Reactor, reaction system, material manufacturing system, battery material manufacturing system, and battery manufacturing system
The reactor design addresses temperature and agitation limitations by incorporating a temperature control region and separate fluid control regions, enabling precise control and efficient production of desired products through multiple reactions.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023216719
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-22
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-14
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-08-02
AI Technical Summary
Existing reactors face challenges in precisely controlling temperature in the axial direction and lack the ability to agitate materials, leading to complexity and cumbersome management when multiple reactions are required for producing a desired product.
A reactor design featuring a cylindrical structure with a temperature control region, a screw for material transport, and separate fluid control regions for passing different fluids, allowing precise temperature and atmosphere control along the axial direction, and enabling simultaneous performance of multiple reactions.
The reactor efficiently produces a desired product by accurately controlling temperature and atmosphere, facilitating the performance of multiple reactions with enhanced material agitation, resulting in a more efficient production process.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a reactor, a reaction system, a material production system, a battery material production system, a battery production system, a reaction product production method, a battery material production method, and a battery production method. [Background technology]
[0002] There are reactors that produce desired products by providing a specific atmosphere to powdered or granular raw materials. For example, a reactor commonly known as a rotary kiln heats a hollow reactor that rotates around a central axis and passes the material through the reactor while rolling it, thereby producing the desired product. Another reactor known as a roller hearth kiln produces the desired product by passing the raw materials or workpieces through a tunnel-shaped reactor. Various other reactors have also been developed.
[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses the following reactor. The reactor has a screw feeder main body that serves as a pressure reaction vessel, a catalyst supply section that introduces a catalyst into the screw feeder main body, and a lower hydrocarbon supply section that introduces lower hydrocarbons into the screw feeder main body. The reactor also has a screw that transports the produced nanocarbon, a solid delivery section that delivers the catalyst and nanocarbon transported by the screw, and a gas delivery section that delivers the produced hydrogen to the outside of the feeder main body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-290682 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0005] However, continuous rotary kilns, for example, are unable to precisely control the temperature in the axial direction inside the kiln. Furthermore, roller hearth kilns transport powdered and granular materials in sheaths, so they lack the ability to agitate the materials inside the kiln. Furthermore, the screw-based reactors mentioned above only allow for one type of reaction, involving the material and catalyst introduced through the screw feeder inlet. Therefore, if multiple reactions are required to produce a desired product, the equipment becomes complex and management becomes cumbersome.
[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and provides a reaction apparatus and the like that can efficiently produce a desired product. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] The reactor according to the present disclosure comprises a reactor, a temperature control region, a screw, a first fluid control region, and a second fluid control region. The reactor is cylindrical, with a supply port at one end for receiving raw materials and a discharge port at the other end for the reaction product. The temperature control region includes a heating device or a cooling device and controls the temperature of the reactor at a predetermined position in the middle between the supply port and the discharge port. The screw extends from one end to the other end of the reactor, thereby rotating to transport the raw materials supplied from the supply port toward the discharge port. The first fluid control region includes a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet in a predetermined region in the middle, for passing a first fluid through the reactor. The second fluid control region includes a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet in a region in the middle, different from the first fluid control region, for passing a second fluid.
[0008] In the reaction product manufacturing method according to the present disclosure, the following method is carried out by a reactor. The reactor is a cylindrical reactor having a supply port at one end for receiving raw materials to be supplied and a discharge port at the other end for the reaction product. The reactor transports the raw materials toward the discharge port using a screw extending from one end of the reactor to the other end. The reactor controls the temperature at a predetermined position in an intermediate section between the supply port and the discharge port in the reactor. The reactor passes a first fluid through the reactor in a first fluid control region provided in the intermediate section. The reactor passes a second fluid through the reactor in a second fluid control region different from the first fluid control region in the intermediate section. The reactor discharges the reaction product that has passed through the second fluid control region from the discharge port.
[0009] The battery material manufacturing method according to the present disclosure is carried out by a battery material manufacturing apparatus, which performs the following method. The battery material manufacturing apparatus receives predetermined raw materials from the supply port into a cylindrical reactor having a supply port at one end for receiving raw materials to be supplied and a discharge port at the other end for a reaction product. The battery material manufacturing apparatus transports the raw materials toward the discharge port using a screw extending from one end of the reactor to the other end. The battery material manufacturing apparatus controls the temperature at a predetermined position in an intermediate section between the supply port and the discharge port in the reactor. The battery material manufacturing apparatus passes a first fluid through the reactor in a first fluid control region provided in the intermediate section. The battery material manufacturing apparatus passes a second fluid through the reactor in a second fluid control region provided in the intermediate section different from the first fluid control region. The battery material manufacturing apparatus discharges the reaction product from the discharge port. The battery material manufacturing apparatus produces a kneaded product by kneading the discharged reaction product with a binder resin and a solid electrolyte and continuously extruding the mixture. The battery material manufacturing device produces the battery material by forming the kneaded material into a sheet shape. [Effects of the Invention]
[0010] According to the present disclosure, a reaction apparatus and the like that efficiently produces a desired product can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a reaction apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a reaction apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a flowchart of a process performed by a reaction device. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a side view of a reaction apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a reactor according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a reaction system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a reaction system according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a reaction system according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a battery material production system according to a sixth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the invention according to the claims is not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described in the embodiments are necessarily essential means for solving the problems. For clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings have been omitted and simplified as appropriate. In each drawing, the same elements are assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted as necessary.
[0013] <First Embodiment> The main components of the reaction apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a side view of the reaction apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. The reaction apparatus 10 shown in the figure is partially cut away for ease of understanding. The reaction apparatus 10 is an apparatus for producing a reaction product by applying a predetermined physical stimulus or other conditions to, for example, powdered or granular raw materials. The types and states of the raw materials and reaction products are not particularly limited, but may be inorganic substances such as metal oxides or metal sulfides containing lithium as one of their components, or organic substances such as hydrocarbons. The shapes and sizes of the raw materials and reaction products are not particularly limited, but when the raw materials or reaction products are lumpy, the diagonal length is preferably 0.1 mm to 50 mm, more preferably 1 to 20 mm. Furthermore, when the raw materials or reaction products are lumpy, the ratio of the diagonal lengths (aspect ratio) is preferably 1 to 10, more preferably 1.3 to 1.8. The reactor 10 mainly comprises a reactor 100, a temperature control region 110, a screw 120, a first fluid control region 130, and a second fluid control region 140.
[0014] The reactor 100 is a cylindrical furnace having a supply port 101 at one end for receiving raw materials to be supplied and a discharge port 102 at the other end for the reaction product. The reactor 100 also has an intermediate section between the supply port 101 and the discharge port 102. The reactor 100 is made of a material that can tolerate temperature changes that occur when producing a reaction product in the furnace and that can tolerate contact with substances supplied into the furnace. For example, the reactor 100 can be made of an alloy mainly containing nickel or chromium, or a ceramic containing alumina. The screw 120 can also be made of an alloy mainly containing nickel or chromium, or a ceramic containing alumina.
[0015] The reactor 10 shown in FIG. 1 is laid horizontally and has a supply port 101 at the upper left end and a discharge port 102 at the lower right end. The reactor 100 shown in FIG. 1 receives a raw material R10 through the supply port 101. The reactor 10 propels the received raw material R10 toward the discharge port 102 by rotating a screw 120 provided inside the reactor 100. That is, the raw material R10 supplied to the reactor 100 passes through the middle section toward the discharge port 102. The reactor 10 produces a reaction product R11 from the raw material R10 by passing the raw material R10 through the middle section of the reactor 100. The reactor 10 then discharges the produced reaction product R11 from the discharge port 102.
[0016] The temperature control zone 110 includes a temperature control device, i.e., a heating device or a cooling device, and controls the temperature of the reactor at a predetermined position in the intermediate portion between the supply port 101 and the discharge port 102. The temperature control zone 110 shown in FIG. 1 has a heating device surrounding the cylindrical reactor 100 in the intermediate portion of the reactor 100. The heating device includes any temperature-controllable heater, such as a sheath heater, a coil heater, or a ceramic heater. The heating device performs heating in a range from room temperature to approximately 800°C, for example. The temperature control zone 110 can also set different temperatures along the axial direction of the screw 120, which will be described later, for each intermediate region of the reactor 100. For example, the temperature control zone 110 can control the temperature change applied to the raw material R10 in the first fluid control zone 130 and the second fluid control zone 140, which will be described later.
[0017] The temperature control area 110 may also include a control device for controlling a heating device or a cooling device. For example, the temperature control area 110 may have a thermometer for monitoring the temperature at a predetermined position in the reactor 100. In addition, in the case where the heating device has a principle of heating by passing an electric current, the temperature of the reactor 100 may be controlled by monitoring the electric current value.
[0018] The temperature control region 110 may be configured to perform heating or cooling by circulating water or oil, for example. The temperature control region 110 may also be configured to perform cooling by using a Peltier element, for example. With the above-mentioned configuration, the temperature control region 110 can set various temperature distributions along the axial direction of the screw 120 in the reactor 100.
[0019] The screw 120 extends from one end to the other end of the reactor 100, and rotates to transport the raw material R10 supplied from the supply port 101 toward the delivery port 102. The screw 120 shown in FIG. 1 has a spiral convex portion 121 formed around an axis extending in the left-right direction. As the convex portion 121 rotates while coming into contact with the raw material R10, the screw 120 transports the raw material R10 from the left side to the right side in FIG. 1.
[0020] Note that the shape of the convex portion 121 shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and the shape of the convex portion 121 is not limited to this. The convex portion 121 may have a different shape for each region of the reactor 100. More specifically, for example, the helical pitch of the convex portion 121 may vary. Furthermore, the helical shape of the convex portion 121 may be two-stranded instead of one-stranded. Furthermore, the convex portion 121 may have a portion that is not helical. This allows the reactor 10 to set the moving speed and moving behavior of objects present inside the reactor 100 for each region. More specifically, for example, the reactor 10 transports, stirs, mixes, kneads, or pulverizes objects in the reactor 100.
[0021] The screw 120 is axially supported at both ends of the reactor 100. The screw 120 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a drive unit 150 on the supply port 101 side. The drive unit 150 has a predetermined rotation mechanism such as a motor, and rotates the screw 120. The drive unit 150 may be configured to be able to change the rotation speed of the screw 120. In this case, the drive unit 150 may be a motor with a variable rotation speed, or may be a combination of a motor with a fixed rotation speed and a reducer with a variable reduction ratio.
[0022] First fluid control region 130 includes first fluid inlet 131 and first fluid outlet 132 for passing a first fluid through reactor 100 in a predetermined region in the middle section. First fluid control region 130 is provided in reactor 100 between supply port 101 and second fluid control region 140. First fluid inlet 131 is connected to first fluid supply pipe 133 and supplies the first fluid supplied from first fluid supply pipe 133 to reactor 100. First fluid supply pipe 133 includes first valve 134 for adjusting the flow rate of the first fluid. First fluid outlet 132 is a hole for discharging the fluid from first fluid control region 130 to outside of reactor 100.
[0023] With the above-described configuration, the reactor 10 reacts the raw material R10 with the first fluid in the first fluid control region 130 to produce an intermediate. The reactor 10 also discharges the fluid after the reaction out of the first fluid control region 130. The reactor 10 transports the raw material R10 or the reaction product while the screw 120 rotates, and further contacts the first fluid, thereby promoting the reaction caused by the first fluid. The first fluid may be a gas or a liquid.
[0024] The second fluid control region 140 includes a second fluid inlet 141 and a second fluid outlet 142 for passing a second fluid in a region in the middle portion different from the first fluid control region 130. That is, the second fluid control region 140 may have a configuration equivalent to that of the first fluid control region 130 in a region different from the first fluid control region 130.
[0025] Second fluid control region 140 is provided in reactor 100 between first fluid control region 130 and outlet 102. Second fluid inlet 141 is connected to second fluid supply pipe 143, and supplies the second fluid supplied from second fluid supply pipe 143 to reactor 100. Second fluid supply pipe 143 includes second valve 144 for adjusting the flow rate of the second fluid. Second fluid outlet 142 is a hole for discharging the fluid in second fluid control region 140 to the outside of reactor 100.
[0026] With the above-described configuration, the reactor 10 reacts the intermediate that has passed through the first fluid control region 130 with the second fluid in the second fluid control region 140 to produce the reaction product R11. The reactor 10 also discharges the reacted fluid to the outside of the second fluid control region 140. The second fluid may be a gas or a liquid.
[0027] Although the configuration of the reaction apparatus 10 has been described above, the reaction apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the number of screws 120 may be two or more as long as it is one or more. In other words, the reaction apparatus 10 may have a plurality of screws 120 arranged in parallel.
[0028] The cross-sectional shape of the screw 120 of the reactor 100 in a plane perpendicular to the axis thereof may have a combination defined by a Reuleaux constant width figure. In this case, the cross-sectional shape of the convex portion 121 of the screw 120 has a shape combining multiple circular arcs corresponding to the Reuleaux constant width figures. For example, if the cross-sectional shape of the interior of the reactor 100 is circular, the cross-sectional shape of the screw 120 has a Reuleaux constant width figure composed of three circular arcs.
[0029] The reactor 100 is not limited to one lying parallel to the horizontal direction, but may be one having a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane, and may have an inclined surface. The reactor 10 has a first fluid control region 130 and a second fluid control region 140 in the middle, but may also have a configuration for passing another fluid. In other words, the reactor 10 may have three or more fluid control regions. The above-mentioned reactor 10 is controlled by a control device described below.
[0030] Next, the function of the reaction apparatus 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the reaction apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. In addition to the configuration shown in Fig. 1, the reaction apparatus 10 has a control device 200, a temperature control device 210, a first fluid control device 230, a second fluid control device 240, and an information input / output unit 250.
[0031] The control device 200 is a circuit board including a computing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MCU (Micro Controller Unit). The control device 200 is communicably connected to each of the temperature control device 210, the first fluid control device 230, the second fluid control device 240, and the information input / output unit 250, and controls the configuration of each of these. The control device 200 realizes its functions using hardware and software implemented on the circuit board.
[0032] The control device 200 has, as its main functional components, an overall control unit 201, a temperature control unit 202, a screw rotation control unit 203, a first fluid control unit 204, a second fluid control unit 205, an IF control unit 206, and a memory unit 207. These functional components of the control device 200 may be integrated or may be discrete. Furthermore, these functional components of the control device 200 may be realized by the interlocking of multiple separate devices.
[0033] The overall control unit 201 is connected to each functional configuration of the control device 200 and controls the overall operation of these functions. For example, the overall control unit 201 can perform an operation such as issuing an operation instruction to the screw rotation control unit 203 depending on the state of the temperature supplied from the temperature control unit 202.
[0034] The temperature control section 202 is connected to the temperature control device 210 and controls the temperature of the reactor 100 in the temperature control region 110. The temperature control section 202 has at least one of a heating device and a cooling device. The temperature control section 202 may also have one or more thermometers for controlling the temperature.
[0035] The screw rotation control unit 203 is connected to the drive unit 150 and controls the operation of the drive unit 150. The screw rotation control unit 203 may have, for example, a motor drive circuit for driving the motor included in the drive unit 150. The screw rotation control unit 203 may also have a rotation sensor for monitoring the number of rotations of the motor.
[0036] The first fluid control section 204 controls the flow of the first fluid in the first fluid control region 130. More specifically, the first fluid control section 204 is connected to the first fluid control device 230 and controls the operation of the first fluid control device 230. The first fluid control device 230 includes a first valve 134 for pumping the first fluid. The second fluid control section 205 controls the flow of the second fluid in the second fluid control region 140. More specifically, the second fluid control section 205 is connected to the second fluid control device 240 and controls the operation of the second fluid control device 240. The second fluid control device 240 includes a second valve 144 for pumping the second fluid.
[0037] The IF control unit 206 (IF = Interface) is connected to the information input / output unit 250 and is an interface for exchanging information with the user via the information input / output unit 250. That is, the IF control unit 206 receives operations from the user via the information input / output unit 250 and appropriately supplies information related to the received operations to each component of the control device 200. The IF control unit 206 also controls the state of a display unit included in the information input / output unit 250.
[0038] The storage unit 207 is a storage device including a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 207 stores a program for the reaction device 10 to realize the functions of the present disclosure. The storage unit 207 also includes a volatile memory, and temporarily stores predetermined information when the control device 200 operates. The information input / output unit 250 has, for example, a button, a switch, or a touch panel for accepting operations from a user. The information input / output unit 250 also includes a display device for presenting information to a user.
[0039] The above describes the functional blocks of the reactor 10. With the above-described configuration, the reactor 10 transports the received raw material R10 using the screw 120, controls the temperature of the reactor 100, and controls the atmosphere in the first fluid control region 130 and the second fluid control region 140.
[0040] Next, a method for producing a reaction product (reaction product producing method) executed by the reaction apparatus 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a flowchart of the process executed by the reaction apparatus 10. The flowchart shown in Fig. 3 starts, for example, by starting the supply of raw material R10 to the reaction apparatus 10.
[0041] First, the reactor 10 receives a predetermined raw material R10 from the supply port 101 (step S11).
[0042] Next, the control device 200 of the reactor 10 controls the temperature by driving the heating device or the cooling device in the temperature control region 110 of the reactor 100 via the temperature control section 202 (step S12).
[0043] Next, the control device 200 of the reaction device 10 drives the drive device 150 via the screw rotation control unit 203. As a result, the drive device 150 rotates the screw 120. Then, the screw 120 conveys the received raw material R10 toward the delivery port 102 (step S13).
[0044] Next, the control device 200 of the reaction device 10 controls the flow of the first fluid to be passed through the first fluid control region 130 via the first fluid control unit 204 (step S14).
[0045] Next, the control device 200 of the reaction device 10 controls the flow of the second fluid to be passed through the second fluid control region 140 via the second fluid control section 205 (step S15).
[0046] Next, the reactor 10 discharges the reaction product R11 that has passed through the second fluid control region 140 from the discharge port 102 (step S16).
[0047] The above has described the reaction method executed by the reaction apparatus 10. The above-mentioned method is shown along the flow from when the reaction apparatus 10 produces the reaction product R11 from the raw material R10 to when the produced reaction product R11 is discharged. However, the reaction apparatus 10 may perform the temperature control in step S12, for example, before step S11. Furthermore, for example, the reaction apparatus 10 may start steps S14 and S15 simultaneously.
[0048] The first embodiment has been described above. While the reactor 10 described above has two fluid control regions (the first fluid control region 130 and the second fluid control region 140), the reactor 10 may have three or more fluid control regions. The reactor 10 may also have multiple temperature control regions 110 along the axial direction of the screw 120. The reactor 10 described above brings multiple fluids into contact with the raw material R10 received from the supply port 101 in an intermediate section. The reactor 10 also controls the temperature of the reactor 100 along the axial direction of the screw 120 in the intermediate section. Furthermore, the reactor 10 can transport objects inside the reactor 100 and apply physical stimuli such as stirring and kneading. The reactor 10 can simultaneously and accurately perform the atmosphere control, temperature control, and physical control described above. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, a reactor or the like that efficiently produces a desired product can be provided.
[0049] <Embodiment 2> Next, a second embodiment will be described. Fig. 4 is a side view of a reaction apparatus 20 according to the second embodiment. The reaction apparatus 20 shown in Fig. 4 differs from the reaction apparatus 10 shown in Fig. 1 in the configuration of the screw 120. The reaction apparatus 20 also differs from the reaction apparatus 10 shown in Fig. 1 in that the first fluid control region 130 and the second fluid control region 140 include forced discharge mechanisms for forcibly discharging fluids from the reactor 100. The reaction apparatus 20 also differs from the reaction apparatus 10 in that it has an airflow agitation region 160.
[0050] The screw 120 according to this embodiment differs from the screw 120 shown in FIG. 1 in the configuration of the convex portions 121. The screw 120 has a structure in which the pitch of the convex portions for transporting the raw material changes in the feed direction. In the screw 120 shown in FIG. 2, the pitch of the convex portions 121 in the first fluid control region 130 (i.e., the screw pitch) is a distance D1, and the screw pitch of the convex portions 121 in the second fluid control region 140 is a distance D2. Furthermore, the distance D1 is greater than the distance D2. That is, the screw pitch corresponding to the second fluid control region 140 of the screw 120 is smaller than the screw pitch corresponding to the first fluid control region 130. As a result, the reaction apparatus 20 sets the transport speed of the object in the second fluid control region 140 to be slower than the transport speed of the object in the first fluid control region 130.
[0051] Furthermore, the screw 120 of the reaction apparatus 20 may have convex portions with a surface or arrangement that form an angle in the range of 0 to 180 degrees with the feed direction for the purpose of retaining, stirring, mixing, kneading, or pulverizing the raw materials. The screw 120 shown in Figure 4 has a stirring section 122 between the second fluid control region 140 and the delivery port 102. The stirring section 122 has multiple convex portions that are parallel to the feed direction, i.e., form an angle of 0 degrees with respect to the feed direction.
[0052] The stirring unit 122 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a reactor according to the second embodiment. The cross-sectional view shown in Fig. 5 shows the VV cross section of Fig. 4. Fig. 5 shows the stirring unit 122 arranged inside the reactor 100. The stirring unit 122 has a plurality of convex portions formed radially from the center C of the axis of the screw 120. The stirring unit 122 also rotates clockwise with the center C as the rotation axis. This allows the stirring unit 122 to stir the material that comes into contact with the stirring unit 122.
[0053] Returning to FIG. 4 , the reactor 20 will be further described. The reactor 20 has a first forced discharge mechanism 136 in the first fluid discharge pipe 135 in the first fluid control region 130. The first forced discharge mechanism 136 is a mechanism for increasing the flow rate of the fluid discharged into the first fluid discharge pipe 135 via the first fluid outlet 132 and forcibly discharging the fluid. The first forced discharge mechanism 136 is, for example, a pump including a motor. In this case, the pump serving as the forced discharge mechanism 136 increases the flow rate of the fluid discharged into the first fluid discharge pipe 135 by driving the motor to suck in the fluid. By having the first valve 134 and the first forced discharge mechanism 136, the reactor 20 can suitably control the flow of the first fluid in the first fluid control region 130. Note that the first forced discharge mechanism 136 is not limited to the above-described configuration, as long as it is a mechanism that can forcibly discharge the fluid discharged from the first fluid control region 130.
[0054] Similarly, the reaction apparatus 20 has a second forced discharge mechanism 146 in the second fluid discharge pipe 145 in the second fluid control region 140. The second forced discharge mechanism 146 increases the flow rate of the fluid discharged to the second fluid discharge pipe 145 via the second fluid outlet 142. The second forced discharge mechanism 146 is, for example, a pump including a motor. In this case, the pump serving as the forced discharge mechanism 146 increases the flow rate of the fluid discharged to the second fluid discharge pipe 145 by driving the motor to suck in the fluid. By having the second valve 144 and the second forced discharge mechanism 146, the reaction apparatus 20 can suitably control the flow of the second fluid in the second fluid control region 140. Note that the second forced discharge mechanism 146 is not limited to the above-described configuration, as long as it is a mechanism that can forcibly discharge the fluid discharged from the second fluid control region 140.
[0055] The reaction apparatus 20 has an airflow agitation region 160 in a portion corresponding to the agitation section 122. The airflow agitation region 160 generates an airflow inside the reaction furnace 100 in the middle portion of the reaction furnace 100.
[0056] The airflow agitation region 160 mainly comprises a blower fan 161, an airflow control valve 162, and an air outlet 163. The airflow fan 161 pressure-feeds a predetermined inert gas to the airflow control valve 162. Note that the airflow fan 161 may alternatively be replaced by, for example, a gas compressor or a compressed gas cylinder. The airflow control valve 162 controls the flow rate of the inert gas pressure-feed from the blower fan 161. The air outlet 163 is a hole for discharging the inert gas pressure-feed through the airflow control valve 162 into the inside of the reactor 100. The air outlet 163 has a labyrinth structure including a bent portion at the portion facing the inside of the reactor 100. This allows the airflow agitation region 160 to generate an airflow and prevent objects in the reactor 100 from flowing into the air outlet 163.
[0057] The airflow agitation region 160 will be further described with reference to FIG. 5. In the cross section shown in FIG. 5, three air blast holes 163 are arranged. As described above, since the airflow agitation region 160 has a plurality of air blast holes 163, the reaction apparatus 20 can generate an airflow suitably in a desired region inside the reactor 100. This also allows the reaction apparatus 20 to suitably agitate objects present inside the reactor 100. Note that the above-mentioned air blast holes 163 may have small diameter holes smaller than the particle diameter of objects present inside the reactor 100, instead of the labyrinth structure. This allows the air blast holes 163 to suppress the inflow of objects present inside the reactor 100.
[0058] Although the second embodiment has been described above, the configuration of the reaction apparatus 20 is not limited to that described above. For example, various patterns can be considered for the shape or configuration of the screw 120 depending on the type of physical stimulus to be applied to the raw material R10. Furthermore, the position where the airflow agitation region 160 is disposed is not limited to the above-described position, and can be set to a desired position. According to the second embodiment, a reaction apparatus or the like that efficiently produces a desired product can be provided.
[0059] <Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment will be described. Fig. 6 is a configuration diagram of a reaction system 1 according to the third embodiment. The reaction system 1 shown in Fig. 6 is a system in which two reaction devices 10, i.e., a first reaction device 10A and a second reaction device 10B, are connected in series. Fig. 6 schematically shows a state in which the first reaction device 10A and the second reaction device 10B are connected.
[0060] The first reactor 10A shown in the figure has a first fluid control region 130A and a second fluid control region 140A. The first fluid control region 130A causes reaction A to occur on raw material R10 received from a first supply port 101A. The second fluid control region 140A causes reaction B to occur on reaction product A produced by the reaction A. The first reactor 10A also causes reaction B to occur on reaction product B, which is then delivered from a first delivery port 102A and supplied to a second supply port 101B of the second reactor 10B.
[0061] The second reactor 10B has a first fluid control region 130B and a second fluid control region 140B. In the second reactor 10B, the first fluid control region 130B applies reaction C to reaction product B received from the second supply port 101B. The second fluid control region 140B applies reaction D to reaction product C produced by applying reaction C. The second reactor 10B also applies reaction D to the reaction product D produced by applying reaction D, and delivers the resultant reaction product D from the second delivery port 102B.
[0062] The third embodiment has been described above. Of course, one or both of the above-described reaction devices 10 may be the reaction device 20. Furthermore, the reaction system according to the third embodiment may be one in which three or more reaction devices 10 are connected. With such a configuration, the reaction system 1 according to the third embodiment can continuously impart multiple reactions. Furthermore, with such a configuration, the reaction system 1 according to the third embodiment allows for flexible arrangement and configuration of the system itself. That is, according to the third embodiment, a reaction system that efficiently produces a desired product that requires multiple reactions can be provided.
[0063] <Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. Fig. 7 is a configuration diagram of a reaction system 2 according to the fourth embodiment. The reaction system 2 shown in Fig. 7 mainly includes a kneader 310, a granulator 320, a dryer 330, a reaction device 10, and a pulverizer / classifier 340.
[0064] The kneader 310 (kneaded product manufacturing device) receives the powder components A, B, and C, and kneads the received powder components with a screw. The kneader 310 is connected to the granulator 320, and supplies the kneaded powder components to the granulator 320.
[0065] The granulator 320 receives the powder ingredients mixed by the mixer 310 and produces granules of a predetermined size from the received powder ingredients. The granulator 320 supplies the produced granules to the dryer 330. The dryer 330 dries the granules received from the granulator 320 to produce a predetermined raw material. The dryer 330 then supplies the produced raw material to the reaction apparatus 10.
[0066] The reactor 10 receives raw materials from the dryer 330 and passes the received raw materials through the first fluid control region 130 and the second fluid control region 140 to generate a reaction product. The reactor 10 supplies the generated reaction product to the pulverizer / classifier 340. The pulverizer / classifier 340 receives the reaction product from the reactor 10, pulverizes the received reaction product, and further classifies it. The pulverizer / classifier 340 then discharges the classified product.
[0067] The fourth embodiment has been described above. The configuration of the reaction system 2 is not limited to that described above. For example, the reaction system 2 may include at least one of the kneader 310, the granulator 320, and the dryer 330. The reaction system 2 may not include the pulverizer / classifier 340. In the reaction system 2 described above, the reaction apparatus 10 may be replaced with the reaction apparatus 20. The reaction apparatus 10 may be replaced with the reaction system 1 according to the third embodiment. As described above, the fourth embodiment can provide a reaction system that efficiently produces a desired product that requires multiple reactions.
[0068] <Fifth Embodiment> Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. Fig. 8 is a configuration diagram of a reaction system 3 according to the fifth embodiment. The reaction system 3 according to the fifth embodiment differs from the above-described reaction apparatus in that it has supply ports for respectively receiving a plurality of different raw materials.
[0069] The reaction system 3 shown in FIG. 8 includes a reaction apparatus 11 and a pulverizer / classifier 340. The reaction apparatus 11 receives powder components A, B, and C as raw materials. That is, in the reaction apparatus 11 according to the fifth embodiment, a reactor 100 has, at one end thereof, multiple supply ports for receiving multiple different raw materials. More specifically, the reaction apparatus 11 includes a first supply port 101A, a second supply port 101B, and a third supply port 101C as supply ports. The first supply port 101A, the second supply port 101B, and the third supply port 101C are respectively provided between one end of the reaction apparatus 100 and the first fluid control region 130. The powder components supplied from the first supply port 101A, the second supply port 101B, and the third supply port 101C are transported toward the discharge port 102 by a screw 120. In this case, the screw 120 may have a shape for mixing the received raw materials.
[0070] The reactor 11 passes the received powder components A, B, and C through the first fluid control region 130 and then through the second fluid control region 140. This causes the reactor 11 to produce a reaction product, which is then supplied to the pulverizer / classifier 340. The pulverizer / classifier 340 receives the reaction product produced by the reactor 11, pulverizes the reaction product, and further classifies it. The pulverizer / classifier 340 then discharges the classified product.
[0071] The fifth embodiment has been described above. In the above-described reaction system 3, the reaction device 11 may have an airflow stirring region 160. As described above, the fifth embodiment can provide a reaction system that efficiently produces a desired product that requires a complex reaction using a plurality of raw materials.
[0072] <Sixth Embodiment> Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a battery material manufacturing system 4 according to the sixth embodiment. The battery material manufacturing system 4 shown in FIG. 9 is a system for manufacturing, for example, a positive electrode sheet or an electrolyte sheet for a solid secondary battery. The battery material manufacturing system 4 mainly comprises a first process area P41, a second process area P42, a third process area P43, and a fourth process area P44. That is, the battery material manufacturing system 4 manufactures a battery material through the above-mentioned first process, second process, third process, and fourth process.
[0073] The following example shows the production of an electrolyte sheet using the battery material production system 4. In the first process area P41, the battery material production system 4 produces a solid electrolyte. The first process area P41 mainly comprises a first reactor 10A, a second reactor 10B, and a pulverizer / classifier 340.
[0074] In the first process zone P41, the first reactor 10A receives raw materials, transports the raw materials using a screw, causes reaction A in the first fluid control zone 130A, causes reaction B in the second fluid control zone 140A, and supplies reaction product B to the second reactor 10B. The second reactor 10B receives reaction product B, transports the raw materials using a screw, causes reaction C in the first fluid control zone 130B, and causes reaction D in the second fluid control zone 140B, and supplies the solid electrolyte produced thereby to the pulverizer / classifier 340. The pulverizer / classifier 340 pulverizes and further classifies the received solid electrolyte. The pulverizer / classifier 340 then supplies the classified solid electrolyte to the second process zone P42.
[0075] In the second process area P42, the battery material manufacturing system 4 mixes the solid electrolyte and the binder resin. The second process area P42 has an extruder 350. The extruder 350 receives the solid electrolyte produced in the first process area P41 together with a binder resin that is supplied separately, and kneads the received solid electrolyte and binder resin to produce a kneaded mixture. The extruder 350 supplies the produced kneaded mixture to the third process area P43.
[0076] In the third process area P43, the battery material manufacturing system 4 receives the kneaded material from the second process area P42 and manufactures an electrolyte sheet from the received kneaded material. The third process area P43 mainly includes an extruder 360, a coater 370, a dryer 380, and a rolling mill 390.
[0077] The extrusion molding machine 360 receives the kneaded material from the extruder 350 and extrudes the received kneaded material to continuously produce a sheet-like molded product. At this time, the third process area P43 may combine and integrate a base material 361 such as a nonwoven fabric with the sheet extruded by the extrusion molding machine 360. In other words, the third process area P43 includes a sheet manufacturing apparatus.
[0078] Next, a coater 370 applies a predetermined protective film or the like to the surface of the molded product. Furthermore, a dryer 380 dries the molded product to which the predetermined protective film or the like has been applied, and supplies it to a rolling mill 390. The rolling mill 390 rolls the dried molded product and supplies it to a fourth process area P44.
[0079] In the fourth process area P44, the battery material manufacturing system 4 has a process of laminating predetermined sheets and winding them up. The fourth process area P44 mainly comprises a laminator 400 and a winder 410. The laminator 400 laminates a positive electrode sheet 401 containing a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode sheet 402 containing a negative electrode active material to a sheet-like formed product supplied from the rolling mill 390, and supplies the laminated product to the winder 410. The winder 410 winds up the electrolyte sheet supplied from the laminator 400.
[0080] The configuration of the battery material manufacturing system 4 and the battery material manufacturing method executed by the battery material manufacturing system 4 have been described above. The battery material manufacturing system 4 according to the sixth embodiment can consistently and efficiently manufacture reaction products such as solid electrolytes that require multiple reactions, and can continuously manufacture sheets using the manufactured reaction products. Note that the battery material manufacturing system 4 according to this embodiment is not limited to the one shown in FIG. 9. For example, the battery material manufacturing system 4 does not have to have the laminator 400 in the fourth process area P44.
[0081] The system shown in Fig. 9 can also produce a predetermined material other than a battery material. That is, the system shown in Fig. 9 can be called a material production system. Furthermore, the method executed by such a material production system can be called a material production method.
[0082] 9 can produce an electrolyte sheet in the third process area P43, and can laminate a positive electrode sheet and then a negative electrode sheet in the fourth process area P44. In this way, the battery material production system 4 can produce a battery. In other words, in this case, the system shown in FIG. 9 can be referred to as a battery production system, and the method executed by the system shown in FIG. 9 can be referred to as a battery production method.
[0083] As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, it is possible to provide a system or method for efficiently producing a desired battery material, battery, or predetermined material.
[0084] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]
[0085] 1. Reaction System 2. Reaction System 3. Reaction System 4 Battery material manufacturing system 10. Reactor 11 Reactor 20 Reactor 100 reactors 101 Supply port 102 Outlet 110 Temperature Control Area 120 screw 121 Convex part 122 Stirring section 130 First fluid control region 131 1st fluid inlet 132 1st fluid outlet 133 1st fluid supply pipe 134 First Valve 135 1st fluid discharge pipe 136 1st forced discharge mechanism 140 Second fluid control region 141 2nd fluid inlet 142 2nd fluid outlet 143 2nd fluid supply pipe 144 Second Valve 145 2nd fluid discharge pipe 146 2nd forced ejection mechanism 150 Drive Unit 160 Airflow stirring area 161 Blower fan 162 Airflow Control Valve 163 Ventilation hole 200 control device 201 Overall control unit 202 Temperature control unit 203 Screw rotation control unit 204 First fluid control section 205 Second fluid control section 206 IF control section 207 Memory section 210 Temperature control device 230 First fluid control device 240 Second fluid control device 250 Information Input / Output Unit 310 Mixer 320 Granulator 330 Dryer 340 Crushing and classifying machine 350 Extruder 360 Extrusion Molding Machine 361 Base material 370 Coater 380 dryer 390 Rolling Mill 400 Laminator 401 Positive electrode sheet 402 Negative electrode sheet 410 Winder
Claims
1. a cylindrical reactor having a supply port at one end for receiving raw materials to be supplied and a discharge port at the other end for discharging reaction products; a temperature control region including a heating device or a cooling device for controlling the temperature of the reactor at a predetermined position intermediate between the supply port and the delivery port; a screw extending from the one end side to the other end side of the reactor and rotating to convey the raw material supplied from the supply port toward the delivery port; a first fluid control region including a first fluid inlet for passing a first fluid into the reactor and a first fluid outlet for discharging the first fluid in a predetermined region of the intermediate portion; an airflow agitation region including a blower hole for generating an airflow of the second fluid from below toward above the reactor in a predetermined region in the intermediate portion, The air blast holes have a hole diameter smaller than the particle diameter of the raw material. Reactor.
2. The air blower discharges an inert gas as the second fluid. The reactor of claim 1.
3. The airflow agitation unit has a labyrinth structure in which the air blowing hole includes a bent portion. The reactor of claim 2.
4. a third fluid control region including a third fluid inlet for passing a third fluid through the reactor and a third fluid outlet for discharging the third fluid at a predetermined region in the intermediate portion; The reactor of claim 3.
5. Further provided is a screw driving device that is set so that the rotation speed of the screw can be changed. The reactor of claim 1.
6. The screw has a structure in which the pitch of the convex portions for conveying the raw material changes in the feed direction. The reactor of claim 1.
7. The screw has a convex portion having a surface or an arrangement that forms an angle in the range of 0 degrees to 180 degrees with respect to the feeding direction for the purpose of retaining, stirring, mixing, kneading or pulverizing the raw material. The reactor of claim 1.
8. A plurality of the screws are arranged in parallel inside the reactor. The reactor of claim 1.
9. The reactor has a plurality of supply ports at one end thereof for respectively receiving a plurality of different raw materials. The reactor of claim 1.
10. A first reactor and a second reactor, which are the reactors according to claim 1, are connected in series. Reaction system.
11. At least one of a kneader that kneads a plurality of powders each having different components to produce a kneaded product, a granulator that granulates the kneaded product to produce a granulated product, and a dryer that dries the granulated product to produce the raw material; and the reaction apparatus according to claim 1, which receives any one of the kneaded material, the granulated material, and the raw material and produces a reaction product. Reaction system.
12. a kneaded material producing apparatus for producing a kneaded material by kneading the solid electrolyte produced as the reaction product by the reaction apparatus according to claim 1 with a binder resin and continuously extruding the mixture; a sheet manufacturing apparatus for forming the kneaded material into a sheet. Battery material manufacturing system.
13. the reaction device includes a first reaction device and a second reaction device that receives a first reaction product produced by the first reaction device and produces the solid electrolyte as a second reaction product, the kneaded product manufacturing device receives the second reaction product and manufactures the kneaded product. The battery material production system according to claim 12 .
14. The battery material production system according to claim 13 ; a laminator that laminates a positive electrode sheet containing a positive electrode active material on one surface of the electrolyte sheet formed by the sheet manufacturing apparatus of the battery material manufacturing system, and a negative electrode sheet containing a negative electrode active material on the other surface of the electrolyte sheet, Battery manufacturing system.
15. a kneaded material producing apparatus for producing a kneaded material by kneading the reaction product produced by the reaction apparatus according to claim 1 with a binder resin and continuously extruding the mixture; a sheet manufacturing apparatus for forming the kneaded material into a sheet. Material manufacturing systems.
16. The reaction system includes a first reaction device and a second reaction device that receives a first reaction product produced by the first reaction device and produces a second reaction product, the kneaded product manufacturing device receives the second reaction product and manufactures the kneaded product. The material production system of claim 15.
Citation Information
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