Lithium battery material sintering cooling mechanism

Abstract

The utility model relates to a lithium battery material sintering cooling mechanism, including frame, the transmission roller subassembly is equipped in frame inside, the cooling cover is equipped with the opening for the transmission roller subassembly to pass through in both ends in the frame, the shell cover is equipped with the gap between the cooling cover in the cooling cover outside, a plurality of spiral baffles are equipped between the shell and the cooling cover, form spiral flow channel between adjacent two spiral baffles, the uniform flow cavity is equipped in spiral flow channel's liquid inlet one end and is linked with spiral flow channel, the liquid collecting cavity is equipped in spiral flow channel's liquid outlet one end and is linked with spiral flow channel, the liquid inlet pipe of cooling component links with the uniform flow cavity, the liquid outlet pipe of cooling component links with the current collection cavity, and the cooling liquid spirally flows along the axial direction of cooling cover, and the cooling liquid in each spiral flow channel all surrounds and flows, and fully contacts with the cooling cover of different sections, not only makes the cooling liquid have greater heat exchange area, improves the cooling efficiency, also avoided the water cooling dead angle, makes the temperature in the cooling cover more uniform.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of lithium battery production technology, specifically to a lithium battery material sintering cooling mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] Lithium-ion batteries, as a new generation of green high-energy batteries, are widely used due to their advantages such as high voltage, high energy density, good cycle performance, low self-discharge, no memory effect, and wide operating temperature range. Lithium iron phosphate, as a new generation of lithium-ion battery cathode material, has become a current research hotspot due to its low price, high theoretical capacity, stable operating voltage, non-toxicity and environmental friendliness, stable structure, good safety, good thermal stability, and ultra-long cycle life. The production process of lithium-ion batteries includes steps such as material preparation, dispersion and grinding, spray drying, granulation, sintering, crushing, and drying. Among these, the sintering step requires a relatively long time, generally 6–12 hours. Furthermore, the temperature of the material obtained after high-temperature sintering is very high, requiring a long cooling period before it can be transferred to the next process, which contributes to the long time consumption of the entire sintering step. The most basic cooling method currently available is natural cooling. To improve production efficiency, air cooling or water cooling is commonly used. When using water cooling, water-cooled pipes are typically used. Multiple sets of pipes are usually arranged inside the kiln, with the axial direction of the pipes perpendicular to the material flow. The material is placed on a conveyor and moves along the extension direction of the conveyor. Cooling water or cold air is then circulated through the pipes, allowing the flowing cooling water or cold air to absorb heat from the kiln and carry it away. For example, patent publication number "CN212806485U" discloses a roller kiln cooling system that uses cooling water coils installed in the inner linings on the upper and lower sides of the roller kiln, combined with air cooling, to cool the roller kiln. However, with this method, the cooling position in the water cooling system is limited to the upper and lower sides of the roller kiln, which limits the cooling position of the products inside the kiln and causes uneven cooling, affecting production efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0003] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides a lithium battery material sintering cooling mechanism. By circling the cooling channel on the cooling cover, the cooling cover directly exchanges heat with the high temperature radiated by the material. The coolant flows spirally along the axial direction of the cooling cover, and the coolant in each spiral channel flows around and fully contacts different sections of the cooling cover. This not only gives the coolant a larger heat exchange area and improves the cooling efficiency, but also avoids water cooling dead zones and makes the temperature inside the cooling cover more uniform.

[0004] This utility model provides a lithium battery material sintering cooling mechanism to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, comprising: A frame, wherein a transmission roller assembly is provided on the inner side of the frame; A cooling shroud is mounted on the frame and has openings at both ends for the drive roller assembly to pass through; The outer shell covers the outside of the cooling cover and has a gap between it and the cooling cover. Multiple spiral baffles are provided between the outer shell and the cooling cover, and a spiral flow channel is formed between two adjacent spiral baffles. A flow equalization assembly includes a flow equalization cavity and a flow collection cavity. The flow equalization cavity is located at one end of the inlet of the spiral flow channel and is connected to the spiral flow channel. The flow collection cavity is located at one end of the outlet of the spiral flow channel and is connected to the spiral flow channel. A cooling assembly, wherein the inlet pipe of the cooling assembly is connected to the flow equalization chamber, and the outlet pipe of the cooling assembly is connected to the flow collection chamber.

[0005] Furthermore, the inner side of the cooling shroud is provided with a plurality of heat-absorbing fins, which extend along the axial direction of the cooling shroud and are evenly spaced along the curvature direction of the cooling shroud.

[0006] Furthermore, the cooling cover is an annular cover, and the liquid inlet of the liquid inlet pipe is a gradually expanding trumpet shape.

[0007] Furthermore, the plurality of the spiral baffles are evenly distributed along the circumference of the cooling shroud.

[0008] Furthermore, the flow equalization cavity is provided with a flow equalization plate, and the flow equalization plate is provided with flow equalization holes that correspond to the spiral flow channel and have the same diameter.

[0009] Furthermore, the cooling assembly is located outside the housing and includes a pump body, a heat exchanger, and a cooler. The pump body is connected to the liquid outlet pipe and is connected to the heat exchanger via a first pipe. A second pipe is connected between the heat exchanger and the cooler. A temperature sensor is installed on the second pipe. The cooler is connected to the liquid inlet pipe.

[0010] Furthermore, the inlet pipe is also equipped with a regulating valve.

[0011] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The transmission roller assembly on the frame is used to transport the sintered material into the cooling hood. The gap between the cooling hood and the outer shell serves as a flow channel for the coolant. Multiple spiral baffles are installed between the outer shell and the cooling hood, forming a spiral flow channel between adjacent spiral baffles. The coolant flows in multiple groups within these spiral channels, ensuring that each stream of coolant moves evenly along the axial direction of the cooling hood, maximizing contact between the coolant and different parts of the cooling hood. Furthermore, the coolant contacts the spiral baffles while flowing in the spiral channels, facilitating heat exchange and improving heat transfer efficiency. The flow equalization assembly provides a pressure-balanced inlet and outlet environment for each spiral flow channel, ensuring that the inlet and outlet pressures are essentially the same, thereby making the flow rate of each spiral flow channel more consistent and achieving uniform cooling. The cooling assembly is used to circulate and cool the coolant. The cooled coolant enters the flow equalization chamber through the inlet pipe and is dispersed into each spiral flow channel to cool the environment inside the cooling hood and cool the material. The coolant that has absorbed heat flows into the flow collection chamber and is discharged from the outlet pipe into the cooling assembly for further cooling. Then it flows into the flow equalization chamber for circulation.

[0012] In summary, by employing this utility model, the cooling channels are arranged around the cooling cover, allowing the cooling cover to directly exchange heat with the high temperature inside the cooling cover. Furthermore, the coolant flows evenly to each spiral channel under the action of the flow equalization chamber, making the flow rate of each spiral channel tend to be consistent. The coolant in each spiral channel flows around and fully contacts different sections of the cooling cover, which not only gives the coolant a larger heat exchange area and improves cooling efficiency, but also avoids water cooling dead zones and achieves uniform cooling.

[0013] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the present invention.

[0015] In the attached diagram: 100-frame, 110-drive roller assembly, 200-cooling shroud, 210-heat absorption fins, 300-outer shell, 400-spiral baffle, 500-spiral flow channel, 610-flow equalization chamber, 620-flow collection chamber, 630-flow equalization plate, 631-flow equalization hole, 700-cooling assembly, 710-inlet pipe, 711-regulating valve, 720-outlet pipe, 730-pump body, 740-heat exchanger, 750-refrigerator, 760-pipe one, 770-pipe two, 771-temperature sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0016] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail.

[0017] Reference Figures 1 to 2 A lithium battery material sintering cooling mechanism includes a frame 100, a cooling shroud 200, a housing 300, a flow equalization component, and a cooling component. It is understood that in this embodiment, air cooling can also be used. Nitrogen or other gases are introduced into the cooling shroud, and the nitrogen is drawn off by a fan and then circulated back into the cooling shroud. This works in conjunction with the water cooling in this embodiment to cool the material inside the cooling shroud. Existing technology can be used for air cooling, which will not be elaborated here. The frame 100 is connected to the sintering furnace. A transmission roller assembly 110 is provided on the inner side of the frame 100. The sintered material is transported to the cooling shroud 200 via the transmission rollers. The rollers of the transmission roller assembly 110 can be made of high-temperature resistant ceramic material; this part can be based on existing technology and will not be elaborated here.

[0018] The cooling cover 200 is mounted on the frame 100 and has openings at both ends for the transmission roller assembly 110 to pass through. The cooling cover 200 can be an annular or rectangular cover, and its shape is not limited, as long as it can surround the transmission roller assembly 110. In this embodiment, the cooling cover 200 is an annular cover to facilitate the flow of coolant.

[0019] The outer shell 300 covers the outside of the cooling cover 200 and has a gap between them. Multiple spiral baffles 400 are provided between the outer shell 300 and the cooling cover 200, forming a spiral flow channel 500 between adjacent spiral baffles 400. Furthermore, the multiple spiral baffles 400 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the cooling cover 200, making the size of each spiral flow channel 500 approximately uniform. In this configuration, the multiple spiral baffles 400 divide the coolant into multiple streams that flow within the spiral flow channels 500. Each stream of coolant spirals around the cooling cover 200 along its axial direction, maximizing contact between the coolant and different parts of the cooling cover 200. Furthermore, as the coolant flows within the spiral flow channels 500, it also contacts the spiral baffles 400, achieving heat exchange and improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0020] The flow equalization assembly provides a pressure-balanced inlet and outlet environment for each spiral flow channel 500. The assembly includes a flow equalization chamber 610 and a flow collecting chamber 620. The flow equalization chamber 610 can be an annular cavity. The flow equalization chamber 610 is located at one end of the inlet of the spiral flow channel 500 and communicates with it. The flow equalization chamber 610 is also connected to the inlet of the inlet pipe 710. Furthermore, the inlet of the inlet pipe 710 is a gradually expanding funnel shape, reducing the speed at which coolant enters the flow equalization chamber 610 and making the pressure distribution at the inlet of each spiral flow channel 500 more uniform. The flow collecting chamber 620 is located at one end of the outlet of the spiral flow channel 500 and communicates with it, ensuring that the inlet and outlet pressures of each spiral flow channel 500 are basically the same, thereby making the flow rate of each spiral flow channel 500 more consistent and achieving uniform cooling. Furthermore, the flow equalization cavity 610 is also provided with a flow equalization plate 630, and the flow equalization plate 630 is provided with flow equalization holes 631 corresponding to the spiral flow channel 500 and having the same diameter. The flow equalization plate 630 further divides the coolant and reduces the impact of pressure fluctuations at the inlet of the liquid inlet pipe 710 on the flow rate of the coolant entering each spiral flow channel 500.

[0021] The cooling assembly 700 is used for circulating and cooling the coolant. The inlet pipe 710 of the cooling assembly 700 is connected to the flow equalization chamber 610, and the outlet pipe 720 of the cooling assembly 700 is connected to the flow collection chamber 620. The cooled coolant enters the flow equalization chamber 610 through the inlet pipe 710 and is dispersed into each spiral flow channel 500 to cool the environment inside the cooling hood 200, thereby cooling the material. The coolant, having absorbed heat, flows into the flow collection chamber 620 and is discharged from the outlet pipe 720 into the cooling assembly 700 for further cooling, before flowing back into the flow equalization chamber 610 for circulation. It is understood that, depending on the application, the inlet pipe 710 can be located on the side of the cooling hood 200 closer to the sintering furnace or on the side of the cooling hood 200 farther from the sintering furnace. When the inlet pipe 710 is located on the side closer to the sintering furnace, the temperature of the front section of the cooling hood near the sintering furnace is lower during the flow of the coolant, which can quickly cool the material entering the cooling hood 200. When the inlet pipe 710 is located on the side farther from the sintering furnace, the coolant enters from the rear end of the cooling hood 200. The temperature of the coolant in the cooling hood 200 is higher on the side closer to the sintering furnace and lower on the side farther from the sintering furnace. The material in the cooling hood is even hotter when it is transported out of the sintering furnace. After entering the spiral flow channel, the coolant exchanges heat with the lower-temperature material to achieve complete cooling and ensure the cooling temperature. When the coolant flows towards the side closer to the sintering furnace, even if the temperature of the coolant gradually increases, there is still a temperature difference between it and the higher-temperature material in the cooling hood, which still has a cooling effect on the material in the cooling hood. There will be no excessively fast cooling rate, which could cause increased internal stress in the particles or cracks in the particles.

[0022] In some embodiments, the inner side of the cooling shroud 200 is provided with a plurality of heat-absorbing fins 210. The heat-absorbing fins 210 extend along the axial direction of the cooling shroud 200 and are evenly spaced along the bending direction of the cooling shroud 200. The heat-absorbing fins 210 extend into the cooling shroud 200 to increase the heat exchange area with the hot air inside the cooling shroud 200, and the heat is transferred to the cooling shroud 200 through the heat-absorbing fins 210, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0023] In some embodiments, the cooling assembly 700 is located outside the housing 300 and includes a pump body 730 and a heat exchanger 740. The pump body 730 is connected to the outlet pipe 720 and a pipe 760 is provided between it and the heat exchanger 740. The outlet end of the heat exchanger 740 is connected to the inlet pipe 710. In this case, the pump body 730 draws out the coolant from the collection chamber 620 and enters the heat exchanger 740 through the pipe 760 to remove heat. Then, the coolant is pumped into the collection chamber 620 to circulate and cool the material inside the cooling shroud 200. Furthermore, the cooling assembly 700 also includes a cooler 750, which is located between the heat exchanger 740 and the inlet pipe 710. A second pipe 770 is provided between the heat exchanger 740 and the cooler 750, with the outlet end of the cooler 750 connected to the inlet pipe 710. A temperature sensor 771 is installed on the second pipe 770. In this way, the temperature of the coolant entering the manifold 620 can be controlled. When the coolant flows through the second pipe 770 after passing through the heat exchanger 740, the temperature sensor 771 on the second pipe 770 detects the temperature of the coolant. If the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 771 is too high, the cooler 750 is controlled to work to further cool the coolant and ensure that the temperature of the coolant entering the manifold 620 is uniform. Furthermore, the inlet pipe 710 is also equipped with a regulating valve 711, which can be a pneumatic regulating valve 711 or an electric regulating valve 711, and a flow meter is installed at the inlet port of the inlet pipe 710 to control the flow rate of the coolant.

[0024] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0025] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Although the present utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A sintering cooling mechanism for lithium battery materials, characterized in that, include: A frame (100) is provided with a transmission roller assembly (110) on the inner side of the frame (100). A cooling shroud (200) is mounted on the frame (100) and has openings at both ends for the drive roller assembly (110) to pass through; The outer shell (300) is covered outside the cooling cover (200) and has a gap between it and the cooling cover (200). Multiple spiral baffles (400) are provided between the outer shell (300) and the cooling cover (200), and a spiral flow channel (500) is formed between two adjacent spiral baffles (400). The flow equalization assembly includes a flow equalization cavity (610) and a flow collection cavity (620). The flow equalization cavity (610) is located at one end of the inlet of the spiral flow channel (500) and communicates with the spiral flow channel (500). The flow collection cavity (620) is located at one end of the outlet of the spiral flow channel (500) and communicates with the spiral flow channel (500). The cooling assembly (700) has an inlet pipe (710) connected to the flow equalization chamber (610) and an outlet pipe (720) connected to the flow collection chamber (620).

2. The lithium battery material sintering cooling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner side of the cooling cover (200) is provided with a plurality of heat-absorbing fins (210), which extend along the axial direction of the cooling cover (200) and are evenly spaced along the bending direction of the cooling cover (200).

3. The lithium battery material sintering cooling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooling cover (200) is an annular cover, and the liquid inlet of the liquid inlet pipe (710) is a gradually expanding trumpet shape.

4. The lithium battery material sintering cooling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of said spiral baffles (400) are evenly distributed along the circumference of the cooling shroud (200).

5. The lithium battery material sintering cooling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow equalization cavity (610) is provided with a flow equalization plate (630), and the flow equalization plate (630) is provided with flow equalization holes (631) that correspond to the spiral flow channel (500) and have the same diameter.

6. The lithium battery material sintering cooling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooling assembly (700) is located outside the housing (300) and includes a pump body (730), a heat exchanger (740), and a cooler (750). The pump body (730) is connected to the liquid outlet pipe (720) and a first pipe (760) is provided between it and the heat exchanger (740). A second pipe (770) is provided between the heat exchanger (740) and the cooler (750). A temperature sensor (771) is provided on the second pipe (770). The cooler (750) is connected to the liquid inlet pipe (710).

7. The lithium battery material sintering cooling mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inlet pipe (710) is also equipped with a regulating valve (711).

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