A combined track graphitization process system and its operation method

Abstract

The application discloses a combined track graphitization process system and a running method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of graphitization production. The system comprises a central control room, a power distribution room, a track crossing more than three workshops, a fixed power supply station, an environmental protection pool, a graphite furnace with wheels, a power supply workshop, a cooling workshop, a furnace loading and discharging workshop, a carbon additive pool and a screening workshop, and a two-layer platform. The graphite furnace is provided with wheels at the bottom, can slide on the track, is buckled and locked after reaching the position, and is remotely controlled to move by the central control room. The furnace body is sequentially subjected to furnace loading, power supply, cooling and furnace discharging, and the carbon additive is delivered to the screening system through a pipeline. The discharged crucible is hoisted to the two-layer platform by a clamp to suck powder, and the empty crucible is moved to a crucible loading area to load powder and then is loaded into the furnace again to circulate. The application avoids the hidden troubles of cross operation of fixed furnaces, shortens the cooling time, improves the operation environment, reduces the construction cost, and is suitable for the graphitization production of lithium battery negative electrode materials and carbon additive and other carbon materials.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of graphitization production technology, specifically to a combined orbital graphitization process system and its operation method. Background Technology

[0002] Graphitization is a heat treatment process that rearranges carbon atoms in carbonaceous materials into a graphite crystal structure, and it is a key step in the production of lithium-ion battery anode materials. Currently, traditional graphitization processes mainly use Atchison furnaces or internal series furnaces, with the furnaces located in fixed positions within the same workshop. This production organization method has the following prominent problems: 1. Fixed layout leads to overlapping operations, posing significant safety hazards. In traditional graphitization processes, the graphitization furnace is fixedly built inside the workshop, with multiple processes such as furnace loading, power supply, cooling, and unloading carried out concurrently within the same workshop. The graphitization furnace reaches extremely high temperatures during power supply, causing a large amount of volatile matter to escape from the furnace. If this volatile matter is not discharged in time, it may accumulate, leading to a furnace eruption accident that endangers personnel, factory buildings, and equipment safety. In this overlapping operation environment, operators are exposed to high temperatures and dust for extended periods, making them susceptible to heatstroke and posing significant occupational health risks.

[0003] 2. Long cooling cycle and low production efficiency. Traditional graphitization furnaces need to be left to cool to room temperature after power supply, which takes a long time. During the period when the furnace occupies the power supply position, other operations cannot be carried out, resulting in low equipment utilization.

[0004] 3. Large equipment investment and serious waste of resources. Traditional stationary graphitization furnaces require each furnace to be equipped with independent power supply equipment and aluminum busbar connection lines, resulting in high aluminum busbar construction costs and circuit losses.

[0005] 4. Low environmental protection standards and harsh working environment. In traditional processes, the charging, unloading, and cooling processes are carried out in the same workshop, resulting in serious dust pollution and difficulty in flue gas treatment, making it difficult to achieve clean production. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a combined orbital graphitization system and its operation method.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A combined orbital graphitization system includes the following components: 1. Central Control Room The central control room is located next to the power supply workshop and is used to control the power supply status of each graphitization furnace. The central control room is equipped with a remote control system that communicates with the walking drive device of the graphitization furnace. It is used to remotely control the graphitization furnace car to slide on the track, realizing the separation of operators from the high-temperature furnace body. It is convenient to operate and highly safe.

[0008] 2. Power distribution room The power distribution room is located adjacent to the power transmission workshop, and it houses transformers and aluminum busbar connection equipment to ensure power supply to the graphitization furnace. The transformer converts grid power into voltage and current suitable for the graphitization furnace, and transmits the power to the fixed power transmission station via aluminum busbars.

[0009] 3. Track The tracks are laid on the ground and serve as the operating tracks for the graphitization furnaces. These tracks span at least three factory buildings, connecting the various production workshops into a unified system. The track system employs a modular design, allowing the number of graphitization furnaces and the size of the workshops to be adjusted according to actual production capacity needs, providing excellent scalability.

[0010] 4. Fixed power supply station The fixed power supply station is set up in the power supply workshop. It is used to make conductive connections with the mobile power supply trolleys at both ends of the graphitization furnace after it is moved into place. The fixed power supply station has pits dug in the longitudinal direction at both ends of the furnace head (positive pole) and furnace tail (negative pole). Aluminum bars, longitudinal tracks and mobile power supply trolleys are arranged there. The mobile power supply trolleys can move back and forth on the longitudinal tracks at the furnace head and furnace tail. When the graphitization furnace arrives at the fixed power supply station, the conductive electrodes at both ends of the graphitization furnace are connected to the conductive devices of the mobile trolleys on both sides of the graphitization furnace, and the power supply operation can be carried out.

[0011] 5. Environmental protection pool The environmental protection pool is located outside the power transmission workshop and is connected to the workshop's flue gas emission outlet via pipeline. It is used to treat the flue gas generated during the graphitization process. The flue gas containing dust and harmful components generated during power transmission is collected and sent to the environmental protection pool for purification treatment to ensure that emissions meet standards.

[0012] 6. Graphitization furnace The graphitization furnace is a movable type with wheels installed at the bottom. These wheels rotate in conjunction with a track, allowing the furnace to slide along the track. The furnace can be fixed or moved—once moved to a fixed position, it is secured to the track using fasteners; the fasteners can be removed to allow movement. The number of graphitization furnaces can be increased or decreased according to actual production capacity requirements.

[0013] Specifically, the graphitization furnace is equipped with several wheels at its bottom, symmetrically distributed on both sides of the furnace bottom, which roll in conjunction with the track surface. The furnace interior contains a heating chamber with conductive electrode connectors at both ends for docking with conductive devices at fixed power supply positions. The furnace also features a drive motor that connects to the remote control system in the central control room, receiving remote control commands to drive the wheels. Fixing clips are located on both sides of the furnace bottom, including clip seats, clip arms, and locking mechanisms. When the furnace moves to the designated position, the clip arms engage with the track head, and the locking mechanism locks them in place, achieving precise positioning and fixation of the furnace. To move the furnace, the locking mechanism is released, and the clip arms disengage from the track.

[0014] 7. Power Transmission Workshop The power transmission workshop is a dedicated workshop for powering the graphitization furnace. After the graphitization furnace is moved from the loading workshop to the power transmission workshop along the track and connected and fixed to the power transmission trolley at the fixed power transmission station, the graphitization process is carried out. The power transmission workshop is set up independently, and the flue gas generated during the power transmission process is treated through an environmental protection pool.

[0015] 8. Cooling Workshop The cooling workshop is a dedicated space for cooling graphitization furnaces after power supply. After the graphitization furnace is powered on and its fixing clips are released, it is remotely controlled to move along a track from the power supply workshop to the cooling workshop for cooling. The cooling workshop is independently set up and can be equipped with dedicated cooling facilities to accelerate the cooling process. The workstations in the power supply workshop can be immediately used for powering on the next graphitization furnace.

[0016] 9. Charging and unloading workshop The loading and unloading workshop is a dedicated workshop for loading and unloading graphitization furnaces. In the loading and unloading workshop, the materials to be graphitized are loaded into the graphitization furnace to complete the loading operation; after the graphitization furnace is powered on and cooled, it returns to the loading and unloading workshop along the track to carry out the unloading operation and remove the graphitized products.

[0017] 10. Carbon raiser tank The recarburizer material pool is located between the charging and unloading workshop and the recarburizer screening workshop. The coarse-particle recarburizer and fine-powder recarburizer taken out from the graphitization furnace are stacked separately and separated to avoid mixing of recarburizers of different particle sizes. This ensures the quality of the recarburizer product and also makes it convenient and quick to use fine powder for sealing the furnace top.

[0018] 11. Carbon raiser screening workshop The carbon raiser screening workshop is used to screen and classify carbon raisers. Coarse-particle and fine-powder carbon raisers, conveyed from the carbon raiser pool, are classified into different particle sizes by screening equipment in the carbon raiser screening workshop to meet the needs of different customers.

[0019] 12. Second-floor platform The second-floor platform is located in the furnace loading and unloading workshop and is used for powder suction and loading operations of finished products. It is divided into a powder suction area and a powder loading area. The finished product fine powder is packaged in ton bags by the finished product fine powder system, and the material to be graphitized is loaded into the crucible by the feeding and powder loading system. Then the crucible is hoisted into the furnace.

[0020] In addition, the system of this invention also includes an overhead crane system, which is installed above each workshop. While the graphitization furnace on the ground moves back and forth along the track, the overhead crane can cooperate to carry out maintenance, material grabbing, and material suction operations, realizing three-dimensional collaborative operation between the ground and the air.

[0021] Running method The operating method of the combined orbital graphitization system provided by this invention includes the following steps: S1: Furnace loading. In the furnace loading workshop, the material to be graphitized is loaded into the graphitization furnace to complete the furnace loading operation.

[0022] S2: Transfer to the power transmission workshop. The graphitization furnace, loaded with materials, is transferred from the loading workshop to the power transmission workshop by the remote control system in the central control room, driven by the wheels at the bottom of the furnace sliding along the track.

[0023] S3: Positioning and Fixing. After the graphitization furnace arrives at the fixed power supply station in the power supply workshop, the graphitization furnace is locked on the track by fixing buckles to ensure that the furnace body remains stable during the power supply process.

[0024] S4: Power-driven graphitization. The graphitization furnace is connected to the conductive devices of the power supply trolleys at both ends of the fixed power supply station. The power distribution room, controlled by the central control room, supplies power to the graphitization furnace through a transformer and aluminum busbars for graphitization heat treatment. The flue gas generated during the power supply process is treated in an environmental protection pool.

[0025] S5: Transfer to the cooling workshop. After power supply is completed, the fixing clips are removed, and the graphitization furnace is transferred along the track from the power supply workshop to the cooling workshop for independent cooling via remote control from the central control room. The workstations in the power supply workshop can be immediately used for power supply operations of the next graphitization furnace.

[0026] S6: Transfer back to the loading and unloading workshop for unloading. After cooling, the graphitization furnace is transferred along the track from the cooling workshop to the loading and unloading workshop for unloading, and the graphitized graphite anode material product is taken out.

[0027] S7: Carbon raiser product processing. Coarse-particle carbon raisers and fine-powder carbon raisers taken from the graphitization furnace are separately sent to carbon raiser pools for separate stacking, and then sent to the carbon raiser screening workshop for screening and grading; the finished product is fed and loaded into the powder via a two-layer platform.

[0028] S8: Furnace Maintenance and Cycle. After being inspected in the loading and unloading workshop, the graphitization furnace is reloaded and enters the next production cycle. The overhead crane system can assist in maintenance, material handling, and material suction.

[0029] In the above steps, multiple graphitization furnaces can operate in parallel in different sections of the track system, respectively in different stages such as loading, power supply, cooling, and unloading, forming a continuous production line.

[0030] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This invention effectively prevents furnace-related accidents from affecting personnel during loading and unloading operations by setting up an independent power supply workshop and isolating the graphitization furnace from other processes during power supply. The use of remote control keeps operators away from the high-temperature furnace body, eliminating the risk of heatstroke and direct injury from furnace-related accidents.

[0031] After the graphitization furnace is powered on, it is immediately transferred to the cooling workshop for independent cooling. The power supply workshop workstations can then be used immediately for powering on the next furnace, achieving continuous and efficient utilization of the power supply equipment. Multiple furnaces operate in parallel in sections on the track, with seamless connections between each stage, forming a streamlined continuous production mode.

[0032] Moving the graphitization furnace from the power supply workshop to a dedicated cooling workshop avoids the long-term occupation of the power supply station by having the furnace body cool in place. The cooling workshop can also be equipped with dedicated cooling facilities to accelerate the cooling process and improve the working environment for employees. Because the graphitization furnaces operate sequentially at different stations, there is no need to equip each station with independent power supply equipment and aluminum busbar lines. Only one power supply device and a mobile power supply trolley at each of the fixed power supply stations are needed to serve multiple graphitization furnaces, significantly reducing the construction length of copper and aluminum busbars and circuit losses.

[0033] The processes of charging, power supply, cooling, and unloading are separated into different independent workshops, each with a single function and a controllable environment. The flue gas in the power supply workshop is centrally treated through an environmental protection pool, and dust pollution in the charging and unloading workshops is significantly reduced, fundamentally improving the working environment for employees.

[0034] The track system adopts a modular design, allowing for flexible extension or modification based on production capacity requirements. The number of graphitization furnaces and the workshop size can be increased or decreased according to actual needs, demonstrating excellent scalability. The integrated setup of the recarburizer pool, screening workshop, and second-floor platform creates a complete chain for post-furnace product processing. Coarse and fine recarburizer particles are stored separately to avoid mixing, thus increasing product added value. The overhead crane system and the ground track system form a three-dimensional operating system, ensuring that the movement of the ground furnace and the aerial material handling do not interfere with each other, achieving efficient utilization of workshop space. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the overall layout of the combined track graphitization system of the present invention; Attached reference numerals: 1. Central control room; 2. Power distribution room; 3. Track; 4. Fixed power supply station; 5. Environmental protection pool; 6. Graphitization furnace; 7. Power supply workshop; 8. Cooling workshop; 9. Charging and unloading workshop; 10. Carbonizer pool; 11. Carbonizer screening workshop; 12. Second-floor platform. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the examples. These examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0037] Unless otherwise specified, the technical solutions described in this invention are conventional solutions in the art; the reagents or materials described, unless otherwise specified, are all from commercial sources. It should be noted that the number of graphitization furnaces and the size of the workshop can be increased or decreased according to actual production capacity requirements, and the scope of protection of this invention is not limited to the following specific embodiments.

[0038] Example 1: Overall System Layout like Figure 1 As shown, track 3 is laid in a straight line, passing sequentially through the charging workshop 9, cooling workshop 8, and power transmission workshop 7. Track 3 can extend to the areas of the recarburizer pool 10, recarburizer screening workshop 11, and second-floor platform 12 as needed. The three workshops are independent but connected in series via track 3. The central control room 1 is located next to power transmission workshop 7, and the power distribution room 2 is adjacent to power transmission workshop 7. The environmental protection pool 5 is located outside power transmission workshop 7 and connected to the flue gas emission outlet of power transmission workshop 7 via a pipeline. The recarburizer pool 10 is located between the charging workshop 9 and the recarburizer screening workshop 11. The second-floor platform 12 is located on the second plant platform. The overhead crane tracks are suspended from the top of each workshop.

[0039] The graphitization furnace 6 has several wheels mounted on its bottom, symmetrically distributed on both sides of the furnace bottom, which roll in cooperation with the track surface of the rail 3. The graphitization furnace 6 has a heating chamber inside, with conductive electrode connectors at both ends for docking with the conductive devices at both ends of the fixed power supply station 4. The graphitization furnace 6 also has a drive motor, which is connected to the remote control system in the central control room 1, receiving remote control commands to drive the wheels to rotate.

[0040] The fixing buckles are located on both sides of the bottom of the graphitization furnace 6, including buckle seats, buckle arms, and locking mechanisms. When the graphitization furnace 6 moves to the predetermined position, the buckle arms flip downwards to lock the rail head of the track 3, and are locked in place by the locking mechanism, achieving precise positioning and fixation of the furnace body. When movement is required, the locking mechanism is released, and the buckle arms flip upwards to disengage from the track 3.

[0041] Example 2: Typical Production Process Taking a group of 8 graphitization furnaces as an example, in the initial stage of system startup: The first and second graphitization furnaces 6 are being loaded into the furnace in the loading and unloading workshop 9; The third and fourth graphitization furnaces 6 are being powered on and graphitized in the power supply workshop 7. The 5th and 6th graphitization furnaces 6 are being cooled in the cooling workshop 8; The 7th and 8th graphitization furnaces are in standby or maintenance status.

[0042] As production progresses, each furnace body moves unidirectionally along the track: loading completed → transferred to power supply workshop 7 → power supply completed → transferred to cooling workshop 8 → cooling completed → transferred back to loading and unloading workshop 9 → after maintenance, reloading, forming a cycle. Throughout the process, each workshop has a single function and specialized operations, avoiding the problems of multiple overlapping and mixed processes in traditional processes.

[0043] Operators in the central control room 1 can remotely control the sliding motion of each graphitization furnace 6 on the track 3 via remote control or console, without having to be physically present at the high-temperature furnace. The overhead crane can simultaneously perform auxiliary operations such as material grabbing and equipment maintenance during furnace movement, improving space utilization.

[0044] After exiting the furnace, the coarse and fine particles of recarburizing agent are grabbed from the furnace by the grabbing equipment and separately stacked in different compartments of the recarburizing agent pool 10. They are then transported by pipeline to the recarburizing agent screening workshop 11 for screening, and packaged according to different particle size specifications.

[0045] 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.

[0046] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A combined track graphitization system, characterized in that, include: The central control room (1) is used to control the power supply and movement of each graphitization furnace. The power distribution room (2) is equipped with a transformer and aluminum busbars connected to the power supply station; Track (3), a double track laid on the ground, the track (3) spanning at least three factory buildings; A fixed power supply station (4) is set up in the power supply workshop and is used to connect with the positive and negative pole moving power supply trolley of the graphitization furnace (6) and the power distribution room (2); Environmental protection pool (5) is used for storing cooling water and adding alkaline substances such as calcium hydroxide to treat the flue gas generated during the graphitization process; The graphitization furnace (6) has wheels installed at its bottom. The wheels roll in cooperation with the track (3) so that the graphitization furnace (6) can slide on the track (3). The graphitization furnace (6) is provided with a fixing buckle to fix the graphitization furnace (6) in place on the track (3) to ensure safety during operation. After the power transmission workshop (7) and the graphitization furnace (6) are fixedly connected to the mobile power transmission trolley, power is transmitted in the power transmission workshop (7); The graphitization furnace (6) after being powered on is transferred to the cooling workshop (8) for cooling, and is used in conjunction with the overhead crane and the material suction crane to grab and suck up materials; The loading and unloading workshop (9) is used for loading and unloading operations of the graphitization furnace (6); The carbon raiser pool (10) is used to separately stack and separate the coarse carbon raiser particles and fine carbon raiser particles taken out from the graphitization furnace (6); the coarse material can be transported through the pipeline to the screening system to screen the carbon raiser, and the fine powder can be circulated to cover the top. Carbon raiser screening workshop (11), used for screening carbon raisers; The second-level platform (12) is used for the finished product to be removed from the crucible and for powder to be loaded into the furnace.

2. The combined track graphitization system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The central control room (1) is equipped with a remote control system, which is connected in communication with the walking drive device of the graphitization furnace (6) and is used to remotely control the sliding of the graphitization furnace (6) on the track (3).

3. The combined track graphitization system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixed buckle includes a buckle seat, a buckle arm and a locking device. The buckle arm can flip to lock the rail head of the track (3) and is locked in place by the locking mechanism. When moving, the buckle locking device must be disassembled first.

4. The combined track graphitization system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an overhead crane system, which is installed above each workshop to assist in the maintenance, material handling and suction operations of the ground graphitization furnace (6).

5. The combined track graphitization system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The track (3) adopts a modular design, and the number of graphitization furnaces (6) and the size of the workshop are adjusted according to actual production capacity requirements.

6. A method for operating a combined orbital graphitization system, employing the system described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: In the loading workshop (9), the material to be graphitized is loaded into the crucible and then loaded into the graphitization furnace (6). S2: The graphitization furnace (6) is remotely controlled by the central control room (1) and moved along the track (3) from the loading workshop (9) to the power supply workshop (7). S3: After the graphitization furnace (6) arrives at the fixed power supply station (4) in the power supply workshop (7), the graphitization furnace is locked on the track (3) by the fixed buckle; S4: Connect the graphitization furnace (6) to the conductive device of the mobile power supply trolley with the positive and negative poles of the fixed power supply station (4). The central control room (1) controls the power distribution room (2) to supply power to the graphitization furnace (6) connected to the power supply trolley through the transformer and aluminum busbar for graphitization heat treatment. The flue gas generated during the power supply process is treated by the environmental protection pool (5). S5: After power supply is completed, release the fixing buckle and remotely control the graphitization furnace (6) along the track (3) from the power supply workshop (7) to the cooling workshop (8) for cooling through the central control room (1); S6: After cooling is completed, the graphitization furnace (6) is moved from the cooling workshop (8) back to the loading and unloading workshop (9) along the track (3) for unloading; S7: The coarse particles and fine powder of carbon additive taken out from the graphitization furnace (6) are separately fed into the carbon additive pool (10) and stacked separately. Then they are sent to the carbon additive screening workshop (11) for screening and grading. The finished product is discharged from the crucible and then fed into the second-level platform (12) for powder suction and loading operations.

7. The operating method according to claim 6, characterized in that, Several graphitization furnaces (6) operate in parallel in different sections of the track system, respectively in the stages of loading, power supply, cooling and unloading.

8. The operating method according to claim 6, characterized in that, Step S6 is followed by: the graphitization furnace (6) after being removed from the furnace is inspected and repaired in the loading and unloading workshop (9) and then reloaded to enter the next production cycle.

9. The operating method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The overhead crane system works in conjunction with the movement of the ground graphitization furnace (6) to perform maintenance, material handling and material suction operations.

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