Graphitization furnace and heat treatment system

Abstract

This application relates to a graphitization furnace and heat treatment system. The graphitization furnace includes: a furnace body having a reaction chamber, with a feed inlet communicating with the reaction chamber along a first direction on the furnace body; a first electrode inserted into the feed inlet along the first direction, and having a first feeding channel extending along the first direction and communicating with the reaction chamber; and a second electrode with the opposite polarity to the first electrode, extending through the furnace body along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, with a second feeding channel extending along the first direction and communicating with the reaction chamber at the portion of the second electrode located within the reaction chamber. In this application, an umbrella-shaped electric field or a cone-shaped electric field can be formed between the first and second electrodes. The material feeding path coincides with the electric field between the first and second electrodes. Thus, the material can pass through the electric field more effectively and be uniformly heated within the electric field, resulting in more thorough graphitization and effectively improving product consistency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of graphitization furnace technology, and in particular to a graphitization furnace and heat treatment system. Background Technology

[0002] The carbon atoms in carbonaceous materials are arranged irregularly. Only through high-temperature heat treatment, causing the carbon atoms to recrystallize and rearrange in an ordered manner, can the crystalline structure of graphite be presented. This results in graphite possessing many of its excellent properties, such as significantly improved electrical and thermal conductivity, better chemical and thermal stability, reduced impurities, lower hardness, and easier machining. The function of a graphitization furnace is to transform carbonaceous materials into artificial graphite materials, enabling their better application in industrial manufacturing.

[0003] However, in the current graphitization furnace, the internal electric field distribution is uneven and the distribution area is not concentrated, which makes it difficult to heat the material in a concentrated manner, resulting in incomplete graphitization of the material and poor product consistency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a graphitization furnace and heat treatment system to address the problem that the uneven distribution of the internal electric field in current graphitization furnaces during use, and the lack of concentration of the distribution area, which makes it difficult to concentrate the heating of materials, resulting in incomplete graphitization of materials and poor product consistency.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a graphitization furnace, including a furnace body, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The furnace body has a reaction chamber, and a feed inlet communicating with the reaction chamber is opened on the furnace body along a first direction. The first electrode is inserted into the feed inlet along the first direction, and a first feeding channel is opened on the first electrode, which is communicating with the reaction chamber. The second electrode has the opposite polarity to the first electrode and is disposed through the furnace body along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The portion of the second electrode located in the reaction chamber is provided with a second feeding channel that is opened through the first direction, and the second feeding channel is communicating with the reaction chamber.

[0006] With the above structure, an umbrella-shaped electric field or a cone-shaped electric field is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The material feeding path coincides with the electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode. In this way, the material can pass through the electric field better and be uniformly heated in the electric field, resulting in more thorough graphitization and effectively improving the consistency of the product.

[0007] In some embodiments, the second electrode includes a feeding area and an extension area. The extension area is disposed through the furnace body and is located on opposite sides of the feeding area along a second direction. The feeding area is located inside the reaction chamber and is constructed as a hollow annular structure to form a second feeding channel thereon.

[0008] With the above structure, the first electrode can form an umbrella-shaped or cone-shaped electric field with the feeding area. After the material flows out from the first feeding channel inside the first electrode, it passes through the second feeding channel of the feeding area, so that the feeding path of the material coincides with the electric field, which can heat and graphitize the material more uniformly and thoroughly.

[0009] In some embodiments, in a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the ratio between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the feeding area ranges from 1:1.2 to 1:5.

[0010] Setting the ratio between the inner and outer diameters of the feeding area to the range mentioned above can effectively improve the strength and current density of the second electrode, enabling it to meet the power requirements during production and effectively reduce waste.

[0011] In some embodiments, in a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the ratio between the diameter of the first feeding channel and the diameter of the second feeding channel ranges from 1:2 to 1:5.

[0012] By setting the ratio between the diameter of the first feeding channel and the diameter of the second feeding channel within the range mentioned above, the feeding speed of the material can be controlled, the material can be fully heated, and the feeding path of the material can be better aligned with the electric field, thus improving the graphitization process of the material to be more uniform and thorough.

[0013] In some embodiments, in a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the diameter of the first feeding channel is D1, the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode in the first direction is H, and the ratio of D1 to H ranges from 1:1 to 1:8.

[0014] Therefore, the above ratio range allows the material feeding path to better coincide with the electric field, which is beneficial to graphitization.

[0015] In some embodiments, in a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the ratio between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the first electrode ranges from 1:1.5 to 1:7.

[0016] Setting the ratio between the inner and outer diameters of the first electrode to the range described above can effectively improve the electrode strength and current density of the first electrode, enabling it to meet the power supply requirements during the production process.

[0017] In some embodiments, the furnace body includes an inner lining, an insulation layer, and a heat-resistant layer, which are sequentially arranged from the inside to the outside and together enclose a reaction chamber.

[0018] Therefore, by designing the furnace body as a multi-layer structure, the heat preservation effect can be effectively improved, and the service life of the graphitization furnace can also be extended.

[0019] In some embodiments, in a first direction, the height of the inner liner is lower than the height of the insulation layer, and the height of the insulation layer is lower than the height of the heat-resistant layer; wherein the inner liner encloses to form a core heating region, and at least a portion of the second electrode and the first electrode are located within the core heating region.

[0020] The above structure enables materials to be heated more evenly in the core heating area, increasing the degree of graphitization and improving product consistency.

[0021] In some embodiments, the furnace body further includes a first venting element disposed between the inner lining layer and the first electrode.

[0022] By incorporating a first venting element, the core heating area is protected, allowing the material to be heated more stably within this area, thus making the graphitization process more stable. Furthermore, the first venting element also facilitates the discharge of volatile components from the material, which is beneficial for graphitization.

[0023] In some embodiments, the first venting element is constructed as a shaped carbonaceous material. The shaped carbonaceous material has high strength, which better protects the core heating region, allowing the material to react stably within the core heating region.

[0024] In some embodiments, a preheating zone is formed between the feed inlet and the core heating zone, and the furnace body further includes a second venting element disposed in the preheating zone and filling the gap between the first electrode and the inner wall of the feed inlet.

[0025] The above structure can further facilitate the venting of volatile components from the material and reduce the probability of the material falling into the reaction chamber from the gap between the first electrode and the feed port. This allows the material to enter the reaction chamber and the second feed channel through the first feed channel and be graphitized more stably in the electric field.

[0026] In some embodiments, the second vent is constructed of an amorphous carbonaceous material. This allows the second vent to better insulate the core heating area, resulting in a more stable temperature within the core heating area and improved graphitization of the material.

[0027] In some embodiments, the furnace body is further provided with a discharge port communicating with the reaction chamber, and the discharge port and the feed port are respectively located on opposite sides of the reaction chamber along the first direction; the graphitization furnace also includes a cooling component, which is communicating with the discharge port.

[0028] Therefore, the cooling component is connected to the discharge port so that the material can smoothly enter the cooling component after being discharged from the discharge port, and the cooling component is used to cool the graphitized material.

[0029] Secondly, this application also provides a heat treatment system, including the graphitization furnace described above.

[0030] In the aforementioned graphitization furnace and heat treatment system, an umbrella-shaped or conical electric field can be formed between the first and second electrodes. A first feeding channel is opened on the first electrode, and the material is fed into the reaction chamber from the first feeding channel and then through the second feeding channel. During this process, the feeding path of the material is umbrella-shaped or conical, which coincides with the electric field between the first and second electrodes. In this way, the material can pass through the electric field better and be uniformly heated in the electric field, resulting in more thorough graphitization and effectively improving the consistency of the product. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a graphitization furnace according to one or more embodiments.

[0032] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a graphitization furnace according to one or more embodiments.

[0033] Figure 3 This is a top view of a graphitization furnace according to one or more embodiments.

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second electrode in a graphitization furnace according to one or more embodiments.

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first electrode in a graphitization furnace according to one or more embodiments.

[0036] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 100, graphitization furnace; 10, furnace body; 20, first electrode; 30, second electrode; 11, reaction chamber; 12, feed inlet; 13, first feeding channel; 14, inner lining layer; 15, insulation layer; 16, heat-resistant layer; 17, first ventilator; 18, second ventilator; 19, discharge port; 31, second feeding channel; 32, feeding area; 33, extension area; 111, core heating area; 112, preheating area; a, first direction; b, second direction; 2, hopper; 3, feed pipe; 4, material shut-off valve; 5, DC transformer. Detailed Implementation

[0037] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0038] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0039] Furthermore, where the terms "first" and "second" appear, these terms are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, where the term "multiple" appears, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0040] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0041] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the use of descriptions such as "above" or "below" the second feature indicates that the first and second features are in direct contact or indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. Similarly, "below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0042] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0043] Currently, judging from market trends, battery applications are becoming increasingly widespread. Batteries are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal power, wind power, and solar power plants, but also extensively used in electric vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric cars, as well as in other fields. With the continuous expansion of battery applications, market demand is also constantly increasing.

[0044] Carbonaceous materials are a key component of battery structures. The carbon atoms in these materials are irregularly arranged; only through high-temperature heat treatment, causing recrystallization and a rearrangement of the carbon atoms, can they exhibit the crystalline structure of graphite, thus acquiring graphite's excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as its chemical and thermal stability. Therefore, carbonaceous materials need to be converted into artificial graphite materials using a graphitization furnace, enabling their application in the production of battery anode materials.

[0045] In other words, a key step in the production process of carbon anode materials is graphitization. Graphitization refers to the transformation of carbon atoms from a random, irregular arrangement to a regularly arranged hexagonal planar network structure, i.e., graphite microcrystalline structure, at high temperatures. The purpose is to obtain graphite's high electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and abrasion resistance. During graphitization, the higher the temperature, the more complete the development of the graphite microcrystalline structure, thus increasing the degree of graphitization. The equipment used to complete graphitization is the graphitization furnace.

[0046] In current graphitization furnace structures, the electric field between the positive and negative electrodes is often dispersed and not concentrated. During the feeding process, some materials have a short residence time in the electric field, or even some materials do not pass through the electric field at all. Therefore, the materials are not completely graphitized, resulting in poor product consistency.

[0047] Based on the above considerations, to address the problem of uneven and scattered electric field distribution within current graphitization furnaces during operation, which hinders concentrated heating of materials and leads to incomplete graphitization and poor product consistency, one or more embodiments of this application provide a graphitization furnace in which an umbrella-shaped or conical electric field is formed between a first electrode and a second electrode. A first feeding channel is provided on the first electrode, through which materials are fed into the reaction chamber and then through a second feeding channel. During this process, the material's feeding path is umbrella-shaped or conical, coinciding with the electric field between the first and second electrodes. In this way, the material can pass through the electric field more effectively and be heated uniformly within it, resulting in more thorough graphitization and significantly improved product consistency.

[0048] See Figure 1 The graphitization furnace 100 is vertically arranged and mainly includes a furnace body 10 and various functional units disposed on the furnace body 10. Specifically, the graphitization furnace 100 may include a feeding unit, a DC power supply unit, and a cooling and discharging unit.

[0049] The feeding unit mainly includes a hopper 2 and a feed pipe 3. The hopper 2 is located above the furnace body 10 and is connected to the feed inlet 12 on the furnace body 10 via the feed pipe 3. Optionally, a material shut-off valve 4 can be installed at the connection between the hopper 2 and the feed pipe 3 to control the flow of material in the material channel.

[0050] Furthermore, the material entering the graphitization furnace 100 is a graphitizable carbonaceous material, such as petroleum coke, coal coke, and asphalt. After entering the graphitization furnace 100, the material undergoes four stages: preheating, calcination, graphitization, and cooling to complete the graphitization process and obtain the negative electrode material product. Volatile exhaust gas is released during the process.

[0051] The DC power supply unit may include a first electrode 20, a second electrode 30, and a DC transformer 5. One of the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 may be a positive electrode, and the other a negative electrode. The DC transformer 5 supplies power to the furnace body 10. The positive and negative electrodes can apply voltage to the material passing between them. DC current flows from the positive terminal of the DC transformer 5 through the material, which releases Joule heat due to its own resistance, maintaining the furnace core temperature above 3000℃, thus creating a stable temperature field between the positive and negative electrodes. The current flowing through the material returns from the negative electrode to the negative terminal of the DC transformer 5, forming a current flow loop.

[0052] It should be noted that the positive and negative electrodes can be graphite electrodes.

[0053] The cooling discharge unit is mainly used to cool the graphitized material. Therefore, the cooling discharge unit is connected to the discharge port 19 of the furnace body 10 so that the graphitized material can smoothly enter the cooling discharge unit from the discharge port 19 so as to output the graphitized material.

[0054] like Figure 2 As shown in the illustration, this application provides a graphitization furnace 100, including a furnace body 10, a first electrode 20, and a second electrode 30. The furnace body 10 has a reaction chamber 11, and a feed inlet 12 communicating with the reaction chamber 11 is formed along a first direction a on the furnace body 10. The first electrode 20 is inserted into the feed inlet 12 along the first direction a, and a first feeding channel 13 is formed on the first electrode 20, which is connected to the reaction chamber 11. The second electrode 30 has the opposite polarity to the first electrode 20 and is disposed through the furnace body 10 along a second direction b perpendicular to the first direction a. The portion of the second electrode 30 located in the reaction chamber 11 is connected to a second feeding channel 31 along the first direction a, which is connected to the reaction chamber 11.

[0055] It should be noted that the graphitization furnace 100 refers to a device capable of heating carbonaceous materials, causing the randomly arranged carbon atoms to rearrange in an orderly manner, presenting the crystalline structure of graphite. The furnace body 10 is the main part of the graphitization furnace 100. The interior of the furnace body 10 is hollow to form a reaction chamber 11, which can accommodate materials and provide reaction space for the materials.

[0056] The furnace body 10 is also provided with a feed inlet 12, which can be located above the furnace body 10 and communicate with the reaction chamber 11. In this way, when material is put in through the feed inlet 12, the material can fall into the reaction chamber 11 under the action of gravity.

[0057] When the feed inlet 12 is located above the furnace body 10, the first direction a is vertical, and the feed inlet 12 opens vertically. The second direction b is perpendicular to the first direction a, that is, the second direction b is horizontal.

[0058] Specifically, the first electrode 20 can be set as a positive electrode, and the second electrode 30 has the opposite polarity to the first electrode 20, so the second electrode 30 is set as a negative electrode. The first electrode 20 is inserted vertically into the feed inlet 12, that is, the first electrode 20 extends vertically and extends from the feed inlet 12 into the reaction chamber 11.

[0059] Furthermore, the first electrode 20 is hollow inside to form a first feeding channel 13 that runs vertically through the material, connecting the external environment and the reaction chamber 11. In this way, material can be placed into the first feeding channel 13 and enter the reaction chamber 11 via the first feeding channel 13.

[0060] The second electrode 30 is installed horizontally through the furnace body 10. The portion of the second electrode 30 located in the reaction chamber 11 has a second feeding channel 31 that extends vertically through it, and the second feeding channel 31 is connected to the reaction chamber 11.

[0061] The material enters the reaction chamber 11 through the first feeding channel 13 and then continues to fall through the second feeding channel 31. During this process, an umbrella-shaped or cone-shaped electric field is formed between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30. As the material enters the reaction chamber 11 and the second feeding channel 31 from the first feeding channel 13, the material's feeding path coincides with the shape of the electric field. In this way, the material can be better heated by the electric field during the feeding process, and all the material is located within the electric field during the feeding process, enabling continuous and uniform heating within the electric field, so that the material is completely graphitized, improving the consistency of the product.

[0062] With the above structure, an umbrella-shaped electric field or a cone-shaped electric field is formed between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30. The material feeding path coincides with the electric field between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30. In this way, the material can pass through the electric field better and be uniformly heated in the electric field, resulting in more thorough graphitization and effectively improving the consistency of the product.

[0063] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the second electrode 30 includes a feeding area 32 and an extension area 33. The extension area 33 is disposed through the furnace body 10 and is located on opposite sides of the feeding area 32 along the second direction b. The feeding area 32 is located in the reaction chamber 11 and is constructed as a hollow annular structure to form a second feeding channel 31 thereon.

[0064] Specifically, the feeding area 32 of the second electrode 30 is connected to the extension area 33. The feeding area 32 is located in the reaction chamber 11 and has a hollow ring structure. The hollow part runs through the vertical direction, forming the second feeding channel 31.

[0065] The extension zone 33 is horizontally connected to the opposite sides of the feeding zone 32 and extends through the furnace body 10. In this way, the extension zone 33 can provide a supporting foundation for the feeding zone 32 and can also be electrically connected to the DC transformer 5 to form a current loop.

[0066] Thus, through the above structure, the first electrode 20 can form an umbrella-shaped or cone-shaped electric field with the feeding area 32, and after the material flows out from the first feeding channel 13 inside the first electrode 20, it passes through the second feeding channel 31 of the feeding area 32, so that the feeding path of the material coincides with the electric field, which can heat and graphitize the material more uniformly and thoroughly.

[0067] In some embodiments, in a plane perpendicular to the first direction a, the ratio between the inner diameter d1 and the outer diameter d2 of the feeding area 32 ranges from 1:1.2 to 1:5.

[0068] Specifically, in the horizontal plane, the inner diameter of the feeding area 32 is the same as the diameter of the second feeding channel 31. The ratio between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the feeding area 32 will affect the strength and current density of the second electrode 30.

[0069] Furthermore, in a plane perpendicular to the first direction a, the ratio between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the feeding area 32 ranges from 1:1.5 to 1:2.8.

[0070] As a specific embodiment, the ratio between the inner diameter d1 and the outer diameter d2 of the feeding area 32 can be, but is not limited to, set to 1:1.2, 1:1.5, 1:2, 1:2.8, 1:3.5, 1:4, 1:4.5, or 1:5. Different ratios between the inner diameter d1 and the outer diameter d2 of the feeding area 32 result in different strengths of the second electrode 30 and different current densities thereon.

[0071] Therefore, setting the ratio between the inner and outer diameters of the feeding area 32 to the range described above can effectively improve the strength and current density of the second electrode 30, enabling it to meet the power requirements during production and effectively reduce waste.

[0072] like Figure 2 , Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, in a plane perpendicular to the first direction a, the ratio between the diameter D1 of the first feeding channel 13 and the diameter d1 of the second feeding channel 31 ranges from 1:2 to 1:5.

[0073] In a preferred embodiment, the ratio between the diameter of the first feeding channel 13 and the diameter of the second feeding channel 31 in a plane perpendicular to the first direction a is in the range of 1:2 to 1:2.5.

[0074] Specifically, within the horizontal plane, the ratio between the diameter of the first feeding channel 13 and the diameter of the second feeding channel 31 can be, but is not limited to, 1:2, 1:2.5, 1:3, 1:3.5, 1:4, 1:4.5, and 1:5. Different ratios between the diameters of the first feeding channel 13 and the second feeding channel 31 result in different feeding speeds. That is, the ratio between the diameters of the first feeding channel 13 and the second feeding channel 31 affects the feeding speed and the overlap rate between the material and the electric field.

[0075] Therefore, by setting the ratio between the diameter of the first feeding channel 13 and the diameter of the second feeding channel 31 to the above range, the feeding speed of the material can be controlled, the material can be fully heated, and the feeding path of the material can be better aligned with the electric field, thereby improving the graphitization process of the material to be more uniform and thorough.

[0076] In some embodiments, in a plane perpendicular to the first direction a, the diameter of the first feeding channel 13 is D1, the distance between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 in the first direction a is H, and the ratio of D1 to H ranges from 1:1 to 1:8.

[0077] Furthermore, the ratio of D1 to H ranges from 1:1.5 to 1:3.4.

[0078] Specifically, the vertical distance between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 is the distance between the bottom surface of the first electrode 20 and the top surface of the second electrode 30.

[0079] As a specific embodiment, the ratio of D1 to H can be, but is not limited to, 1:1, 1:1.5, 1:2, 1:2.5, 1:3, 1:3.4, 1:4, 1:4.5, 1:5, 1:5.5, 1:6, 1:6.5, 1:7, 1:7.5, or 1:8. Different ratios of D1 to H result in different degrees of overlap between the material feeding path and the electric field.

[0080] The ratio between the diameter of the first feeding channel 13 and the vertical distance between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 affects the final shape of the electric field and the actual path of the material feeding. Therefore, the above-mentioned ratio range allows the material feeding path to better coincide with the electric field, which is beneficial to graphitization.

[0081] In some embodiments, in a plane perpendicular to the first direction a, the ratio between the inner diameter D1 and the outer diameter d3 of the first electrode 20 ranges from 1:1.5 to 1:7.

[0082] Furthermore, in a plane perpendicular to the first direction a, the ratio between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the first electrode 20 ranges from 1:1.5 to 1:2.

[0083] Specifically, in the horizontal plane, the inner diameter of the first electrode 20 is the same as the diameter of the first feeding channel 13. The ratio between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the first electrode 20 will affect the electrode strength and current density of the first electrode 20.

[0084] As a specific embodiment, the ratio between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the first electrode 20 can be, but is not limited to, set to 1:1.5, 1:2, 1:2.5, 1:3, 1:3.5, 1:4, 1:4.5, 1:5, 1:5.5, 1:6, 1:6.5, or 1:7. Different ratios between the inner and outer diameters of the first electrode 20 result in different electrode strengths and current densities.

[0085] Based on this, setting the ratio between the inner diameter and outer diameter of the first electrode 20 to the above range can effectively improve the electrode strength and current density of the first electrode 20, so as to meet the power supply requirements in the production process.

[0086] In some embodiments, the furnace body 10 includes an inner lining layer 14, a heat insulation layer 15, and a heat-resistant layer 16, which are sequentially arranged from the inside to the outside and together enclose the reaction chamber 11.

[0087] It should be noted that the inner lining layer 14 refers to the innermost layer of the furnace body 10, which serves to provide heat insulation and form a material channel to restrict the flow of materials. By setting the inner lining layer 14, the materials can flow more smoothly along the material channel, reducing the probability of material accumulation inside the furnace body 10.

[0088] Optionally, the inner lining 14 may be, but is not limited to, made of lightweight carbon bricks. The lightweight carbon bricks have a compressive strength greater than 7 MPa, an ash content less than 0.1%, a temperature resistance greater than 2600℃, and a thermal conductivity of 0.05 W / mk to 1 W / mk, preferably 0.05 W / mk to 0.5 W / mk. The lightweight carbon bricks are not easily graphitized, allowing the material to be graphitized more stably within the reaction chamber 11.

[0089] Furthermore, the insulation layer 15 serves to retain heat, reducing heat loss within the furnace body 10 and lowering energy consumption. The insulation layer 15 can be, but is not limited to, being made of a high-temperature resistant, lightweight carbon insulation material.

[0090] The heat-resistant layer 16 can further insulate the furnace body 10 and reduce heat loss. Optionally, the heat-resistant layer 16 can be composed of steel plate, ceramic fiber products, lightweight refractory bricks (or castables), and heavyweight refractory bricks (or castables) from the outside to the inside.

[0091] In some other embodiments, a shell (not shown in the figure) may also be formed around the outer periphery of the heat-resistant layer 16 to protect the materials such as the inner lining layer 14, the insulation layer 15 and the heat-resistant layer 16, thereby further improving the service life of the graphitization furnace 100.

[0092] Therefore, by setting the furnace body 10 to a multi-layer structure, the heat preservation effect can be effectively improved, and the service life of the graphitization furnace 100 can also be extended.

[0093] In some embodiments, in the first direction a, the height of the inner liner 14 is lower than the height of the insulation layer 15, and the height of the insulation layer 15 is lower than the height of the heat-resistant layer 16. The inner liner 14 encloses a core heating region 111, and at least a portion of the second electrode 30 and the first electrode 20 are located within the core heating region 111.

[0094] Specifically, the inner liner 14 is located at the innermost layer and has the lowest vertical height. A heat-resistant layer 16 surrounds the outer periphery of the inner liner 14, and a heat-insulating layer 15 surrounds the outer periphery of the heat-resistant layer 16. The heat-insulating layer 15 has the highest height and a feed inlet 12 is located at its top. The heat-resistant layer 16 is situated between the inner liner 14 and the heat-insulating layer 15, forming a downward-sloping surface that connects the inner liner 14 and the heat-insulating layer 15. In this way, the material can smoothly slide down the slope and fall into the core heating area 111 enclosed by the inner liner 14. Within the core heating area 111, it gradually falls into the area between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30, and into the second feeding channel 31. During this process, the material can be uniformly heated by an electric field, achieving graphitization.

[0095] The above structure enables the material to be heated more evenly in the core heating area 111, thereby increasing the degree of graphitization of the material and improving product consistency.

[0096] In some embodiments, the furnace body 10 further includes a first venting element 17, which is disposed between the inner lining layer 14 and the first electrode 20.

[0097] Specifically, the first venting element 17 is disposed around the outer periphery of the first electrode 20 and is located between the outer peripheral surface of the first electrode 20 and the inner liner 14. That is, the first venting element 17 can surround the core heating area 111, so that the material can be better heated in the core heating area 111.

[0098] At the same time, the first ventilator 17 is breathable and can smoothly discharge the volatiles generated during the heating process, which is more conducive to the graphitization process.

[0099] By incorporating the first venting element 17, the core heating area 111 is protected, allowing the material to be heated more stably within the core heating area 111, thus making the graphitization process more stable. Furthermore, the first venting element 17 can also smoothly discharge the volatile components of the material, which is beneficial for graphitization.

[0100] In some embodiments, the first vent 17 is configured as a shaped carbonaceous material.

[0101] Specifically, shaped carbonaceous materials refer to carbonaceous materials that have a fixed shape and specific properties after being processed by special techniques. Shaped carbonaceous materials have high strength and can better protect the core heating region 111, enabling the material to react stably within the core heating region 111.

[0102] In some embodiments, a preheating region 112 is formed between the feed inlet 12 and the core heating region 111. The furnace body 10 also includes a second venting member 18, which is disposed in the preheating region 112 and fills the gap between the first electrode 20 and the inner wall of the feed inlet 12.

[0103] Specifically, the area between the feed inlet 12 and the core heating area 111 is the preheating area 112. The temperature of the preheating area 112 is lower than that of the core heating area 111. The material needs to pass through the preheating area 112 before entering the core heating area 111.

[0104] The second venting element 18 is disposed within the preheating zone 112 and fills the gap between the first electrode 20 and the inner wall of the feed inlet 12. In this way, the second venting element 18 can both exhaust air and prevent material from falling into the reaction chamber 11 from the gap between the first electrode 20 and the inner wall of the feed inlet 12.

[0105] The above structure can further facilitate the venting of volatile components from the material and reduce the probability of the material falling into the reaction chamber 11 from the gap between the first electrode 20 and the feed port 12. This allows the material to enter the reaction chamber 11 and the second feed channel 31 through the first feed channel 13 and be graphitized more stably in the electric field.

[0106] In some embodiments, the second vent 18 is configured as an amorphous carbonaceous material.

[0107] Specifically, amorphous carbonaceous materials refer to carbonaceous materials with a low degree of graphitization and crystallization, and are in an approximately amorphous state. Amorphous carbonaceous materials are also called transitional carbonaceous materials. Amorphous carbonaceous materials have good thermal insulation properties.

[0108] Therefore, the second venting element 18 can better insulate and maintain the core heating area 111, making the temperature in the core heating area 111 more stable and improving the graphitization effect of the material.

[0109] In some embodiments, the furnace body 10 is further provided with a discharge port 19 communicating with the reaction chamber 11, and the discharge port 19 and the feed port 12 are respectively located on opposite sides of the reaction chamber 11 along the first direction a. The graphitization furnace 100 also includes a cooling assembly (not shown in the figure), which is in communication with the discharge port 19.

[0110] Specifically, the feed inlet 12 is located at the top of the furnace body 10, and the discharge outlet 19 is vertically opposite to the feed inlet 12 and located at the bottom of the furnace body 10. In this way, the material is put in through the feed inlet 12 and, under its own gravity, can slowly fall into the reaction chamber 11 and finally be discharged from the reaction chamber 11 through the discharge outlet 19.

[0111] Furthermore, after the material undergoes graphitization treatment in the reaction chamber 11, it has a high temperature. Therefore, the cooling component is connected to the discharge port 19 so that the material can smoothly enter the cooling component after being discharged from the discharge port 19, and the cooling component is used to cool the graphitized material.

[0112] It should be noted that the degree of graphitization refers to the extent to which carbon atoms in a carbon material arrange themselves to form a structure similar to graphite crystals. In an ideal graphite crystal, carbon atoms are arranged in regular hexagonal layers. However, in actual carbon materials, the arrangement of carbon atoms may contain various defects and disorder. Therefore, the degree of graphitization is an indicator of how closely the structure of a carbon material resembles the ideal graphite structure.

[0113] Therefore, the higher the degree of graphitization of a product, the more stable its structure and the better its performance. In practical applications, different products have different requirements for the degree of graphitization. Taking one embodiment of this application as an example, the acceptable standard for the degree of graphitization of the product is 91.2%. That is to say, when the degree of graphitization of the product is greater than or equal to 91.2%, the product is qualified and meets the production requirements. If the degree of graphitization of the product is less than 91.2%, the product is considered unqualified.

[0114] Furthermore, in actual production, the degree of graphitization of a product is usually detected using X-ray diffraction. When X-rays irradiate a crystal, diffraction occurs, and crystal planes with different interplanar spacings will produce diffraction peaks at specific angles. Therefore, by measuring parameters such as the position, intensity, and full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the diffraction peaks in the XRD pattern of carbon materials, the degree of graphitization can be calculated using relevant formulas.

[0115] To investigate the impact of different graphitization furnace parameters on the degree of graphitization of the product, multiple comparative experiments were conducted to test and compare the relevant parameters of the graphitization furnace. In this comparative experiment, Examples 1-3 and Comparative Example 1 were included. All other structures and experimental conditions in each example and comparative example were identical; the only change was the ratio between the inner and outer diameters of the feeding area 32 within a plane perpendicular to the first direction a. The results were evaluated by testing the degree of graphitization of the products in each example and comparative example, as detailed below:

[0116] Example 1:

[0117] Both the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 are graphite, and there is one of each. In a plane perpendicular to the first direction a, the ratio of the inner diameter d1 to the outer diameter d2 of the feeding area 32 is 1:1.5, the ratio of the diameter D1 of the first feeding channel 13 to the diameter d1 of the second feeding channel 31 is 1:2, the ratio of D1 to H is 1:1.5, and the ratio of the inner diameter D1 to the outer diameter d3 of the first electrode 20 is 1:1.5. The graphitization degree of the product is 92.3% as tested.

[0118] Example 2:

[0119] Both the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 are graphite, and there is one of each. In a plane perpendicular to the first direction a, the ratio of the inner diameter d1 to the outer diameter d2 of the feeding area 32 is 1:2, the ratio of the diameter D1 of the first feeding channel 13 to the diameter d1 of the second feeding channel 31 is 1:2, the ratio of D1 to H is 1:1.5, and the ratio of the inner diameter D1 to the outer diameter d3 of the first electrode 20 is 1:1.5. The graphitization degree of the product is 94.4% as tested.

[0120] Example 3:

[0121] Both the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 are graphite, and there is one of each. In a plane perpendicular to the first direction a, the ratio of the inner diameter d1 to the outer diameter d2 of the feeding area 32 is 1:2.8, the ratio of the diameter D1 of the first feeding channel 13 to the diameter d1 of the second feeding channel 31 is 1:2, the ratio of D1 to H is 1:1.5, and the ratio of the inner diameter D1 to the outer diameter d3 of the first electrode 20 is 1:1.5. The graphitization degree of the product is 91.9% as tested.

[0122] Comparative Example 1:

[0123] Both the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 are graphite, and there is one of each. In a plane perpendicular to the first direction a, the ratio of the inner diameter d1 to the outer diameter d2 of the feeding area 32 is 1:5.3, the ratio of the diameter D1 of the first feeding channel 13 to the diameter d1 of the second feeding channel 31 is 1:2, the ratio of D1 to H is 1:1.5, and the ratio of the inner diameter D1 to the outer diameter d3 of the first electrode 20 is 1:1.5. The graphitization degree of the product is measured to be 90.1.

[0124] As can be seen from the above, when the ratio between the inner diameter d1 and the outer diameter d2 of the current feeding zone 32 is within the range mentioned above, the graphitization degree of the product is high and meets the standard. However, when the ratio between the inner diameter d1 and the outer diameter d2 of the current feeding zone 32 exceeds the range, the graphitization degree of the product does not meet the standard.

[0125] Based on the same concept as the graphitization furnace 100 described above, this application also provides a heat treatment system including the graphitization furnace 100 as described above.

[0126] According to one or more embodiments, when this application is used, the material is put in from the first feeding channel 13, and the material falls through the first feeding channel 13 into the reaction chamber 11 between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30, and then slowly falls into the second feeding channel 31, and finally falls from the second feeding channel 31 to the discharge port 19, and is discharged from the discharge port 19 to the cooling component, where it is cooled.

[0127] During the above process, an umbrella-shaped or cone-shaped electric field is formed between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30. As the material falls from the first feeding channel 13 to the second feeding channel 31, the material's feeding path coincides with the electric field. In this way, the material can be heated more uniformly and thoroughly in the electric field, resulting in complete graphitization of the material and improving product consistency.

[0128] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0129] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A graphitization furnace, characterized in that, include: The furnace body has a reaction chamber, and a feed inlet communicating with the reaction chamber is opened on the furnace body along a first direction; A first electrode is inserted into the feed inlet along the first direction, and a first feeding channel is formed on the first electrode along the first direction, the first feeding channel being connected to the reaction chamber; and The second electrode has the opposite polarity to the first electrode and is disposed through the furnace body in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The portion of the second electrode located in the reaction chamber is provided with a second feeding channel through the first direction, and the second feeding channel is connected to the reaction chamber.

2. The graphitization furnace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second electrode includes a feeding area and an extension area. The extension area extends through the furnace body and is located on opposite sides of the feeding area along the second direction. The feeding area is located inside the reaction chamber and is constructed as a hollow annular structure to form the second feeding channel thereon.

3. The graphitization furnace according to claim 2, characterized in that, In a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the ratio between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the feeding area ranges from 1:1.2 to 1:

5.

4. The graphitization furnace according to claim 2, characterized in that, In a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the ratio between the diameter of the first feeding channel and the diameter of the second feeding channel ranges from 1:2 to 1:

5.

5. The graphitization furnace according to claim 2, characterized in that, In a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the diameter of the first feeding channel is D1, the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode in the first direction is H, and the ratio of D1 to H is in the range of 1:1 to 1:

8.

6. The graphitization furnace according to claim 1, characterized in that, In a plane perpendicular to the first direction, the ratio between the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the first electrode ranges from 1:1.5 to 1:

7.

7. The graphitization furnace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The furnace body includes an inner lining, an insulation layer, and a heat-resistant layer, which are sequentially nested from the inside out and together enclose the reaction chamber.

8. The graphitization furnace according to claim 7, characterized in that, In the first direction, the height of the inner lining layer is lower than the height of the insulation layer, and the height of the insulation layer is lower than the height of the heat-resistant layer; The inner lining layer encloses and forms a core heating region, and at least a portion of the second electrode and the first electrode are located within the core heating region.

9. The graphitization furnace according to claim 8, characterized in that, The furnace body also includes a first venting element, which is disposed between the inner lining layer and the first electrode.

10. The graphitization furnace according to claim 9, characterized in that, The first ventilator is constructed of a shaped carbonaceous material.

11. The graphitization furnace according to claim 8, characterized in that, A preheating zone is formed between the feed inlet and the core heating zone. The furnace body also includes a second venting element, which is disposed in the preheating zone and fills the gap between the first electrode and the inner wall of the feed inlet.

12. The graphitization furnace according to claim 11, characterized in that, The second venting element is constructed of an amorphous carbonaceous material.

13. The graphitization furnace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The furnace body is also provided with a discharge port that communicates with the reaction chamber. The discharge port and the inlet are located on opposite sides of the reaction chamber along the first direction. The graphitization furnace also includes a cooling component, which is connected to the discharge port.

14. A heat treatment system, characterized in that, Including the graphitization furnace as described in any one of claims 1-13.

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