　we　carried　out　a　comprehensive　parameter　study　of　the　local　design　of　the　hot-zone,　including　the　position,　the　width　and　the　thickness　of　the　insulation　partition　block.　The　results　show　that　a　suitable　temperature　gradient　and　a　flat　or　slightly　convex　interface　during　seed　preservation　and　bulk　crystal　growth　can　be　achieved　to　maintain　the　quasi-single　crystal　structure　all　the　way　to　the　top　of　the　silicon　ingot.　Furthermore,　the　argon　recirculation　and　energy　consumption　can　be　reduced　and　the　melt　flow　motion　can　be　controlled　by　good　insulation　partition　block　design.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.