Graphitization furnace and heat treatment system

Abstract

This application relates to a graphitization furnace and a heat treatment system. The graphitization furnace includes: a furnace body having a reaction chamber, a feed inlet, and a discharge outlet, with the feed inlet and discharge outlet located on opposite sides of the reaction chamber; and a first electrode and a second electrode with opposite polarities. At least a portion of the first electrode is inserted into the feed inlet along a first direction, and the second electrode is disposed through the reaction chamber along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and located near the discharge outlet. The portion of the second electrode within the reaction chamber has multiple feeding channels extending through it along the first direction and communicating with the discharge outlet. In this application, the first and second electrodes are spaced apart within the reaction chamber and perpendicular to each other, allowing a parallel electric field to be formed between them. Multiple feeding channels are provided on the second electrode, allowing the material to pass through the parallel electric field more uniformly and stably, resulting in a more uniform heating process and improved product consistency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of graphitization 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 current graphitization furnaces, the internal electric field distribution is not concentrated, resulting in 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 of poor product consistency caused by the uneven distribution of the internal electric field during the use of current graphitization furnaces.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a graphitization furnace, including a furnace body and a first electrode and a second electrode with opposite polarities; the furnace body has a reaction chamber and a feed inlet and a discharge outlet communicating with the reaction chamber, and the feed inlet and the discharge outlet are respectively located on opposite sides of the reaction chamber; at least a portion of the first electrode is inserted into the feed inlet along a first direction, and the second electrode is disposed through the reaction chamber along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and located on the side near the discharge outlet; wherein, the portion of the second electrode located in the reaction chamber is provided with a plurality of feeding channels communicating with the discharge outlet along the first direction.

[0006] With the above structure, a parallel electric field is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, which can heat the material between the first electrode and the second electrode more uniformly, graphitize it, and improve the consistency of the product.

[0007] According to one or more embodiments, the second electrode includes a feeding area and an extension area. The feeding area is located inside the reaction chamber, and the extension area is located on opposite sides of the feeding area along a second direction and extends through the furnace body. All feeding channels are opened in the feeding area, and in the first direction, the cross-sectional shape of the feeding area matches the cross-sectional shape of the first electrode.

[0008] The above structure enables a more uniform parallel electric field to be formed between the first and second electrodes, allowing for uniform and continuous heating of the material within the heating area and improving product consistency.

[0009] According to one or more embodiments, all feeding channels are evenly distributed in the feeding area. Evenly distributed feeding channels facilitate more uniform material flow and improve the uniformity of material heating.

[0010] According to one or more embodiments, in the first direction, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first electrode is S1, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the remaining part of the feeding area excluding each feeding channel is S2, and the ratio of S1 to S2 is in the range of 1:1 to 1:2.7.

[0011] Therefore, by setting the ratio of S1 to S2 within the above range, a parallel electric field can be smoothly formed between the first electrode and the feeding area, thereby uniformly heating the material passing through the area and making its graphitization more thorough.

[0012] According to one or more embodiments, the ratio of S1 to S2 ranges from 1:1.1 to 1:1.9. Within this range, a parallel electric field can be better formed between the first electrode and the feeding area, improving product consistency.

[0013] According to one or more embodiments, each feeding channel extends along a second direction, and the feeding channels are spaced apart along a third direction, which is perpendicular to both the first and second directions.

[0014] The above structure enables a better parallel electric field to be formed between the first electrode and the feeding area, thus heating the material uniformly. In addition, the material is heated more evenly in the corresponding feeding channel, which can further improve the consistency of the product.

[0015] According to one or more embodiments, in the second direction, the diameter of the first electrode is D1, the length of each feeding channel is D2, and the ratio of D1 to D2 is in the range of 1:1 to 1:4.

[0016] Based on this, the ratio of D1 to D2 is set to the above range so that the material in the heating area can smoothly enter the corresponding feeding channel and be uniformly heated in the heating area and the corresponding feeding channel, thus successfully completing graphitization.

[0017] According to one or more embodiments, the ratio of D1 to D2 ranges from 1:1 to 1:1.8. This allows for better control of the time the material spends in the heating zone and the time it spends passing through the corresponding feeding channel, further improving the heating uniformity of the material.

[0018] According to one or more embodiments, in the first direction, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all the feeding channels is S3, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the remaining part of the feeding area excluding each feeding channel is S2, and the ratio of S3 to S2 ranges from 1.2:1 to 3.4:1.

[0019] Therefore, setting the ratio of S3 to S2 within the above range allows the material in the heating zone to pass through each feeding channel more smoothly, reducing the probability of material blockage; in addition, the solid part of the feeding zone can also provide a corresponding current density to uniformly heat the material.

[0020] According to one or more embodiments, the ratio of S3 to S2 ranges from 1.2:1 to 2.6:1. This further reduces the probability of material blockage in the feeding channel, and the feeding zone can provide a corresponding current density to heat the material.

[0021] According to one or more embodiments, in a first direction, the distance between the surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode facing each other is D3, the distance between the inner wall of the reaction chamber with the feed inlet and the surface of the second electrode facing each other is D4, and the ratio between D3 and D4 is in the range of 1:1.1 to 1:7.

[0022] Based on this, setting the ratio between D3 and D4 to the above range can control the time the material stays in the heating zone, allowing the material to be heated more thoroughly and evenly, and enabling the material to be fully graphitized.

[0023] According to one or more embodiments, the ratio between D3 and D4 ranges from 1:1.59 to 1:4.6. This brings the core temperature field closer to the insulation area, thereby effectively reducing energy consumption.

[0024] Secondly, this application also provides a heat treatment system, including a cooling assembly and a graphitization furnace as described above; the cooling assembly is disposed on the furnace body and located on one side of the discharge port.

[0025] In the aforementioned graphitization furnace and heat treatment system, a first electrode and a second electrode with opposite polarities are respectively arranged on one side of the feed inlet and the other side of the discharge outlet. The first electrode and the second electrode are spaced apart in the reaction chamber and perpendicular to each other, so that a parallel electric field can be formed between them to heat the material passing through the electric field. Furthermore, multiple feeding channels are opened on the second electrode, and the material can pass through each feeding channel. In this way, the material can pass through the parallel electric field more evenly and stably, making the heating process of the material in the parallel electric field more uniform and improving product consistency. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a graphitization furnace according to one or more embodiments.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a graphitization furnace according to one or more embodiments.

[0028] Figure 3 for Figure 2Sectional view along the AA direction.

[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second electrode in a graphitization furnace according to one or more embodiments.

[0030] 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, discharge outlet; 31, feeding channel; 32, feeding area; 33, extension area; a, first direction; b, second direction; c, third direction; 2, hopper; 3, feed pipe; 4, material shut-off valve; 5, DC transformer. Detailed Implementation

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] In current graphitization furnace structures, an umbrella-shaped or cone-shaped electric field is typically formed inside the furnace body to graphitize the material upon passing through it. However, due to the dispersed distribution of this electric field, not all the material can pass through the core heating zone. During the passage of the material through the electric field, some material passes through the central core heating zone where the electric field distribution is more concentrated, while other material passes through the sparser electric field around the perimeter. This results in inconsistent graphitization levels at different locations, leading to poor product consistency.

[0041] Based on the above considerations, to address the problem of poor product consistency caused by the uneven distribution of the internal electric field in current graphitization furnaces, one or more embodiments of this application provide a graphitization furnace in which a first electrode and a second electrode of opposite polarity are respectively disposed on the inlet and outlet sides. The first and second electrodes are spaced apart within the reaction chamber and perpendicular to each other, forming a parallel electric field to heat the material passing through this field. Furthermore, multiple feeding channels are formed on the second electrode, allowing the material to pass through each channel. This ensures that the material passes through the parallel electric field more uniformly and stably, resulting in a more uniform heating process and improved product consistency.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] It should be noted that the positive and negative electrodes can be graphite electrodes.

[0047] The cooling discharge unit is mainly used to cool the graphitized material. Therefore, the cooling discharge unit is connected to the discharge port 13 of the furnace body 10 so that the graphitized material can smoothly enter the cooling discharge unit from the discharge port 13 and be output.

[0048] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, one embodiment of 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 and a discharge outlet 13 communicating with the reaction chamber 11, with the feed inlet 12 and the discharge outlet 13 located on opposite sides of the reaction chamber 11. The polarity of the first electrode 20 is opposite to that of the second electrode 30. At least a portion of the first electrode 20 is inserted into the feed inlet 12 along a first direction a, and the second electrode 30 is disposed through the reaction chamber 11 along a second direction b perpendicular to the first direction a, and is located on the side near the discharge outlet 13. The portion of the second electrode 30 located within the reaction chamber 11 has multiple feeding channels 31 communicating with the discharge outlet 13 along the first direction a.

[0049] 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.

[0050] The furnace body 10 also has a feed inlet 12 and a discharge outlet 13. The feed inlet 12 can be located at the top of the furnace body 10 and communicate with the reaction chamber 11. The discharge outlet 13 is located at the bottom of the furnace body 10 and also communicates with the reaction chamber 11. In this way, the material is put in through the feed inlet 12, enters the reaction chamber 11 under the action of gravity, moves downward in the reaction chamber 11, and finally flows out through the discharge outlet 13 after graphitization treatment.

[0051] Furthermore, the graphitization furnace 100 also includes a first electrode 20 and a second electrode 30 with opposite polarities. Specifically, opposite polarities mean that an electric field from the positive electrode to the negative electrode can be formed between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30. When the first electrode 20 is set as the positive electrode, the second electrode 30 is set as the negative electrode. Conversely, when the first electrode 20 is set as the negative electrode, the second electrode 30 is set as the positive electrode. For ease of explanation, the following description will use the first electrode 20 as the positive electrode and the second electrode 30 as the negative electrode.

[0052] When the feed inlet 12 is positioned above the furnace body 10, the first direction a is vertical, and the second direction b is horizontal. The positive electrode is inserted vertically from top to bottom into the feed inlet 12, meaning the lower half of the positive electrode is located inside the reaction chamber 11. The negative electrode is positioned horizontally and penetrates the reaction chamber 11, meaning the negative electrode extends horizontally from one end of the furnace body 10 and extends out from the other end.

[0053] In the vertical direction, the positive and negative electrodes in the reaction chamber 11 are arranged alternately, so that a graphitized region, that is, a heating region, is formed in the space between the positive and negative electrodes, which can heat the material.

[0054] After the material enters the reaction chamber 11 through the feed port 12, it passes through the heating area between the positive and negative electrodes, where it is graphitized, and finally flows out from the discharge port 13.

[0055] In the above process, since the positive electrode and the negative electrode in the reaction chamber 11 are arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction, a parallel electric field is formed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. Furthermore, multiple uniformly distributed feeding channels 31 are opened on the negative electrode, and the material moves towards the discharge port 13 through the feeding channels 31. In this way, the material can pass through the heating area more evenly, improving product consistency. Moreover, the material is dispersed during the process of passing through each feeding channel 31, making graphitization more thorough.

[0056] It should be noted that the process of the material moving downward in the reaction chamber 11 is very slow. When a portion of the material at the bottom moves into the feeding channel 31, this portion of material filling the feeding channel 31 can be regarded as becoming one with the negative electrode. At this time, the material in the feeding channel 31 and the negative electrode together form a parallel electric field with the positive electrode, which graphitizes the material in the heating area, making the parallel electric field more uniform, and thus the graphitization of the material in the heating area is more thorough.

[0057] With the above structure, a parallel electric field is formed between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30, which can heat the material between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 more uniformly, graphitize it, and improve product consistency.

[0058] In some embodiments, the second electrode 30 includes a feeding area 32 and an extension area 33. The feeding area 32 is located within the reaction chamber 11, and the extension area 33 is located on opposite sides of the feeding area 32 along the second direction b and extends through the furnace body 10. All feeding channels 31 are located within the feeding area 32, and in the first direction a, the cross-sectional shape of the feeding area 32 matches the cross-sectional shape of the first electrode 20.

[0059] Specifically, the second electrode 30 can be divided into a feeding area 32 and an extension area 33. The feeding area 32 refers to a portion located within the reaction chamber 11, vertically opposite to and spaced apart from the first electrode 20. The extension area 33 refers to a portion located on opposite sides of the feeding area 32 in the horizontal direction, penetrating the furnace body 10, serving a connecting and supporting function.

[0060] The feeding area 32 is located directly below the first electrode 20, meaning that the parallel electric field is actually formed between the first electrode 20 and the feeding area 32. All feeding channels 31 are opened in the feeding area 32, so that the material can be better heated and graphitized by the parallel electric field and then flow out from the feeding channel 31 to the discharge port 13.

[0061] Furthermore, in the vertical direction, the cross-sectional shape of the feeding area 32 matches the cross-sectional shape of the first electrode 20. When the positive electrode is set as a cylindrical graphite electrode, in the vertical direction, the cross-sectional shape of the positive electrode is circular, and the cross-sectional shape of the feeding area 32 is also set as circular. In this way, the positive electrode and the feeding area 32 can be better aligned, forming a more uniform parallel electric field.

[0062] Of course, in order to allow the material to pass through the heating zone more smoothly and flow out of the feeding channel 31, the cross-sectional shape of the reaction chamber 11 can also be set to a circle.

[0063] With the above structure, a more uniform parallel electric field can be formed between the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30, so as to uniformly and continuously heat the material in the heating area and improve product consistency.

[0064] In some embodiments, all the feeding channels 31 are evenly distributed in the feeding area 32.

[0065] Specifically, all the feeding channels 31 are evenly distributed in the feeding area 32. For example, when the feeding channels 31 are set as circular through holes, all circular channels are evenly distributed within the feeding area 32. As a result, the material can pass through each feeding channel 31 more evenly, improving the uniformity of material heating.

[0066] In some embodiments, in the first direction a, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first electrode 20 is S1, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the remaining portion of the feeding area 32 excluding each feeding channel 31 is S2, and the ratio of S1 to S2 ranges from 1:1 to 1:2.7.

[0067] Specifically, the cross-sectional area of ​​the remaining portion of the feeding area 32, excluding the feeding channels 31, is the cross-sectional area of ​​the solid portion of the feeding area 32. The relationship between S1 and S2 is a necessary condition for the formation of a parallel electric field.

[0068] As a specific embodiment, the ratio of S1 to S2 can be, but is not limited to, 1:1, 1:1.3, 1:1.7, 1:2, 1:2.3, or 1:2.7. Different ratios of S1 to S2 will result in different shapes of the final electric field, which will affect the formation of the parallel electric field.

[0069] Therefore, by setting the ratio of S1 to S2 within the above range, a parallel electric field can be smoothly formed between the first electrode 20 and the feeding area 32, thereby uniformly heating the material passing through the area and making its graphitization more thorough.

[0070] In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of S1 to S2 ranges from 1:1.1 to 1:1.9. Within this range, a parallel electric field can be better formed between the first electrode 20 and the feeding area 32, improving product consistency.

[0071] As a specific embodiment, the ratio of S1 to S2 can be set to, but is not limited to, 1:1.1, 1:1.3, 1:1.5, 1:1.7, or 1:1.9.

[0072] In some embodiments, each feeding channel 31 extends along the second direction b, and the feeding channels 31 are spaced apart along the second direction c, the second direction c being perpendicular to the first direction a and the second direction b respectively.

[0073] Specifically, the first direction a is set as the vertical direction, the second direction b is set as the first horizontal direction, and the second direction c is set as the second horizontal direction. That is, the first direction a, the second direction b, and the second direction c are all perpendicular to each other.

[0074] Each feeding channel 31 extends along the first horizontal direction and has a long strip structure, and the feeding channels 31 are spaced apart from each other along the second horizontal direction. That is, all the feeding channels 31 form a grid structure.

[0075] As the material moves from the heating zone to the feeding channel 31, it is divided into multiple parts, each passing through a corresponding feeding channel 31. This allows for several advantages. First, as the material slowly falls, it forms a negative electrode with the feeding zone 32 and a parallel electric field with the positive electrode, uniformly heating the material in the heating zone and promoting graphitization, thus improving uniformity. Second, when material accumulates, the outer edges may be graphitized while the middle area may not, leading to uneven graphitization. Therefore, when the material is divided into multiple parts by the feeding channel 31, each part is heated more evenly as it passes through its corresponding channel. Furthermore, the elongated shape of the feeding channel 31 flattens the material, further improving heating uniformity and product consistency.

[0076] Understandably, in some other embodiments, each feeding channel 31 can also be configured in other shapes, such as cylindrical, frustum-shaped or other shapes, and all feeding channels 31 are evenly distributed in the feeding area 32, which can also achieve uniform material passage and uniform heating, which will not be elaborated here.

[0077] The above structure enables a better parallel electric field to be formed between the first electrode 20 and the feeding area 32, so as to heat the material evenly. In addition, the material is heated more evenly in the corresponding feeding channel 31, which can further improve the consistency of the product.

[0078] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, in the second direction b, the diameter of the first electrode 20 is D1, the length of each feeding channel 31 is D2, and the ratio of D1 to D2 is in the range of 1:1 to 1:4.

[0079] As a specific embodiment, the ratio of D1 to D2 can be, but is not limited to, set to 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, or 1:4. Wherein, different diameters D1 of the first electrode 20 result in different dimensions of the parallel electric field formed, and different lengths of the feeding channel 31 result in different times for the material to pass through the feeding channel 31.

[0080] Specifically, in the first horizontal direction, the diameter of the first electrode 20 affects the size of the parallel electric field, and the length of the feeding channel 31 affects the time it takes for the material in the heating area to pass through the feeding channel 31 and the degree of graphitization within the feeding channel 31.

[0081] Based on this, the ratio of D1 to D2 is set to the above range so that the material in the heating area can smoothly enter the corresponding feeding channel 31 and be uniformly heated in the heating area and the corresponding feeding channel 31, thus successfully completing graphitization.

[0082] In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of D1 to D2 ranges from 1:1 to 1:1.8. This allows for better control of the time the material spends in the heating zone and the time it takes to pass through the corresponding feeding channel 31, further improving the heating uniformity of the material.

[0083] As a specific embodiment, the ratio of D1 to D2 can be set to, but is not limited to, 1:1, 1:1.2, 1:1.4, 1:1.6, or 1:1.8.

[0084] In some embodiments, in the first direction a, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all the feeding channels 31 is S3, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the remaining part of the feeding area 32 excluding each feeding channel 31 is S2. The ratio of S3 to S2 ranges from 1.2:1 to 3.4:1.

[0085] Specifically, the remaining portion of the unloading area 32, excluding the unloading channels 31, constitutes the solid portion of the unloading area 32. In the vertical direction, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all the unloading channels 31 in the unloading area 32 is S3, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the solid portion of the unloading area 32 is S2.

[0086] As a specific embodiment, the ratio of S3 to S2 can be, but is not limited to, 1.2:1, 1.4:1, 1.6:1, 1.8:1, 2:1, 2.2:1, 2.4:1, 2.6:1, 2.8:1, 3:1, 3.2:1, and 3.4:1. Different ratios of S3 to S2 result in different speeds and times for the material to pass through each feeding channel 31.

[0087] Specifically, the ratio of S3 to S2 is the proportion of all feeding channels 31 in the feeding area 32. This ratio will affect the time it takes for the material to pass through each feeding channel 31 and whether it will cause blockage. In addition, the solid part of the feeding area 32 needs to increase the corresponding current density to heat the material.

[0088] Therefore, setting the ratio of S3 to S2 within the above range allows the material in the heating zone to pass through each feeding channel 31 more smoothly, reducing the probability of material blockage; in addition, the solid part of the feeding zone 32 can also provide a corresponding current density to uniformly heat the material.

[0089] In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of S3 to S2 ranges from 1.2:1 to 2.6:1. This further reduces the probability of material blockage in the feeding channel 31, and the feeding zone 32 can provide a corresponding current density to heat the material.

[0090] As a specific embodiment, the ratio of S3 to S2 can be, but is not limited to, set to 1.2:1, 1.4:1, 1.6:1, 1.8:1, 2:1, 2.2:1, 2.4:1, or 2.6:1.

[0091] In some embodiments, in the first direction a, the distance between the surfaces of the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 facing each other is D3, the distance between the inner wall of the reaction chamber 11 with the feed inlet 12 and the surface of the second electrode 30 facing each other is D4, and the ratio between D3 and D4 is in the range of 1:1.1 to 1:7.

[0092] In the vertical direction, the distance between the facing surfaces of the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 is D3. Specifically, the first electrode 20 is inserted downward into the reaction chamber 11 from the feed inlet 12, while the second electrode 30 is disposed through the reaction chamber 11 along the first horizontal direction. Therefore, the lower surface of the first electrode 20 and the upper surface of the second electrode 30 face each other. That is, the distance between the lower surface of the first electrode 20 and the upper surface of the second electrode 30 is D3.

[0093] Furthermore, a graphitized core region is formed between the lower surface of the first electrode 20 and the upper surface of the second electrode 30, which is the heating region. In other words, the height of the heating region in the vertical direction is D3.

[0094] The feed inlet 12 is located at the top of the reaction chamber 11. That is, the inner wall of the reaction chamber 11 with the feed inlet 12 is the top wall of the reaction chamber 11, and the top wall of the reaction chamber 11 faces each other. Therefore, in the vertical direction, the distance between the top wall of the reaction chamber 11 and the upper surface of the second electrode 30 is D4.

[0095] Understandably, in the vertical direction, the distance between the top wall of the reaction chamber 11 and the upper surface of the second electrode 30 is the distance the material moves from the feed inlet 12 to the discharge channel 31 within the reaction chamber 11.

[0096] It should be noted that when the material first enters the reaction chamber 11, the temperature near the feed inlet 12 is relatively low, forming a preheating zone. As the material gradually moves downwards, it reaches the core temperature field, i.e., the heating zone, when it reaches between the positive and negative electrodes. In other words, the material needs to pass through a preheating zone in the reaction chamber 11 before entering the heating zone; that is, the temperature in the reaction chamber 11 gradually increases from the feed inlet 12 towards the second electrode 30.

[0097] As a specific embodiment, the ratio between D3 and D4 can be, but is not limited to, 1:1.1, 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 of D3 and D4 result in different residence times of the material in the heating zone.

[0098] Based on this, setting the ratio between D3 and D4 to the above range can control the time the material stays in the heating zone, allowing the material to be heated more thoroughly and evenly, and enabling the material to be fully graphitized.

[0099] In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of D3 to D4 ranges from 1:1.59 to 1:4.6. This brings the core temperature field closer to the insulation area, thereby effectively reducing energy consumption.

[0100] As a specific embodiment, the ratio between D3 and D4 can be set to, but is not limited to, 1:1.59, 1:2.6, 1:3.6, or 1:4.6.

[0101] 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.

[0102] 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.

[0103] 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.

[0104] 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 difference was the ratio between the cross-sectional area S1 of the first electrode 20 and the cross-sectional area S2 of the remaining portion of the feeding area 32 excluding the feeding channels 31. The results were evaluated by testing the degree of graphitization of the products in each example and comparative example, as detailed below:

[0105] Example 1:

[0106] Both the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 are graphite, and there is only one of each. The ratio between S1 and S2 is 1:1.1. In the second direction b, the ratio between the diameter D1 of the first electrode 20 and the length D2 of each feeding channel 31 is 1:1. In the first direction a, the ratio between S3 and S2 is 1.2:1, and the ratio between D3 and D4 is 1:1.59. The graphitization degree of the product was measured to be 91.6%.

[0107] Example 2:

[0108] Both the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 are graphite, and there is only one of each. The ratio between S1 and S2 is 1:1.5. In the second direction b, the ratio between the diameter D1 of the first electrode 20 and the length D2 of each feeding channel 31 is 1:1. In the first direction a, the ratio between S3 and S2 is 1.2:1, and the ratio between D3 and D4 is 1:1.59. The graphitization degree of the product was tested to be 93.3%.

[0109] Example 3:

[0110] Both the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 are graphite, and there is only one of each. The ratio between S1 and S2 is 1:1.9. In the second direction b, the ratio between the diameter D1 of the first electrode 20 and the length D2 of each feeding channel 31 is 1:1. In the first direction a, the ratio between S3 and S2 is 1.2:1, and the ratio between D3 and D4 is 1:1.59. The graphitization degree of the product was tested to be 91.8%.

[0111] Comparative Example 1:

[0112] Both the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 30 are graphite, and there is only one of each. The ratio between S1 and S2 is 1:2. In the second direction b, the ratio between the diameter D1 of the first electrode 20 and the length D2 of each feeding channel 31 is 1:1. In the first direction a, the ratio between S3 and S2 is 1.2:1, and the ratio between D3 and D4 is 1:1.59. The graphitization degree of the product was measured to be 89.2%.

[0113] As shown above, when the ratio between S1 and S2 is within the specified range, the product has a high degree of graphitization and meets the standard. However, when the ratio between S1 and S2 exceeds the specified range, the product's degree of graphitization fails to meet the standard.

[0114] Based on the same concept as the graphitization furnace 100 described above, this application also provides a heat treatment system, including a cooling assembly and the graphitization furnace 100 as described above. The cooling assembly is disposed on the furnace body 10 and located on one side of the discharge port 13.

[0115] Specifically, after the material undergoes graphitization treatment in the graphitization furnace 100, it has a high temperature. Therefore, a cooling component is set on one side of the discharge port 13 of the graphitization furnace 100 and is connected to the discharge port 13 so that the material after graphitization treatment can enter the cooling component and the cooling component cools the graphitized material.

[0116] According to one or more embodiments, in specific use, the material is placed into the reaction chamber 11 through the feed inlet 12. The material first passes through the preheating zone, where its temperature gradually increases. Under the influence of gravity, the material slowly moves downward. When the material enters between the positive and negative electrodes, it is heated under the action of a parallel electric field, causing it to graphitize.

[0117] When a portion of the material enters the feeding channel 31, the material in the feeding channel 31 and the feeding area 32 become a whole, and together they form a parallel electric field with the positive electrode, which uniformly heats the material in the heating area.

[0118] After graphitization, the material enters the cooling component from the discharge port 13, where it is cooled to form artificial graphite material.

[0119] 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.

[0120] 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 and a discharge outlet communicating with the reaction chamber, and the feed inlet and the discharge outlet are respectively located on opposite sides of the reaction chamber; and A first electrode and a second electrode with opposite polarities, at least a portion of the first electrode being inserted into the feed port along a first direction, and the second electrode being disposed through the reaction chamber along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and located on the side near the discharge port; The portion of the second electrode located within the reaction chamber has multiple feeding channels extending along the first direction and communicating with the discharge port.

2. The graphitization furnace according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second electrode includes a feeding area and an extension area. The feeding area is located inside the reaction chamber, and the extension area is located on opposite sides of the feeding area along the second direction and extends through the furnace body. All of the feeding channels are located in the feeding area, and in the first direction, the cross-sectional shape of the feeding area matches the cross-sectional shape of the first electrode.

3. The graphitization furnace according to claim 2, characterized in that, All of the aforementioned feeding channels are evenly distributed in the feeding area.

4. The graphitization furnace according to claim 2, characterized in that, In the first direction, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first electrode is S1, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the remaining part of the feeding area excluding each feeding channel is S2. The ratio of S1 to S2 is in the range of 1:1 to 1:2.

7.

5. The graphitization furnace according to claim 4, characterized in that, The ratio of S1 to S2 ranges from 1:1.1 to 1:1.

9.

6. The graphitization furnace according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the feeding channels extends along the second direction, and the feeding channels are spaced apart along a third direction, which is perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction.

7. The graphitization furnace according to claim 6, characterized in that, In the second direction, the diameter of the first electrode is D1, the length of each feeding channel is D2, and the ratio of D1 to D2 is in the range of 1:1 to 1:

4.

8. The graphitization furnace according to claim 7, characterized in that, The ratio of D1 to D2 ranges from 1:1 to 1:1.

8.

9. The graphitization furnace according to claim 2, characterized in that, In the first direction, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all the feeding channels is S3, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the remaining part of the feeding area excluding each feeding channel is S2. The ratio of S3 to S2 ranges from 1.2:1 to 3.4:

1.

10. The graphitization furnace according to claim 9, characterized in that, The ratio of S3 to S2 ranges from 1.2:1 to 2.6:

1.

11. The graphitization furnace according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the first direction, the distance between the surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode facing each other is D3, and the distance between the inner wall of the reaction chamber with the feed inlet and the surface of the second electrode facing each other is D4. The ratio between D3 and D4 is in the range of 1:1.1 to 1:

7.

12. The graphitization furnace according to claim 11, characterized in that, The ratio between D3 and D4 ranges from 1:1.59 to 1:4.

6.

13. A heat treatment system, characterized in that, include: The graphitization furnace as described in any one of claims 1-12; and A cooling assembly is disposed on the furnace body and located on one side of the discharge port.

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