Distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation and its working method

Abstract

This invention relates to a distributed power supply system and its operating method for lithium extraction and deintercalation, comprising at least two power supply modules; dividing multiple electrode pairs into at least two electrode pair groups; each power supply module supplying power to the electrode pair group; the power supply module consisting of one or more power supply units operating in parallel; the operating current of each electrode pair in the lithium extraction and deintercalation cell can reach 20-60A or even higher; the power supply modules provided by this invention supply power to the electrode pairs locally, and the number of power supply modules and the number of electrode pairs can be flexibly set. It provides as many electrode pairs as possible to the electrode pairs according to the rated voltage or current of the power supply units, avoiding idleness. This application, through the distributed power supply method of power supply modules, can reduce the cross-sectional area of ​​the copper busbar used for power supply connections in the entire lithium extraction and deintercalation cell, reducing the amount of copper used; at the same time, it simplifies the field wiring, facilitates installation and maintenance, and makes equipment selection easier.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of distributed power technology, specifically relating to a distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation and its working method. Background Technology

[0002] With the depletion of non-renewable energy sources, the development and utilization of new energy sources is an inevitable trend. New energy vehicles, as a typical representative of new energy development and utilization, have experienced rapid growth in recent years and will eventually surpass the market share of traditional gasoline vehicles, gradually replacing them. Lithium, as an essential energy metal for the power systems of new energy vehicles, will also see a dramatic increase in market demand. The efficient, environmentally friendly, and low-cost mining of lithium resources is crucial for the sustainable development of the new energy vehicle industry.

[0003] Lithium resources exist in nature primarily in the form of ores and brines, with the majority (over 80%) found in brines, especially salt lake brines. Addressing the challenge of economically, efficiently, and environmentally friendly extraction from most salt lake brines in my country, CN 102382984 A proposes a new lithium extraction technology from salt lakes. This technology utilizes the working principle of aqueous lithium batteries, employing a delithiated battery cathode material with a "memory effect" for lithium ions as the electrode material, salt lake brine as the cathode electrolyte, and a magnesium-free supporting electrolyte as the anode electrolyte, thus forming an electrochemical deintercalation system to achieve lithium extraction and enrichment. This method is called "electrochemical deintercalation method for lithium extraction from salt lakes." To address the requirements of high conversion efficiency, stable DC output, low voltage, and high current power supply in industrial production, and considering the lack of mature operational experience for complete solutions, a power supply method for the lithium extraction deintercalation tank is proposed as a complement to the lithium extraction deintercalation tank, completing the salt lake lithium extraction process together. In normal operation, the cathode-side unit of the lithium extraction / deintercalation tank contains brine or other solutions containing lithium that need to be separated and enriched, which we refer to as the "lithium extraction solution." An electrode plate (hereinafter referred to as the cathode plate), coated with a lithium-deficient electrode material on both sides, is placed in this solution and connected to the negative electrode. The anode-side unit of the lithium extraction / deintercalation tank contains the target lithium-enriched solution, which we refer to as the lithium-rich solution. An electrode plate (hereinafter referred to as the anode plate), coated with a lithium-rich electrode material on both sides, is placed in this solution and connected to the positive electrode. When energized as required, the reaction process of separating lithium ions from the lithium extraction solution and enriching them in the lithium-rich solution begins. The cathode-side and anode-side unit cells are separated by an ion-exchange membrane. The cathode-side and anode-side unit cells together are called the anode-cathode / electrode-intercalation unit, and the cathode and anode plates within them constitute an electrode plate pair (hereinafter referred to as the electrode plate pair or anode-cathode electrode pair).

[0004] In related technologies, to meet the needs of large-scale industrial production, each lithium extraction and deintercalation cell can contain 100 or more anion and cation deintercalation units. Depending on the lithium extraction solution being processed, the peak current of a single anion and cation deintercalation unit can reach 20-60A, requiring the entire lithium extraction and deintercalation cell to have a power supply output current of 2000-6000A or more. With further technological development, this current may even be higher. For a 2-meter-long lithium extraction and deintercalation cell, the applied working voltage between each pair of anion and cation deintercalation units cannot exceed 1V or lower. To maintain the consistency of the electrode plate pairs' performance after multiple working cycles, the voltage difference between the first and last electrode plate pairs cannot exceed 0.05V. This places strict requirements on the arrangement and cross-sectional area of ​​the positive and negative busbars connected to the electrode plate pairs, and is also closely related to the location of the power supply output connected to the busbars. This centralized power supply method results in a larger cross-sectional area of ​​the copper busbars used for connection, meaning a larger amount of copper is required; otherwise, it would be difficult to meet the normal operation requirements of the lithium extraction and deintercalation cell.

[0005] Alternatively, a single wire can be drawn from the output of one power supply to each electrode pair. This wiring method can meet the voltage output requirements, but it makes it difficult to select sampling points or complicates the feedback control logic. In addition, there are many wiring connections on site, resulting in a large amount of debugging work and a high risk of problems.

[0006] Furthermore, the output requirements for a single power supply unit are also quite high: regulated voltage, low DC voltage and high current, while also high efficiency, making the equipment difficult to manufacture. Even if manufactured, it typically uses multiple power modules operating in parallel. Alternatively, it may use a thyristor rectifier output, but this type of equipment has high harmonics, causing significant interference to surrounding equipment and the power grid. It usually requires a separate air-cooling or water-cooling system, is bulky, has relatively complex control, and its output accuracy and overall efficiency are lower than high-frequency switching power supplies. Obtaining the actual voltage applied between the anode and cathode electrode pairs is challenging due to the difficulty in selecting and setting sampling points. Too few sampling points cannot represent the voltage between all electrode pairs in the entire tank; too many sampling points complicate the control logic or make it difficult to implement.

[0007] Therefore, selecting the power supply equipment is quite difficult. Existing power supplies cannot meet the economical, efficient, flexible, and reliable power supply requirements of the electrode plates in the electrochemical lithium extraction / deintercalation process. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation, so as to solve the problem that the power supply in the prior art cannot meet the power supply requirements of the electrode plates in the lithium extraction and deintercalation cell.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation, comprising: at least two power supply modules; and dividing multiple electrode plate pairs into at least two electrode plate pair groups;

[0010] Each of the power supply modules is used to supply power to the electrode plate pair;

[0011] The power supply module consists of one or more power supply units operating in parallel.

[0012] Furthermore, at least two of the electrode plate pairs are connected in a common anode or common cathode configuration.

[0013] Furthermore, the power supply unit includes:

[0014] Voltage acquisition module and controller;

[0015] The voltage acquisition module is used to acquire the voltage applied to the anode / node de-intercalation unit or a group of anode / node de-intercalation units composed of multiple anode / node de-intercalation units; the anode / node de-intercalation unit is used to place electrode plate pairs;

[0016] The voltage acquisition module includes multiple voltage acquisition points and multiple voltage feedback points. The multiple voltage feedback points are set on the power supply unit, and the multiple voltage acquisition points are set on the electrode plate pair group that it supplies power.

[0017] The controller is used to determine whether the voltage values ​​collected by multiple voltage feedback points applied to the same electrode pair or electrode pair group are consistent and whether they are within a preset threshold range.

[0018] Furthermore, the power supply module also includes:

[0019] The processing unit is used to control the corresponding power supply unit to shut down when an abnormal voltage occurs on the electrode plate pair.

[0020] Furthermore, there are communication connections between the various power supply modules, as well as communication connections between the various power supply units within each power supply module.

[0021] Furthermore, the power supply unit has multiple current specifications;

[0022] Multiple power supply units with the same current specifications are connected in parallel to form a power supply module.

[0023] Furthermore, the power supply module includes:

[0024] A backup submodule, which includes one or two power supply units.

[0025] This application provides a method for operating a distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation, including:

[0026] Divide multiple electrode pairs into at least two electrode pair groups;

[0027] A power supply module is used to supply power to the electrode plate pair; wherein, one power supply module corresponds to one electrode plate pair, and each power supply module is composed of one or more power supply units connected in parallel.

[0028] Furthermore, the multiple electrode plate pairs are connected in a common anode or common cathode configuration.

[0029] Furthermore, multiple electrode pairs are divided into multiple electrode pair groups with the same number of electrode pairs. Based on the power supply current required by the electrode pair group, multiple power supply units with the same current specification are selected and connected in parallel to form a power supply module suitable for the power supply current required by the electrode pair group.

[0030] The beneficial effects that can be achieved by adopting the above technical solution in this invention include:

[0031] This invention provides a distributed power supply system and its operating method for lithium extraction and deintercalation, comprising at least two power supply modules; dividing multiple electrode pairs into at least two electrode pair groups; each power supply module supplying power to the electrode pair group; and connecting the at least two electrode pair groups via a common anode or common cathode connection. This invention utilizes the power supply requirements of the anode and cathode electrode pairs: each anode and cathode electrode pair, when energized, constitutes a minimum lithium extraction unit, with each electrode pair operating at a current of approximately 20-60A or greater. Thus, a single power supply unit or module meeting the power supply parameters can be used to supply power to one electrode pair locally, or a power supply module (or several power supply units operating in parallel) can be used to supply power to several electrode pairs connected in parallel (forming an electrode pair group). The power supply module supplies power to these electrode pairs via a copper busbar. The number and power supply parameters of the power supply units in the power supply module can be matched with the electrode pairs, allowing for flexible configuration and avoiding capacity waste. In addition, this application can shorten the power supply distance, reduce voltage drop, and improve power supply efficiency by using at least two power supply modules in a distributed power supply manner. At the same time, it can reduce the cross-sectional area of ​​the copper busbar and reduce the amount of copper used. It simplifies the wiring and makes installation and debugging convenient. When the power supply module has a problem, it can be replaced and repaired quickly, reducing the impact on production.

[0032] To increase the reliability of the distributed power supply module output of the power supply system, one or two power supply units can be added in parallel as backups of the original power supply module, based on the size of the positive and negative electrode pairs and the power supply unit specifications, on the basis of meeting the normal output requirements of the electrode pair group. Together, they form a new power supply module, so as to avoid production being affected if one or two of the power supply modules fail to provide rated output. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation in the prior art;

[0035] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation provided by the present invention;

[0036] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing the power supply connection arrangement of adjacent electrode plates when each of the two power supplies provided by the present invention is powered by a pair of positive and negative electrode plates;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working steps of the distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation provided by the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0038] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of this invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other implementation methods obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0039] To reduce investment in utilities within the lithium extraction process, while ensuring adequate liquid flow within the lithium extraction and deintercalation cells, it is desirable to extend the lithium extraction and deintercalation cells as much as possible, containing a greater number of cells. To guarantee the proper functioning of the electrode pairs, regardless of whether the cells operate under constant current or constant voltage conditions, the maximum voltage applied between each electrode pair must not exceed 1V or less, although this voltage may vary slightly depending on the electrode coating material. Furthermore, with advancements in technology, the current density of the electrode pairs will increase for the same lithium extraction solution concentration, requiring each lithium extraction and deintercalation cell to provide increasingly larger currents from its DC power supply. Connecting all electrode pairs in series for power supply necessitates strict consistency in the state of each pair, requiring excellent uniformity in manufacturing and processing. However, due to the custom-made nature of related equipment, maintaining complete consistency in the actual manufacturing process will be difficult for a considerable period. At this point, the operating voltage is applied to the outermost ends of multiple lithium extraction / deintercalation electrode pairs connected in series. As the number of lithium extraction reaction cycles increases, the imbalance between the anode and cathode electrode pairs accumulates, causing voltage differences in each electrode pair. The voltage on some electrode pairs may exceed the normal operating voltage, placing these pairs in an abnormal operating state accompanied by side reactions, eventually leading to their damage. If parallel power supply is used, the peak current of the entire lithium extraction / deintercalation process reaches 2000-6000A or more. This increases the requirements for the power supply equipment and the circuit busbars. To ensure a small voltage drop across the copper busbars, improve power supply efficiency, and reduce voltage imbalance between electrode pairs, the busbar cross-sectional area must be increased accordingly, resulting in a larger copper consumption, increased equipment investment, and increased installation difficulty and workload. In busbar connections, there are always hard connections. The contact resistance between the two connections typically accumulates over time, easily increasing and causing heat generation, further increasing contact resistance. More importantly, this increases losses, reducing power supply efficiency.

[0040] For example, such as Figure 1As shown, the peak total operating current of a lithium extraction / deintercalation cell composed of 100 anode and cathode deintercalation units can reach 6000A, with a length of 2-4 meters. A DC voltage is applied between busbars 10 and 20, which are of equal length. The connections 11, 21-1001 of busbar 10 to the positive electrode pair are of equal length, and the connections 12, 22-1002 of busbar 20 to the negative electrode pair are also of equal length. The current flow for each electrode pair is shown in the figure. Assuming consistent operating conditions for each electrode pair, to ensure consistent voltage between each electrode pair (i.e., the maximum deviation of the applied voltage does not exceed a threshold of 0.05V), the connection points for the positive and negative electrodes to the busbars should ideally be located diagonally opposite each other, or at the other diagonal of the two busbars. The cross-sectional area of ​​the busbars must accommodate the voltage drop across them to ensure that the actual voltage applied between each electrode pair does not exceed the limit. Taking a lithium extraction / deintercalation cell with 100 electrode pairs over a 3-meter length and a peak operating current of 3000A as an example, considering the current carrying capacity and voltage drop on the busbar, a busbar cross-sectional area of ​​nearly 2000 square millimeters is required to meet the requirements, resulting in a large amount of copper usage. Furthermore, it is difficult to select suitable voltage output acquisition and feedback points for control adjustment throughout the entire circuit. Even if suitable points are found, the control logic is complex, and the on-site installation and commissioning workload is substantial.

[0041] In practice, power supplies that meet the requirements of low-voltage, high-current DC output are typically composed of multiple small-to-medium power high-frequency switching power supply modules in parallel within a cabinet. This results in a large installation footprint, demanding sufficient heat dissipation space, and increasing the distance from the output terminal to the busbar. Furthermore, if a unit fails during operation, the power outage area during maintenance is significant. Therefore, the determination of a DC power supply scheme for lithium extraction and deintercalation is influenced by multiple factors.

[0042] The following describes a specific distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation provided in an embodiment of this application, along with its working method, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0043] like Figure 2 As shown, the distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation provided in this embodiment includes at least two power supply modules 3; and divides multiple electrode plate pairs 4 into at least two electrode plate pair groups.

[0044] The power supply module 3 is used to supply power to the electrode plate pair;

[0045] The power supply module 3 is composed of one or more power supply units operating in parallel.

[0046] It is understood that the number of electrode pairs in the electrode pair group can be set according to actual needs, and this application does not limit the number of electrode pairs.

[0047] This application achieves the same power supply efficiency by using at least two power supply modules. The cross-sectional area of ​​the positive and negative busbars of each circuit is much smaller than that of a centralized power supply, thus reducing the amount of copper used and saving costs. This application employs a distributed power supply system, where power supply modules are connected to their corresponding electrode plates nearby. This shortens the power supply distance between modules, reduces voltage drop, and improves power supply efficiency.

[0048] Preferably, at least two of the electrode plate pairs are connected in a common anode or common cathode configuration.

[0049] In this application, multiple electrode pairs are connected in a common anode or common cathode manner, which allows the lithium extraction and deintercalation reaction material coated on the opposite sides of the cathode and anode of adjacent electrode pairs in different electrode pairs to fully participate in the reaction and exert its effectiveness.

[0050] Specifically, such as Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3 5 is a plate of lithium-intercalated battery cathode material coated on both sides of the conductive support material; 521 is a lithium-intercalated battery cathode material layer coated on the left side of the conductive support material; 522 is a lithium-intercalated battery cathode material layer coated on the right side of the conductive support material; 523 is a conductive support mesh plate coated on both sides with lithium-intercalated battery cathode material.

[0051] 6 is an electrode plate of lithium-deficient battery positive electrode material coated on both sides of a conductive support material; 621 is a lithium-deficient battery positive electrode material layer coated on the left side of the conductive support material; 622 is a lithium-deficient battery positive electrode material layer coated on the right side of the conductive support material; 623 is a conductive support mesh plate coated on both sides with lithium-deficient battery positive electrode material.

[0052] 7 is an electrode plate of lithium-intercalated battery positive electrode material coated on both sides of a conductive support material; 721 is a lithium-intercalated battery positive electrode material layer coated on the left side of the conductive support material; 722 is a lithium-intercalated battery positive electrode material layer coated on the right side of the conductive support material; 723 is a conductive support mesh plate coated on both sides with lithium-intercalated battery positive electrode material.

[0053] 8 is an electrode plate of lithium-deficient battery positive electrode material coated on both sides of the conductive support material; 821 is a lithium-deficient battery positive electrode material layer coated on the left side of the conductive support material; 822 is a lithium-deficient battery positive electrode material layer coated on the right side of the conductive support material; 823 is a conductive support mesh plate coated on both sides with lithium-deficient battery positive electrode material.

[0054] 56 is the anion exchange membrane between anode plate 5 and cathode plate 6; 67 is the anion exchange membrane between cathode plate 6 and anode plate 7;

[0055] 78 is the anion exchange membrane between the anode plate 7 and the cathode plate 8;

[0056] 53 is the lead-out terminal of anode plate 5; 63 is the lead-out terminal of cathode plate 6; 73 is the lead-out terminal of anode plate 7; 83 is the lead-out terminal of cathode plate 8.

[0057] 10 is a DC power supply connected between the lead-out terminal 53 of the anode plate 5 and the lead-out terminal 63 of the cathode plate 6; 11 is a DC power supply connected between the lead-out terminal 73 of the anode plate 7 and the lead-out terminal 83 of the cathode plate 8.

[0058] 57 is a shorting connection between the lead-out terminal 53 of the positive plate 5 and the lead-out terminal 73 of the positive plate 7, meaning that power supply 10 and power supply 11 are connected with a common anode.

[0059] In this application, multiple electrode plates are connected in a common anode or common cathode manner. The purpose of this is to ensure that all materials involved in the lithium extraction reaction on the first and last adjacent electrode plates of the two sets of electrode plates participate in the lithium extraction reaction.

[0060] For each electrode pair, the battery positive electrode material coated on the positive or negative electrode plate, whether in a lithium-intercalated or lithium-deficient state, is bonded to both sides of the plate. Without the shorting wire 57, when the lithium extraction process begins: the DC power supply 10 on the right side applies voltage to the anode and cathode electrode pairs, namely the anode plate 5 and the cathode plate 6, through lead-out terminals 53 and 63, outputting positive excitation (constant current or constant voltage output) according to process requirements. Under the influence of the electric field formed between the conductive support materials 523 and 623 of the anode plate 5 and the cathode plate 6, lithium ions in the lithium-intercalated battery positive electrode material 522 coated on the anode plate 5 are extracted into the lithium-rich solution (lithium-rich solution omitted in the diagram, the same applies below). On the other side, the lithium-intercalated positive electrode material 521 participates in the reaction in small quantities, increasing over time until it is completely unaffected by the end of the reaction. On the cathode plate 6 side, lithium ions in the lithium extraction solution (not shown in the figure, the same below) are intercalated into the lithium-deficient positive electrode material 621 coated thereon (the lithium-deficient positive electrode material 622 on the other side participates in the reaction in small quantities, increasing over time until it is completely unaffected by the end of the reaction). The side with the lithium-intercalated positive electrode material 521 and the lithium-deficient positive electrode material 622 is theoretically not placed in an electric field and does not participate in the reaction, but in reality, a stray electric field exists. This reaction process continues until the preset conditions are met, at which point the reaction ends and the next process begins.

[0061] Similarly, the DC power supply 11 on the left applies voltage to the anode and cathode plates, namely the anode plate 7 and the cathode plate 8, through lead-out terminals 73 and 83, outputting positive excitation (constant current or constant voltage output) according to process requirements. Under the action of the electric field formed between the conductive support materials 723 and 823 of the anode plate 7 and the cathode plate 8, on the anode plate 7 side, lithium ions in the lithium-intercalated positive electrode material 722 coated on it are extracted into the lithium-rich solution (the lithium-intercalated positive electrode material 721 on the other side participates in the reaction in a small amount, and the amount increases as the reaction time progresses, but by the end of the entire reaction time, the material on this side will not be completely involved in the reaction); on the cathode plate 8 side, lithium ions in the lithium solution to be processed are inserted into the lithium-deficient positive electrode material 821 coated on it (the lithium-deficient positive electrode material 822 on the other side participates in the reaction in a small amount, and the amount of reacting material increases as the reaction time progresses, but by the end of the entire reaction time, the material on this side will not be completely involved in the reaction). On one side of the lithium-intercalated battery cathode material 721 and the lithium-deficient battery cathode material 822, theoretically there is no electric field and no reaction is participated in, but in reality, a stray electric field exists. This reaction process continues until the preset conditions are met, at which point the reaction ends and the next process begins.

[0062] If the lead-out terminal 53 of anode plate 5 and the lead-out terminal 73 of anode plate 7 are short-circuited and short-circuit wire 57 is connected, an electric field will be established between the conductive support mesh 623 of electrode plate 6 and the conductive support mesh 723 of electrode plate 7. Then the battery positive electrode material 622 in the lithium-deficient state coated on the conductive support material 623 and the battery positive electrode material 721 in the lithium-intercalated state coated on the conductive support material 723 will fully participate in the reaction.

[0063] Similarly, short-circuiting the lead terminals of cathode plate 6 and cathode plate 8 will achieve the same effect.

[0064] The working principle of a distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation is as follows: For example, Figure 2As shown, this application takes 10 electrode pairs connected in parallel as an example as the power supply object. The total peak power supply current requirement for the 10 electrode pairs connected in parallel is 200-600A. The power supply module supplies power to this electrode pair group. Finding or manufacturing a power supply module that meets the requirements of this application is relatively easy for high-frequency switching power supply equipment. It is mature, inexpensive, space-saving, and easy to install. Using multiple power supply modules to supply power separately allows for smaller busbar cross-sectional areas in the wiring, reducing the amount of copper used, and making it easier to select a cost-effective power supply module to meet production requirements. For different raw material liquids, select a power supply module of appropriate specifications to fully utilize the power supply unit's power supply capacity and flexible parallel operation characteristics, and configure the corresponding number of electrode pairs as a group to meet the maximum peak current of the electrode pair group operation.

[0065] Preferably, the power supply unit has multiple current specifications;

[0066] Multiple power supply units with the same current specifications are connected in parallel to form a power supply module.

[0067] For example, power supply units with specifications of 20A, 100A, and 200A can be used, and other current values ​​are also possible; this application does not limit this. In practical applications, the settings can be configured according to actual needs, and then the power supply units can be paralleled to form a power supply module to supply power to the electrode plate pairs that require power. For example, if the electrode plate pairs require a small current, a power supply unit with a smaller current can be used. For instance, if the electrode plate pairs only require 100A of current, a power supply unit with a 100A specification can be used. However, when the electrode plate pairs require 400A of current, and a single power supply unit can only supply 200A, two 200A power supply units can be paralleled to form a power supply module to supply power to the electrode plate pairs that require 400A of current, while also considering the selection of the copper busbar cross-sectional area.

[0068] Understandably, when a larger current is required, and if the power supply unit's current is small while the electrode plate pair requires a larger operating current, multiple power supply units can be paralleled into a power supply module to meet the current requirements of the electrode plate pair. This application can satisfy the power supply needs of a single power supply unit for a single electrode plate pair, or, when the electrode plate pair requires a larger current, parallel power supply units of the same specification into a single power supply module to power the electrode plate pair. This avoids waste and construction difficulties caused by excessively large busbar cross-sections due to excessively large power supply module current, and allows for flexible configuration according to specific circumstances. When paralleling multiple power supply units, units of the same specification are preferred. Using power supply units with the same current specification for paralleling facilitates equipment standardization and spare parts inventory.

[0069] Preferably, there is a communication connection between each power supply module and a communication connection between each power supply unit in each power supply module.

[0070] It should be noted that a lithium extraction / deintercalation power supply system employs multiple distributed power supply modules. Each power supply module consists of one or more power supply units, which are connected and share information via communication. Wired communication is preferred due to its advantages: reliability, low cost, and ease of maintenance. Wireless communication is more suitable for communication between the various lithium extraction / deintercalation power supply systems and the lithium extraction intelligent controller, offering advantages such as fewer wiring connections, simple networking, and rapid expansion. Similarly, communication between power supply modules for information sharing can be either wired or wireless; this application does not impose any limitation on this method.

[0071] The power supply control requirements for the lithium extraction process control system are as follows: Each power supply module, according to the process requirements (issued by the lithium extraction intelligent control module to each intelligent power supply module), commands such as power-on, power-off, forward / reverse output, and current / voltage mode output are executed. Simultaneously, during initialization, the lithium extraction intelligent control module can also uniformly or individually issue constant current, constant voltage setpoints, shutdown conditions, and commutation output conditions to each power supply module. This ensures coordinated operation of all power supply modules supplying the same lithium extraction / deintercalation cell. During normal operation, each power supply module constantly responds to the requirements of the lithium extraction intelligent control module, powering on or off, and uploading its operating status (forward or reverse output; constant current or constant voltage mode), real-time voltage, and current information to the lithium extraction intelligent control module, which then sends this information to the process system to monitor equipment operation. Each power supply module outputs according to the electrode plate pair it supplies, achieving the optimal operating state for its group. The reaction ends after all electrode plate pairs in the entire lithium extraction / deintercalation cell have completed their operation. Each power supply module operates both independently and in unison.

[0072] The composition of each power supply module is determined according to the electrode plate pair it supplies and the rated capacity it can provide. A power supply module can be composed of one or several power supply units of the same specification connected in parallel. Each power supply unit coordinates its own output status and output according to the requirements of the power supply unit controller, so as to meet the output requirements of a power supply module as a whole: adjustment, feedback, current sharing, data acquisition and feedback, stable output, communication response to system commands and other functions.

[0073] Preferably, the power supply module further includes:

[0074] A backup submodule, which includes one or two power supply units.

[0075] Specifically, to increase the reliability of the output of each power supply module within the distributed power supply system, one or two additional power supply units of the same specifications can be added in parallel as backups, based on the rated operating current of the positive and negative electrode pairs and the size of the power supply unit. This is to prevent production output from being affected if one or two power supply units fail to provide rated output. It is understood that the backup submodule in this application can be either a cold backup or a hot backup; this application does not limit this. Because the power supply units are interconnected, when one or two power supply units fail, the faulty power supply unit will shut down, and the power supply unit in the backup submodule can be activated to provide output, or the output can be increased during hot backup to ensure normal production.

[0076] In some embodiments, the power supply unit includes:

[0077] Voltage acquisition module and controller;

[0078] The voltage acquisition module is used to acquire the voltage applied to the anode / node de-intercalation unit or a group of anode / node de-intercalation units composed of multiple anode / node de-intercalation units; the anode / node de-intercalation unit is used to place electrode plate pairs;

[0079] The voltage acquisition module includes multiple voltage acquisition points and multiple voltage feedback points. The multiple voltage feedback points are set on the power supply unit, and the multiple voltage acquisition points are set on the electrode plate pair group that it supplies power.

[0080] The controller is used to determine whether the voltage values ​​collected by the voltage acquisition points are consistent and whether they are within a preset threshold range. It also determines whether the voltage feedback value from the voltage feedback point is normal and whether the detected differential voltage value is within a preset threshold range. The preset threshold range can be set according to actual needs.

[0081] Preferably, the power supply module further includes:

[0082] The processing unit is used to control the corresponding power supply unit to shut down when an abnormal voltage occurs on the electrode plate pair.

[0083] Specifically, there can be multiple processing units, each corresponding to a power supply unit. When an abnormal voltage occurs, the processing unit sends a control signal to the corresponding power supply unit. Because the power supply units in the power supply module are interconnected, the processing units of each power supply unit respond to this information, causing multiple power supply units in the parallel power supply module to simultaneously shut down, i.e., the power supply module stops supplying power to the electrode plate pair. Alternatively, there can be a single processing unit connected to only one of the multiple power supply units. When an abnormal voltage occurs, the processing unit sends a control signal to the connected power supply unit. Because the multiple power supply units are interconnected, they can simultaneously shut down, thus causing the power supply module composed of multiple power supply units in parallel to shut down.

[0084] like Figure 2 As shown in the diagram, the section powered by power supply 3 on the left is the power supply wiring diagram for the first group of electrode plates; the section powered by the power supply to the right of the first group is the power supply wiring diagram for the second group; and so on, with the rightmost section being the power supply wiring diagram for the tenth group. This achieves independent power supply to each electrode plate group during operation, allowing each group to operate independently. If one group of electrode plates malfunctions, such as the second group, the power supply module for the second group can stop outputting, and the second group will cease operation, while the other groups continue to operate normally; or if the power supply module for the second group fails and needs replacement, the group can be shut down for replacement (due to distributed power supply, the power supply modules are small and lightweight, allowing for quick replacement). After replacement, operation resumes, and other parts continue production without shutdown. At this time, the second group and the other groups in the overall lithium extraction and deintercalation cell are not operating synchronously, but this does not affect production until the shutdown process conditions are met. The process logic controller coordinates the relationships between these DC power supply modules and with other process steps (including liquid supply) according to the lithium extraction system process requirements, maintaining coordinated production throughout.

[0085] This invention proposes a distributed power supply system for lithium extraction / deintercalation. This system provides DC power to one or more electrode pairs based on the rated current of each power supply unit. Multiple power supply units with the same current rating can be paralleled into a single power supply module to meet the current requirements of the electrode pair group, maximizing power supply capacity and reducing the selectivity of power supply unit equipment. This application uses at least two power supply modules to meet the current or voltage requirements of a corresponding number of electrode pairs based on their individual current capabilities. It employs small-section copper busbars, facilitating installation and construction, and requiring a small footprint. If some electrode pairs require repair or replacement due to insufficient deintercalation / deintercalation performance, the power supply module for that problematic electrode pair can be shut down. Other groups continue operating until the entire reaction process is complete, at which point replacement or repair can be performed.

[0086] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4As shown, this application provides a method for operating a distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation, comprising:

[0087] S101, dividing multiple electrode pairs into at least two electrode pair groups;

[0088] S102, a power supply module is used to supply power to the electrode plate pair; wherein, one power supply module corresponds to one electrode plate pair, and each power supply module is composed of one or more power supply units in parallel.

[0089] Preferably, the multiple electrode plate pairs are connected in a common anode or common cathode configuration.

[0090] Preferably, multiple electrode pairs are divided into multiple electrode pair groups with the same number of electrode pairs. Based on the required power supply current of the electrode pair group, multiple power supply units with the same current specification are selected and connected in parallel to form a power supply module with a power supply current suitable for the operation of the electrode pair group.

[0091] For example, if the electrode plate pair only requires 100A of current, a 100A power supply unit can be used. When the electrode plate pair requires 200A of current, but one power supply unit can only provide 100A, two 100A power supply units can be paralleled into one power supply module to supply the electrode plate pair requiring 200A of current. Of course, appropriate settings can be made according to actual conditions, and this application does not impose any limitations. When multiple power supply units are paralleled, power supply units of the same specification are preferred. Using power supply units with the same current specification for paralleling facilitates equipment standardization and spare parts inventory.

[0092] It is understood that in this application, multiple electrode pairs can be divided into the same number or different numbers and placed in an electrode pair group.

[0093] In summary, this invention provides a distributed power supply system and its operating method for lithium extraction and deintercalation, comprising at least two power supply modules; dividing multiple electrode pairs into at least two electrode pair groups; each power supply module supplying power to the electrode pair group; and connecting the at least two electrode pair groups via a common anode or common cathode connection. This invention utilizes the power supply requirements of the anode and cathode electrodes: each electrode pair operates at a current of approximately 20-60A or greater. It can either use a power supply unit that supplies power to one electrode pair locally, or combine several power supply units with the same current rating in parallel to form a power supply module to provide high-current power to the electrode pair group. The power supply module supplies power to the electrode pair group via a copper busbar. The number of power supply units, power supply modules, and electrode pairs can be flexibly configured. The appropriate number of electrode pairs is configured according to the power supply capacity corresponding to the rated parameters of the power supply unit, avoiding wasted capacity. In addition, this application provides distributed local power supply through at least two power supply modules. That is, the power supply modules are connected to the corresponding electrode plates in pairs with the shortest distance, which makes the power supply distance short, reduces voltage drop, improves power supply efficiency, reduces the amount of copper used in the copper busbar, and saves costs. It also reduces the difficulty of power supply equipment selection and manufacturing, simplifies the on-site wiring, and facilitates installation and maintenance.

[0094] It is understood that the system embodiments provided above correspond to the method embodiments described above, and the specific details can be referred to each other, which will not be repeated here.

[0095] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, this application can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, this application can take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage and optical storage) containing computer-usable program code.

[0096] This application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of this application. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, as well as combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, generate instructions for implementing the flowchart... Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0097] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to operate in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction methods implemented in a process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0098] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable equipment to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable equipment for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0099] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation, characterized in that, include: At least two power supply modules; Divide multiple electrode pairs into at least two electrode pair groups; The power supply module is used to supply power to the electrode plate pair; The power supply module consists of one or more power supply units operating in parallel. The power supply unit includes: Voltage acquisition module and controller; The voltage acquisition module is used to acquire the voltage applied to the anode / node de-intercalation unit or a group of anode / node de-intercalation units composed of multiple anode / node de-intercalation units; the anode / node de-intercalation unit is used to place electrode plate pairs; The voltage acquisition module includes multiple voltage acquisition points and multiple voltage feedback points. The multiple voltage feedback points are set on the power supply unit, and the multiple voltage acquisition points are set on the electrode plate pair group that it supplies power. The controller is used to determine whether the voltage values ​​of multiple voltage feedback points applied to the same electrode pair or group of electrode pairs are consistent and whether they are within a preset threshold range.

2. The distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least two of the electrode pairs are connected in a common anode or common cathode configuration.

3. The distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply module also includes: The processing unit is used to control the corresponding power supply unit to shut down when an abnormal voltage occurs on the electrode plate pair.

4. The distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation according to claim 1, characterized in that, Communication connections between various power supply modules, and communication connections between various power supply units within each power supply module.

5. The distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The power supply unit has multiple current specifications; Multiple power supply units with the same current specifications are connected in parallel to form a power supply module.

6. The distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation according to claim 5, characterized in that, The power supply module includes: A backup submodule, which includes one or two power supply units.

7. A method for operating a distributed power supply system for lithium extraction and deintercalation, characterized in that, include: Divide multiple electrode pairs into at least two electrode pair groups; A power supply module is used to supply power to the electrode plate pair; wherein, one power supply module corresponds to one electrode plate pair, and each power supply module is composed of one or more power supply units connected in parallel; the power supply unit includes: Voltage acquisition module and controller; The voltage acquisition module is used to acquire the voltage applied to the anode / node de-intercalation unit or a group of anode / node de-intercalation units composed of multiple anode / node de-intercalation units; the anode / node de-intercalation unit is used to place electrode plate pairs; The voltage acquisition module includes multiple voltage acquisition points and multiple voltage feedback points. The multiple voltage feedback points are set on the power supply unit, and the multiple voltage acquisition points are set on the electrode plate pair group that it supplies power. The controller is used to determine whether the voltage values ​​of multiple voltage feedback points applied to the same electrode pair or electrode pair group are consistent and whether they are within a preset threshold range.

8. The working method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The multiple electrode plate pairs are connected in a common anode or common cathode configuration.

9. The working method according to claim 7, characterized in that, Multiple electrode pairs are divided into multiple electrode pair groups with the same number of electrode pairs. Based on the power supply current required by the electrode pair group, multiple power supply units with the same current specification are selected and connected in parallel to form a power supply module with a power supply current suitable for the operation of the electrode pair group.

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