Busbar connector, graphitization furnace production system and method

Abstract

The invention provides a busbar connector and a graphitization furnace production system and method. The graphitization furnace production system comprises a bracket and two movable aluminum bars which are arranged on the bracket up and down, wherein the two movable aluminum bars are respectively connected with the bracket through telescopic pieces; the two telescopic pieces stretch out and draw back to drive the two movable aluminum bars to be close to each other to form a first cavity capable of connecting a circuit, or the two movable aluminum bars are far away from each other to form a second cavity capable of disconnecting the circuit. According to the invention, a clamp is omitted, and the graphite electrode is communicated with the total aluminum bar by adopting the busbar connector, so that the equipment structure is greatly simplified, the power transmission process is simplified, and the equipment stability and reliability are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of lithium battery anode material production technology, and in particular to a busbar connector, a graphitization furnace production system and method. Background Technology

[0002] As climate change becomes increasingly severe, more environmentally friendly and sustainable energy systems are being promoted, primarily including electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems. Batteries, as components of electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems, mainly consist of positive electrode materials, negative electrode materials, separators, and electrolytes.

[0003] Graphitization, as a core process in anode material production, plays a crucial role. Graphitization typically employs a graphitization furnace. The material is fed through a transformer rectifier cabinet, applying voltage to the graphite electrodes at both ends of the furnace. This heats the material inside the furnace through resistance heating. Graphitization requires a significant amount of heat, thus necessitating a large current (e.g., 20,000-30,000 A). During graphitization production, the power supply must be disconnected after each furnace is heated before connecting another furnace.

[0004] Existing power switching methods, such as the aluminum busbar clamping type power transmission vehicle device disclosed in patent publication number CN117748242A, are equipped with clamps that can clamp both ends simultaneously. The upper end of the clamp holds the aluminum busbar, and the lower end of the clamp holds the electrodes on the side wall of the graphitization furnace. Multiple graphite electrodes are arranged on the side wall of the graphitization furnace, with each graphite electrode corresponding to one clamp. This results in a large number of clamps (generally 6-12), making the equipment complex. Furthermore, after long-term use, scale builds up on the clamping surfaces, leading to high contact resistance and causing loose clamping during later use, which can easily result in arcing and affect the electrode's lifespan. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a busbar connector, a graphitization furnace production system and method, which simplifies equipment and reduces arcing.

[0006] The technical solution of the present invention is: a graphitization furnace production system, including a support and two movable aluminum bars arranged vertically on the support, the two movable aluminum bars being connected to the support by telescopic members; the two telescopic members extend and retract to drive the two movable aluminum bars to move closer to each other to form a first cavity that can connect the circuit, or the two movable aluminum bars to move further apart to form a second cavity that can disconnect the circuit.

[0007] Preferably, the bracket has a lower platform and an upper platform located above the lower platform, one movable aluminum busbar is mounted on the lower platform via a telescopic member, and the other movable aluminum busbar is mounted on the upper platform via another telescopic member.

[0008] Preferably, a guide rod is connected between the upper platform and the lower platform, and a spring is fitted on the guide rod. The spring is located between the lower platform and the adjacent movable aluminum strip and between the upper platform and the adjacent movable aluminum strip.

[0009] Preferably, the bracket includes a base frame and an upper frame connected to the base frame, the lower platform is disposed on the base frame, and the upper platform is disposed on the upper frame.

[0010] The present invention also provides a graphitization furnace production system, including a graphitization furnace that moves between various workstations, a main aluminum busbar located at at least one workstation, a plurality of graphite electrodes located at both ends of the graphitization furnace, and a busbar connected to the graphite electrodes. The end of the main aluminum busbar is provided with the aforementioned busbar connector for connecting or disconnecting the main aluminum busbar and the busbar.

[0011] Preferably, the graphite electrodes in the same horizontal row are connected by an electrode fixing copper busbar, which is connected to the busbar aluminum busbar via a flexible connection.

[0012] Preferably, a bolt is connected between each pair of adjacent electrode fixing copper busbars, the bolts ensuring that the electrode fixing copper busbars are in close contact with the graphite electrode.

[0013] Preferably, a support block is provided on the end side wall of the graphitization furnace, and the support block is attached to the lower surface of the busbar aluminum bus.

[0014] Preferably, each workstation is equipped with a foundation support for supporting the graphitization furnace.

[0015] The present invention also provides a working method for the above-described graphitization furnace production system, comprising the following steps: Step 1: Designate at least one workstation as a heating zone, and install the main aluminum busbar and busbar connector on the heating zone; the end of the main aluminum busbar is located between the two movable aluminum busbars in the busbar connector; Step 2: Start the graphitization furnace and move it between each workstation. Activate the telescopic component to move the two movable aluminum bars away from each other to form a second cavity. Step 3: When the graphitization furnace moves to the heating zone, the busbar aluminum is placed in the second cavity; Step 4: Activate the telescopic mechanism to bring the two movable aluminum bars closer to each other and simultaneously fit them with the busbar and the main aluminum bar, thus connecting the circuit and supplying power to the graphitization furnace. Step 5: Start the graphitization furnace. Step six: After the graphitization furnace has finished working, activate the telescopic mechanism to move the two movable aluminum bars away from each other to form a second cavity, and then activate the graphitization furnace to move out of the heating zone; the work is complete.

[0016] Compared with related technologies, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: I. This invention eliminates the clips and uses a busbar connector to connect the graphite electrode to the main aluminum busbar, which greatly simplifies the equipment structure, simplifies the power supply process, and improves the stability and reliability of the equipment. Second, this invention connects multiple graphite electrodes arranged on the side wall of the graphitization furnace to the busbar aluminum bus. When the power is turned on, it is only necessary to connect the busbar aluminum bus and the main aluminum bus. This reduces the formation of scale on the electrode surface, reduces the occurrence of arcing, ensures the service life of the electrodes, and saves the cost of replacing the electrodes. Third, the busbar connector of the present invention uses a telescopic component to drive the movable aluminum busbar to achieve automatic circuit connection and disconnection, which not only improves the level of intelligence, but also ensures the effectiveness and stability of the contact between the movable aluminum busbar and the busbar and the main aluminum busbar. IV. The movement of the movable aluminum busbar is aided by the elastic force of the spring. At the moment of contact, the movable aluminum busbar makes elastic contact with the busbar and the main aluminum busbar to avoid damage to each other. In the later stage of contact, the movable aluminum busbar maintains close contact with the busbar and the main aluminum busbar to achieve effective connection. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the graphitization furnace production system provided by the present invention; Figure 2 A top view of the graphitization furnace production system provided by the present invention; Figure 3 A side view of the graphitization furnace production system provided by the present invention. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the busbar connector.

[0018] In the attached diagram: 1. Waiting station; 2. Heating zone; 3. Cooling zone; 4. First moving direction; 5. Second moving direction; 6. Third moving direction; 7. Graphitization furnace; 8. Main aluminum busbar; 9. Transformer; 10. Busbar connector; 11. Graphite electrode; 12. Electrode fixing copper busbar; 13. Bolt; 14. Flexible connection; 15. Busbar; 16. Foundation support; 17. Support block; 18. Movable aluminum busbar; 19. Guide rod; 20. Spring; 21. Telescopic component; 22. Bracket; 221. Lower platform; 222. Upper platform; 223. Base frame; 224. Upper frame. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described herein can be combined with each other. For ease of description, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" used below only indicate that they correspond to the upper, lower, left, and right directions in the accompanying drawings and do not limit the structure.

[0020] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the graphitization furnace production system provided in this embodiment includes a graphitization furnace 7, a main aluminum busbar 8, a transformer 9, and a busbar connector 10.

[0021] The graphitization furnace production system has multiple workstations connected by tracks. A traveling trolley (not shown) is mounted on the tracks, and the graphitization furnace 7 is placed on the traveling trolley, allowing it to move between the workstations. In this embodiment, each workstation includes a waiting workstation 1, a heating zone 2 located below the waiting workstation 1, and a cooling zone 3 located below the heating zone 2. Each workstation is equipped with a foundation support 16, allowing the graphitization furnace 7 to be detached from the traveling trolley and placed on the foundation support 16.

[0022] The heating zone 2 is equipped with a transformer 9 and a total aluminum busbar 8 extending from both ends of the transformer 9. Multiple graphite electrodes 11 are arranged horizontally and vertically on both side walls of the graphitization furnace 7. The total aluminum busbar 8 extending from both ends needs to be connected to the graphite electrodes 11 at both ends of the graphitization furnace 7.

[0023] like Figure 3 As shown, the upper and lower ends of the graphite electrodes 11 in the same horizontal row are connected by electrode fixing copper busbars 12, and two electrode fixing copper busbars 12 on the same horizontal row of graphite electrodes 11 are connected by bolts 13, so that the electrode fixing copper busbars 12 are in close contact with the graphite electrodes 11. Each electrode fixing copper busbar 12 is connected to the busbar 15 by a flexible connector 14. A support block 17 is provided on the end side wall of the graphitization furnace 7, and the support block 17 is attached to the lower surface of the busbar 15.

[0024] like Figure 4 As shown, the busbar connector 10 includes a movable aluminum busbar 18, a guide rod 19, a spring 20, a telescopic component 21, and a bracket 22. The bracket 22 includes a base frame 223 and an upper frame 224 connected to the base frame 223. The base frame 223 is connected to the workstation. A lower platform 221 is provided on the base frame 223, and an upper platform 222 is provided on the upper frame 224. The lower platform 221 and the upper platform 222 are arranged vertically opposite each other.

[0025] Two guide rods 19 connect the lower platform 221 and the upper platform 222. Two movable aluminum bars 18 pass through the guide rods 19. Two springs 20 are fitted onto each guide rod 19. The lower platform 221 is connected to the adjacent movable aluminum bar 18 via a telescopic member 21, with a spring 20 positioned between the movable aluminum bar 18 and the lower platform 221. The upper platform 222 is connected to the adjacent movable aluminum bar 18 via another telescopic member 21, with a spring 20 positioned between the movable aluminum bar 18 and the upper platform 222. The telescopic member 21 is a hydraulic cylinder. When both hydraulic cylinders extend simultaneously, the two movable aluminum bars 18 approach each other, contacting the busbar 15 and the main aluminum bar 8 to form a first cavity capable of connecting the circuit. When both hydraulic cylinders retract simultaneously, the two movable aluminum bars 18 move away from each other, forming a second cavity capable of disconnecting the circuit.

[0026] The present invention also provides a working method for the graphitization furnace production system described above, comprising the following steps: Step one: Designate at least one workstation as heating zone 2, and install the main aluminum busbar 8 and the busbar connector 10 on the heating zone 2; the end of the main aluminum busbar 8 is located between the two movable aluminum busbars 18 in the busbar connector 10. Figure 2 As shown, the process flow is as follows: a graphitization furnace 7 waits at the waiting station 1, enters the heating zone 2 along the first moving direction 4 for heating, and after heating is completed, it moves out of the heating zone 2 along the second moving direction 5 and enters the cooling zone 3 for cooling. After cooling is completed, it is removed from the cooling zone 3 along the third moving direction 6.

[0027] Step 2: Start the graphitization furnace 7 to move between each station. When the control system receives the signal that the graphitization furnace 7 is moving in the first direction 4, it activates the telescopic component 21 to move the two movable aluminum bars 18 away from each other to form a second cavity. Step 3: The graphitization furnace 7 moves laterally along the first moving direction 4 into the heating zone 2, and the end of the busbar aluminum bus 15 enters the second cavity; Step 4: Activate the telescopic component 21 to bring the two movable aluminum bars 18 closer to each other and simultaneously fit with the busbar aluminum bar 15 and the main aluminum bar 8, connect the circuit, and supply power to the graphitization furnace 7. Step 5: Start the graphitization furnace 7. Step six: After the graphitization furnace 7 has finished working, activate the telescopic component 21 to move the two movable aluminum bars 18 away from each other to form a second cavity, and then activate the graphitization furnace 7 to move out of the heating zone 2; the work is completed.

[0028] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of the present invention specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A busbar connector characterized by, The device comprises a bracket (22) and two movable aluminum bars (18) arranged above and below the bracket (22), and the two movable aluminum bars (18) are connected with the bracket (22) through telescopic members (21); the two telescopic members (21) are telescoped to drive the two movable aluminum bars (18) to move close to each other to form a first cavity capable of connecting a circuit, or the two movable aluminum bars (18) are moved away from each other to form a second cavity capable of disconnecting the circuit.

2. The busbar connector of claim 1, wherein, The bracket (22) has a lower platform (221) and an upper platform (222) arranged above the lower platform (221), one movable aluminum bar (18) is installed on the lower platform (221) through one telescopic member (21), and the other movable aluminum bar (18) is installed on the upper platform (222) through the other telescopic member (21).

3. The busbar connector of claim 2, wherein, A guide rod (19) is connected between the upper platform (221) and the lower platform (222), and a spring (20) is sleeved on the guide rod (19), and the spring (20) is arranged between the lower platform (221) and the adjacent movable aluminum bar (18) and between the upper platform (222) and the adjacent movable aluminum bar (18) respectively.

4. The busbar connector of claim 2, wherein, The bracket (22) comprises a bottom frame (223) and an upper frame (224) connected to the bottom frame (223), the lower platform (221) is arranged on the bottom frame (223), and the upper platform (222) is arranged on the upper frame (224).

5. A graphitization furnace production system comprising a graphitization furnace (7) which travels between stations, a general aluminum bus (8) provided at at least one station, a plurality of graphite electrodes (11) provided at both ends of the graphitization furnace (7), and a bus bar (15) which is connected to the graphite electrodes (11), characterized in that, The end of the total aluminum bar (8) is provided with a busbar connector (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1-4 for connecting or disconnecting the total aluminum bar (8) and the bus aluminum bar (15).

6. The graphitization furnace production system of claim 5, wherein, The graphite electrodes (11) in the same horizontal row are connected through electrode fixing copper bars (12), and the electrode fixing copper bars (12) are connected with the bus aluminum bar (15) through flexible connections (14).

7. The graphitization furnace production system of claim 6, wherein, A bolt (13) is arranged between every two adjacent electrode fixing copper bars (12), and the bolt (13) makes the electrode fixing copper bars (12) and the graphite electrodes (11) closely adhere to each other.

8. The graphitization furnace production system of claim 5, wherein, A support block (17) is arranged on the end side wall of the graphitization furnace (7), and the support block (17) is in close contact with the lower surface of the bus aluminum bar (15).

9. The graphitization furnace production system of claim 5, wherein, A foundation pier (16) for supporting the graphitization furnace (7) is arranged on each station.

10. A method of operating a production system for graphitization furnaces according to any one of claims 5-9, characterized in that, The method comprises the following steps: Step one: at least one station is set as a heating area (2), and a total aluminum bar (8) and a busbar connector (10) are arranged on the heating area (2); the end of the total aluminum bar (8) is located between two movable aluminum bars (18) in the busbar connector (10); Step two: the graphitization furnace (7) is started to move between stations, and the telescopic member (21) is started to make the two movable aluminum bars (18) move away from each other to form a second cavity; Step three: when the graphitization furnace (7) moves to the heating area (2), the bus aluminum bar (15) is placed in the second cavity; Step four: the telescopic member (21) is started to make the two movable aluminum bars (18) move close to each other and simultaneously closely adhere to the bus aluminum bar (15) and the total aluminum bar (8) to connect the circuit and supply power to the graphitization furnace (7); Step five: the graphitization furnace (7) is started to work. Step six, after the graphitization furnace (7) work is completed, start the telescopic part (21) to make two movable aluminum row (18) away from each other action to form the second cavity, start the graphitization furnace (7) to move out of the heating area (2); work is completed.

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