Electrode Material Firing System

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrode material firing system. The electrode material firing system according to the present invention includes an electrode material firing device for firing an electrode material raw material substance, and an electrode material supply device for supplying the electrode material raw material substance to the electrode material firing device. The electrode material supply device includes a supply tube in which an internal space for accommodating and moving the electrode material raw material substance is formed, a cooling unit for cooling the internal space of the supply tube, and a heating unit for heating the outside of the supply tube.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0070534, filed on June 10, 2022, and all the contents disclosed in the document of the Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrode material firing system.

Background Art

[0003] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be recharged, and in recent years, they have been extensively studied and developed due to the potential for miniaturization and increased capacity. As the technology development and demand for mobile devices increase, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source has been rapidly increasing.

[0004] Secondary batteries are classified into coin-shaped batteries, cylindrical batteries, prismatic batteries, and pouch-shaped batteries according to the shape of the battery case. In a secondary battery, an electrode assembly mounted inside the battery case is a power generation element capable of charge and discharge, which has a laminated structure of electrodes and separators.

[0005] Secondary batteries have attracted much attention not only as an energy source for mobile devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, and notebook computers but also for power devices such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles.

[0006] On the other hand, in the lithium secondary battery, a lithium transition metal oxide is used as a positive electrode active material. That is, as the positive electrode active material, lithium cobalt oxide having a high operating voltage and excellent capacity characteristics, lithium nickel oxide having a high reversible capacity of about 200 mAh / g and being easy to realize a large-capacity battery, lithium nickel cobalt oxide in which a part of nickel is replaced with cobalt, lithium nickel cobalt metal oxide in which a part of nickel is replaced with manganese, cobalt, or aluminum, lithium manganese-based oxide having excellent thermal stability and low cost, lithium iron phosphate having excellent stability, etc. are used.

[0007] The positive electrode active material is manufactured by a method in which a precursor for manufacturing the positive electrode active material and a lithium raw material are mixed and then charged into an electrode material firing system and fired at a high temperature.

[0008] In a conventional electrode material firing system for firing an electrode material raw material by applying heat, the electrode material supply device for supplying the electrode material raw material has a simple structure of a screw and a supply tube which is a case surrounding the screw for moving the electrode material raw material. Further, the end of the supply tube is located inside a main tube for heating and firing the electrode material raw material, and is configured in a structure for supplying the electrode material raw material into the main tube.

[0009] However, there has been a problem that the input raw material is heated in a partial region at the tip of the supply tube due to heat conduction from the inside of the main tube.

[0010] As a result, the raw material containing moisture generated by thermal decomposition generates stress inside the supply tube, resulting in a problem that the durability of the equipment deteriorates.

[0011] Also, as a result, there has been a problem that an error occurs in the quantitative input of the raw material, which is one of the important process conditions, due to changes in the powder characteristics (density, viscosity, fluidity, etc.) of the raw material caused by moisture.

[0012] Furthermore, as a result, due to the generation of intermediate products by thermal reactions that could not be controlled in regions other than the reaction region in terms of process design, there has been a problem that an error occurs in process control. Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0013] One aspect of the present invention is to provide an electrode material firing system capable of preventing an unwanted additional thermal reaction.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0014] The electrode material firing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrode material firing device for firing an electrode material raw material substance, and an electrode material supply device for supplying the electrode material raw material substance to the electrode material firing device. The electrode material supply device can include a supply tube in which an internal space for accommodating and moving the electrode material raw material substance is formed, a cooling unit for cooling the internal space of the supply tube, and a heating unit for heating the outside of the supply tube.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, in an electrode material firing system for firing an electrode material raw material substance, by providing a cooling unit for cooling the internal space of the supply tube through which the electrode material raw material substance is moved, an unwanted additional thermal reaction can be prevented. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the durability of the equipment, prevent problems with the quantitative input of raw materials, and prevent the generation of unnecessary intermediate products, thereby preventing errors from occurring in process control.

[0016] In addition, by providing a heating unit for heating the outside of the supply tube, it is possible to suppress the condensation of water vapor generated by a thermal reaction outside the supply tube and further mixing with the raw material, or clogging the discharge port of the supply tube and interfering with feeding.

[0017] In addition, by positioning a heat insulation unit between the cooling unit and the heating unit, heat transfer between the cooling unit and the heating unit can be blocked, and as a result, the respective functions of the cooling unit and the heating unit can be effectively exerted.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] The object, specific advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferred embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that when adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing in this specification, as far as the same components are concerned, even if they are shown on different drawings, they are made to have the same number as much as possible. Also, the present invention can be realized in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described here. And in describing the present invention, a detailed description of related known technologies that may obscure the gist of the present invention is omitted.

[0020] Electrode material firing system according to the first embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an electrode material firing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Here, the rotating part 230 shown in FIG. 1 is not subjected to cross-sectional processing for convenience of explanation.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, an electrode material firing system 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention can include an electrode material firing device 200 for firing an electrode material raw material substance M, and an electrode material supply device 100 for supplying the electrode material raw material substance M to the electrode material firing device 200. Further, the electrode material firing system 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention can further include a chamber 300 for collecting the gas and water vapor discharged from the heating tube 210.

[0022] Also, the electrode material supply device 100 can include a supply tube 110 through which the electrode material raw material substance M is moved, a cooling part 120, a heating part 140, a heat insulation part 130, a screw 150, a shut-off part 170, and a supply hopper 180.

[0023] Further, the electrode material firing apparatus 200 can include a heating tube 210 into which the electrode material raw material M is moved and stored from the supply tube 110, a heater 220, a rotating unit 230, and a baffle 240.

[0024] More specifically, in the electrode material supply device 100 of the electrode material firing system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, an internal space 110a in which the electrode material raw material M is stored and moved can be formed in the supply tube 110. Here, the electrode material raw material M can be, for example, a positive electrode material raw material.

[0025] The supply tube 110 can be formed in the form of a cylindrical tube. At this time, the supply tube 110 can be formed in the form of, for example, a cylindrical tube.

[0026] The supply tube 110 can include a first portion 111 located outside the heating tube 210 and a second portion 112 located inside the heating tube 210.

[0027] At this time, the heating unit 140 and the cooling unit 120 can be provided in the first portion 111 and the second portion 112 of the supply tube 110. That is, the heating unit 140 and the cooling unit 120 can be provided in the portions of the supply tube 110 located inside and outside the heating tube 210.

[0028] The cooling unit 120 can cool the internal space 110a of the supply tube 110.

[0029] The cooling unit 120 can include a cooling line 121 that maintains the periphery at a temperature below a certain level while the refrigerant fluid moves.

[0030] At this time, the electrode material raw material M contains lithium hydroxide, and the cooling unit 120 can cool the internal space 110a of the supply tube 110 so that the temperature of the electrode material raw material M becomes 10 to 80°C. Here, as a specific example, the cooling unit 120 can cool the internal space 110a of the supply tube 110 so that the temperature of the electrode material raw material M becomes 10 to 60°C. Therefore, by cooling the internal space 110a of the supply tube 110 so that the temperature of the electrode material raw material M is 60°C or lower, it is possible to prevent an undesired additional thermal reaction that could not be controlled in areas other than the reaction area in terms of process design, and prevent the generation of intermediate products, thereby preventing errors from occurring in process control. As a result, it is possible to prevent the raw material containing moisture generated by thermal decomposition from generating stress inside the supply tube 110 and reducing the durability of the equipment, and prevent errors from occurring in the quantitative feeding of the raw material, which is one of the important process conditions, due to changes in the powder characteristics (density, viscosity, fluidity, etc.) of the raw material caused by moisture.

[0031] In addition, the cooling unit 120 has the effect of preventing additional thermal reactions or deterioration of the raw material by cooling the internal space 110a of the supply tube 110 so that the temperature of the electrode material raw material M is 10°C or higher.

[0032] The cooling line 121 can include a refrigerant inflow portion 121a into which a refrigerant fluid flows and a refrigerant discharge portion 121b from which the refrigerant fluid is discharged.

[0033] The cooling unit 120 can be provided along the inner surface of the heat insulation unit 130.

[0034] The heating unit 140 can heat the outside of the supply tube 110.

[0035] The heating unit 140 can heat the outside of the supply tube 110 at a temperature of 100 to 150°C. Therefore, by heating the outside of the supply tube 110 at a temperature of 100°C or higher, the water vapor generated by the thermal reaction in the heating tube 210 is prevented from condensing outside the supply tube 110 and mixing further with the raw material, or clogging the discharge port of the supply tube 110 and interfering with feeding. In addition, by heating the outside of the supply tube 110 at a temperature of 150°C or lower, since the cooling efficiency decreases as the heating temperature increases and the temperature of the raw material can rise, by limiting it, the raw material can be introduced while maintaining a temperature within a certain temperature range.

[0036] The heating unit 140 is provided along the inner surface of the supply tube 110 and can heat the supply tube 110 and the outside of the supply tube 110.

[0037] The heat insulation unit 130 is located between the cooling unit 120 and the heating unit 140 and can block heat transfer between the cooling unit 120 and the heating unit 140. Thereby, the respective functions of the cooling unit 120 and the heating unit 140 can be fully exerted.

[0038] The heat insulation unit 130 can be provided along the inner surface of the heating unit 140.

[0039] The screw 150 is located in the internal space 110a of the supply tube 110 and can move the electrode material raw material substance M.

[0040] The screw 150 can be formed, for example, in a form having a rotating shaft and spiral blades along the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft.

[0041] The end of the screw 150 is connected to the screw motor 151 and rotated by the screw motor 151, and the electrode material raw material substance M located in the internal space 110a of the supply tube 110 can be moved toward the heating tube 210.

[0042] The blocking part 170 is provided on the outer surface of the supply tube 110 and can block the condensed water vapor located on the outer surface of the supply tube 110 from moving into the interior of the electrode material firing apparatus 200 along the outer surface of the supply tube 110.

[0043] The blocking part 170 can be made of a metal plate provided along the periphery of the outer surface of the supply tube 110.

[0044] The blocking part 170 is formed in the form of a disc with a hole formed in the central part, and the outer surface of the supply tube 110 can be inserted into the hole formed in the central part.

[0045] The supply hopper 180 can supply the electrode material raw material M to the supply tube 110.

[0046] At this time, the supply hopper 180 is connected to one side of the supply tube 110, and the other side of the supply tube 110 can be located inside the heating tube 210.

[0047] In the electrode material firing apparatus 200, an accommodation space 210a can be formed in the heating tube 210, into which the electrode material raw material M is moved and accommodated from the supply tube 110.

[0048] The heating tube 210 can be formed in the form of a cylindrical tube. At this time, the heating tube 210 can be formed, for example, in the form of a cylindrical tube. Also, the heating tube 210 can be formed in a form with a diameter larger than that of the supply tube 110.

[0049] The heater 220 can heat the electrode material raw material M located in the accommodation space 210a of the heating tube 210 by heating the heating tube 210.

[0050] The rotating part 230 can rotate the heating tube 210.

[0051] The rotating part 230 can include a driving gear 231 that provides a rotational force, and a driven gear 232 that receives the rotational force transmitted from the driving gear 231.

[0052] The driving gear 231 has a driving gear portion formed on its outer peripheral surface and can be rotated as the rotating shaft of the driving motor is rotated.

[0053] The driven gear 232 is formed along the outer surface of the heating tube 210, and a driven gear portion that is meshed and coupled with the driving gear portion of the driving gear 231 can be formed on its outer peripheral surface.

[0054] The baffle 240 is provided inside the heating tube 210 and can induce the stirring of the electrode material raw material substance M accommodated in the heating tube 210 when the heating tube 210 is rotated.

[0055] The baffle 240 can be provided inside the heating tube 210. The baffle 240 can include a horizontal bar provided at a certain distance from the inner surface of the heating tube 210. The horizontal bar can extend along the length direction of the heating tube 210. At this time, the horizontal bar can extend, for example, in the direction aligned with the traveling direction G of the electrode material raw material substance M.

[0056] A space for accommodating the first portion 111 of the supply tube 110 can be formed in the chamber 300. At this time, the chamber 300 can include a cylindrical chamber cover 310 and a chamber hopper 320 located below the chamber cover 310.

[0057] The chamber 300 can collect the gas and water vapor discharged from the first portion 111 of the heating tube 210.

[0058] Here, the gas and water vapor discharged from the outside of the heating tube 210 can be collected by the chamber cover 310 into the chamber hopper 320.

[0059] Electrode material firing system according to the second embodiment Hereinafter, an electrode material firing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0060] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an electrode material firing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 2, an electrode material firing system 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention can include an electrode material firing device 200 that fires an electrode material raw material substance M, and an electrode material supply device 1100 that supplies the electrode material raw material substance M to the electrode material firing device 200. Further, the electrode material firing system 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention can further include a chamber 300 that collects the gas and water vapor discharged from the heating tube 210.

[0062] Further, the electrode material supply device 1100 can include a supply tube 1110 through which the electrode material raw material substance M is moved, a cooling unit 1120, a heating unit 1140, a heat insulation unit 1130, a screw 150, a shutoff unit 170, and a supply hopper 180.

[0063] Further, the electrode material firing device 200 can include a heating tube 210 into which the electrode material raw material substance M is moved and accommodated from the supply tube 1110, a heater 220, a rotating unit 230, and a baffle 240.

[0064] The electrode material firing system 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is different from the electrode material firing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above in that the heating unit 1140 and the cooling unit 1120 are provided only in the first portion 1111 of the supply tube 1110. Therefore, for the embodiment of the electrode material firing system 20 according to the second embodiment, the content overlapping with the electrode material firing system according to the first embodiment described above will be omitted or briefly described, and the description will focus on the differences.

[0065] More specifically, in the electrode material supply device 1100 of the electrode material firing system 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, an internal space 1110a can be formed in the supply tube 1110, in which the electrode material raw material M is accommodated and moved.

[0066] The supply tube 1110 can be formed in the form of a cylindrical tube. At this time, the supply tube 1110 can be formed in the form of, for example, a cylindrical tube.

[0067] The supply tube 1110 can include a first portion 1111 located outside the heating tube 210 and a second portion 1112 located inside the heating tube 210.

[0068] At this time, the heating unit 1140 and the cooling unit 1120 can be provided in the first portion 1111 of the supply tube 1110. That is, the heating unit 1140 and the cooling unit 1120 can be provided only in the portion of the supply tube 1110 located outside the heating tube 210. Thereby, since the heating unit 1140 and the cooling unit 1120 are not provided in the second portion 1112 of the supply tube 1110 located inside the heating tube 210, it is possible to prevent the heating temperature from decreasing in the heating tube 210, and the manufacturing is easy.

[0069] The cooling unit 1120 can cool the internal space 1110a of the supply tube 1110.

[0070] The cooling unit 1120 can include a cooling line 1121 that maintains the periphery at a temperature below a certain level while the refrigerant fluid is moved.

[0071] At this time, the electrode material raw material M contains lithium hydroxide, and the cooling unit 1120 can cool the internal space 1110a of the supply tube 1110 so that the temperature of the electrode material raw material M becomes 10 to 60°C.

[0072] The cooling line 1121 can include a refrigerant inlet portion 1121a into which a refrigerant fluid flows and a refrigerant discharge portion 1121b from which the refrigerant fluid is discharged.

[0073] The cooling unit 1120 can be provided along the inner surface of the heat insulation unit 1130.

[0074] The heating unit 1140 can heat the outside of the supply tube 1110.

[0075] The heating unit 1140 can heat the outside of the supply tube 1110 at a temperature of 100 to 150°C.

[0076] The heating unit 1140 is provided along the inner surface of the supply tube 1110 and can heat the supply tube 1110 and the outside of the supply tube 1110.

[0077] The heat insulation unit 1130 is located between the cooling unit 1120 and the heating unit 1140 and can block heat transfer between the cooling unit 1120 and the heating unit 1140.

[0078] The heat insulation unit 1130 can be provided along the inner surface of the heating unit 1140.

[0079] The screw 150 is located in the internal space 1110a of the supply tube 1110 and can move the electrode material raw material M.

[0080] As described above, the present invention has been described in detail with specific embodiments, but this is for specifically explaining the present invention and the present invention is not limited thereto. It can be said that various implementations are possible by those having ordinary knowledge in the art within the technical idea of the present invention.

[0081] Also, the specific protection scope of the invention is clarified by the appended claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0082] 10, 20 Electrode Material Firing System 100, 1100 Electrode material supply device 110, 1110 Supply tube 110a, 1110a Internal space 111, 1111 First part 112, 1112 Second part 120, 1120 Cooling part 121, 1121 Cooling line 121a, 1121a Refrigerant inlet part 121b, 1121b Refrigerant discharge part 130, 1130 Heat insulation part 140, 1140 Heating part 150 Screw 151 Screw motor 170 Shut-off part 180 Supply hopper 200 Electrode material firing device 210 Heating tube 210a Accommodation space 220 Heater 230 Rotating part 231 Driving gear 232 Driven gear 240 Baffle 300 Chamber 300a Space 310 Chamber cover 320 Chamber hopper G Direction of progress M Electrode material raw material substance

Claims

1. An electrode material firing device for firing an electrode material raw material substance, and an electrode material supply device for supplying the electrode material raw material substance to the electrode material firing device, including: The electrode material supply device includes: a supply tube in which an internal space is formed for accommodating and moving the electrode material raw material substance, a cooling unit for cooling the internal space of the supply tube, and a heating unit for heating the outside of the supply tube, an electrode material firing system.

2. The cooling unit includes: a cooling line for maintaining the periphery at a temperature below a certain level while the refrigerant fluid is moving, the electrode material firing system according to claim 1.

3. The electrode material raw material substance contains lithium hydroxide, and the cooling unit cools the internal space of the supply tube so that the temperature of the electrode material raw material substance becomes 10 to 60 °C, the electrode material firing system according to claim 2.

4. The cooling line includes: a refrigerant inlet portion into which the refrigerant fluid flows, and a refrigerant discharge portion from which the refrigerant fluid is discharged, the electrode material firing system according to claim 2.

5. The electrode material supply device further includes a screw located in the internal space of the supply tube for moving the electrode material raw material substance, the electrode material firing system according to claim 1.

6. The heating unit heats the outside of the supply tube at a temperature of 100 to 150 °C, the electrode material firing system according to claim 1.

7. The electrode material firing system according to claim 1 further includes a heat insulation portion located between the cooling unit and the heating unit for blocking heat transfer between the cooling unit and the heating unit.

8. The supply tube is formed in the form of a cylindrical tube, the heating unit is provided along the inner surface of the supply tube to heat the supply tube and the outside of the supply tube, the heat insulation portion is provided along the inner surface of the heating unit, and the cooling unit is provided along the inner surface of the heat insulation portion, the electrode material firing system according to claim 7.

9. The electrode material supply device further includes a blocking portion provided on the outer surface of the supply tube for blocking the condensed water vapor located on the outer surface of the supply tube from moving along the outer surface of the supply tube into the inside of the electrode material firing device, the electrode material firing system according to claim 1.

10. The blocking portion is made of a metal plate provided along the periphery of the outer surface of the supply tube, the electrode material firing system according to claim 9.

11. The electrode material firing device is A heating tube in which an accommodation space is formed for the electrode material raw material to move from the supply tube and be accommodated therein; A heater that heats the electrode material raw material located in the accommodation space of the heating tube by heating the heating tube, the electrode material firing system according to claim 1.

12. The supply tube A first portion located outside the heating tube; A second portion located inside the heating tube, the electrode material firing system according to claim 11.

13. The heating unit and the cooling unit are provided in the first portion of the supply tube, the electrode material firing system according to claim 12.

14. The heating unit and the cooling unit are provided in the first portion and the second portion of the supply tube, the electrode material firing system according to claim 12.

15. Including a chamber in which a space for accommodating the first portion of the supply tube is formed; The chamber collects the gas and water vapor discharged from the first portion of the heating tube, the electrode material firing system according to claim 12.

16. The electrode material firing apparatus A rotating portion that rotates the heating tube; A baffle provided inside the heating tube, which induces stirring of the electrode material raw material accommodated in the heating tube when the heating tube is rotated, the electrode material firing system according to claim 11.

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