Conveying device for conveying materials

Abstract

The conveying device is used for conveying a material (130), in particular a material at a temperature of 1,500 °C to 3,200 °C, in particular for conveying a heat-treated or thermochemically treated material, and comprises a housing (132) having a material inlet (134, 136) and a material outlet (136, 134, 162). By means of the conveying device (140), the material (130) can be conveyed from the material inlet (134, 136) to the material outlet (136, 134, 162) along a conveying path (138). Along the conveying path (138), at least a part of the surface in contact with the conveyed material (130) is provided by a material (142) which is a graphite material or a material having graphite-like properties.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is used for transporting materials, particularly materials at temperatures from 1,500°C to 3,200°C, and in particular for transporting heat-treated or thermochemically treated materials, a) a housing having a material inlet and a material outlet, b) a conveying device capable of conveying the material from the material inlet to the material outlet along a conveying path, and relates to a conveying device comprising the same.

Background Art

[0002] The present invention is described herein based on the graphitization of graphitizable materials in an inert gas atmosphere. It is known to produce polycrystalline graphite for anode materials in a batch process in a so-called Acheson furnace that graphitizes graphitizable materials into graphite.

[0003] From Patent Document 1, it is known to carry out the graphitization of graphitizable materials by a continuous self-contained process in which the material passes through a process housing in which the material is fixed. The conveying device of the type mentioned at the beginning operates at the inlet and outlet of the process housing.

[0004] Particularly, at the outlet of the process housing where it is necessary to uniformly take out the graphite obtained at a temperature above 1,500°C over the entire cross-sectional area, rapidly cool it, and then convey it, the conveying device wears out, foreign matter mixes into the material, and it needs to be replaced after a while. Therefore, the service life of the conveying device is usually limited.

[0005] To replace the conveying device, it is necessary to stop and cool the system, restart it after replacing the conveying device, and heat it again. In addition to energy consumption, a large amount of material loss also occurs.

[0006] Hitherto, graphitizable, generally powdery materials have been cooled in a long external water-cooled channel in which the material stands as a powder column. The cooling is effected only by heat conduction from the inside of the powder column into the water-cooled casing of the outer channel. At the end of the channel, the cooler material is discharged via a connected conveyor device. As a result of the very long water-cooled channel due to the low thermal conductivity of the material, the residence time has become long.

Prior art documents

Patent documents

[0007]

Patent document 1

Summary of the invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor device of the type mentioned at the beginning, which allows for a longer service life and takes this idea into account. In particular, it is possible to uniformly discharge the material without causing rat holes or arches, which are generally known to occur with bulk materials, and to cool the material as quickly as possible from a high outlet temperature at the outlet of the process housing, in particular a temperature above 1,500 °C, to a temperature below 100 °C without contaminating the material.

[0009] This object is achieved by a device of the type mentioned at the beginning, c) along the conveying path, the surface in contact with the material to be conveyed is at least partially provided by a material which is a graphite material or a material having graphite-like properties, by the device.

[0010] According to the present invention, the treatment of such materials may increase the manufacturing cost of the conveyor device, but since the downtime of the costly system is reduced when using the conveyor device according to the present invention, the overall balance of their use is considered to be positive.

[0011] In the context of this specification, a graphite-like material is understood to mean any material having a melting point that substantially exceeds 3,000 °C, particularly a melting point similar to that of graphite.

[0012] It is advantageous if all surfaces in contact with the material being conveyed along the conveyance path are provided by the material.

[0013] The material can preferably be a hard graphite and / or a CFC material and / or a carbide material. The expression "and / or" is intended to indicate that different surfaces may be provided by different materials here.

[0014] It is advantageous if the conveyance path defines a longitudinal axis and includes a conveyance chamber in which conveyance elements are arranged, and such conveyance elements can be easily manufactured from the material.

[0015] This is particularly possible in a first alternative form in which the conveyance element is a screw conveyor arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conveyance chamber and having a thread web, thereby forming a conveyance path.

[0016] Advantageously, the screw conveyor has a) a web width at the passage inlet of from 10 mm to 50 mm, particularly from 20 mm to 30 mm, and b) a web width at the base of the passage of from 20 mm to 100 mm, particularly from 40 mm to 60 mm, and c) a passage depth of from 2 mm to 30 mm, particularly from 10 mm to 20 mm, and d) a passage width at the base of the passage of from 10 mm to 50 mm, particularly from 25 mm to 40 mm, and e) a core diameter of from 50 mm to 300 mm, particularly from 80 mm to 100 mm, and has one or more or all of the parameters.

[0017] It should be emphasized that the conveying device is designed to cool the material being conveyed, especially when used as a discharge conveyor. By adjusting these parameters, a small passage depth can be taken into account so that only a thin layer of the material is radially captured by the screw conveyor. The thin layer has a faster cooling rate in proportion to its reduced thickness compared to the thick layer.

[0018] In a preferred alternative form, the conveying element is a conveying roller having on its outer surface a conveying groove extending in particular parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conveying chamber.

[0019] Advantageously, such a conveying roller a) has a groove width at the groove inlet from 10 mm to 100 mm, in particular from 15 mm to 25 mm, and b) has a groove width at the groove base from 5 mm to 95 mm, in particular from 10 mm to 20 mm, and c) has a groove depth from 2 mm to 30 mm, in particular from 3 mm to 10 mm, and d) has a circumferential spacing of the conveying grooves from 5 mm to 30 mm, in particular from 10 mm to 20 mm, and e) has a core diameter from 50 mm to 1000 mm, in particular from 80 mm to 200 mm, and has one or more or all of these parameters.

[0020] What has been described above regarding the layer thickness of the material taken in correspondingly also applies to the conveying groove and its groove depth in this specification.

[0021] Preferably, the conveying chamber is defined by the inner peripheral surface of the protective casing made of the material.

[0022] To simplify the assembly of the conveying device, it is advantageous if the protective casing is composed of a plurality of parts.

[0023] The cooling of the material during conveyance is effectively supported if a cooling system capable of cooling the conveyance element and / or the protective casing can be utilized. The material is constantly cooled by contact between the material and the surface of the system.

[0024] It is structurally advantageous if the cooling system includes one or more coaxial cooling pipes respectively arranged on the conveyance element and / or the protective casing.

[0025] In particular, the conveyance element can be effectively cooled by arranging the coaxial cooling pipe coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the conveyance element.

[0026] A compact option for connecting the conveying device to the power supply and circuit required for the refrigerant is possible if the connection unit of the existing coaxial cooling pipe is accessible from the outside at the connection end of the conveying device. Therefore, the connection units of the coaxial cooling pipes are positioned spatially close to each other.

[0027] To achieve maximum cooling effect or effective heat transfer, it is advantageous if the conveyance element is entirely made of the material, especially hard graphite, CFC material, or carbide material.

[0028] The conveying device can be used particularly flexibly when the housing has a first passage, a second passage, and a third passage, and only the first passage provides the material inlet and only the second passage provides the material outlet according to the conveying element. The remaining third passage remains unused and may be blocked if necessary. In this way, the position of the material inlet or outlet can also be optionally adapted to changing conditions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. The description of the drawings will be described next.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figures 3a-3b

Figures 4a-4b

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figures 8-10

Figures 11-13

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Figures 1 and 2 show the first and second exemplary embodiments of an apparatus 10 for heat treatment or thermochemical treatment of a material 12.

[0031] In this case, the apparatus 10 will be described by way of example of a vertical graphitization furnace 14, which is for graphite 16 for an anode material, and which is for producing polycrystalline graphite herein, and will be abbreviated as furnace 14 hereinafter. However, all that has been said in this regard does not necessarily relate to the graphitization of the material 12, and applies generally or similarly to the apparatus 10 as well.

[0032] The particulate graphitizable material is used as the starting material to be processed in the material 12, i.e., the graphitization furnace 14. The graphitizable material contains carbon, and the amorphous carbon is converted to polycrystalline graphite by graphitization. The most prominent examples of graphitizable materials include needle coke, petroleum coke, natural graphite, sub-bituminous coal, or anthracite, and in some cases also include plastics.

[0033] First, refer to FIG. 1 showing a first exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 10.

[0034] The furnace 14 includes a process housing 18 that defines a process chamber 20. The process chamber 20 defines a process chamber axis 22 that establishes the axial direction of the process chamber as indicated by the arrow. In the vertical furnace 14 considered herein, the process chamber axis 22 extends vertically.

[0035] The process housing 18 is composed of housing segments 24 that are removable from each other and only some of which are numbered. The housing segments 24 are arranged along the process chamber axis 22 together. The housing segments 24 are made of graphite.

[0036] As shown by the housing segment 24 indicated by 24a, each housing segment 24 has a housing outer peripheral shell wall 26 and defines a process chamber section 28 that opens at both opposite ends of the housing segment 24. In fact, the process chamber section 28 has a constant circular cross-section, and the process chamber 20 is the same.

[0037] However, in the case of improvements not specifically shown, other cross-sections, especially elliptical, rectangular, especially square cross-sections, may also be provided. In principle, the outer contour of the cross-section of the housing segment 24 follows the geometry of the inner cross-section of the process chamber section 28, but it may deviate therefrom. For example, a process chamber section 28 with a circular cross-section may be formed within a housing segment 24 with a square outer contour cross-section.

[0038] In the first exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, each housing segment 24 is embodied as a housing sleeve 30 in which the housing shell wall 26 is a hollow cylinder, i.e., a hollow circular cylinder, and both end faces are open. For the sake of clarity, the reference numeral 30 is also attached only in the housing segment 24a.

[0039] In fact, such a housing sleeve 30 may have a wall thickness from 7 mm to 18 mm and an outer diameter from 120 mm to 240 mm. Specifically, for example, a wall thickness of 10 mm and an outer diameter of 120 mm or 180 mm, and a wall thickness of 15 mm and an outer diameter of 240 mm may be adopted. The axial length of the housing sleeve 30 can be up to 1600 mm. However, the relationship between the wall thickness, diameter, and axial length may deviate therefrom.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows the state of the housing sleeve 30 with a correspondingly shorter axial length.

[0041] The process housing 18 extends, for example, through the passage opening 32 in the top wall 34 and the passage opening 36 in the bottom wall 38 of the heat-insulating housing 40 made of a steel plate such that the process housing 18 has an upper end section 18a protruding upward from the heat-insulating housing 40 and a lower end section 18b protruding downward. Annular heat-insulating elements 42, preferably made of hard felt graphite, are provided on the top wall 34 and the bottom wall 38 of the heat-insulating housing 40.

[0042] Although not specifically shown herein, the passage openings 32 and 36 in the top wall 34 and the bottom wall 38 are airtight with respect to the external environment.

[0043] A graphite protection housing 44 for the process housing 18, such as a protection tube, extends from the top wall 34 to the bottom wall 38 of the heat insulation housing 40 such that an annular space 46 that opens into the passage openings 32 and 36 of the top wall 34 and the bottom wall 38 at the top and the bottom respectively is formed between the process housing 18 and the protection housing 44.

[0044] In improvements not specifically shown, there may be multiple protection housings, or one protection housing may accommodate multiple process housings 18 to enable the multiple process housings 18 to be operated in parallel.

[0045] Radially outside adjacent to the protection housing 44, a heat insulation annular space 48 defined by the protection housing 44, the heat insulation housing 40, and the heat insulation element 42 is formed. In this exemplary embodiment, this heat insulation annular space 48 is filled with soot.

[0046] In the apparatus 10, there is a core process section 50 in which the process housing 18 defines a core process chamber 52.

[0047] In this exemplary embodiment, that portion of the process housing 18 radially surrounded by the protection housing 44 defines the core process section 50 of the apparatus 10, and the relevant portion of the process chamber 20 within this core process section 50 corresponds to the core process chamber 52. Independently of the protection housing 44, the core process section 50 is arranged between the end sections 18a and 18b of the process housing 18.

[0048] The protective gas system 54 allows the protective gas to flow through the annular space 46 surrounding the process chamber housing 18 and the insulating annular space 48. The protective gas is necessary because the graphitization of the graphitizable material 12 occurs in the inert gas atmosphere present in the process chamber 20. In principle, the same gas as the inert gas is used as the protective gas, so that the same type of gas is present on both sides of the process chamber housing 18. However, different gases may be used as the protective gas and the inert gas if the protective gas must also be inert. Argon, nitrogen, helium, or mixtures thereof can be used as the protective gas and / or the inert gas.

[0049] For this purpose, the protective gas system 54 includes protective gas inlet connections (not specifically shown) and one or more protective gas outlet connections at the upper and lower ends of the insulating housing, thereby allowing the protective gas to flow continuously through the annular space and be discharged as exhaust gas. For the sake of brevity, blowers, gas pumps, and other conveying components, as well as the associated lines and control devices for conveying the protective gas, inert gas, or exhaust gas, are not specifically shown.

[0050] In addition, there is a housing cooling device generally designated 56 for protecting the housing components, which is embodied in a manner essentially known as a water cooling system.

[0051] The apparatus 10 has an inlet zone 58 and an outlet zone 60. In this exemplary embodiment, the inlet zone 58 is arranged vertically upward and the outlet zone 60 is arranged vertically downward.

[0052] In the inlet zone 58, the end housing segment 24 defines the inlet housing segment 24.1 of the process housing 18. In the outlet zone 60, the end housing segment 24 defines the outlet housing segment 24.2.

[0053] In the exemplary embodiment, the inlet housing segment 24.1 is connectable to or is connected to a supply device 62 for the graphitizable material 12. In the exemplary embodiment, this supply device 62 includes a supply conveyor 64 to which the material 12 is supplied from a material reservoir (not specifically shown) at the inlet side 66 and whose outlet side 68 is connected to the inlet housing segment 24.1. The inlet housing segment 24.1 is the uppermost vertical segment of the housing segment 24 of the process housing 18.

[0054] The outlet housing segment 24.2 of the process housing 18 in the outlet zone 60 is connected to a discharging device 70 by which the manufactured material, here polycrystalline graphite 16, is discharged from the process housing 18. In the exemplary embodiment, the discharging device 70 includes a first discharge conveyor 72.1 and a second discharge conveyor 72.2 that can be alternately coupled to the outlet housing segment 24.2. The two discharge conveyors 72.1, 72.2 operate alternately, which will be examined in more detail below. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the outlet housing segment 24.2 is connected to the inlet side 74 of the first discharge conveyor 72.1. The outlet side 76 of the discharge conveyor 72 discharges the material 16. In this configuration, the outlet housing segment 24.2 is the lowermost vertical housing segment 24 of the process housing 18.

[0055] The vertical lengths of the discharge conveyors 72.1, 72.2 are less than or equal to the vertical length of the housing segment 24.

[0056] Generally speaking, the device 10 includes a conveyor system 80 designed to convey the material 12 through the core process section 50.

[0057] In the exemplary embodiment, this conveyor system 80 includes a supply device 62 provided with the supply conveyor 64 herein, and a discharging device 70 provided with the discharge conveyors 72.1, 72.2 herein.

[0058] The supply conveyor 64 and the two discharge conveyors 72.1 and 72.2 are designed such that an airtight connection to the process housing 18 can be formed and conveyance is possible even without an atmosphere.

[0059] Figure 1 shows the supply conveyor 64 and the discharge conveyors 72.1 and 72.2 as screw conveyors 78, which will be considered again below with reference to Figures 5 to 10. Figures 11 to 13, which are also considered below, show roller conveyors 82 as an alternative. Other conveying concepts, such as rotary valves and double flap systems combined with, for example, conveyor belts or vibrating troughs, are also worth considering.

[0060] As described above, an inert gas atmosphere is present in the process chamber 20. The inert gas is supplied to the process chamber 20 at the bottom by the discharge device 70 via the outlet zone 60 and extracted at the top by the supply device 62 via the inlet zone 56, whereby the material guided through the process chamber 20 from the top to the bottom is flowed countercurrently by the inert gas.

[0061] For the sake of brevity, the appropriate inert gas connections at the discharge device 70 and the supply device 62 are not shown in Figures 1, 3a, and 3b.

[0062] By the heating device 84, the process chamber 20, at least the core process chamber 52, is heated to about 2,200 °C to about 3,200 °C, preferably 3,000 °C, for the graphitization process. The heating device 84 is used to heat the process housing 18, the housing segment 24 in this exemplary embodiment. For this purpose, a voltage is supplied to the process housing 18 from the power supply 86.

[0063] A first contact area 88.1 is provided for this purpose in the upper end section 18a of the process housing 18, and a second contact area 88.2 is provided in the lower end section 18b of the process housing 18 for electrical contact of the process housing 18. Generally speaking, the contact areas 88.1, 88.2 are arranged outside the core process section 50. These contact areas 88.1 and 88.2, which are connected to the power supply 86 via electric wires, have electrical contacts 90 (not shown individually).

[0064] Generally speaking, the heating device 84 is set up so as to be able to heat such a process housing 18. This is achieved by means of heating contacts 90 which can be in close direct contact with the process housing 18 so as to be able to heat the process housing 18. This means that energy is supplied directly to the process housing 18 and the latter is not indirectly heated by heat transfer.

[0065] In order to support this heating of such a process housing 18, a secondary or auxiliary heating device may be provided in an improvement (not shown specifically). For example, a graphite heating tube or heating housing which is electrically and permanently heated may be arranged between the process housing 18 and the protective housing 44.

[0066] In the exemplary embodiment described in this specification, the area between the top wall 34 of the heat-insulating housing 40 and the supply device 62 defines the first contact area 88.1, and the area between the bottom wall 38 of the heat-insulating housing 40 and the dispensing device 70 defines the second contact area 88.2.

[0067] There are two groups of contacts 90 for each of the contact areas 88.1, 88.2. The first group defines the holding contacts 92, and the second group defines the transport contacts 94. In both contact areas 88.1, 88.2, the holding contacts 92 and the transport contacts 94 are each arranged radially circumferentially around the process housing 18, and by this section, the two holding contacts 92 and the two transport contacts 94 are visible in any case. In fact, preferably there are two or four, optionally six, holding contacts 92, and two or four, optionally six, transport contacts 94. Preferably, the holding contacts 92 and the transport contacts 94 are designed to be placed flat against the outer surface of the housing segment 24 having a contact area (not individually indicated by reference numerals) when contacting the housing segment 24. In the case of the outer surface of the housing segment 24 having a circular cross-section, the contact area has an arcuate profile.

[0068] Both the holding contacts 92 and the transport contacts 94 can be moved by a motor using the drive system 96. For clarity, none of the components necessary for movement, such as the motor or the guide, are specifically shown.

[0069] The drive system 96 is configured to reach a contact position where the electrical contacts 90, i.e., both the holding contacts 92 and the transport contacts 94, contact the process housing 18 by moving radially towards or away from the process housing 18, or to release them from the process housing 18 to a release position.

[0070] In addition, the drive system 96 is configured to move the transport contacts 94 towards or away from the insulation housing 40 in both directions of the process chamber axis 22 between an upper position and a lower position.

[0071] In both contact areas 88.1, 88.2, the transport contacts 94 are arranged on the side farther from the core process section 50 of the holding contacts 92 when viewed in the direction of the process chamber axis 22.

[0072] The holding contact 92 and the transfer contact 94 are cooled by a contact cooling system 98. In this exemplary embodiment, the contact cooling system 98 is embodied as a fluid cooling system 100, particularly a water cooling system. For this purpose, the holding contact 92 and the transfer contact 94 are only schematically indicated by reference numeral 102 and have internal fluid channels through which the cooling fluid can flow.

[0073] In this exemplary embodiment, the fluid channels 102 of the holding contact 92 and the transfer contact 94 are fluidly connected by an external fluid line 104. The inflow arrow 106 and the outflow arrow 108 in FIG. 1 indicate that the cooling fluid is supplied to, for example, the first holding contact 92, flows through it, then flows through the fluid line to the transfer contact 94, flows through it, and then flows through the remaining contacts 92, 94 in order to finally flow through the holding contact 92 again and be discharged therefrom. Other flow orders are also possible.

[0074] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing device 70 includes a movement system 110 for two discharge conveyors 72.1 and 72.2 present in this embodiment. The movement system 110 is configured to be able to move the two discharge conveyors 72.1 and 72.2 parallel and perpendicular to the process chamber axis 22. The two discharge conveyors 72.1, 72.2 can move independently of each other. Also, for clarity, any components necessary for movement, such as motors or guides, are not specifically shown in relation to the movement system 110.

[0075] During operation, the process housing 18 wears out and needs to be replaced after a certain service life. Due to the structure of the process housing 18 with segmentation and the housing segments 24, the process housing 18 in the furnace 14 can be replaced segment by segment during operation. The housing segments 24 are replaced while circulating.

[0076] The replacement of the housing segment 24 basically means that the housing segment 24 is removed from the process housing 18 and, in its place, another housing segment 24 is added to the process housing 18.

[0077] In particular, the furnace 14 does not need to be stopped for this purpose and reheated after the replacement of the housing segment 24.

[0078] The housing segment 24 of the process housing 18 can be moved through the core process section 50 of the apparatus 10 for this purpose, and for this purpose, the apparatus 10 includes a transfer system 112. In this exemplary embodiment, the transfer system 112 includes the holding contacts 92 and the transfer contacts 94 and their associated drive systems 96 as main components. As will be further described below, the transfer system 112 and the moving system 110 of the dispensing device 70 operate in coordination with the coordinated movement of the housing segment 24 on the one hand and the coordinated movement of the discharge conveyors 72.1, 72.2 on the other hand.

[0079] In the first exemplary embodiment of the furnace 14 according to FIG. 1, such replacement is carried out after a certain service life defined for the housing segment 24. In this case, as will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the worn housing segment 24 is removed from the process housing 18 in the outlet zone 60, and a new housing segment 24 whose normal service life has not elapsed is added to the process housing 18 in the inlet zone 58.

[0080] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 10, in which components and parts of the apparatus 10 in the first exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 that functionally correspond are given the same reference numerals. What has been described so far correspondingly applies.

[0081] In this apparatus 10, the process housing 18 has a design different from that of the apparatus 10 according to FIG. 1. Specifically, the housing segment 24 is embodied as a material container 114 that also has a housing outer peripheral wall 26 but also has a bottom wall 116, rather than a housing sleeve 30 that is open at both end faces. Optionally, the bottom wall 116 can be removable, but in fact, the bottom wall 116 is connected to the housing shell wall 26 and may be integrated in some cases. In this exemplary embodiment, the material container 114 is embodied as a material crucible in this form.

[0082] The dimensions and geometries of the material container 114 can vary relatively widely. In fact, the housing shell wall 26 of such a material container 114 can have a wall thickness from 7 mm to 18 mm, and the bottom wall 116 can have a thickness from 10 mm to 45 mm. Various crucible designs have been demonstrated to be suitable. In particular, the material container 114 can be embodied as a long crucible. In one particular exemplary embodiment, for example, it has a length of 3000 mm, a width of only 213 mm, and a height of 330 mm. In that case, a wall thickness of 15 mm is preferred, and the bottom wall 116 preferably has a thickness of 40 mm. FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a long crucible cutting across its longitudinal direction.

[0083] In a design where the bottom wall 116 or the base area is relatively square, good results are obtained when the length and width are each 500 mm, the height is 100 mm, and the internal partition walls divide the 4 - quadrant sub - spaces. Here, a relatively thin base wall 116 with a thickness of 15 mm can be used. In an alternative approach, for example, an internal partition wall constructs a matrix of 5×5 sub - intervals, and a height of 1000 mm is achieved in the same base area. In that case, the thickness of the bottom wall should be 30 mm.

[0084] It should be emphasized that these dimensions and geometries are only intended to show the variability of the dimensions and geometries of the housing segment 24, similar to the housing sleeve 30 described above.

[0085] Thus, in such a material container 114, the associated process chamber section 28 is defined by both the surrounding housing wall 26 and the bottom wall 116. In the case of two housing segments 24 that are closely adjacent along the process chamber axis 22, the process chamber section 28 is separated from each other by the upper bottom wall 116 of the two housing segments 24. In an improvement not specifically shown, the material container 114 may further have a removable lid.

[0086] The core process chamber 52 of the process housing 18 is defined by the process chamber sections 28 of these material containers 114 positioned in the core process section 50 of the furnace 14.

[0087] In this exemplary embodiment, the material 12 is conveyed through the core process section 50 by the transfer system 112 moving the housing segment 24, here the material container 114, through the core process section 50. In this sense, the second exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 10 also generally includes a conveyor system 80 that is set up to convey the material 12 through the core process section 50, the function of which is performed by the transfer system 112.

[0088] Compared to the first exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the use of the material container prevents the formation of rat holes or arches in the process housing 18, as is generally known with bulk materials. The material 12 and the material partially converted to graphite 16 within the process housing 18 are understood in a similar sense as the bulk material in the first exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, and such rat holes and arch structures that may interfere with the material passing uniformly through the process chamber 20 can be formed.

[0089] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the inlet zone 58 of the apparatus 10 is arranged vertically downward, and the outlet zone 60 of the apparatus 10 is arranged vertically upward.

[0090] In a second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, the transfer system 112 also includes the holding contacts 92 and the transfer contacts 94 and their drive system 96 as main components. To fix the material container 114 downward, the transfer system 112 includes a support device 118 that is vertically disposed downward in the inlet zone 58, and the support device 118 can be embodied, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, as a cylinder unit 120 having a support element, here a support plate 122, that is vertically movable between a low position and a high position.

[0091] In the inlet zone 58, a filling station 124 is positioned that can fill the empty material container 114 with the graphitizable material 12. In addition, in the outlet zone 60, a discharge station 126 is positioned that can remove the resulting material, i.e., graphite 16, from the material container 114 after processing. The filling station 124 and the discharge station 126 are shown only very schematically, and a suitable lock design is implemented and a corresponding housing structure exists to protect the atmosphere inside the furnace from contamination by the external atmosphere.

[0092] A suitable cooling zone ensures that the material in the outlet zone 60 is brought to a temperature below 1,500 °C.

[0093] In this exemplary embodiment, the housing segment 24 is also exchanged while circulating, which is done not only after a certain service life but also in accordance with the residence time of the material 12 in the furnace 14. However, the worn material container 114 is easily removed from the cycle at an appropriate time and replaced with a new material container 114.

[0094] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the operation of the furnace 14 according to the first exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 will be described, and for the sake of brevity, only the reference numerals mentioned hereinafter are assigned.

[0095] Before initial startup, it is necessary to first remove oxygen and moisture, especially the existing air, from the process chamber 20 or the process chamber atmosphere present therein. For this purpose, the process chamber 20 is flushed with an inert gas, and the annular chamber 46 and the heat-insulating annular chamber 48 are flushed with a protective gas.

[0096] The graphitizable material 12 is supplied to the process chamber 20 by the supply conveyor 64, and a column of the material accumulates in the core process chamber 52 of the core process section 50 of the furnace 14. Subsequently, when the discharge conveyor 72.1 is started, the incompletely converted material is first carried out from the process chamber 22 until the graphite 16 obtained in the core process chamber 52 reaches the discharge conveyor 72.1.

[0097] During the ongoing graphitization process, the graphitizable material 12 is continuously supplied into the process chamber 20 by the supply conveyor 64, and the graphite 16 obtained therefrom is first continuously removed from the process chamber 20 by the discharge conveyor 72.1. Here, the amount of the graphitizable material 12 supplied per unit time, for example, per minute, is the same amount as the amount of the graphite 16 removed per unit time, i.e., optionally per minute, whereby the filling level in the process housing 18 is maintained substantially constant. Therefore, the furnace 10 operates continuously in relation to the material level.

[0098] In one improvement, the furnace 10 operates intermittently in relation to the material level. In that case, when a specific amount of graphite 16 is removed and instead a material exchange process is performed in which a corresponding amount of the graphitizable material 12 is added, by simultaneous supply and removal, the graphitizable material 12 is continuously supplied to the process chamber 20 by the supply conveyor 64, and the graphite 16 obtained therefrom is simultaneously continuously removed from the process chamber 22 by the discharge conveyor 72.1.

[0099] In any case, the conveyance speeds of the supply conveyor 64 and the discharge conveyor 72.1 are set during the continuous furnace operation such that the residence time of the graphitizable material 12 in the core process chamber 52 at about 3,000 °C is from 30 minutes to 10 hours, particularly about 2 to 3 hours. The graphite 16 already exists in the lower region of the core process chamber 52 and may not be mixed with the graphitizable material. Inside the core process chamber 52 at a temperature of about 2,700 °C, the residence time of the graphitizable material 12 can be about 10 to 20 hours.

[0100] As described above, the housing segments 24 have a limited service life and are prone to wear. Here, they are replaced as follows.

[0101] Phase A in FIG. 3a is used as an initial configuration for illustration purposes. The holding contacts 92 contact the process housing 18 at their contact positions. When the heating device 84, which is no longer shown individually in FIG. 3a, is activated, the housing segment 24 and the process housing 18 are heated by their electrical resistance. The transfer contacts 94 are released from the process housing 18 at their release positions and each takes an upward position.

[0102] As described above, the first discharge conveyor 72.1 can be connected to the outlet housing segment 24.2 at its inlet side 74. Vertically, the apparatus 10 designates the standard operating position of the outlet housing segment 24.2 where the outlet housing segment 24.2 is also positioned in phase A. The second discharge conveyor 72.2 is arranged vertically in proximity to the outlet housing segment 24.2, i.e., to the right of it in the example shown herein.

[0103] In addition to the discharge conveyor 72.1, the discharge conveyor 72.2 is now activated. Subsequently, the discharge conveyor 72.1 and the discharge conveyor 72.2 are moved leftward by the moving device 110 together with the lowermost housing segment 24.2.

[0104] The second discharge conveyor 72.2 slides under the housing segment shown as 24.3 in Phase A and remains positioned above the outlet housing segment 24.2.

[0105] In an intermediate phase (not shown), until reaching Phase B according to Figure 3a, the graphite 16 continues to pass through the outlet housing segment 24.2 and enter the first discharge conveyor 72.1, and passes through the housing segment 24.3 and enters the second discharge conveyor 72.2. In this Phase B, since the second discharge conveyor 72.2 is now fully connected to the housing segment 24.3, it takes over the function of the outlet housing segment 24.2. The previous replacement housing segment removed from the process housing 18 now has the reference number 24.4.

[0106] The housing segment 24.4 removed from the process housing 18 is now removed from the process. The transfer contact 94 is moved radially to their contact positions at their respective upper positions. On the other hand, the holding contact 92 is radially released from the process housing 18 and moved to their release positions. This configuration is shown in Phase C of Figure 3a.

[0107] The supply conveyor 64 is now stopped, and by the drive system 96 and the movement system 110, both the transfer contact 94 and the second discharge conveyor 72.2 are moved vertically downward until the currently defined outlet housing segment 24.2 reaches its standard operating position, which is shown in Phase D of Figure 3b. As can be seen from there, a gap has now formed between the previous inlet housing segment 24.1 and the supply conveyor 64.

[0108] The replacement housing segment shown as 24.5 is now moved into this gap until it is connected on one side to the outlet side 68 of the supply conveyor 64 and on the other side to the adjacent previous inlet housing segment 24.1, and this function is now taken over by the replacement housing segment 24.5. The supply conveyor 64 is now restarted.

[0109] This is shown in phase E of FIG. 3b. As can also be seen therefrom, starting from phase D, the first discharge conveyor 72.1 is further moved vertically upward, close to the current outlet housing segment 24.2, where it is now positioned to its left. Additionally, the holding contacts 92 are returned to their contact positions, and the transfer contacts 94 are returned to their release and upper positions.

[0110] Thus, phase E corresponds to phase A, except that the positions and functions of the discharge conveyors 72.1 and 72.2 are interchanged. Currently, it is the second discharge conveyor 72.2 that operates in conjunction with the outlet housing segment 24.2.

[0111] If an attempt is made to replace the currently existing outlet housing segment 24.2, the procedure is the same as above, except that the first discharge conveyor 72.1 is currently moved to the right together with the outlet housing segment 24.2, and then the second discharge conveyor 72.2 is moved upward to the right, and the remaining movements are carried out until the configuration according to phase A of FIG. 3a is achieved again.

[0112] One replacement of the housing segment 24 defines one replacement cycle. For this reason, the two discharge conveyors 72.1 and 72.2 always perform one of the forward and backward movements during two consecutive such replacement cycles.

[0113] By removing and inserting the housing segment 24 while circulating it at the opposite ends 18a and 18b of the process housing 18 (see FIG. 1), it is ensured that all the housing segments 24 operate or can operate for the same service period by performing the replacement cycle after the same period.

[0114] The furnace 14 according to the second exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b. For the sake of brevity, only the reference numerals mentioned below are assigned.

[0115] In the second exemplary embodiment of the furnace 14 according to FIG. 2 as well, during the replacement of the housing segment 24, the housing segment 24, here the material container 114, is removed at the outlet zone 60, and a new housing segment 24, i.e., a new material container 114, is supplied to the inlet zone 58. However, as described above, the inlet zone 58 is positioned at the bottom.

[0116] Phase A of FIG. 4a is used as an initial configuration for illustration purposes.

[0117] All the material containers 114 are filled with material. The holding contacts 92 contact the process housing 18 at their contact positions. When a heating device 84 (not shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b either) is activated, the housing segment 24 and the process housing 18 are heated by their electrical resistance. The support plate 122 of the support device 118 takes its upper position and supports the inlet housing segment 24.1 from below.

[0118] The transfer contacts 94 are released from the process housing 18 at their release positions and each takes its lower position here. The lower position of the transfer contacts in the inlet zone 58 is adjusted so that the inlet housing segment 24.1, i.e., the lower end housing segment of the process housing 18, can be grasped.

[0119] This is currently done, and the transfer contacts 94 are moved radially to their contact positions at their respective lower positions. In the inlet zone 58, the transfer contacts 94 hold the inlet housing segment 24.1 and also hold and support the housing segment 24 positioned thereon. On the other hand, the holding contacts 92 are released radially from the process housing 18 and moved to their release positions.

[0120] The material container shown as 114a is filled with the material 12 by the filling station 124 under an inert gas atmosphere. The support plate 122 of the support device 118 is moved to its lowest position, freeing up the gap and space for the material container 114.

[0121] The current configuration is shown in Phase B of FIG. 4a.

[0122] As shown in Phase C of FIG. 4a, the material container 114a is now moved by the transfer system 112 to this gap, the space under the previous inlet housing segment 24.1, and added to the process housing 18, whereby this material container 114a now correspondingly defines the inlet housing segment 24.1 by definition. At the same time, the material container in the outlet zone 60, currently shown as 114b, which provides the outlet housing segment 24.2, is moved to the discharge station 126 and removed from the process housing 18.

[0123] The configuration according to Phase D of FIG. 4b is now available.

[0124] Thereafter, only the transfer contacts 94 are moved up to their upper positions, and the support plate 122 of the support device 118 is moved up to its high position, whereby the process housing 18 moves up by only one housing segment space, as shown in Phase E.

[0125] Finally, the holding contacts 92 are returned to their contact positions, and the transfer contacts 94 are moved to their release positions in the lower position, whereby one cycle is executed and the configuration corresponding to Phase A of FIG. 3a is achieved again.

[0126] FIGS. 5 to 10 show a first exemplary embodiment of a conveying device, generally designated 128, for conveying a material 130, which material 130 is in particular the material 12 supplied to the graphitization furnace 14 or the graphite 16 obtained by the furnace 14. In the first exemplary embodiment of the graphitization furnace 14 shown in FIG. 1, the conveying device 128 according to FIGS. 5 to 13 can be used as both a supply conveyor 64 and a discharge conveyor 72.1 and / or 72.2. In particular, the conveying device 128 is designed to convey a high-temperature material 130 which can be at a temperature of 1,500° C. and is used in particular for conveying heat-treated or thermochemically treated materials.

[0127] The conveying device 128 includes at least one housing 132 having a first passage 134 and a second passage 136. In this exemplary embodiment, the first passage 134 is defined as a material inlet, and the second passage 136 is defined as a material outlet and will be referred to as such hereinafter. However, the conveying device 128 may be used such that the first passage 134 serves as a material outlet and the second passage 136 serves as a material inlet, which is shown, for example, by the supply conveyor 64 in the device 10 of FIG. 1.

[0128] From the material inlet 134 to the material outlet 136, the conveying device 128 defines a conveying path 138 for the material 130 to be conveyed. The conveying device 128 includes a conveying device 140 that conveys the material 130 from the material inlet 134 to the material outlet 136 along the conveying path 138.

[0129] The material inlet 134 and the material outlet 136 are arranged such that the material 130 enters the conveying path 138 from the material inlet 134 by gravity and enters the conveying path 138 from the material outlet 136 by gravity during the operation of the conveying device 128. In fact, when the conveying device 128 is operating, the material inlet 134 faces upward and the material outlet 136 faces downward.

[0130] Along the conveying path 138, at least a part of the surface in contact with the material 130 to be conveyed is provided by a material 142 that is a graphite material or a material having graphite-like properties. Hard graphite is particularly suitable as the graphite material. The material having graphite-like properties may be, for example, a carbon fiber reinforced carbon material, a so-called carbon fiber carbon composite material or simply a CFC material, or a carbide material such as tungsten carbide.

[0131] In both exemplary embodiments of the conveying device 128 described below, the parts and components of the conveying device 128 having a surface in contact with the material 130 are thus entirely made of the material 142. In improvements not specifically shown, some or all of these parts and components may be equipped only with a corresponding outer layer made of the material 142.

[0132] In FIGS. 8 to 13, reference numeral 142 is given merely by way of example.

[0133] The housing 132 is made of metal, preferably a steel plate, and includes a housing outer shell 144 to which a connection plate 146 and a support plate 148 are fastened to opposite end faces.

[0134] The housing shell 142 is lined with a protective shell 150 made of material 142. The protective casing 150 has a first passage 152 and a second passage 154 whose geometric shapes and arrangements are complementary to the first passage 134 (material inlet) and the second passage 136 (material outlet) of the housing 132, respectively. Thus, in relation to the material inlet 134 and the material outlet 136, the passage openings 152 and 154 are the inlet opening 152 and the outlet opening 154.

[0135] The conveyance path 138 of the conveyance device 128 includes a conveyance chamber 156 defined by the inner peripheral surface of the protective casing 150. The conveyance path 138 also includes at least a path passing through the passage 152 within the protective casing 150.

[0136] The conveyance chamber 156 defines a longitudinal axis 158 of the conveyance device 128 which is only marked with reference numerals based on the section line IX - IX in FIG. 6. In this exemplary embodiment, the conveyance chamber 156 is cylindrical with a circular cross - section. The material inlet 134 and the material outlet 136 are offset in the direction of this longitudinal axis 158 and arranged so as not to overlap in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 158.

[0137] As can be seen from FIGS. 8 to 10, the protective casing 150 is composed of a plurality of parts, including a first casing part 150a corresponding to the inlet passage 152 facing the material inlet 134, and a second casing part 150b corresponding to the outlet passage 154 facing the material outlet 136. In addition, in this exemplary embodiment, there is also a third casing part 150c that is supplementarily attached to and blocks the passage opening 160 of the protective casing 150. Correspondingly, the protective casing 150 is complementary to the geometry and arrangement of the third passage 162 of the housing 132, which will be considered again below.

[0138] If this third passage 162 of the housing does not exist, the protective casing 150 may be formed without the passage opening 160 and may be continuous there. In one improvement, the protective casing 150 may be completely integrated and accordingly provide an integral outer sleeve having passage openings 152 and 154 and optionally passage opening 160.

[0139] FIGS. 8 to 10 show a cross-section of the conveying device 128 embodied as a screw conveyor 78.

[0140] To convey the material 130 from the material inlet 134 to the material outlet 136 of the conveying device 128, the conveying device 140 includes a screw conveyor 164 arranged coaxially with the vertical axis 158 in the conveying chamber 156 as a conveying element. The screw conveyor 164 has a thread web 166 such that a grooved conveyor path 168 is formed.

[0141] The screw conveyor 164 has a web width at the passage inlet (outer) from 10 mm to 50 mm, particularly from 20 mm to 30 mm, a web width at the base of the passage from 20 mm to 100 mm, particularly from 40 mm to 60 mm, a passage depth from 2 mm to 30 mm, particularly from 10 mm to 20 mm, a passage width at the base of the passage from 10 mm to 50 mm, particularly from 25 mm to 40 mm, a core diameter of from 50 mm to 300 mm, in particular from 80 mm to 100 mm, and is characterized by the parameters and dimensions of .

[0142] The screw diameter is the sum of the core diameter and the passage depth. The passage gradient at the base of the passage is the sum of the passage width and the web width.

[0143] In the exemplary embodiments shown herein, the thread web 166 tapers gradually radially outwards and the conveyor path 168 tapers gradually radially inwards. In one refinement, the thread web 166 or the conveyor channel 168 may have a constant cross-section radially, in which case the web width at the channel inlet and at the channel base is the same.

[0144] The connecting plate 146 of the housing 132 rotatably supports the support block 170. The screw conveyor 164 is connected at its first end to the support block 170 by a rotationally fixed connection 172, which can be seen in FIG. 9 based on a modified cross-section in the form of a connecting screw.

[0145] At the opposite end too, the screw conveyor 164 is connected to a coupling block 174 so as to be rotatably fixed, which coupling block 174 is in turn coupled to a drive shaft 176 so as to be rotatably fixed, which drive shaft 176 is rotatably mounted by a support plate 148 and extends out therefrom. Thus, the drive shaft 176 is connected to a drive system (not specifically shown), for which reason it is rotatable. Depending on the direction of rotation of the drive shaft 176 and the screw conveyor 164, the material 130 is conveyed from the first passage 134 to the second passage 136 or in the reverse direction. In the latter case, the second passage 136 acts as a material inlet and the first passage 134 acts as a material outlet.

[0146] The support block 170, the coupling block 174, and the drive shaft 176 are also made of the material 142, although other suitable heat-resistant materials can also be considered.

[0147] The screw conveyor 164 defines a conveying direction of the material 130 parallel to the vertical axis 158 of the conveying chamber 156.

[0148] In fact, the conveying chamber 156 has a length of 50 cm and the measured distance between the mutually remote edges of the material inlet 134 and the material outlet 136 is the largest. However, other lengths of the conveyor chamber, and similarly other lengths of the screw conveyor 164 are possible and can be up to 600 cm.

[0149] The conveying device 128 includes a cooling system 178 that can cool the screw conveyor 164 and the housing 132. Cooling of the housing 132 can be achieved by cooling the cooling protection casing 150.

[0150] To cool the screw conveyor 164, a coaxial cooling pipe 180 is provided on the screw conveyor 164, and in this exemplary embodiment, the coaxial cooling pipe 180 is provided coaxially with the vertical axis of the screw conveyor 164. For this purpose, the support block 170 and the screw conveyor 164 have coaxial through holes, and the coupling block 174 has a coaxial blind hole, and these holes and the blind hole together form a blind channel 182 for inserting the coaxial cooling pipe 180. At the free end of the coaxial cooling pipe 180, a connection unit 184 for the inflow and outflow of the cooling fluid protruding from the connection plate 146 is provided. The coaxial cooling pipe has a double structure of an inner pipe and a ring pipe surrounding it as shown in the figure. It is characterized in that the connection parts for the inflow and outflow of the cooling fluid are arranged at one end of the coaxial cooling pipe. At the opposite end, the inner pipe and the ring pipe are fluidly connected. Thus, the inflowing and outflowing cooling fluid is guided in a countercurrent manner.

[0151] In one improvement, the blind channel may be formed in the screw conveyor 164, whereby the coaxial cooling pipe 180 ends in front of the coupling block 174.

[0152] For cooling, an additional coaxial cooling tube 186 is provided in the protective casing 150. For this purpose, the protective casing 150 has a blind channel 188, which is parallel to the blind channel 182 and can only be seen in the cross-section according to FIG. 10. One of the coaxial cooling tubes 186 is inserted into each of these blind channels 188, and a connection unit 190 is provided at the free end of the coaxial cooling tube 186, and the connection unit 190 is also accessible on the connection plate 146. Thus, the connection plate 146 defines the connection end of the conveying device 128 where the connection units 184, 190 of the existing coaxial cooling tubes 180, 186 are accessible from the outside.

[0153] In this exemplary embodiment, four coaxial cooling tubes 186 are provided in the protective casing 150. For the sake of brevity, reference numerals are only attached to two coaxial cooling tubes 186 having connection portions 190 in the figures.

[0154] Depending on the dimensions and geometry of the housing 136 and the protective casing 150, more or fewer coaxial cooling tubes

[0155] In an improvement not specifically shown, the protective casing 150 may have a through-channel, and the inlet connection and the outlet connection for the cooling fluid may be present on opposite sides such that, on the one hand, they are on the connection plate 146 and, on the other hand, they are on the support plate 148.

[0156] FIGS. 11 to 13 show a second exemplary embodiment of the conveying device 128 embodied as a roller conveyor 82, in which the housing 132 having the material passages 134, 136 and 162 is the same.

[0157] However, in this exemplary embodiment, the first passage 134 of the housing 132 serves as the material inlet, and the third passage 162 serves as the material outlet, and will also be referred to as such hereinafter. Thus, the conveying path 138 is defined from the material inlet 134 to the material outlet 162, where the material inlet 134 and the material outlet 162 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 158.

[0158] In the protective casing 150, the passage opening 160 remains open in this case and is defined as an outlet opening, and the caging portion 150c is not used.

[0159] Here, the conveying device 140 includes a conveying roller 192 that forms a conveying groove 194 parallel to the axis direction on the outer surface and is arranged coaxially with the vertical axis 158 in the conveying chamber 156 as a conveying element. The conveying groove 194 may have different profiles, but at least extends in the direction of the vertical axis 158. Also, the conveying grooves 192 do not necessarily extend parallel to each other.

[0160] The conveying roller 192 has a groove width at the groove inlet (outer side) of 10 mm to 100 mm, particularly 15 mm to 25 mm, a groove width at the groove base of 5 mm to 95 mm, particularly 10 mm to 20 mm, a groove depth of 2 mm to 30 mm, particularly 3 mm to 10 mm, a circumferential interval between the grooves of 5 mm to 30 mm, particularly 10 mm to 20 mm, a core diameter of 50 mm to 1000 mm, particularly 80 mm to 200 mm, and is characterized by the parameters and dimensions of

[0161] The roller diameter is the sum of the core diameter and the groove depth.

[0162] The conveying roller 192 defines the transfer direction of the material 130 perpendicular to the vertical axis 158 of the conveying chamber 156.

[0163] The coaxial cooling pipe 180 is present in the conveying roller 192. The conveying roller 192 has a coaxial blind hole 196 for inserting the coaxial cooling pipe 180 of the cooling system 178. The conveying roller 192 is coupled to the drive shaft 176 at the end far from the blind hole 194.

[0164] In an improvement not specifically shown, the conveying device 140 may have two parallel screw conveyors 164 or two parallel conveying rollers 192.

[0165] In particular, when the conveying device 128 in the form of the screw conveyor 78 is used as the discharge conveyors 72.1, 72.2 in the device 10 according to FIG. 1, it is possible to cool the graphite 16 from the temperature of 3,000 ° C. obtained during discharge to a temperature below 100 ° C.

[0166] In particular, the relatively small passage depth of the screw conveyor 168 or the relatively small groove depth of the conveying roller 192 contributes to the fact that the material placed therein during the conveying process can be effectively cooled by the cooled screw conveyor 168 or the conveying roller 192 and the surrounding cooled protective casing 150 along the path from the material inlet 134 to the material outlet 136 or 162.

Claims

1. A conveying device for conveying a material (130), particularly the material at a temperature of 1,500 °C to 3,200 °C, particularly for conveying the heat-treated or thermochemically treated material, comprising: a) A housing (132) having a material inlet (134, 136) and a material outlet (136, 134, 162); b) A conveying device (140) for conveying the material (130) along a conveying path (138) from the material inlet (134, 136) to the material outlet (136, 134, 162); c) Along the conveying path (138), at least a part of the surface in contact with the conveyed material (130) is provided by a material (142) which is a graphite material or a material having graphite-like properties. The conveying device is characterized in that.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that all surfaces in contact with the material (130) conveyed along the conveying path (138) are provided by the material (142).

3. The conveying device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the material (142) is a hard graphite and / or a CFC material and / or a carbide material.

4. The conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the conveying path (138) defines a longitudinal axis (158) and includes a conveying chamber (156) in which conveying elements (164, 192) are arranged.

5. The conveying device according to claim 4, characterized in that the conveying element is a screw conveyor (164) having a thread web (166) and is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis (158) of the conveying chamber (156) so as to form a conveying path (168).

6. The screw conveyor (164) has: a) A web width at the passage inlet of 10 mm to 50 mm, particularly 20 mm to 30 mm; b) A web width at the passage base of 20 mm to 100 mm, particularly 40 mm to 60 mm; c) A passage depth of 2 mm to 30 mm, particularly 10 mm to 20 mm; d) A passage width at the passage base of 10 mm to 50 mm, particularly 25 mm to 40 mm; e) A core diameter of 50 mm to 300 mm, particularly 80 mm to 100 mm. The conveying device according to claim 5 is characterized in that it has one or more or all of the parameters.

7. The conveying element is a conveying roller (192) having, on its outer surface, a conveying groove (194) extending, in particular, parallel to the longitudinal axis (158) of the conveying chamber (156), the conveying device according to claim 4, characterized in that.

8. The conveying roller (92) is a) a groove width at the groove inlet of 10 mm to 100 mm, in particular 15 mm to 25 mm, b) a groove width at the groove base of 5 mm to 95 mm, in particular 10 mm to 20 mm, c) a groove depth of 2 mm to 30 mm, in particular 3 mm to 10 mm, d) a circumferential spacing of the conveying groove (194) of 5 mm to 30 mm, in particular 10 mm to 20 mm, e) a core diameter of 50 mm to 1000 mm, in particular 80 mm to 200 mm, having one or more or all of the parameters of, the conveying device according to claim 7, characterized in that.

9. The conveying chamber (156) is defined by the inner peripheral surface of a protective casing (150) made of the material (142), the conveying device according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that.

10. The protective casing (150) is composed of a plurality of parts, the conveying device according to claim 9, characterized in that.

11. There is a cooling system (178) capable of cooling the conveying element (164, 192) and / or the protective casing (150), the conveying device according to any one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that.

12. The cooling system (178) comprises one or more coaxial cooling pipes (180, 186) each arranged within the conveying element (164, 192) and / or the protective casing (150), the conveying device according to claim 11, characterized in that.

13. The coaxial cooling pipe (180) is arranged within the conveying element (164, 192) coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the conveying element (164, 192), the conveying device according to claim 12, characterized in that.

14. The connection units (184, 190) of the existing coaxial cooling pipes (180, 186) are accessible from the outside at the connection ends, the conveying device according to claim 12 or claim 13, characterized in that.

15. The conveying element is completely manufactured from the material (142), in particular hard graphite, CFC material, or carbide material, the conveying device according to any one of claims 4 to 14, characterized in that.

16. The housing (132) has a first passage (134), a second passage (136), and a third passage (162), and depending on the conveying element, each passage (132, 134, 162) provides the material inlet (134, 136) and the material outlet (136, 134, 162). The conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that.

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