Sintering device and method for battery material production

Abstract

The present invention discloses a sintering device and method for battery material production, the device includes a hydrogen injection module, the hydrogen injection module is arranged in the insulation stage of a tunnel sintering furnace, the hydrogen injection module includes an isolation cover plate, a gas injection port is arranged in the middle of the isolation cover plate, and multiple groups of isolation components are arranged at both ends of the isolation cover plate, and the isolation components include an air inlet pipe and an exhaust pipe. The high-temperature hydrogen gas flow blown out is used to form an "isolation gas wall" at both ends of the isolation cover plate, and the use of the isolation cover plate is used to form an "isolation container" to block the external inert gas. The inert gas covers the "isolation container" to ensure safety in use, and the high-temperature hydrogen is injected from the gas injection port so that the hydrogen concentration inside the isolation cover plate is above 80%, which can provide more active molecules in the insulation stage to accelerate the reduction reaction of the battery material, thereby improving the production efficiency and performance of the battery material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of battery material sintering production, and in particular relates to a sintering device for battery material production, and a working method of the sintering device for battery material production. Background Art

[0002] Battery materials often need to be sintered during the production process to improve the performance and stability of the materials. Sintering can increase the density of battery materials and make the particles more tightly combined, thereby improving the mechanical strength of the materials. The sintered materials have higher density and uniform microstructure, which can reduce resistance and internal friction, thereby improving the energy conversion efficiency of the battery.

[0003] The battery material goes through the preheating stage, heating stage, insulation stage and cooling stage of the tunnel sintering furnace to complete the sintering process. During the insulation stage, the battery material undergoes a reduction reaction with hydrogen to form the required crystal structure and performance. To ensure the safe use of hydrogen, it is usually mixed with an inert gas used to remove oxygen from the sintering furnace. However, due to the low hydrogen content, there are fewer active molecules that can participate in the reduction reaction, resulting in a longer reduction time for the battery material, affecting the sintering production of the battery material. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention aims to solve the problem in the prior art that the low hydrogen content results in fewer active molecules participating in the reduction reaction, leading to a longer reduction time for battery materials, and proposes the following technical solution:

[0005] Sintering equipment for battery material production, including:

[0006] A tunnel-type sintering furnace, wherein the interior of the tunnel-type sintering furnace is continuously filled with inert gas, and the battery material placed on the carrier plate passes through the interior of the tunnel-type sintering furnace in the A direction, and the sintering process is completed after a preheating stage, a heating stage, a heat preservation stage and a cooling stage;

[0007] A hydrogen injection module, the hydrogen injection module is arranged in the insulation stage of the tunnel sintering furnace, the hydrogen injection module comprises an isolation cover plate, a gas injection port is arranged in the middle of the isolation cover plate, and multiple groups of isolation components are arranged at both ends of the isolation cover plate, and the isolation components include an air inlet pipe and an exhaust pipe;

[0008] High-temperature hydrogen is blown in from the air inlet pipe and discharged from the exhaust pipe. The blown hydrogen gas flow forms an "isolation gas wall" at both ends of the isolation cover to block the external inert gas, ensuring the hydrogen concentration inside the isolation cover to provide more active molecules to accelerate the reduction reaction of the battery material.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the hydrogen injection module also includes multiple groups of guide components, the guide components are located in the isolation component, the guide components include a deflection guide plate and a pushing gear, one end of the deflection guide plate and the pushing gear are rotatably inserted in the isolation cover plate, and a pushing rack corresponding to the pushing gear is provided on one side of the supporting plate, and the supporting plate moves in the A direction so that the pushing rack passes through multiple pushing gears.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the guide assembly also includes a plurality of forward parts, which are used in conjunction with the guide assembly at the front end of the isolation cover plate. The pushing rack drives the pushing gear to rotate through the forward parts to rotate the deflection guide plate counterclockwise based on direction A, and the hydrogen gas flow flows along the deflection guide plate to the inside of the isolation cover plate.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the forward member includes a first sprocket and a second sprocket, the first sprocket is fixedly connected to the corresponding deflection guide plate, the second sprocket is fixedly connected to the corresponding push gear, and a transmission chain is arranged between the first sprocket and the second sprocket.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the guide assembly also includes multiple reverse parts, which are used in conjunction with the guide assembly at the rear end of the isolation cover plate. The pushing rack drives the pushing gear to rotate through the reverse part to rotate the deflection guide plate clockwise based on direction A, and the hydrogen gas flow flows along the deflection guide plate to the inside of the isolation cover plate.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the reverse part includes a first gear and a second gear, the first gear is fixedly connected to the corresponding deflection guide plate, the second gear is fixedly connected to the corresponding pushing gear, and a reverse rack is arranged between the first gear and the second gear, and the two sides of the reverse rack are respectively meshed with the first gear and the second gear.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the guide assembly also includes a plurality of protective plates, the interior of the protective plates is used to install forward parts or reverse parts, and the protective plates are composed of multiple layers of thermal insulation material.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the hydrogen injection module also includes a hydrogen supply and recovery device, which is connected to the intake pipe and the exhaust pipe through a pipeline, and a heating mechanism is arranged inside the hydrogen supply and recovery device.

[0016] The working method of the sintering device for battery material production comprises the following steps:

[0017] S1, heating;

[0018] Inert gas is continuously introduced into the tunnel sintering furnace to exhaust the air inside the tunnel sintering furnace, and then the temperature inside the furnace is gradually increased to the set sintering temperature according to the predetermined sintering program;

[0019] S2, injecting hydrogen;

[0020] High-temperature hydrogen is injected through the gas injection port to gradually discharge the inert gas out of the isolation cover plate, and then high-temperature hydrogen is continuously blown in from the air inlet pipe. The high-temperature hydrogen is discharged from the exhaust pipe to form an "isolation gas wall" at both ends of the isolation cover plate;

[0021] S3, material sintering;

[0022] The battery material placed on the carrier plate passes through the tunnel sintering furnace in the A direction, and after the preheating stage, the heating stage and the insulation stage, the battery material passes through the high-concentration hydrogen position of the isolation cover plate to complete the reduction reaction in the insulation stage;

[0023] S4, taking materials;

[0024] The sintering process is completed with a final cooling phase and the finished product is subsequently removed via a carrier plate.

[0025] As a preferred embodiment of the above technical solution, the S2 step also includes preheating the hydrogen: heating the hydrogen to the furnace temperature before injecting the hydrogen to prevent the hydrogen from expanding due to heat after being blown in.

[0026] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0027] 1. Use the blown high-temperature hydrogen gas flow to form an "isolation gas wall" at both ends of the isolation cover plate, and use the isolation cover plate to form an "isolation container" to block the external inert gas. The inert gas covers the "isolation container" to ensure safety in use. Injecting high-temperature hydrogen from the gas injection port makes the hydrogen concentration inside the isolation cover plate above 80%, which can provide more active molecules in the insulation stage to accelerate the reduction reaction of battery materials, thereby improving the production efficiency and performance of battery materials;

[0028] 2. The flow guide assembly provided with a forward member can rotate the deflection guide plate counterclockwise based on direction A when the carrier plate enters the isolation cover plate, and the hydrogen gas flow blown in from the air inlet pipe flows along the deflection guide plate to the inside of the isolation cover plate, thereby preventing the hydrogen gas flow from blowing to the outside of the isolation cover plate and entering the external inert gas. In addition, due to the blocking of the deflection guide plate, the hydrogen gas flow will not directly blow to the surface of the battery material, so as to avoid affecting the battery material entering the insulation stage;

[0029] 3. The flow guide assembly provided with a reversing member can rotate the deflection guide plate clockwise based on direction A when the carrier plate enters the isolation cover plate, so that the hydrogen gas flow flows along the deflection guide plate to the inside of the isolation cover plate, and the hydrogen gas flow blows toward the surface of the battery material to take away a small part of the heat, which can reduce the time used in the cooling stage and improve the production efficiency of the battery material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 What is shown is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the embodiment;

[0031] Figure 2 Shown is a top cross-sectional view of an embodiment;

[0032] Figure 3 What is shown is a working state diagram of the flow guide assembly in the embodiment;

[0033] Figure 4 Shown is an exploded view of the structures of various parts of the forward member in the embodiment;

[0034] Figure 5 What is shown is an exploded view of the working state of the forward member in the embodiment;

[0035] Figure 6 Shown is an exploded view of the structures of various parts of the reverse member in the embodiment;

[0036] Figure 7 Shown is an exploded view of the working state of the reverse part in the embodiment.

[0037] In the figure: 10, isolation cover; 11, air injection port; 21, air inlet pipe; 22, exhaust pipe; 31, deflection guide plate; 32, pushing gear; 33, pushing rack; 341, first sprocket; 342, second sprocket; 343, transmission chain; 351, first gear; 352, second gear; 353, reverse rack; 36, protective plate; 40, mounting frame; 50, bearing plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the embodiments and the accompanying drawings of the specification.

[0039] Example: Figure 1-Figure 2 Sintering equipment for battery material production, including:

[0040] A tunnel-type sintering furnace, wherein the interior of the tunnel-type sintering furnace is continuously filled with inert gas, and the battery material placed on the carrier plate 50 passes through the interior of the tunnel-type sintering furnace in the A direction, and the sintering process is completed after a preheating stage, a heating stage, a heat preservation stage, and a cooling stage;

[0041] A hydrogen injection module, which is arranged in the insulation stage of the tunnel-type sintering furnace, and comprises an isolation cover plate 10, wherein a gas injection port 11 is arranged in the middle of the isolation cover plate 10, and multiple groups of isolation components are arranged at both ends of the isolation cover plate 10, wherein the isolation components comprise an air inlet pipe 21 and an exhaust pipe 22, and a mounting frame 40 is arranged in the tunnel-type sintering furnace, and the mounting frame 40 is used to install the hydrogen injection module;

[0042] High-temperature hydrogen is blown in from the air inlet pipe 21 and discharged from the exhaust pipe 22. The blown hydrogen gas flow forms an "isolation gas wall" at both ends of the isolation cover plate 10 to block the external inert gas, thereby ensuring the hydrogen concentration inside the isolation cover plate 10 to provide more active molecules to accelerate the reduction reaction of the battery material.

[0043] When sintering battery materials, inert gas is continuously introduced into the tunnel sintering furnace to exhaust the air inside the tunnel sintering furnace. Then, according to the predetermined sintering program, the temperature in the furnace is gradually raised to the set sintering temperature. The hydrogen is heated before hydrogen injection. The temperature of the hydrogen after heating is similar to the temperature of the insulation stage in the furnace. During the sintering process of battery materials, the temperature of the insulation stage mainly depends on the characteristics of the materials used and the performance requirements of the final product. For example, for the positive electrode materials commonly used in lithium-ion batteries, the sintering temperature is usually between 700°C and 900°C. The specific temperature needs to be determined according to the synthesis method of the material and the properties of the precursor. Different battery types and different electrode materials will have different sintering process parameters. The temperature of the high-temperature hydrogen is adjusted according to the use requirements to prevent the hydrogen from expanding due to heat after being blown in. High-temperature hydrogen is injected through the gas injection port 11 to gradually discharge the inert gas out of the isolation cover plate 10, and then high-temperature hydrogen is continuously blown in from the air inlet pipe 21. The high-temperature hydrogen is discharged from the exhaust pipe 22 at both ends of the isolation cover plate 10 to form an "isolation gas wall". The battery material placed on the carrier plate 50 passes through the tunnel sintering furnace in direction A, and after the preheating stage, the heating stage and the insulation stage, the battery material completes the reduction reaction in the insulation stage through the high-concentration hydrogen position of the isolation cover plate 10, and the sintering process is completed through the final cooling stage, and then the finished product is removed through the carrier plate 50.

[0044] The high-temperature hydrogen gas flow is blown out to form an "isolation gas wall" at both ends of the isolation cover 10, and the isolation cover 10 is used to form an "isolation container" to block the external inert gas. The inert gas covers the "isolation container" to ensure safe use. The high-temperature hydrogen gas is injected from the gas injection port 11 so that the hydrogen concentration inside the isolation cover 10 is above 80%, which can provide more active molecules during the insulation stage to accelerate the reduction reaction of the battery material, thereby improving the production efficiency and performance of the battery material.

[0045] The working method of the sintering device for battery material production comprises the following steps:

[0046] S1, heating;

[0047] Inert gas is continuously introduced into the tunnel sintering furnace to exhaust the air inside the tunnel sintering furnace, and then the temperature inside the furnace is gradually increased to the set sintering temperature according to the predetermined sintering program;

[0048] S2, injecting hydrogen;

[0049] High-temperature hydrogen is injected through the gas injection port 11 to gradually discharge the inert gas from the isolation cover plate 10, and then high-temperature hydrogen is continuously blown in from the gas inlet pipe 21, and the high-temperature hydrogen is discharged from the exhaust pipe 22 to form an "isolation gas wall" at both ends of the isolation cover plate 10;

[0050] S3, material sintering;

[0051] The battery material placed on the carrier plate 50 passes through the tunnel sintering furnace in the A direction, and after the preheating stage, the heating stage and the heat preservation stage, the battery material passes through the high-concentration hydrogen position of the isolation cover plate 10 to complete the reduction reaction in the heat preservation stage;

[0052] S4, taking materials;

[0053] The sintering process is completed by a final cooling phase, and the finished product is subsequently removed by the carrier plate 50 .

[0054] The step S2 also includes preheating the hydrogen: heating the hydrogen to the furnace temperature before injecting the hydrogen to prevent the hydrogen from expanding due to heat after being blown in.

[0055] Figure 2-Figure 5 In the embodiment, the hydrogen injection module further includes a plurality of flow guide components, wherein the flow guide components are located in the isolation component, and the flow guide components include a deflection guide plate 31 and a pushing gear 32. One end of the deflection guide plate 31 and the pushing gear 32 are both rotatably inserted in the isolation cover plate 10. A pushing rack 33 corresponding to the pushing gear 32 is provided on one side of the supporting plate 50. The supporting plate 50 moves in the A direction so that the pushing rack 33 passes through a plurality of pushing gears 32.

[0056] The guide assembly also includes a plurality of forward parts, which are used in conjunction with the guide assembly at the front end of the isolation cover plate 10. The pushing rack 33 pushes the pushing gear 32 to rotate through the forward parts to rotate the deflection guide plate 31 counterclockwise based on direction A, and the hydrogen gas flow flows along the deflection guide plate 31 to the inside of the isolation cover plate 10.

[0057] The forward member includes a first sprocket 341 and a second sprocket 342. The diameter of the second sprocket 342 is 3-5 times the diameter of the first sprocket 341. The first sprocket 341 is fixedly connected to the corresponding deflection guide plate 31. The second sprocket 342 is fixedly connected to the corresponding pushing gear 32. A transmission chain 343 is arranged between the first sprocket 341 and the second sprocket 342.

[0058] When the supporting plate 50 enters the isolation cover plate 10, the pushing rack 33 contacts the pushing gear 32 to push the pushing gear 32 to rotate, and the first sprocket 341 rotates accordingly. Under the transmission action of the transmission chain 343, the second sprocket 342 drives the deflection guide plate 31 to rotate counterclockwise based on direction A. Because the diameter of the second sprocket 342 is much larger than the diameter of the first sprocket 341, the deflection guide plate 31 rotates slowly to guide the hydrogen gas flow so that it flows along the deflection guide plate 31 to the inside of the isolation cover plate 10.

[0059] The guide assembly provided with a forward part can rotate the deflection guide plate 31 counterclockwise based on the A direction when the supporting plate 50 enters the isolation cover plate 10, and the hydrogen gas flow blown in from the air inlet pipe 21 flows along the deflection guide plate 31 to the inside of the isolation cover plate 10, thereby preventing the hydrogen gas flow from blowing to the outside of the isolation cover plate 10 and entering the external inert gas. In addition, due to the blocking of the deflection guide plate 31, the hydrogen gas flow will not blow directly to the surface of the battery material, so as to avoid affecting the battery material entering the insulation stage.

[0060] Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 In the figure, the guide assembly also includes a plurality of reverse parts, which are used in conjunction with the guide assembly at the rear end of the isolation cover plate 10. The pushing rack 33 pushes the pushing gear 32 to rotate through the reverse parts to rotate the deflection guide plate 31 clockwise based on direction A, and the hydrogen gas flow flows along the deflection guide plate 31 to the inside of the isolation cover plate 10.

[0061] The reverse member includes a first gear 351 and a second gear 352. The diameter of the second gear 352 is 3-5 times the diameter of the first gear 351. The first gear 351 is fixedly connected to the corresponding deflection guide plate 31. The second gear 352 is fixedly connected to the corresponding push gear 32. A reverse rack 353 is arranged between the first gear 351 and the second gear 352. The two sides of the reverse rack 353 are respectively meshed with the first gear 351 and the second gear 352.

[0062] When the supporting plate 50 leaves the isolation cover plate 10, the pushing rack 33 contacts the pushing gear 32 to push the pushing gear 32 to rotate, and the first gear 351 rotates accordingly. Under the push of the reverse rack 353, the second gear 352 drives the deflection guide plate 31 to rotate counterclockwise based on direction A. Because the diameter of the second gear 352 is much larger than the diameter of the first gear 351, the deflection guide plate 31 rotates slowly to guide the hydrogen gas flow so that it flows along the deflection guide plate 31 to the inside of the isolation cover plate 10.

[0063] The guide assembly provided with a reversing member can rotate the deflection guide plate 31 clockwise based on direction A when the supporting plate 50 enters the isolation cover plate 10, so that the hydrogen gas flow flows along the deflection guide plate 31 to the inside of the isolation cover plate 10, and the hydrogen gas flow blows toward the surface of the battery material to take away a small part of the heat, which can reduce the time used in the cooling stage and improve the production efficiency of the battery material.

[0064] Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the embodiment, the flow guide assembly further comprises a plurality of protective plates 36, wherein the interior of the protective plates 36 is used for installing forward components or reverse components, and the protective plates 36 are composed of multiple layers of heat-insulating materials.

[0065] The protection plate 36 can protect the forward component or the reverse component, reduce the impact of heat radiation on the forward component or the reverse component, and thus extend the service life of the forward component or the reverse component.

[0066] The hydrogen injection module further includes a hydrogen supply recovery device, which is connected to the intake pipe 21 and the exhaust pipe 22 through pipelines, and a heating mechanism is provided inside the hydrogen supply recovery device.

[0067] The hydrogen supply recovery device can extract the hydrogen and part of the inert gas in the isolation cover plate 10 through the exhaust pipe 22, and separate the hydrogen, inert gas and other reaction gases inside the hydrogen supply recovery device to reduce the waste of resources.

[0068] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, but not to limit them.

Claims

1. A sintering device for battery material production, characterized in that: include: A tunnel-type sintering furnace, wherein an inert gas is continuously filled inside the tunnel-type sintering furnace, and the battery material placed on the carrier plate (50) passes through the tunnel-type sintering furnace in the A direction, and the sintering process is completed after a preheating stage, a heating stage, a heat preservation stage, and a cooling stage; A hydrogen injection module, the hydrogen injection module being arranged in the insulation stage of the tunnel-type sintering furnace, the hydrogen injection module comprising an isolation cover plate (10), a gas injection port (11) being arranged in the middle of the isolation cover plate (10), and a plurality of isolation components being arranged at both ends of the isolation cover plate (10), the isolation components comprising an air inlet pipe (21) and an exhaust pipe (22); High-temperature hydrogen is blown in from the air inlet pipe (21) and discharged from the exhaust pipe (22), and the blown hydrogen gas flow forms an "isolation gas wall" at both ends of the isolation cover plate (10) to block the external inert gas, thereby ensuring the hydrogen concentration inside the isolation cover plate (10) to provide more active molecules to accelerate the reduction reaction of the battery material; The hydrogen injection module further comprises a plurality of flow guide assemblies, wherein the flow guide assemblies are located in the isolation assembly, and the flow guide assemblies comprise a deflection guide plate (31) and a push gear (32). One end of the deflection guide plate (31) and the push gear (32) are both rotatably inserted in the isolation cover plate (10), and a push rack (33) corresponding to the push gear (32) is provided on one side of the support plate (50). The support plate (50) moves in the direction A so that the push rack (33) passes through a plurality of push gears (32).

2. The sintering device for battery material production according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow guide assembly further comprises a plurality of forward members, the forward members being used in conjunction with the flow guide assembly at the front end of the isolation cover plate (10); the pushing rack (33) pushes the pushing gear (32) to rotate through the forward members to rotate the deflection guide plate (31) counterclockwise based on direction A, and the hydrogen gas flow flows along the deflection guide plate (31) toward the interior of the isolation cover plate (10).

3. The sintering device for battery material production according to claim 2, characterized in that: The forward member comprises a first sprocket (341) and a second sprocket (342); the first sprocket (341) is fixedly connected to the corresponding deflection guide plate (31); the second sprocket (342) is fixedly connected to the corresponding push gear (32); and a transmission chain (343) is provided between the first sprocket (341) and the second sprocket (342).

4. The sintering device for battery material production according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flow guide assembly further comprises a plurality of reverse parts, which are used in conjunction with the flow guide assembly at the rear end of the isolation cover plate (10). The pushing rack (33) pushes the pushing gear (32) to rotate through the reverse parts to rotate the deflection guide plate (31) clockwise based on direction A, and the hydrogen gas flow flows along the deflection guide plate (31) toward the interior of the isolation cover plate (10).

5. The sintering device for battery material production according to claim 4, characterized in that: The reverse member comprises a first gear (351) and a second gear (352), wherein the first gear (351) is fixedly connected to the corresponding deflection guide plate (31), and the second gear (352) is fixedly connected to the corresponding push gear (32), and a reverse rack (353) is arranged between the first gear (351) and the second gear (352), and two sides of the reverse rack (353) are respectively meshed with the first gear (351) and the second gear (352).

6. The sintering device for battery material production according to claim 4, characterized in that: The flow guide assembly further comprises a plurality of protective plates (36), wherein the interior of the protective plates (36) is used to install forward components or reverse components, and the protective plates (36) are composed of multiple layers of heat insulation material.

7. The sintering device for battery material production according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hydrogen injection module further comprises a hydrogen supply recovery device, the hydrogen supply recovery device is connected to the air inlet pipe (21) and the exhaust pipe (22) via a pipeline, and a heating mechanism is provided inside the hydrogen supply recovery device.

8. The operating method of the sintering device for battery material production according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1, heating; Inert gas is continuously introduced into the tunnel sintering furnace to exhaust the air inside the tunnel sintering furnace, and then the temperature inside the furnace is gradually increased to the set sintering temperature according to the predetermined sintering program; S2, injecting hydrogen; High-temperature hydrogen is injected through the gas injection port (11) to gradually discharge the inert gas from the isolation cover plate (10), and then high-temperature hydrogen is continuously blown in from the gas inlet pipe (21), and the high-temperature hydrogen is discharged from the exhaust pipe (22) at both ends of the isolation cover plate (10) to form an "isolation gas wall"; S3, material sintering; The battery material placed on the carrier plate (50) passes through the tunnel-type sintering furnace in the A direction, and after a preheating stage, a heating stage, and a heat preservation stage, the battery material passes through the high-concentration hydrogen position of the isolation cover plate (10) to complete the reduction reaction during the heat preservation stage; S4, taking materials; The sintering process is completed through a final cooling stage, and the finished product is subsequently removed by the carrier plate (50).

9. The operating method of the sintering device for battery material production according to claim 8, characterized in that: The step S2 also includes preheating the hydrogen: heating the hydrogen to the furnace temperature before injecting the hydrogen to prevent the hydrogen from expanding due to heat after being blown in.

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