Discharging equipment of Acheson graphitization furnace

By using a protective cover plate and a protective gas supply mechanism on the Atchison graphitization furnace, a cooling chamber is constructed and nitrogen is used for purging and cooling, which solves the problems of oxidation and cross-contamination of the negative electrode material, achieves a more efficient furnace exit process, and ensures improved product quality and production efficiency.

CN223550882UActive Publication Date: 2025-11-14CHONGQING EASTSTAR HIGH TEMPERATURE MATERIAL
View PDF 1 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
CN202423174718.0
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-12-23
Publication Date
2025-11-14
Estimated Expiration
2034-12-23

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In the existing technology, the tapping step of the Atchison graphitization furnace has problems such as high oxidation probability of negative electrode material, long production cycle and cross-contamination in the graphitization group, which affect product quality and production efficiency.

Method used

A cooling chamber is formed by combining a protective cover plate with a protective gas supply mechanism. Nitrogen gas is used to purge and cool the material to prevent oxidation of the negative electrode material. Gas flow is optimized by reinforcing components and an airflow dispersion mechanism to ensure airtightness and prevent cross-contamination.

Benefits of technology

It shortens the cooling cycle, reduces the oxidation probability of the negative electrode material, improves product quality stability and production efficiency, and avoids cross-contamination between furnaces in the graphitization group.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN223550882U_ABST
    Figure CN223550882U_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of processing equipment of battery materials, and discloses discharging equipment of an Acheson graphitization furnace, which comprises a plurality of protective cover plates and a protective gas supply mechanism, the protective cover plates are sequentially erected above a furnace body, and a cooling chamber is formed by the protective cover plates and the furnace body; any two protective cover plates are provided with an air inlet channel and an air outlet channel respectively. The protective gas supply mechanism communicates with the gas inlet channel and is used for guiding gas into the cooling cavity, and the gas outlet channel is used for communicating the outside with the cooling cavity. Due to the existence of the discharging equipment, the negative electrode material is not easy to oxidize in the cooling process, and the specific surface area is reduced; and the flowing of the protective gas can take away part of heat in the graphitization furnace, the cooling period is shortened, the protective cover plates covering the graphitization furnace can better isolate external dust and prevent external pollution in the material suction process, and the quality of the negative electrode material is ensured.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of battery material processing equipment, and in particular to a furnace unloading device for an Atchison graphitization furnace. Background Technology

[0002] The Atchison graphitization furnace is a heat treatment furnace that promotes the crystallization of graphite in carbonized carbonaceous materials (carbonides), and is mainly used for the production of anode materials.

[0003] like Figure 1 , 2 The diagram shows a simplified structural diagram of the Atchison graphitization furnace, which mainly includes an open furnace body 102, several electrode rods 103, and a box 105 assembled from carbon plates 108 and carbon columns (not shown in the diagram). The box 105 is composed of different nine-square grids combined into a large box 105.

[0004] When using the Atchison graphitization box furnace, a base material 101 is laid at the bottom of the furnace body 102. The base material 101 is compacted and leveled, and then a base plate (not shown in the figure) is laid on top. The box body 105 is assembled on top of the base plate. Conductive coke 104 is filled at the front and back of the box body 105. Insulation material 107 is filled between the sides of the box body 105 and the furnace body 102. The negative electrode material 106 is evenly placed into the box body 105 and compacted. A settling plate 109 is laid on top of the negative electrode material 106, and then insulation material is laid on top of the settling plate 109. The furnace loading is then completed.

[0005] After the furnace is loaded, the electric heating process begins. The graphitization furnace is heated by electricity through the conductive electrodes at both ends. After the heating is completed, the furnace top is opened and the furnace is allowed to cool until the material returns to room temperature. Then, the furnace is unloaded, cleaned, and repaired to complete one cycle of the graphitization process.

[0006] Since a graphitization process typically takes more than 30 days, and the graphitization furnace is usually powered on for 2-3 days, each power supply unit is usually configured with 8-12 graphitization furnaces to ensure continuous operation and make full use of the power transformer's capacity. Therefore, one power supply unit and 8-12 graphitization furnaces constitute a graphitization group. Within each group, one furnace is always powered on, while the others are undergoing operations such as loading, waiting to be powered on, cooling, unloading, cleaning, and minor repairs.

[0007] Currently, in order to reduce the production cycle of anode materials and increase output, existing technologies have improved the furnace exit steps of anode materials. For example, the scheme described in the patent application with patent number CN201711366521.9 entitled "A New Method for Exiting Isostatic Graphite Products" uses batch feeding and gradient cooling to reduce product cracks and also reduce the cooling time of anode materials.

[0008] However, the batch feeding and gradient cooling method described in the aforementioned patents has limitations in the power of the feeding equipment and the physical strength of the workers. It also results in the prolonged exposure of high-temperature materials to air, which can easily lead to oxidation of the negative electrode material, increasing its specific surface area and affecting product quality. Furthermore, since the graphitization furnaces in the graphitization group operate in different states, the opening of one furnace to await feeding can contaminate the other furnaces.

[0009] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a furnace tapping method that can reduce the production cycle of anode materials, ensure the quality of anode material products, and avoid cross-contamination between graphitization furnaces in the graphitization group. Utility Model Content

[0010] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a furnace tapping device for an Atchison graphitization furnace, which can assist in the tapping operation of negative electrode materials, reduce the oxidation probability of negative electrode materials, and improve the quality of negative electrode materials.

[0011] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model adopts the following technical solution: a furnace unloading device for an Atchison graphitization furnace, used in conjunction with the furnace body, including at least one protective cover plate and a protective gas supply mechanism.

[0012] The protective cover is mounted on top of the furnace body and forms a cooling chamber with the furnace body; the cooling chamber is connected to an air inlet channel and an air outlet channel that communicate with the outside.

[0013] The protective gas supply mechanism is connected to the air inlet channel and is used to guide air into the cooling chamber. The air outlet channel is used to connect the outside world and the cooling chamber.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] The furnace discharge equipment described in this application can be matched with any existing Atchison graphitization furnace without altering its structure. During operation, multiple protective covers are placed over the furnace body to form a cooling chamber. A protective gas supply mechanism then introduces nitrogen or other protective gases into the cooling chamber. This gas purging removes some of the heat from the furnace body, shortening the cooling cycle. Simultaneously, nitrogen, as an inert protective gas, generally does not react with other substances during cooling, making it less prone to oxidation of the negative electrode material, reducing its specific surface area, and ensuring product quality. Furthermore, the protective covers protect the furnace body of the graphitization furnace being cooled by ventilation when other graphitization furnaces in the same group are receiving material, preventing dust contamination and cross-contamination between furnaces in the graphitization group. This ensures the uniformity of negative electrode material quality in each furnace and improves the quality stability of batch products.

[0016] Furthermore, the number of protective covers is at least two, and each protective cover is arranged side by side and spliced ​​together on the furnace body.

[0017] The protective cover has two splicing sidewalls. One splicing sidewall has a recessed groove, and the other splicing sidewall has a snap-fit ​​protrusion. The recessed groove of any protective cover can be inserted into and matched with the snap-fit ​​protrusion of the adjacent protective cover.

[0018] Furthermore, the two side walls of the recessed groove are respectively provided with sealing layers, which are used to fit and contact with the adjacent snap-fit ​​protrusions.

[0019] Furthermore, it also includes reinforcement components.

[0020] The reinforcing component includes at least one insert and the same number of slots as the insert. The insert protrudes from the bottom of the recess, and the slots have engaging protrusions. The insert engages with adjacent slots.

[0021] The insert block is provided with at least one locking block that is telescopically extended along the insert block, causing the mating slot to move toward the insert block.

[0022] Furthermore, the locking block is driven by a temperature-sensitive drive component to extend and retract along the insertion block;

[0023] The temperature-changing drive component includes a shrink block, a moving block, and a memory alloy spring. The shrink block is embedded in a connecting groove on the insert block. The memory alloy spring is located between the connecting groove and the shrink block. One end of the moving block slides in contact with the shrink block, and the other end slides in contact with the locking block. Under the action of the memory alloy spring, the shrink block shrinks toward the insert block, which drives the moving block to move and drives the locking block to extend out of the insert block.

[0024] Furthermore, the insert block and the locking block are arranged vertically, the insert block has an installation groove, and a tension spring is provided between the locking block and the installation groove;

[0025] The locking block end has a guide slope on the side near the recessed groove, the slot has a T-shaped slot structure, and a transition slope is provided at the junction of the vertical and horizontal sections of the slot.

[0026] The locking block extends along the insert block so that the guide ramp of the locking block slides along the transition ramp of the adjacent slot, driving the locking block from the vertical section of the slot into the horizontal section of the slot.

[0027] Furthermore, the protective cover is equipped with two lifting handles.

[0028] Furthermore, the protective cover for the air intake passage is also equipped with a detachable airflow dispersion mechanism.

[0029] The airflow dispersion mechanism includes a main pipe connected to the air inlet channel and multiple branch pipes connected to the main pipe. The discharge end of each branch pipe is inclined downward inside the furnace body.

[0030] Furthermore, the protective cover for opening the air outlet channel is also equipped with an air box, which forms an air outlet chamber with the protective cover. The air outlet chamber is connected to the cooling chamber, and the air outlet channel is connected to the air outlet chamber. A detection tube with a valve is also connected to the air outlet chamber. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the Atchison graphitization furnace in the prior art;

[0032] Figure 2 A top view of the Atchison graphitization furnace in the prior art;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the furnace unloading device and the furnace body of this utility model.

[0034] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of section A in the middle;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the reinforcement components for two adjacent protective covers in this utility model.

[0036] Figure 6 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure in another state;

[0037] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the protective cover plate located in the middle of the installation in this utility model;

[0038] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the protective cover plate with an air intake channel in this utility model;

[0039] Figure 9This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the protective cover plate with an air outlet channel in this utility model;

[0040] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the protective cover plate in Comparative Example 1 of this utility model.

[0041] In the diagram: Furnace body 102, Positioning column 1, Protective cover plate 2, Gas inlet pipe 21, Main pipe 22, Branch pipe 23, Detection pipe 24, Gas box 25, Gas outlet pipe 26, Recessed groove 27, Snap-fit ​​protrusion 28, Insert block 29, Tension spring 210, Mounting groove 211, Locking block 212, Retracting block 213, Moving block 214, Connecting groove 215, Memory alloy spring 216, Slot 281, Sealing layer 271, Lifting handle 20, Air inlet channel 201, Detection port 204, Gas outlet channel 206. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments.

[0043] Example 1

[0044] like Figure 3-9 As shown, this application provides a furnace unloading device for an Atchison graphitization furnace, which is used in conjunction with the furnace body 102 of the graphitization furnace. It includes multiple protective cover plates 2 and a protective gas supply mechanism. Each protective cover plate 2 is sequentially mounted above the furnace body 102 and forms a cooling chamber with the furnace body 102. Any two protective cover plates 2 are respectively provided with an air inlet channel 201 and an air outlet channel 206. The protective gas supply mechanism is connected to the air inlet channel 201 and is used to guide gas into the cooling chamber. The air outlet channel 206 is used to connect the outside and the cooling chamber.

[0045] Understandably, due to the unique structure of the Atcheson graphitization furnace, structural modifications after construction are virtually impossible. Therefore, to match the tapping steps of the Atcheson graphitization furnace, the designed tapping equipment must be based on the existing furnace structure. Thus, this application employs a cover plate + gas purging cooling method to accelerate the cooling of the negative electrode material, shorten cooling time, and improve production efficiency. Simultaneously, to prevent oxidation of the negative electrode material during purging cooling, the cooling gas used in this application avoids oxygen and possesses good stability. Therefore, common protective gases such as nitrogen can be used. By utilizing the protective gas to prevent reaction with the negative electrode material while simultaneously removing heat from the furnace body 102 through purging, the quality of the negative electrode material is ensured while improving production efficiency.

[0046] To enable the furnace exit equipment of this application to be compatible with Atchison graphitization furnaces of different sizes, this application provides multiple protective cover plates 2. The shape, quantity, and size of the protective cover plates 2 can be designed according to the size of the furnace body 102 used in conjunction with them, so as to ensure that when each protective cover plate 2 is mounted on the furnace body 102, each protective cover plate 2 and the furnace body 102 can form a cooling chamber to protect the cooling treatment of the gas.

[0047] To facilitate the formation of convective air within the cooling chamber, any two cover plates in this application are respectively provided with an inlet channel 201 and an outlet channel 206. The inlet channel 201 is connected to the protective gas supply mechanism and is used to introduce protective gas into the cooling chamber. The outlet channel 206 is used to discharge the heated protective gas from the cooling chamber, thus achieving the purpose of heat preservation gas flowing within the cooling chamber. Theoretically, the inlet channel 201 and the outlet channel 206 can be set at any position on the furnace body 102. However, in order to ensure that nitrogen can fill the cooling chamber in a short time, when installing each protective cover plate 2, the two cover plates with the inlet channel 201 and the outlet channel 206 can be respectively set at both ends of the furnace body 102. This allows the protective gas to flow within the cooling chamber while simultaneously filling the cooling chamber as much as possible, reducing the probability of oxidation of the negative electrode material and ensuring the quality of the negative electrode material.

[0048] To reduce production costs, nitrogen is used as the more economical protective gas in this application. Therefore, a nitrogen supply mechanism is used to supply nitrogen. This mechanism can be a nitrogen storage tank. However, given the need for a continuous nitrogen supply, a simple nitrogen storage tank would result in a supply gap. Therefore, the protective gas supply mechanism can also be a nitrogen generator. The parameters of the nitrogen generator are set according to usage requirements. In this application, the nitrogen flow rate of the nitrogen generator is 5-2000 Nm³. 3 / H, nitrogen purity 97-99.99%.

[0049] During operation, air is drawn into a filter by an air compressor, then into a refrigerated dryer to remove some moisture, then into a multi-stage filter to remove other impurities, and finally into an air storage tank. Compressed air is then released from the air storage tank into a nitrogen generator to obtain pure nitrogen, which is then transferred into a nitrogen storage tank for later use.

[0050] In use, the nitrogen storage tank is connected to the nitrogen pipeline and the air inlet channel 201. A manual regulating valve or a control regulating valve can be installed on the nitrogen pipeline to control the flow rate of nitrogen entering the cooling chamber, ensuring that the nitrogen can cool the negative electrode material in the cooling chamber according to the preset flow rate and preset time, so as to reduce the cooling time.

[0051] The furnace discharge equipment of this application can be matched with any existing Atchison graphitization furnace without modifying its structure. During use, multiple protective covers 2 are placed over the furnace body 102 to form a cooling chamber. A protective gas supply mechanism then introduces nitrogen or other protective gases into the cooling chamber. This gas purging removes some of the heat from the furnace body 102, shortening the cooling cycle of the graphitization furnace. Simultaneously, nitrogen, as an inert protective gas, generally does not react with other substances during cooling, making it less prone to oxidation of the negative electrode material, reducing its specific surface area, and ensuring product quality. Furthermore, the presence of the protective covers 2 protects the furnace body 102 of the graphitization furnace being cooled by ventilation when other graphitization furnaces in the same group are receiving material, preventing dust contamination from material intake and thus avoiding cross-contamination between the graphitization furnaces in the group. This ensures the uniformity of negative electrode material quality in each furnace and improves the quality stability of batch products.

[0052] Furthermore, since the protective covers 2 need to be spliced ​​together sequentially to reduce the gap between adjacent protective covers 2 and prevent the protective gas from escaping, the protective covers 2 of this application are arranged side by side and spliced ​​on the furnace body 102. Each protective cover 2 has two splicing sidewalls, one of which has a recessed groove 27, and the other has a snap-fit ​​protrusion 28. The recessed groove 27 of any protective cover 2 engages with the snap-fit ​​protrusion 28 of an adjacent protective cover 2. Figure 3 , 7 As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the protective cover 2 has a rectangular plate structure, and the furnace body 102 has a rectangular cavity structure with an open top. Each protective cover 2 is mounted between the two short side walls of the furnace body 102 along its length direction. The protective cover 2 are spliced ​​together sequentially, and the two long side walls of each protective cover 2 are the two spliced ​​side walls corresponding to the protective cover 2. To reduce the gap between any two adjacent protective cover 2, a recessed groove 27 and a snap-fit ​​protrusion 28 are respectively provided on the two long side walls of each protective cover 2. Figure 4 , 7As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the recessed groove 27 has a rectangular through-groove structure and extends along the length of the protective cover plate 2. Since the protective cover plate 2 has upper and lower surfaces, and the lower surface of the protective cover plate 2 contacts the upper side wall of the furnace body 102, the height of the outer wall of the recessed groove 27 needs to be flush with the lower surface of the protective cover plate 2 to ensure that the protective cover plates 2, after splicing, can form a relatively smooth flat plate structure to cover the furnace body 102. Correspondingly, the snap-fit ​​protrusion 28 has a rectangular strip structure and extends along the length of the protective cover plate 2. Any snap-fit ​​protrusion 28 of the protective cover plate 2 can be snapped into the recessed groove 27 of an adjacent protective cover plate 2. The cooperation between the recessed groove 27 and the snap-fit ​​protrusion 28 facilitates the positioning and splicing of the protective cover plates 2 and allows the joints of adjacent protective cover plates 2 to form a "maze structure," reducing gaps and lowering the probability of protective gas overflowing from the joints.

[0053] To further enhance the airtightness between the joints of the two protective cover plates 2, this application provides sealing layers 271 on both side walls of the recessed groove 27. The two sealing layers 271 are used to contact and adhere to the adjacent snap-fit ​​protrusions 28. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the sealing layer 271 fits against the inner wall of the recessed groove 27 and extends along the length of the recessed groove 27. The sealing layer 271 is made of high-temperature resistant silicone or fluororubber material. When the recessed groove 27 and the corresponding snap-fit ​​protrusion 28 are inserted, the upper and lower sides of the snap-fit ​​protrusion 28 will contact the corresponding two sealing layers 271, further increasing the airtightness of the joint between the two protective cover plates 2.

[0054] Due to the presence of the two sealing layers 271 within the recessed groove 27, a good airtight connection between the sealing layers 271 and the snap-fit ​​protrusion 28 requires an interference fit between the snap-fit ​​protrusion 28 and the two sealing layers 271. Therefore, during assembly, adjacent protective cover plates 2 require the application of compressive force to achieve this interference fit. However, since adjacent protective cover plates 2 have adjacent long sidewalls connected, when two protective cover plates 2 are joined, applying compressive force along the short side of the protective cover plate 2 will inevitably result in contact with the long sidewalls of each protective cover plate 2, leading to uneven compressive force. Furthermore, excessive compressive force can easily cause deformation of the sidewalls of the protective cover plates 2. To ensure an interference fit between adjacent protective covers 2, the protective cover 2 of this application further includes a reinforcing component. The reinforcing component includes at least one insert 29 and the same number of slots 281 as the insert 29. The insert 29 protrudes from the bottom of the recess 27, and the slots 281 are formed on the engaging protrusion 28. The insert 29 engages with the adjacent slot 281. At least one telescopic locking block 212 is provided on the insert 29, extending along the insert 29 and causing the engaging slots 281 to move towards the insert 29. Figure 4 , 5As shown in Figure 6, each protective cover 2 is provided with a reinforcing component. Each reinforcing component includes multiple inserts 29 and multiple slots 281. The number of inserts 29 and slots 281 is the same. The multiple inserts 29 are located at the bottom of the recessed groove 27 (on the left side of the recessed groove 27) and protrude towards the opening of the recessed groove 27. The multiple inserts 29 are spaced apart along the length of the recessed groove 27. The multiple slots 281 are formed on the snap-fit ​​protrusion 28, and the multiple slots 281 are spaced apart along the length of the snap-fit ​​protrusion 28. When any recessed groove 27 of a protective cover 2 is inserted into the snap-fit ​​protrusion 28 of an adjacent protective cover 2, each insert 29 at least partially enters the corresponding slot 281. In order to enable two adjacent protective covers 2 to achieve automatic locking, at least one locking block 212 is provided on the insert 29 of this application. When the locking block 212 extends out of the insert 29, it will force the protective cover 2 to move towards the other protective cover 2. Specifically, as shown in the figure... Figure 5 , 6 As shown, each locking block 212 in this application has two locking blocks 212 symmetrically arranged along the protruding direction of the insert block 29. The locking blocks 212 extend and retract along the direction perpendicular to the protruding direction of the locking blocks 212, so that the insert block 29 and the locking blocks 212 are perpendicular. The insert block 29 has two mounting grooves 211. The two mounting grooves 211 can be symmetrically arranged or connected to form a through groove. The two locking blocks 212 are respectively embedded in the two mounting grooves 211, and the locking blocks 212 partially extend out of the mounting grooves 211. A tension spring 210 is placed between the locking blocks 212 and the mounting grooves 211. Under normal circumstances, the locking blocks 212 are retracted into the insert block 29. In order to enable the locking blocks 212 to extend out of the insert block 29 with temperature changes, this application also provides a temperature-changing driving component, such as... Figure 4 , 5 As shown in Figure 6, there are two temperature-changing drive components. Each temperature-changing drive component is used in conjunction with a corresponding locking block 212. Each temperature control drive component includes a shrink block 213, a moving block 214, and a shape memory alloy spring 216. The shrink block 213 is embedded in a connecting groove 215 opened on the insert block 29, and the shape memory alloy spring 216 is located between the connecting groove 215 and the shrink block 213. The two connecting grooves 215 in this application can also be configured as through grooves, and the through groove formed by the two connecting grooves 215 and the through groove formed by the two mounting grooves 211 are arranged parallel in the vertical direction. The connecting groove 215 and the corresponding mounting groove 211 are connected by a transition groove. The moving block 214 is slidably disposed in the transition groove. The upper and lower ends of the moving block 214 are respectively provided with wedge surfaces. The tightening block and the locking block 212 are also respectively provided with wedge surfaces, so that one end of the moving block 214 slides in contact with the shrinking block 213, and the other end of the moving block 214 slides in contact with the locking block 212. Under the action of the memory alloy spring 216, the shrinking block 213 retracts toward the insertion block 29, which drives the moving block 214 to move and drives the locking block 212 to extend out of the insertion block 29.

[0055] The deformation temperature range of the shape memory alloy spring 216 is 180℃-200℃, and shape memory alloys within this range include Ni-Ti-Hf alloy and Ni-Ti-Pd alloy. Since the protective cover plate 2 needs to be mounted on the furnace body 102 in this application, and the material surface temperature inside the furnace body 102 is between 150℃ and 200℃, the shape memory alloy spring 216 selected in this application has a deformation temperature between 180℃ and 200℃ to ensure that the extension and retraction of the locking block 212 is compatible with the use of the protective cover plate 2.

[0056] When the shape memory alloy spring 216 reaches the preset temperature, it contracts, causing the two contraction blocks 213 to contract. Under the action of the two moving blocks 214, the two locking blocks 212 extend out of the insert block 29. In order for the extended locking blocks 212 to drive the two protective covers 2 to move relative to each other, this application provides a guide slope on the side of the locking block 212 near the recessed groove 27. The slot 281 has a T-shaped slot structure, and a transition slope is provided at the junction of the vertical section and the horizontal section of the slot 281. The locking block 212 extends along the insert block 29 so that the guide slope of the locking block 212 slides along the transition slope of the adjacent slot 281, driving the locking block 212 from the vertical section of the slot 281 into the horizontal section of the slot 281.

[0057] When in use, when the shape memory alloy spring 216 reaches the preset temperature, the shape memory alloy spring 216 contracts, causing the two contraction blocks 213 to contract. Under the action of the two moving blocks 214, the two locking blocks 212 extend out of the insert block 29. When the locking blocks 212 extend out of the insert block 29, the guide slope of the insert block 29 will slide and cooperate with the filter slope, forcing the protective cover plate 2 with the slot 281 to move toward the adjacent protective cover plate 2 with the recessed groove 27, so that the snap-fit ​​protrusion 28 contacts the sealing layer 271 as much as possible, increasing the sealing effect at the joint of the two adjacent protective cover plates 2.

[0058] When the temperature is lower than the deformation temperature of the memory alloy spring 216, the tension spring 210 recovers its deformation, causing the locking block 212 to contract, thereby unlocking the locking block 212 and the slot 281. At this time, it is convenient for the protective cover 2 to be unloaded from the furnace body 102 for the periodic use of the furnace equipment.

[0059] To facilitate the movement of each protective cover plate 2, this application provides two lifting handles 20 on the upper surface of the protective cover plate 2. The two lifting handles 20 are respectively located near the two short side walls of the protective cover plate 2. The two lifting handles 20 facilitate the movement and transportation of each protective cover plate 2 by the lifting device (overhead crane, gantry crane) to avoid the problem of burns caused by manual installation.

[0060] The protective gas used in this application for purging and cooling the negative electrode material is nitrogen. Nitrogen has a density slightly less than that of air. When nitrogen enters the cooling chamber, it will rise. However, since both the inlet channel 201 and the outlet channel 206 are close to the top of the cooling chamber, the nitrogen cannot fill the cooling chamber in a short time. As a result, the air content in the cooling chamber is too high, and the negative electrode material may still oxidize.

[0061] To mitigate the aforementioned impacts, this application further includes a detachably connected airflow dispersion mechanism on the protective cover 2 that provides the air intake channel 201. The air intake channel 201 is an air inlet that penetrates the protective cover 2. The air inlet is connected to a connecting air inlet pipe 21. One end of the connecting pipe 21 connects to the airflow dispersion mechanism, and the other end connects to a protective gas supply mechanism. Nitrogen gas generated by the protective gas supply mechanism can then pass through the connecting pipe 21 and be guided by the airflow dispersion mechanism. To ensure that the gas discharged by the airflow dispersion mechanism can quickly fill the cooling chamber, such as… Figure 3 , 8 As shown, the airflow dispersion mechanism of this application includes a main pipe 22 connected to the air inlet channel 201 and multiple branch pipes 23 connected to the main pipe 22. The discharge end of each branch pipe 23 is inclined downward inside the furnace body 102. The main pipe 22 is located on the lower surface of the protective cover plate 2 and extends along the length of the protective cover plate 2. A connecting pipe is provided on the main pipe 22, and the connecting pipe and the air inlet pipe 21 are detachably connected through a pipe joint, which can realize the separation of the main pipe 22 and the air inlet pipe 21. The branch pipes 23 are arranged at intervals along the length of the main pipe 22, and each branch pipe 23 is inclined downward away from the main pipe 22. The angle between each branch pipe 23 and the main pipe 22 (vertical direction) is 45°-60°. Each branch pipe 23 can disperse nitrogen into the cooling chamber, which can quickly fill the cooling chamber with nitrogen, squeeze the air in the cooling chamber out, reduce the probability of the negative electrode material coming into contact with air, and improve the yield of the negative electrode material.

[0062] In this application, it is necessary to detect the oxygen content in the cooling chamber in order to control the nitrogen supply. To facilitate the detection of oxygen content in the gas, such as... Figure 3 , 9 As shown, the protective cover 2 with the air outlet channel 206 in this application also has an air box 25. The air box 25 and the protective cover 2 form an air outlet chamber, which is connected to the cooling chamber. The air outlet channel 206 is also connected to the air outlet chamber, and a detection pipe 24 with a valve is also connected to the air outlet chamber. A detection hole is provided on the air box 25, and the detection pipe 24 is welded to the detection hole. An air outlet pipe 26 can also be provided on the air outlet channel 206. The air outlet pipe 26 can be directly connected to the outside. The air outlet pipe 26 can also be connected to a waste heat recovery system to achieve the purpose of heat recovery.

[0063] The gas detector installed on the detection tube 24 of this application can be used to detect the oxygen content in the gas. During detection, the regulating valve is opened, and the gas in the cooling chamber will be discharged from the gas outlet 206 and the detection tube 24. At this time, the oxygen content is detected by the gas detector. When the oxygen content reaches the preset value, the discharge of protective gas (nitrogen) can be controlled to meet the cooling requirements.

[0064] The operating steps for installing the aforementioned protective covers 2 on the furnace body 102 are as follows:

[0065] According to the loading sequence, the protective cover plate 2 with the air outlet channel 206 or air inlet channel 201 is first installed on the furnace body 102. At least two positioning posts 1 can be set at the upper end of the furnace body 102. When the protective cover plate 2 contacts the two positioning posts 1, it indicates that the first protective cover plate 2 is installed in place. Then, the middle protective cover plates 2 are installed in sequence. During the loading process, each protective cover plate 2 can be moved slightly so that the protective cover plate 2 can be inserted with the adjacent protective cover plate 2. At the same time, the interval time between the installation of each protective cover plate 2 can be determined by taking into account the temperature rise time in the furnace body 102 and the deformation temperature of the shape memory alloy spring 216 to ensure the effective use of the reinforcement components. After all the protective cover plates 2 are installed on the furnace body 102, the gap between the upper side wall of the furnace cover and each protective cover plate 2 is filled with refractory cloth to form a cooling chamber. Finally, the feeding channel and the protective gas supply mechanism are connected to complete the assembly of the furnace discharge equipment.

[0066] Of course, to increase the effectiveness of the reinforcement components, it is best to have two protective covers 2 on each furnace body 102. This can reduce the problem of poor sealing effect at the joints of some adjacent protective covers 2 due to gravity.

[0067] Example 2

[0068] This application also provides a method for tapping out of an Atchison graphitization furnace, comprising the following steps:

[0069] (1) Trenching: Trenching is carried out 48 hours after the graphitization furnace is shut down. 6-8 trenches are opened on the top, with a material grabbing depth of 20-30cm and a spacing of 3-4m. The first leveling is carried out 72 hours after the graphitization furnace is shut down, and the first 20cm layer of insulation material is completely removed.

[0070] (2) First edge gripping: Within 168 hours after the power outage of the graphitization furnace, when the temperature of the material surface is between 700-750℃, the first edge gripping is carried out, with a gripping depth of 20-30cm.

[0071] (3) First top grabbing: 248 hours after the graphitization furnace is shut down, when the material surface temperature is between 800-850℃, the first top grabbing is carried out, with a grabbing depth of 10cm;

[0072] (4) Second edge gripping: Within 296 hours after the power outage of the graphitization furnace, if the temperature is between 550-600℃, perform a second edge gripping with a gripping depth of 20-30cm.

[0073] (5) Second top grabbing: If the material surface temperature is between 800-850℃ within 344 hours after the power outage of the graphitization furnace, a second top grabbing is carried out with a grabbing depth of 10cm.

[0074] (6) Third top grab: Within 400 hours after the graphitization furnace is shut down, if the material surface temperature is between 300-400℃, the third top grab is carried out with a grab depth of 10cm. At this time, the thickness of the auxiliary material above the settling plate is 40-50cm.

[0075] (7) Clean the upper auxiliary materials: Within 456 hours after the graphitization furnace is shut down, when the temperature of the material surface is between 150-200℃, clean the upper auxiliary materials manually or with a suction machine.

[0076] The steps for cleaning the upper layer of auxiliary materials are as follows:

[0077] 1) Cover with protective cover: First connect one end of the airflow dispersion mechanism and the air inlet channel on the protective cover to complete the assembly. Then, install the above-mentioned protective covers on the furnace body in sequence to form a cooling chamber with the furnace body. After covering each protective cover, use refractory cloth to cover the gap between each protective cover and the furnace body. Connect the other end of the protective gas supply mechanism and the air inlet channel.

[0078] 2) Inject protective gas: Connect the protective gas supply mechanism and the air inlet channel, and introduce nitrogen into the cooling chamber. The nitrogen purity is 98%. After continuously injecting nitrogen for 16 hours, wait for cooling for 36 hours. During this time, the surface temperature of the auxiliary material will be less than 150℃. Open each protective cover plate and clean the auxiliary material manually or with a suction machine. The cleaning depth of the auxiliary material is 8-10cm each time.

[0079] (8) Repeat step (7) 4-5 times to clean the upper auxiliary material until the settling plate is exposed;

[0080] (9) Cooling the settlement cover plate:

[0081] 1) Cover with protective covers: Place the assembled protective covers on the furnace body in sequence to form a cooling chamber; after covering with the protective covers, cover the gap between the protective covers and the furnace body with refractory cloth; connect the other end of the protective gas supply mechanism and the gas inlet channel.

[0082] 2) Inject protective gas: Connect the protective gas supply mechanism and the air inlet channel, and introduce nitrogen into the cooling chamber. The nitrogen purity is 98%. After continuously injecting nitrogen for 16 hours, wait for cooling for 36 hours. During this time, the temperature of the settling plate will be less than 150°C. Then, remove each protective cover.

[0083] (11) Material suction: After the settling plate is removed, a material suction machine is used to suction the negative electrode material product.

[0084] In steps (7) to (11), both the grabbing of auxiliary materials and the absorption of negative electrode materials can be carried out mechanically. However, in some factories, this process still requires manual assistance, which means that the operator needs to enter the furnace. In order to avoid safety issues such as oxygen deficiency caused by manual entry into the furnace after nitrogen is filled into the furnace, before the operator needs to enter the nitrogen-filled furnace (at this time, at least a number of protective covers sufficient for personnel to enter are opened on the top of the furnace), the furnace needs to be purged with a fan or other blower for at least 5 minutes to ensure that there is enough oxygen in the furnace and to avoid safety issues such as oxygen deficiency during operation.

[0085] In the existing technology, the conventional way of unloading negative electrode materials is to directly perform cooling treatment such as trenching and material grabbing based on the temperature changes of the insulation layer and auxiliary material layer above the box. However, as the thickness of the material body above the box decreases, the negative electrode material inside the box is more likely to come into contact with oxygen in the air, resulting in the problem of partial oxidation of the negative electrode material.

[0086] Therefore, this application adds a furnace discharge device to the existing structure of the Atchison graphitization furnace. Due to the presence of the furnace discharge device, the material (auxiliary material layer) near the box can reduce the probability of contact with oxygen in the air during the cooling process. In addition, the protective gas supply mechanism purges and cools the cooling chamber, shortening the cooling time of the process, thereby shortening the operating cycle of the graphitization furnace and improving production efficiency. At the same time, the protective gas can also protect the negative electrode material during the cooling process, avoiding excessive oxidation that affects the quality of the negative electrode material.

[0087] Example 3

[0088] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 2 is as follows:

[0089] The nitrogen gas filled into the cooling chamber has a purity of 99%.

[0090] Example 4

[0091] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 2 is as follows:

[0092] The nitrogen gas introduced into the cooling chamber has a purity of 99.5%.

[0093] Example 5

[0094] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 2 is as follows:

[0095] Nitrogen gas is introduced into the cooling chamber for 24 hours each time, with a purity of 98%, and then left to cool for 16 hours.

[0096] Example 6

[0097] The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 5 is as follows:

[0098] The nitrogen gas filled into the cooling chamber has a purity of 99%.

[0099] Example 7

[0100] The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 5 is as follows:

[0101] The nitrogen gas introduced into the cooling chamber has a purity of 99.5%.

[0102] Comparative Example 1

[0103] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 2 is as follows:

[0104] The protective cover uses, for example Figure 10 The conventional rectangular plate structure shown, of course, has protective covers installed at both ends on the furnace body, which are respectively equipped with air inlet and air outlet channels, and the overall structure of the air outlet and air inlet channels is as described above. Figure 7 , 8 The system is also equipped with an airflow dispersion mechanism at the air outlet of the air inlet channel. Each protective cover is sequentially mounted on the furnace body, and the other steps remain unchanged; this system is used for cooling the negative electrode material after it is removed from the furnace.

[0105] Comparative Example 2

[0106] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 2 is as follows:

[0107] The air intake channel is not connected to the airflow dispersion mechanism, but the other steps remain unchanged.

[0108] Comparative Example 3

[0109] In this comparative example, the negative electrode material was produced using the traditional furnace tapping process, as follows:

[0110] (1) Trenching: Trenching is carried out 72 hours after the graphitization furnace is shut down. 6-8 trenches are opened on the top, with a material grabbing depth of 20-30cm and a spacing of 3-4m. The first leveling is carried out 120 hours after the graphitization furnace is shut down, and the first 20cm layer of insulation material is completely removed.

[0111] (2) First edge gripping: Within 168 hours after the graphitization furnace is shut down, if the temperature of the material surface is between 700-750℃, the first edge gripping is carried out, with a gripping depth of 20-30cm.

[0112] (3) First top grabbing: 216 hours after the graphitization furnace is shut down, when the material surface temperature is between 800-850℃, the first top grabbing is carried out, with a grabbing depth of 10cm.

[0113] (4) Second edge gripping: Within 264 hours after the power outage of the graphitization furnace, if the temperature is between 550-600℃, perform a second edge gripping with a gripping depth of 20-30cm.

[0114] (5) Second top grabbing: Within 336 hours after the graphitization furnace is shut down, if the material surface temperature is between 800-850℃, a second top grabbing is carried out, with a grabbing depth of 10cm, until the thickness of the auxiliary material above the settling plate is 40-50cm.

[0115] (6) Repeated top and edge removal: Within 768 hours after the power outage, the auxiliary material above the settlement plate should be removed frequently and in small amounts. That is, when the surface temperature of the material is <50℃, a small amount of auxiliary material on the settlement plate should be removed manually. This process should be repeated until the thickness of the auxiliary material on the settlement plate is about 10cm. This process can make full use of the working gaps.

[0116] (7) Cleaning the auxiliary materials on the settling plate: If the temperature of the carbon column is less than 50°C within 840 hours after the power outage, the auxiliary materials on the settling plate shall be cleaned manually or by a suction machine and the auxiliary materials on the settling plate shall be cleaned in one go.

[0117] (8) After the auxiliary material is sucked up, immediately remove the settling plate and use a suction machine to suck up the negative electrode material product.

[0118] Examples 2-7 and Comparative Examples 1-3, which failed to pass the furnace tapping method under different conditions, were compared in terms of the presence or absence of nitrogen protection, nitrogen charging rate and duration, and the specific surface area of ​​the tapped negative electrode material. The results are shown in Table 1. The specific surface area of ​​the negative electrode material was tested according to the national standard GB / T 19587-2017 "Determination of Specific Surface Area of ​​Solid Substances by Gas Adsorption BET Method".

[0119] It is worth noting that the smaller the specific surface area of ​​the negative electrode material, the lower its degree of oxidation. The negative electrode material has relatively fewer active sites in contact with the electrolyte, which can reduce side reactions between the electrode and the electrolyte to a certain extent. For example, it can avoid excessive irreversible reactions that lead to battery capacity decay, which is beneficial to improving the battery's initial coulombic efficiency and cycle performance.

[0120] Meanwhile, the smaller gaps between negative electrode material particles with smaller specific surface areas allow them to be packed more tightly together, thereby increasing the material's tap density. This is beneficial for improving the battery's energy density and helps store more energy in a limited space.

[0121] Table 1:

[0122]

[0123] The data recorded in Table 1 shows that:

[0124] 1. Data from Examples 2, 3, 4 and Examples 5, 6 show that the higher the purity of the nitrogen gas introduced during the furnace tapping process, the smaller the specific surface area of ​​the resulting anode material and the better the performance of the anode material.

[0125] 2. The data from Examples 2 and 5 show that the longer the nitrogen gas is introduced during the furnace tapping process, the smaller the specific surface area of ​​the resulting negative electrode material and the better the performance of the negative electrode material.

[0126] 3. The data from Example 2 and Comparative Example 1 show that the negative electrode material obtained by the furnace exit method in Comparative Example 1 has a larger specific surface area, indicating that the airtightness of the entire cooling chamber during the nitrogen treatment process also has a certain impact on the performance of the negative electrode material. After using the same ventilation time as in Example 2, due to the structure of the protective cover in Comparative Example 1, there is a situation where nitrogen and outside air convection occurs between the gaps between the protective cover plates. Therefore, the negative electrode material in Comparative Example 2 has a higher probability of oxidation and relatively worse performance.

[0127] 4. As can be seen from the data of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2, the airflow dispersion mechanism can quickly blow the air in the cooling chamber to the external environment, reduce the residence time of the air in the cooling chamber, thereby reducing the oxidation probability of the negative electrode material and improving the performance of the negative electrode material.

[0128] 5. As can be seen from the data of Example 2 and Comparative Example 3, compared with the traditional tapping steps, the tapping method of this application can reduce the tapping time and reduce the oxidation of the negative electrode material, thus ensuring the performance of the negative electrode material.

[0129] In summary, the combination of the furnace tapping equipment and method described in this application makes it less likely for the negative electrode material to be oxidized during the cooling process, reducing the specific surface area and ensuring product quality. Furthermore, due to the presence of the protective covers, the furnace body of the ventilated and cooled graphitization furnace can be protected when other graphitization furnaces in the same group are receiving material, avoiding dust pollution generated during material intake. This prevents cross-contamination between graphitization furnaces in the graphitization group, ensuring the uniformity of negative electrode material quality in each graphitization furnace and improving the quality stability of batch products.

[0130] It is worth noting that:

[0131] 1. The "grabbing the edge" in the operation steps of this application can be understood as... Figure 2 The insulation material 107 between the upper and lower sides of the middle box 105 and the furnace body 102 is removed.

[0132] 2. The "grabbing the top" in the operation steps of this application can be understood as... Figure 1 The insulation material 107 above the middle box 105 (settlement plate 109) is removed.

[0133] 3. The negative electrode material prepared in this application is a powdered or granular negative electrode material. According to customer requirements, the particle size of the negative electrode material includes D10, D50, D90, D99, D100, etc., with the particle size unit being micrometers. The overall structure of this type of negative electrode material is powdery. Its cracking is not considered; its oxidation is the main consideration.

[0134] 4. To ensure the stability of the furnace body when the negative electrode material 106 inside the furnace is not sucked out, the conductive coke 104 at the furnace head and tail only reaches about 10cm below the top of the furnace body 105. Similarly, the insulation material 107 on the left and right sides ( Figure 2 The insulation material 107 on the upper and lower sides of the middle box 106 only covers the top of the box 105, 20-30cm below.

[0135] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly 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. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0136] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of this utility model is in use. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. In addition, the terms "first," "second," etc., are only used to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0137] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within this invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A tapping device for an Atchison graphitization furnace, used in conjunction with the furnace body (102) of the graphitization furnace, characterized in that: Includes at least one protective cover plate (2) and a protective gas supply mechanism, The protective cover (2) is mounted above the furnace body (102) and forms a cooling chamber with the furnace body (102); the cooling chamber is connected to an air inlet channel (201) and an air outlet channel (206) that communicate with the outside. The protective gas supply mechanism is connected to the air inlet channel (201) and is used to guide air into the cooling chamber. The air outlet channel (206) is used to connect the outside world and the cooling chamber.

2. The furnace tapping equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of protective cover plates (2) is at least two, and each protective cover plate (2) is arranged side by side and spliced ​​on the furnace body (102). The protective cover (2) has two splicing sidewalls, one of which has a recessed groove (27) and the other has a snap-fit ​​protrusion (28). The recessed groove (27) of any protective cover (2) is inserted into the snap-fit ​​protrusion (28) of the adjacent protective cover (2).

3. The furnace tapping equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The two side walls of the recessed groove (27) are respectively provided with sealing layers (271), and the two sealing layers (271) are used to fit and contact with the adjacent snap-fit ​​protrusions (28).

4. The furnace tapping equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that: It also includes reinforcement components, The reinforcing assembly includes at least one insert (29) and the same number of slots (281) as the insert (29). The insert (29) protrudes from the bottom of the recess (27), and the slots (281) have snap-fit ​​protrusions (28). The insert (29) is inserted into the adjacent slot (281). The insert (29) is provided with at least one locking block (212) that is telescopically arranged. The locking block (212) extends along the insert (29) and drives the mating slot (281) to move toward the insert (29).

5. The furnace tapping equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The locking block (212) is driven by a temperature-sensitive drive component to extend and retract along the insert block (29); The temperature-changing drive component includes a shrink block (213), a moving block (214), and a shape memory alloy spring (216). The shrink block (213) is embedded in the connecting groove (215) on the insert block (29). The shape memory alloy spring (216) is located between the connecting groove (215) and the shrink block (213). One end of the moving block (214) is in contact with the shrink block (213) and slides. The other end of the moving block (214) is in contact with the locking block (212) and slides. Under the action of the shape memory alloy spring (216), the shrink block (213) shrinks toward the insert block (29), which drives the moving block (214) to move and drives the locking block (212) to extend out of the insert block (29).

6. The furnace tapping equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The locking block (212) is vertically arranged, and the insert block (29) is provided with an installation groove (211). A tension spring (210) is provided between the locking block (212) and the installation groove (211). The locking block (212) has a guide slope on the side near the recessed groove (27) at its end. The slot (281) has a T-shaped groove structure. The vertical section and the horizontal section of the slot (281) are connected by a transition slope. The locking block (212) extends along the insert (29) so that the guide slope of the locking block (212) slides along the transition slope of the adjacent slot (281), driving the locking block (212) from the vertical section of the slot (281) into the horizontal section of the slot (281).

7. The furnace tapping equipment according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: The protective cover (2) is provided with two lifting handles (20).

8. The furnace tapping equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The protective cover (2) for the air intake passage (201) is also equipped with a detachable airflow dispersion mechanism. The airflow dispersion mechanism includes a main pipe (22) connected to the air inlet channel (201) and multiple branch pipes (23) connected to the main pipe (22). The discharge end of each branch pipe (23) is inclined downward inside the furnace body (102).

9. The furnace tapping equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that: The protective cover (2) with the air outlet channel (206) is also provided with an air box (25). The air box (25) and the protective cover (2) form an air outlet chamber. The air outlet chamber is connected to the cooling chamber. The air outlet channel (206) is connected to the air outlet chamber. A detection tube (24) with a valve is also connected to the air outlet chamber.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • New method for discharging isostatic pressing formed graphite product from furnace

    CN108332561A