Furnace system and process for producing battery material

Abstract

A furnace system for producing battery material comprises a plurality of process apparatuses (12.i) each having a housing (16.i) that accommodates a process chamber (14.i), wherein each process apparatus (12.i) is designed such that, in the process chamber (14.i) thereof, a treatment process in which a respective process material is treated thermally and / or chemothermally is performable in a process atmosphere (18.i) required for said treatment process. An atmosphere system (20) can be used to generate in each process chamber (14.i) the process atmosphere (18.i) required for the respective treatment process to be performed. By means of a conveying system (24), process material as process input material (26.i) to be treated can be conveyed in each case into a respective process chamber (14.i) and, after the treatment process performed in said process chamber (14.i), can be conveyed out of said process chamber (14.i) as treated process output material (30.i). At least two process chambers (14.i, 14.i+1) are connected to one another by a lock device (32.i), wherein successive treatment processes are performed in these process chambers (14.i, 14.i+1) in different process atmospheres (18.i, 18.i) that differ in terms of composition, wherein the two process chambers (14.i, 14.i+1) define, in relation to one another, an upstream process chamber (34) for an upstream treatment process and a downstream process chamber (36) for a downstream treatment process. The conveying system (24) is designed in such a way that the treated process output material (30.i) from the upstream treatment process can be conveyed from the upstream process chamber (34i) into the lock device (32.i) and thence into the downstream process chamber (36) as process input material (26.i+1) to be treated for the downstream treatment process. The invention also specifies a process for producing battery material.

Description

[0001] Furnace plant and process for producing battery material

[0002] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] 1. Field of the invention

[0004] The invention relates to a furnace system for producing battery material, comprising a) a plurality of process devices, each with a housing in which a process chamber is accommodated, each process device being configured such that a treatment process, in which a process material is thermally and / or chemothermally treated, can be carried out in its process chamber in a process atmosphere required for this treatment process; b) an atmosphere system, with which the process atmosphere required for the respective treatment process to be carried out can be generated in each process chamber; c) a conveyor system, by means of which process material can be conveyed into a respective process chamber as process input material to be treated and, after the treatment process has been carried out in this process chamber, out of this process chamber as treated process output material.

[0005] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing battery material in a furnace system, in which a respective process material is treated thermally and / or chemothermally in a treatment process in several process devices.

[0006] 2. Description of the state of the art

[0007] The production of battery material, for example, anode material for batteries, comprises a plurality of sequential treatment processes in which particulate material is thermally and / or chemothermally treated in a specific process atmosphere required for a particular treatment process. The particulate material is typically a powder material. A process atmosphere can be an inert atmosphere or a chemically reactive atmosphere that is or comprises a process gas. The latter can also be air, which may have been conditioned, for example, temperature-controlled and dehumidified.

[0008] The manufacturing process is divided into an activation section with several treatment processes and an infiltration section with several treatment processes.

[0009] In order to ensure a smooth process flow and to obtain the battery material with the required high quality at the end of the treatment processes, it is extremely important that, in two consecutive treatment processes carried out in different process atmospheres, it is ensured that these two different process atmospheres do not come into contact with each other in such a way that the process or the plant safety is disrupted.

[0010] Discontinuous furnace systems are well known on the market, in which a process chamber is used for multiple treatment processes and operated in a batch process. After the first treatment process has been completed, a first process atmosphere for a first treatment process is exchanged for a second process atmosphere with a different composition for a second treatment process in the process chamber. Such batch processes can be very energy-intensive, particularly if the furnace system must be largely or completely cooled down before an atmosphere change and then reheated after the process atmosphere has been exchanged. Furthermore, the entire volume of the process chamber must be reliably cleared of the previous process atmosphere before the process atmosphere for the subsequent treatment process can be supplied.

[0011] If, as an alternative to such batch systems, a separate processing device is used for each treatment process, as is the case with furnace systems of the type mentioned above, the multiple processing devices in commercially available furnace systems are designed as spatially separated process furnaces, each with an inlet and an outlet lock, so that the material must be transferred from one process furnace to the other. In this process, the material regularly cools down and then has to be reheated. Consequently, a relatively large amount of energy is required here as well. Furthermore, the construction effort is high.

[0012] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a furnace system and a method for producing battery material which offer energetic and preferably also structural advantages.

[0013] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] This object is achieved in a furnace system of the type mentioned at the outset in that d) at least two process chambers are connected to one another by a lock device, wherein in these process chambers successive treatment processes are carried out in mutually different process atmospheres which differ in their composition, wherein the two process chambers define, with respect to one another, a preceding process chamber for a preceding treatment process and a subsequent process chamber for a subsequent treatment process; e) the conveying system is set up in such a way that the treated process output material of the preceding treatment process can be conveyed from the preceding process chamber into the lock device and from there into the subsequent process chamber as process input material to be treated for the subsequent treatment process.

[0015] According to the invention, it was recognized that, despite the sometimes significantly different process atmospheres required for the various treatment processes, it is possible to convey the material to be treated through successive process chambers in a continuous process and treat it there. This allows for a largely immediate transition from one treatment process to the next, which allows for short transition times and, for example, prevents the cooling of heated material, which then may have to be reheated in the subsequent treatment process.For the production of battery material and in particular for the production of anode material for batteries, it is advantageous if a) the furnace system provides an activation furnace system for the thermal and / or chemothermal treatment of material, which comprises at least two of the following process devices: a.1) a thermal device for the thermal treatment of material with a.1 -1) a housing in which a process chamber is accommodated which defines a thermal chamber; a.1 -2) a thermal atmosphere device with which a thermal atmosphere with a thermal temperature, in particular a thermal temperature between 30°C and 500°C, can be generated in the thermal chamber; a.1 -3) a thermal conveying device with which process material can be conveyed into the thermal chamber as a thermal input material to be thermally treated and out of the thermal chamber again after the thermal process as dried thermal output material; a.2) a pyrolysis device for pyrolyzing material with a.2-1) a housing in which a process chamber is accommodated, which defines a pyrolysis chamber; a.2-2) a pyrolysis atmosphere device with which a pyrolysis atmosphere with a pyrolysis temperature, in particular with a pyrolysis temperature between 100°C and 1,000°C, can be generated in the pyrolysis chamber; a.2-3) a pyrolysis conveying device with which process material can be conveyed into the pyrolysis chamber as a pyrolysis input material to be pyrolyzed and out of the pyrolysis chamber again after the pyrolysis process as pyrolyzed pyrolysis output material; a.3) an activation device for activating material with a.3-1) a housing in which a process chamber is accommodated, which defines an activation chamber; a.3-2) an activation atmosphere device with which an activation atmosphere with an activation temperature, in particular with an activation temperature between 500°C and 1,200°C, can be generated in the activation chamber; a.3-3) an activation conveying device with which process material can be conveyed into the activation chamber as an activation input material to be activated and out of the activation chamber again after the activation process as activated activation output material; wherein the preceding process chamber and the subsequent process chamber are formed by the thermal chamber and the pyrolysis chamber or by the pyrolysis chamber and the activation chamber; and / or b) the furnace system provides an infiltration furnace system for the thermal and / or chemothermal treatment of material, which comprises at least two of the following process devices: b.1) a tempering device for heating material with b.1 -1) a housing in which a process chamber is accommodated, which has a.

[0016] Temperature control chamber defined; b.1 -2) a temperature control atmosphere device with which a temperature control atmosphere with a temperature control temperature, in particular a temperature control temperature between 30°C and 600°C, can be generated in the temperature control chamber; b.1 -3) a temperature control conveying device with which process material can be conveyed into the temperature control chamber as a temperature control input material to be heated and, after the temperature control process, out of the temperature control chamber again as heated temperature control output material; b.2) an infiltration device for infiltrating a substrate into a material with b.2-1) a housing in which a process chamber is accommodated, which defines an infiltration chamber; b.2-2) an infiltration atmosphere device with which an infiltration atmosphere with an infiltration temperature, in particular with an infiltration temperature between 300°C and 600°C, can be generated in the infiltration chamber; b.2-3) an infiltration conveying device with which process material can be conveyed into the infiltration chamber as an infiltration input material to be infiltrated and out of the infiltration chamber again after the infiltration process as infiltrated infiltration output material; b.3) a passivation device for passivating material with b.3-1) a housing in which a process chamber is accommodated which defines a passivation chamber; b.3-2) a passivation atmosphere device with which a passivation atmosphere with a passivation temperature can be generated in the passivation chamber; b.3-3) a passivation conveying device with which process material can be conveyed into the passivation chamber as an activation input material to be activated and out of the passivation chamber again after the passivation process as passivated passivation output material; b.4) a cooling device for cooling material with b.4-1) a housing in which a process chamber is accommodated, which defines a cooling chamber; b.4-2) a cooling atmosphere device, with which a cooling atmosphere with a cooling temperature, in particular with a cooling temperature between 600°C and 30°C, can be generated in the cooling chamber; b.4-3) a cooling conveyor device, with which process material can be conveyed into the cooling chamber as a cooling input material to be cooled and, after the cooling process, out of the cooling chamber again as cooled cooling output material; wherein the preceding process chamber and the subsequent process chamber are formed by the temperature control chamber and the infiltration chamber or the infiltration chamber and the passivation chamber or by the passivation chamber and the cooling chamber or by the cooling chamber and the passivation chamber.

[0017] The activation furnace system covers corresponding treatment processes of the above-mentioned activation section of the manufacturing process and the infiltration furnace system covers corresponding treatment processes of the above-mentioned infiltration section of the manufacturing process.

[0018] With regard to the lock devices, it is advantageous if a) the activation furnace system is provided and, in the activation furnace system, one, several or all lock devices between a preceding process chamber and the subsequent process chamber are designed as a single-chamber lock; and / or b) the infiltration furnace system is provided and, in the infiltration furnace system, one, several or all lock devices between a preceding process chamber and the subsequent process chamber are designed as a two-chamber lock.

[0019] In practice, the process atmospheres in the process chambers of the activation furnace system can mix without negatively impacting the process control and may even have the same composition in two consecutive process chambers, so that separation of the process chambers by single-chamber locks is sufficient. If separation of the process atmospheres is necessary, it is advantageous if the gates of the single-chamber lock can close gas-tight, so that the lock chamber can be evacuated and purged with a purge gas if necessary.

[0020] In a single-chamber airlock in the hot area, atmosphere separation can be achieved with additional nitrogen injection into the single-chamber airlock during or before opening the airlock.

[0021] Particularly in the infiltration furnace system, more aggressive process atmospheres can prevail and a separation of the process atmospheres in the preceding process chamber and the subsequent process chamber can be ensured in a process-safe manner by means of a respective two-chamber lock.

[0022] A two-chamber lock is characterized by two lock chambers that can be separated by a connecting gate device, which forms a flow barrier between the preceding process chamber and the subsequent process chamber. Ideally, such a flow barrier is a gas-tight separation between the two process chambers. Two-chamber locks are particularly advantageous in aggressive atmospheres, for example. Two-chamber locks can, but do not have to, be provided between all interconnected preceding and subsequent process chambers. A two-chamber lock always has three lock gate devices: in the direction of passage, an entrance gate device for access to the first lock chamber, a connecting gate device between the two lock chambers, and an exit gate device for leaving the second lock chamber.As a rule, the lock chambers are subjected to a slight overpressure.

[0023] In order to enable comprehensively continuous operation for a respective furnace system, it is particularly advantageous if a) the activation furnace system is provided such that the thermal chamber forms a first preceding process chamber, the pyrolysis chamber forms a first subsequent process chamber and a second preceding process chamber, and the activation chamber forms a second subsequent process chamber; and / or b) the infiltration furnace system is provided such that the tempering chamber forms a first preceding process chamber, the infiltration chamber forms a first subsequent process chamber and a second preceding process chamber, and b1) the passivation chamber forms or can form a second subsequent process chamber and a third preceding process chamber, and the cooling chamber forms or can form a third subsequent process chamber;or b2) the cooling chamber forms or can form a second subsequent process chamber and a third preceding process chamber and the passivation chamber forms or can form a third subsequent process chamber;

[0024] In these cases, the activation section or the infiltration section or both of these sections of the manufacturing process can be carried out largely entirely as continuous flow processes.

[0025] The infiltration furnace system may be provided such that it comprises a first passivation chamber and a second passivation chamber, wherein the first passivation chamber is connected to the cooling chamber by a lock device and the cooling chamber is connected to the second passivation chamber by a lock device.

[0026] In this way, the infiltration furnace system enables two alternative passivation paths, which will be explained again below.

[0027] If the activation furnace system is configured such that several process zones are defined in the activation chamber in the conveying direction, in which different temperatures are generated and maintained, it is advantageous to carry out activation processes in which process material must or should be treated in one and the same activation atmosphere, but at different temperatures. It is advantageous if the process zones of the activation chamber comprise an activation zone in which the activation temperature prevails, as well as one or more cooling zones, each of which has a lower temperature than the activation temperature.

[0028] A respective treatment process can be carried out particularly effectively if, if the respective process device is present, a) the thermal atmosphere device provides an inert gas atmosphere, in particular an atmosphere of nitrogen N2, as the thermal atmosphere; and / or b) the pyrolysis atmosphere device provides an inert gas atmosphere, in particular an atmosphere of nitrogen N2, as the pyrolysis atmosphere; and / or c) the activation atmosphere device is or contains an oxide compound as the activation atmosphere; and / or d) the tempering atmosphere device provides an inert gas atmosphere, in particular an atmosphere of nitrogen N2, as the tempering atmosphere; and / or e) the infiltration atmosphere device provides an atmosphere as the infiltration atmosphere which in turn provides silicon or a silicon compound as the infiltration substrate;and / or f) the passivation atmosphere device provides, as the passivation atmosphere, a passivation atmosphere that contains or is a hydrocarbon compound, and in particular has a passivation temperature of between 300°C and 600°C, or a passivation atmosphere that contains or is air or a nitrogen / air mixture, and in particular has a passivation temperature of between 30 and 150°C; and / or g) the cooling atmosphere device provides, as the cooling atmosphere, nitrogen N2.

[0029] The above-mentioned object is achieved in the method of the type mentioned at the outset by using a furnace system with one, several or all of the features explained therefor.

[0030] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. In these drawings:

[0032] Figure 1 is a plan view of a schematically shown activation furnace system of a furnace plant for thermal or chemothermal treatment of material;

[0033] Figure 2 is a plan view of a schematically shown infiltration furnace system of the furnace plant for thermal or chemothermal treatment of material.

[0034] DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] 1. Furnace system

[0036] In Figures 1 and 2, 10 denotes a furnace system comprising a plurality of process devices 12.i, where i = 1 to n, for producing battery material, with a plurality of process chambers 14.i, where i = 1 to n, where n indicates the total number of process devices 12.i. In the present embodiment, the battery material is a particulate anode material for batteries, which is obtained here as a material powder.

[0037] Each process chamber 14.i is housed in an associated housing 16.i.

[0038] For components described here and below, a process device 12.i specifies the index for respective components that belong to this process device 12.i or are assigned to this process device 12.i. Accordingly, for example, the process chamber of the process device 12.4 bears the reference numeral 14.4 and the associated housing the reference numeral 16.4.

[0039] Each process device 12.i is configured such that in its process chamber 14.i a treatment process in which material is treated thermally and / or chemothermally can be carried out in a process atmosphere 18.i required for this treatment process.

[0040] An atmosphere system 20 generates and maintains in each process chamber 14.i the process atmosphere 18.i required for the respective treatment process to be performed, and which has the respective process atmosphere 18.i with the required composition and temperature. For this purpose, the atmosphere system 20 comprises an associated process atmosphere device 22.i for each process chamber 14.i, with which the required process chamber temperature can be set in each process chamber 14.i.

[0041] Each process atmosphere device 22.i comprises the components required for this purpose, which are not specifically shown. These include supply and discharge lines connected to the respective process chamber 14.i, conveying means such as fans, heating devices, devices for conditioning the atmosphere, and the like, with which corresponding gas flows can be generated, supplied, extracted, circulated, tracked, and conditioned. The generation and maintenance of a process atmosphere 18.i also includes, for example, exposing the material to a process gas to carry out the treatment process, for which purpose the process device 12.i may optionally comprise dedicated nozzle systems. If compounds are formed during a treatment process, these naturally contribute to the respective process atmosphere.

[0042] By means of a conveyor system 24, process material is conveyed into a respective process chamber 14.i as process input material 26.i to be treated and then, after the treatment process has been carried out in this process chamber 14.i, is conveyed out of this process chamber 14.i as treated process output material 30.i. For this purpose, the conveyor system 24 comprises an associated process conveyor device 28.i for each process chamber 14.i.

[0043] If a process output material 30.i is conveyed for a further treatment process in a subsequent process space 14.i+1, this process output material 30.i then defines the process input material 26.i+1 for this subsequent process space 14.i+1.

[0044] The furnace system 10 is characterized in that at least two process chambers 14.i and 14.i+1 are connected to one another by a lock device 32.i, in which successive treatment processes are carried out in mutually different process atmospheres 18.i and 18.i+1, wherein the two process chambers 14.i and 14.i+1 define, with respect to one another, a preceding process chamber 34 for a preceding treatment process and a following process chamber 36 for a subsequent treatment process.

[0045] The housing 16.i of the preceding process chamber 14.i or 34, the housing of the lock device 32.i and the housing of the subsequent process chamber 14.i+1 or 36 then together form a coherent housing unit, wherein this coherent housing unit is enlarged by the housings of any further lock devices 32.i and process chambers 14.i that may be added.

[0046] In addition, the conveyor system 24 is configured such that the treated process output material 30.i of the preceding treatment process can be conveyed from the preceding process chamber 34 into the lock device 32.i and from there into the subsequent process chamber 36 as process input material 26.i to be treated for the subsequent treatment process.

[0047] In the present embodiment, the furnace system 10 comprises a first furnace system, which provides an activation furnace system 38, with and in which a material is thermally and chemothermally treated. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of such an activation furnace system 38, which defines three process chambers 14.1, 14.2, and 14.3 of the furnace system 10.

[0048] In the present embodiment, the furnace system 10 also includes a second furnace system, which provides an infiltration furnace system 40, with and in which a material is thermally and chemothermically treated. Figure 2 shows an embodiment of such an infiltration furnace system 40, in which five additional processing devices of the furnace system 10, designated 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, and 12.8, are present.

[0049] In total, therefore, in the furnace system 10 described here, the number i = 1 to 8 with n = 8.

[0050] The following describes which process devices 12.i, along with their respective associated and assigned components and parts, are present in the furnace systems 38 and 40. When referring to a specific reference symbol with a specific index i, the specific function and the specific process objective are used instead of the term "process."

[0051] 2. Activation furnace system

[0052] In this sense, the activation furnace system 38 shown in Figure 1 comprises a thermal device 12.1 for thermally treating thermal input material 26.1, with a thermal chamber 14.1 housed in a housing 16.1. The process device 12.1 is thus a thermal device 12.1, and the term "process" is replaced by "thermal."

[0053] The thermal device 12.1 accordingly also comprises a thermal atmosphere device 22.1, with which a thermal atmosphere 18.1 with a thermal temperature is generated, and a thermal conveying device 28.1, with which thermal input material 26.1 to be thermally treated is conveyed into the thermal chamber 14.1 and dried thermal output material 30.1 is conveyed out of the thermal chamber 14.1.

[0054] The activation furnace system 38 also includes a pyrolysis device 12.2 for pyrolyzing pyrolysis input material 26.2, having a pyrolysis chamber 14.2 housed in a housing 16.2. The pyrolysis device 12.2 further includes a pyrolysis atmosphere device 22.2 for generating a pyrolysis atmosphere 18.2 with a pyrolysis temperature, and a pyrolysis conveyor device 28.2 for conveying pyrolysis input material 26.2 to be pyrolyzed into the pyrolysis chamber 14.2 and pyrolyzed pyrolysis output material 30.2 out of the pyrolysis chamber 14.2. As a third process device, the activation furnace system 38 comprises an activation device 12.3 for activating activation input material 26.3, having an activation chamber 14.3 housed in a housing 16.3. The activation device 12.3 also comprises an activation atmosphere device 22.3 for generating an activation atmosphere 18.3 is generated with an activation temperature, and an activation conveyor device 28.3, with which activation input material 26.2 to be activated is conveyed into the thermal chamber 14.3 and activated activation output material 30.3 is conveyed out of the activation chamber 14.3.

[0055] The thermal device 12.1 is connected via the lock device 32.1 to the pyrolysis device 12.2, which in turn is connected via the lock device 32.2 to the activation device 12.3.

[0056] At the entrance of the activation furnace system 10 is an entrance lock 42, which defines access to the thermal device 12.1. At the exit of the activation furnace system 10, and thus at the exit of the activation device 12.3, is an exit lock 44. The entrance lock 42 and the exit lock 44 are each a single-chamber lock with an entrance door and an exit door, as is known per se, but which are not separately provided with a reference symbol.

[0057] The material to be treated is conveyed through the activation furnace system 38 on support structures 46. As can be seen from a support structure 46a, also shown in a side view in Figure 1, this can, for example, comprise several transport troughs 48 arranged in several transport levels.

[0058] The activation furnace system 38 is designed as a continuous furnace system and, in terms of conveying technology, as a pusher furnace, for which the conveyor system 24 comprises several hydraulic pusher devices 50, which are illustrated highly schematically. The support structures 46 loaded with the material to be treated are pushed with the aid of the pusher devices 50 in a manner known per se over a conveyor floor 52 present in each process chamber 14. The conveyor floor 52 can be designed as a pusher track, with the support structures 46 being positioned on so-called pusher plates, which are then pushed over the pusher track. Alternatively, the conveyor floor 52 can also be designed, for example, as a roller conveyor.

[0059] In the present embodiment, the thermal input material 26.1 to be thermally treated is conveyed as a powder through the input lock 42 into the thermal chamber 14.1.

[0060] In the thermal chamber 14.1 of the thermal device 12.1, a thermal atmosphere 18.1 with a thermal temperature, which in the present embodiment lies between 30°C and 500°C, is generated with the aid of the thermal atmosphere device 22.1. In the thermal atmosphere 18.1, the thermal input material 26.1 is heated accordingly as it passes through the thermal device 12.1 and is thereby dried, among other things, so that dried thermal output material 30.1 is present after passing through the thermal chamber 14.1. The thermal input material 26.1 may be a material mixture whose components can combine during the thermal treatment. During the thermal treatment of the thermal input material 26.1, among other things, water H2O and ammonia NH3 may be produced. The thermal atmosphere 18.1 is in particular an inert gas atmosphere and, in the present embodiment, an atmosphere of nitrogen N2.

[0061] The thermal output material 30.1 is then conveyed through the lock device 32.1 as pyrolysis input material 26.2 into the pyrolysis device 14.2.

[0062] In the pyrolysis chamber 14.2, a pyrolysis atmosphere 18.2 is generated with the aid of the pyrolysis atmosphere device 22.2, in which the pyrolysis input material 26.2 is pyrolyzed at a pyrolysis temperature. In the present embodiment, at a temperature between 100°C and 1,000°C, a carbon material is formed from the thermal output material 30.1, which defines the pyrolyzed pyrolysis output material 30.2. During the pyrolysis of the thermal output material 30.1, for example, hydrocarbons C x H y , hydrogen cyanide HCN, and nitrogen oxides NO and NO2 are formed. The pyrolysis atmosphere 18.2 is, in particular, an inert gas atmosphere and, in the present embodiment, an atmosphere of nitrogen N2.

[0063] In the pyrolysis chamber 14.2, several process zones in the form of pyrolysis zones 54 are defined in the conveying direction, in which the temperatures required for the pyrolysis process are generated. In the present embodiment, the process material is gradually heated to a pyrolysis temperature.

[0064] The then pyrolyzed pyrolysis output material 30.2 reaches the lock device 32.2 and in this way as activation input material 26.3 into the activation chamber 14.3 of the activation device 12.3.

[0065] In the activation chamber 14.3, an activation atmosphere 18.3 with an activation temperature is generated with the aid of the activation atmosphere device 22.3, in which the process material is activated. Several process zones are defined in the conveying direction in the activation chamber 14.3, in which different temperatures are generated and maintained, which are required for the activation process. In the present embodiment, the activation atmosphere 18.3 is or contains an oxide compound, which creates activated carbon material in the form of porous carbon, which is present in the form of a carbon material cake.

[0066] In the present embodiment, the process zones in the conveying direction comprise both an activation zone 56, in which an activation temperature prevails, and cooling zones 58 with a comparatively lower temperature. In the activation zone 56, a steam atmosphere with an activation temperature between 500°C and 1,200°C is first generated. This is followed by two cooling zones 58, in which the process material is successively cooled. The process material, in this case the activated carbon material, then reaches the exit lock 44 of the activation furnace system 38 as activated activation output material 30.3. In a modification, there are no cooling zones 58, and the associated cooling is omitted.

[0067] Structurally, a lock device 32 i is characterized by a lock entrance chamber 60 and a lock exit chamber 62. In the activation furnace system 40, only single-chamber locks are present, in which the respective lock entrance chamber 60 and the respective lock exit chamber 62 together form the lock chamber. In the case of two-chamber locks, described further below, a connecting gate device 64 is arranged between the respective lock entrance chamber 60 and the respective lock exit chamber 62.

[0068] There is also always an entrance gate device 66 at the lock entrance room 60 and an exit gate device 68 at the lock exit room 62.

[0069] For the lock function, each lock device 32.i also includes a lock atmosphere device 70, with which the atmospheres in the lock chambers 60 and 62 can be established, changed, and, if necessary, evacuated, as required for a particular lock passage of the process material. The lock devices 32.i of the activation furnace system 40 each define a single-chamber lock or a two-gate lock.

[0070] The lock devices 32.i are designed as transverse conveyor locks and each comprise a transverse conveyor 72 in the form of a push conveyor 50 as part of the conveyor system 24.

[0071] After passing through the activation chamber 14.3, the resulting activated activation output material 30.3, ie in the present embodiment the activated carbon material, is conveyed out of the activation furnace system 38 via the exit lock 44.

[0072] If necessary, the activated activation output material 30.3 is first subjected to an intermediate treatment in which it is prepared for the subsequent infiltration process. For example, the material can be ground so that the material that is then fed to the infiltration furnace system 40 is in powder form. In the present embodiment, this is then an activated carbon powder.

[0073] 3. Infiltration furnace system

[0074] In the infiltration furnace system 40 shown in Figure 2, parts and components that functionally correspond to the parts and components of the activation furnace system 48 already described bear the same reference numerals. The above comments apply accordingly.

[0075] The infiltration furnace system 40 shown in Figure 2 comprises a tempering device 12.4 for heating tempering input material 26.4, having a tempering chamber 14.4 housed in a housing 16.4. The tempering device 12.4 also comprises a tempering atmosphere device 22.4, with which a tempering atmosphere 18.4 with a tempering temperature is generated, and a tempering conveyor device 28.4, with which tempering input material 26.4 to be heated is conveyed into the tempering chamber 14.4 and heated tempering output material 30.4—here with a tempering temperature between 30°C and 600°C—is conveyed out of the tempering chamber 14.4. In the present embodiment, the tempering atmosphere is an inert gas atmosphere, and in this case, a nitrogen N2 atmosphere.

[0076] Infiltration furnace system 40 also includes an infiltration device 12.5 for infiltrating a substrate into infiltration input material 26.5, having an infiltration chamber 14.5 housed in a housing 16.5. Infiltration device 12.5 further includes an infiltration atmosphere device 22.5 for generating an infiltration atmosphere 18.5 with an infiltration temperature, and an infiltration conveyor device 28.5 for conveying infiltration input material 26.5 to be infiltrated into infiltration chamber 14.5 and infiltrated infiltration output material 30.5 out of infiltration chamber 14.5.

[0077] Chemical vapor infiltration takes place in the infiltration device 12.5. In the present embodiment, the infiltration temperature is between 300°C and 600°C, and the infiltration atmosphere provides silicon Si or a silicon compound as the infiltration substrate. In particular, the silicon Si or the silicon compound is provided in gaseous form. During this process, silicon or the silicon compound is also infiltrated as the infiltration substrate onto the inner surfaces of the porous carbon, creating a carbon-silicon composite material that defines the infiltrated infiltration output material 30.5.

[0078] As a further process device of the infiltration furnace system 40, Figure 2 shows a passivation device 12.6 for passivating passivation input material 26.6 with a passivation chamber 14.6, which is housed in a housing 16.6. The passivation device 12.6 also comprises a passivation atmosphere device 22.6, with which a passivation atmosphere 18.6 with a passivation temperature is generated, and a passivation conveying device 28.6, with which passivation input material 26.6 to be passivated is conveyed into the thermal chamber 14.6 and passivated passivation output material 30.6 is conveyed out of the passivation chamber 14.6. In the present embodiment, the passivation atmosphere 18.6 contains or is a hydrocarbon compound. The passivation temperature is in particular between 300°C and 600°C. During the passivation process, hydrocarbons C are produced in particular. x H y. The passivation output material 30.6 is then stabilized carbon-silicon composite material.

[0079] In addition, the infiltration furnace system 40 comprises a process device in the form of a cooling device 12.7 for cooling cooling input material 26.7 with a cooling chamber 14.7, which is housed in a housing 16.7. The cooling device 12.7 further comprises a cooling atmosphere device 22.7, with which a cooling atmosphere 18.7 with a cooling temperature is generated, and a cooling conveyor device 28.7, with which the cooling input material 26.7 to be cooled is conveyed into the cooling chamber 14.7 and the cooled cooling output material 30.7 is conveyed out of the cooling chamber 14.7. The cooling temperature is between 600°C and 30°C and is in any case lower than the temperature at which the cooling input material 26.7 enters the cooling chamber 14.7. Here, the cooling output material 30.7 has a temperature of 30°C after the cooling process. The cooling atmosphere 18.7 is nitrogen N2 in the present embodiment.

[0080] Furthermore, Figure 2 shows, as a process device of the infiltration furnace system 40, yet another alternative passivation device 12.8 for passivating passivation input material 26.8 with a passivation chamber 14.8 housed in a housing 16.8. The passivation device 12.8 further comprises a passivation atmosphere device 22.8, with which a passivation atmosphere 18.8 with a passivation temperature is generated, and a passivation conveyor device 28.8, with which passivation input material 26.8 to be passivated is conveyed into the passivation chamber 14.8 and passivated passivation output material 30.8 is conveyed out of the passivation chamber 14.8. In this passivation device 12.8, the passivation atmosphere 18.8 is or contains air or a nitrogen / air mixture and, in particular, has a passivation temperature between 150°C and 30°C. As passivation output material 30.6, stabilized carbon-silicon composite material is also present. Whenever different process atmospheres with different compositions prevail in a preceding process chamber 14.i and a subsequent process chamber 14.i+1, the associated lock device 32.i is configured to ensure strict atmospheric separation between the two process chambers 14.i and 14.i+1.

[0081] The lock devices 32.4, 32.5 and 32.6 of the infiltration furnace system 40 each define a two-chamber lock or three-gate lock, whereas the lock device 32.7 between the cooling device 12.7 and the alternative passivation device 12.8 again defines a single-chamber lock or two-gate lock.

[0082] The two-chamber locks each have a connecting gate device 64 as mentioned above. The respective lock atmosphere device 70 is configured such that an atmosphere can be generated in the lock inlet chamber 60 that corresponds to the process atmosphere 18.i in the preceding process chamber 14.i, which atmosphere can then be exchanged for an atmosphere that corresponds to the process atmosphere 18.i+1 in the subsequent process chamber 14.i+1. This process atmosphere 18.i+1 is also generated in the lock outlet chamber 62, so that when the connecting gate device 64 is open, a transfer of the process material from the lock inlet chamber 60 to the lock outlet chamber 62 can take place in the process atmosphere 18.i+1 of the subsequent process chamber 14.i+1. The tempering device 12.4 is connected to the infiltration device 12.5 via the lock device 32.4, which in turn is connected to the infiltration device 12.5 via the lock device 32.5 is connected to the passivation device 12.6, which in turn is connected to the cooling device 12.7 via the lock device 32.6.

[0083] At the entrance of the infiltration furnace system 40 is an entrance lock 74, which defines access to the tempering device 12.4. At the exit of the infiltration furnace system 40, and thus in the present embodiment at the exit of the passivation device 12.8, is an exit lock 76.

[0084] The passivation device 12.8 comprises its own conveyor device 28.8 in the form of a push conveyor 50. For this reason, the lock device 32.6 is present between the cooling device 12.7 and the passivation device 12.8, which, in contrast to the locks 32.4, 32.5 and 32.6, is not designed as a two-chamber lock with a connecting gate device in between, but is a single-chamber lock, which is also designed as a transverse conveyor lock to ensure the transfer from the cooling conveyor device 28.7 to the passivation conveyor device 28.8.

[0085] The passivation devices 12.6 and 12.8 can be used selectively for passivation, meaning that the process material can be passivated either in the passivation device 12.6 or in the passivation device 12.8. When the process material is passivated in the passivation device 12.6, the passivation device 12.8 operates in a neutral mode and is filled with an air atmosphere at approximately the same temperature as the preceding cooling chamber 14.7. However, when the process material is passivated in the passivation device 12.8, the passivation device 12.6 operates in a corresponding neutral mode, being filled with a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature that is lower, or becomes successively lower, than the temperature in the preceding infiltration chamber 14.5.

[0086] In the present embodiment, the two-chamber lock 32.5 between the infiltration chamber 14.5 and the passivation chamber 14.6 also ensures that the temperature of the infiltration output material 30.5 is increased; at this temperature, the passivation input material 26.6 is then conveyed into the passivation chamber 14.6. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the two-chamber lock 32.6 between the passivation chamber 14.6 and the cooling chamber 14.7 ensures pre-cooling, during which the temperature of the passivation output material 30.6 is lowered; at this temperature, the cooling input material 26.7 is then conveyed into the cooling chamber 14.7.

[0087] The furnace concept according to the invention enables the battery material manufacturing process, which is characterized by a multitude of process steps with different requirements and in different process atmospheres, to be carried out in an effective, energy- and resource-saving continuous process.

[0088] In a modification not specifically shown, the furnace system 10 can also be completely designed as a

[0089] A complete continuous furnace can be designed in which the two furnace systems 38 and 40 are coupled in terms of conveying and processing technology by a connecting device. In the present embodiment, a lock device can be provided between the activation device 12.3 and the tempering device 12.4, with an intermediate station optionally also being provided to grind the material obtained from the activation process.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. A furnace system for producing battery material, comprising a) a plurality of process devices (12.i) with a respective housing (16.i), in each of which a process chamber (14.i) is accommodated, wherein each process device (12.i) is configured such that, in its process chamber (14.i), a treatment process in which a respective process material is thermally and / or chemothermally treated can be carried out in a process atmosphere (18.i) required for this treatment process; b) an atmosphere system (20) with which, in each process chamber (14.i), the process atmosphere (18.i) required for the respective treatment process to be carried out can be generated; c) a conveyor system (24) by means of which process material is conveyed into a respective process chamber (14.i) as process input material (26.i) to be treated and, after the treatment process carried out in this process chamber (14.i), as treated process output material (30.i) can be conveyed out of this process chamber (14.i); characterized in that d) at least two process chambers (14.i, 14.i+1) are connected to one another by a lock device (32.i), wherein in these process chambers (14.i, 14.i+1) successive treatment processes are carried out in mutually different process atmospheres (18.i, 18.i+1) which differ in their composition, wherein the two process chambers (14.i, 14.i+1) define, with respect to one another, a preceding process chamber (34) for a preceding treatment process and a following process chamber (36) for a subsequent treatment process; e) the conveying system (24) is set up in such a way that the treated process output material (30.i) of the preceding treatment process from the preceding. Process chamber (34i) into the lock device (32.i) and from there as process input material to be treated (26.i+1) for the subsequent treatment process into the subsequent process chamber (36).

2. Furnace system according to claim 1, characterized in that a) the furnace system provides an activation furnace system (38) for the thermal and / or chemothermal treatment of material, which comprises at least two of the following process devices (12.i): a.1) a thermal device (12.1) for the thermal treatment of material with a.1 -1) a housing (16.1) in which a process chamber is accommodated which defines a thermal chamber (14.1); a.1 -2) a thermal atmosphere device (22.1), with which a thermal atmosphere (18.1) with a thermal temperature, in particular a thermal temperature between 30°C and 500°C, can be generated in the thermal chamber (14.1); a.1 -3) a thermal conveying device (28.1), with which process material can be conveyed into the thermal chamber (14.1) as a thermal input material (26.1) to be thermally treated and, after the thermal process, can be conveyed out of the thermal chamber (14.1) again as dried thermal output material (30.1); a.2) a pyrolysis device (12.2) for pyrolyzing material with a.2-1) a housing (16.2) in which a process chamber is accommodated which defines a pyrolysis chamber (14.2); a.2-2) a pyrolysis atmosphere device (22.2) with which a pyrolysis atmosphere with a pyrolysis temperature, in particular with a pyrolysis temperature between 100°C and 1000°C, can be generated in the pyrolysis chamber (14.2); a.2-3) a pyrolysis conveying device (28.2) with which process material as. a pyrolysis input material i(26.2) to be pyrolyzed can be conveyed into the pyrolysis chamber (14.2) and, after the pyrolysis process, can be conveyed out of the pyrolysis chamber (14.2) again as pyrolyzed pyrolysis output material (30.1); a.3) an activation device (12.3) for activating material, comprising a.3-1) a housing (16.3) in which a process chamber is accommodated, which defines an activation chamber (14.3); a.3-2) an activation atmosphere device (22.3), with which an activation atmosphere with an activation temperature, in particular with an activation temperature between 500°C and 1,200°C, can be generated in the activation chamber (14.3); a.3-3) an activation conveyor device (28.3), with which process material is fed into the activation chamber (14.3) as an activation input material (26.3) to be activated and, after the activation process, is fed out of the activation chamber (14.3) again as activated activation output material (30.3).3) can be conveyed out; wherein the preceding process chamber (34) and the subsequent process chamber (36) are formed by the thermal chamber (12.1) and the pyrolysis chamber (12.2) or by the pyrolysis chamber (12.2) and the activation chamber (12.3); and / or b) the furnace system provides an infiltration furnace system (40) for the thermal and / or chemothermal treatment of material, which comprises at least two of the following process devices (12.i): b.1) a tempering device (12.4) for heating material with b.1 -1) a housing (16.4) in which a process chamber is accommodated, which defines a tempering chamber (14.4);. b.1-2) a tempering atmosphere device (22.4), with which a tempering atmosphere (18.4) with a tempering temperature, in particular a tempering temperature between 30°C and 600°C, can be generated in the tempering chamber (14.4); b.1-3) a tempering conveying device (28.4), with which process material can be conveyed into the tempering chamber (14.4) as a tempering input material (26.4) to be heated and, after the tempering process, out of the tempering chamber (14.4) again as heated tempering output material (30.4); b.2) an infiltration device (12.5) for infiltrating a substrate into a material with b.2-1) a housing (16.5) in which a process chamber is accommodated, which defines an infiltration chamber (14.5); b.2-2) an infiltration atmosphere device (22.5), with which an infiltration atmosphere (18.5) can be generated at an infiltration temperature, in particular at an infiltration temperature between 300°C and 600°C; b.2-3) an infiltration conveying device (28.5), with which process material can be conveyed into the infiltration chamber (14.5) as an infiltration input material (26.5) to be infiltrated and, after the infiltration process, out of the infiltration chamber (14.5) again as infiltrated infiltration output material (30.5); b.3) a passivation device (12.6, 12.8) for passivating material, comprising b.3-1) a housing (16.6, 16.8) in which a process chamber is accommodated, which defines a passivation chamber (14.6, 14.8); b.3-2) a passivation atmosphere device (22.6, 22.8) with which a passivation atmosphere is created in the passivation space (14.6, 14.8). (18.6, 18.8) with a passivation temperature; b.3-3) a passivation conveying device (28.6, 28.8), with which process material is fed as an activation input material (26.6, 26.8) into the passivation chamber (14.6, 14.8) and after the passivation process as passivated passivation output material (30.6, 30.8) can be conveyed out of the passivation chamber (14.6, 14.8) again; b.4) a cooling device (12.7) for cooling material with b.4-1) a housing (16.7) in which a process chamber (14.7) is accommodated, which defines a cooling chamber; b.4-2) a cooling atmosphere device (22.7), with which a cooling atmosphere (18.7) with a cooling temperature, in particular with a cooling temperature between 600°C and 30°C, can be generated in the cooling chamber (14.7); b.4-3) a cooling conveyor device (28.7), with which process material can be conveyed into the cooling chamber (14.7) as a cooling input material (26.7) to be cooled and, after the cooling process, out of the cooling chamber (14.7) again as cooled cooling output material (30.7); wherein the preceding process chamber (34) and the following process chamber (36) are connected by the tempering chamber (14.4) and the infiltration chamber (14.5) or the infiltration chamber (14.5) and the passivation chamber (14.6) or by the passivation chamber (14.6) and the cooling chamber (14.7) or by the cooling chamber (14.7) and the passivation chamber (14.8).

3. Furnace system according to claim 2, characterized in that a) the activation furnace system (38) is provided and, in the activation furnace system (38), one, several or all of the lock devices (32.i) between a preceding process chamber (34) and the subsequent process chamber (36) are designed as a single-chamber lock; and / or b) the infiltration furnace system (40) is provided and, in the infiltration furnace system (40), one, several or all of the lock devices (32.i) between a preceding process chamber (34) and the subsequent process chamber (36) are designed as a two-chamber lock.

4. Furnace system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a) the activation furnace system (38) is provided such that the thermal chamber (14.1) forms a first preceding process chamber (34), the pyrolysis chamber (14.2) forms a first subsequent process chamber (36) and a second preceding process chamber (34), and the activation chamber (14.3) forms a second subsequent process chamber (36); and / or b) the infiltration furnace system (40) is provided such that the tempering chamber (14.4) forms a first preceding process chamber (34), the infiltration chamber (14.5) forms a first subsequent process space (36) and a second preceding process space (34), and b1) the passivation space (14.6) forms or can form a second subsequent process space (36) and a third preceding process space (34) and the cooling space (14.7) forms or can form a third subsequent process space (36); or b2) the cooling space (14.7) forms or can form a second subsequent process space (36) and a third preceding process space (34) and the Passivation space (14.8) forms or can form a third subsequent process space (36).

5. Furnace system according to claim 4, characterized in that the infiltration furnace system (40) is provided such that it comprises a first passivation chamber (14.6) and a second passivation chamber (14.8), wherein the first passivation chamber (14.6) is connected to the cooling chamber (14.7) by a lock device (32.6) and the cooling chamber (14.7) is connected to the second passivation chamber (14.8) by a lock device (32.7).

6. Furnace system according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the activation furnace system (38) is provided in such a way that in the activation space (14.3) in the conveying direction several process zones are defined in which different temperatures are generated and maintained.

7. Furnace system according to claim 6, characterized in that the process zones of the activation space (14.3) comprise an activation zone (56) in which the activation temperature prevails, and one or more cooling zones (58) in each of which a lower temperature than the activation temperature prevails.

8. Furnace system according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that, if the respective process device (12.i) is present, a) the thermal atmosphere device (22.1) provides an inert gas atmosphere, in particular an atmosphere of nitrogen N2, as the thermal atmosphere (18.1); and / or b) the pyrolysis atmosphere device (22.2) provides an inert gas atmosphere, in particular an atmosphere of nitrogen N2, as the pyrolysis atmosphere (18.2); and / or c) the activation atmosphere device (22.3) is or contains an oxide compound as the activation atmosphere (18.3); and / or d) the tempering atmosphere device (22.4) as tempering atmosphere (18.4) is a inert gas atmosphere, in particular an atmosphere of nitrogen N2; and / or e) the infiltration atmosphere device (22.5) provides an atmosphere as the infiltration atmosphere (18.5) which in turn provides silicon or a silicon compound as the infiltration substrate; and / or f) the passivation atmosphere device (22.6, 22.8) provides a passivation atmosphere (18.6) as the passivation atmosphere (18.6, 18.8) which contains or is a hydrocarbon compound and in particular has a passivation temperature of between 300°C and 600°C, or a passivation atmosphere (18.8) which contains or is air or a nitrogen / air mixture and in particular has a passivation temperature of between 30°C and 150°C; and / or g) the cooling atmosphere device (22.7) provides nitrogen N2 as the cooling atmosphere (18.7).

9. A method for producing battery material in a furnace system, in which a respective process material is treated thermally and / or chemothermally in a treatment process in several process devices (12.i), characterized in that a furnace system according to one of claims 1 to 8 is used.

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