Reaction device and method for producing reaction product
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-06
Smart Images
Figure JP2026002145_06082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Reaction Device and Method for Producing Reaction Product
[0001] The present invention relates to a reaction device and a method for producing a reaction product.
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a reaction device having a cylindrical reactor. The reactor includes a supply port for receiving raw materials and a discharge port for reaction products. By rotating a screw provided inside the reactor, the raw materials are conveyed from the supply port to the discharge port. Further, a motor for rotating the screw is provided outside the reactor.
[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-21677
[0004] In such a reaction device, a pipe for supplying gas is connected to the reactor. By rotating the screw while supplying a predetermined gas, the reaction of the raw materials is promoted. However, gas may leak from the bearing portion of the screw. For example, if the bearing portion wears out, the gas supplied into the reactor may leak.
[0005] In this case, since the pressure of the gas in the reactor fluctuates, there is a possibility of affecting the process. Furthermore, when a gas that affects the external environment is being supplied or generated, it is desirable to prevent the outflow of the gas to the outside. Therefore, it is preferable to detect the leak at an early stage.
[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and provides a reaction device for efficiently producing a desired reaction product, a method for producing a reaction product, and the like.
[0007] The reaction apparatus according to this disclosure comprises: a cylindrical reactor having a raw material supply port and a reaction product outlet; a screw provided inside the reactor and rotating to transport the raw material from the supply port to the outlet; a heater for heating the reactor; a fluid supply pipe provided for supplying fluid to the inside of the reactor; a drive mechanism for rotating the screw; a holding member disposed outside the reactor and rotatably holding the shaft of the screw; a sealing member provided between the holding member and the shaft so as to form a sealing space around the shaft; a monitoring gas supply pipe for supplying monitoring gas to the sealing space; a sensor for measuring the amount of monitoring gas supplied to the sealing space or the pressure inside the sealing space; and a detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of an abnormality based on the measurement result of the sensor.
[0008] The method for producing a reaction product according to the present disclosure is a method for producing a reaction product using a reaction apparatus comprising: a cylindrical reaction furnace having a raw material supply port and a reaction product outlet; a screw provided inside the reaction furnace and rotating to transport the raw material from the supply port to the outlet; a heater for heating the reaction furnace; a fluid supply pipe provided for supplying fluid to the inside of the reaction furnace; a drive mechanism for rotating the screw; a holding member disposed outside the reaction furnace and rotatably holding the shaft of the screw; a sealing member provided between the holding member and the shaft so as to form a sealing space around the shaft; and a monitoring gas supply pipe for supplying monitoring gas to the sealing space, wherein monitoring gas is supplied to the sealing space, and a sensor monitors the amount of monitoring gas supplied to the sealing space or the pressure inside the sealing space, and the presence or absence of an abnormality is detected based on the monitoring results of the sensor.
[0009] This disclosure provides a reaction apparatus and the like that can efficiently produce a desired reaction product.
[0010] This is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the reactor according to Embodiment 1. This is a block diagram of the reactor according to Embodiment 1. This is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the reactor according to Embodiment 2. This is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the reactor according to Embodiment 3.
[0011] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the invention claimed is not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described in the embodiments are necessarily essential as means of solving the problem. For clarity of explanation, the following descriptions and drawings have been omitted and simplified as appropriate. In each drawing, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations have been omitted where necessary.
[0012] <Embodiment 1> The main configuration of the reaction apparatus according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a side view of the reaction apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 1. The reaction apparatus 10 shown in the figure is shown with a portion cut out for ease of understanding. The reaction apparatus 10 is an apparatus for producing reaction products by applying predetermined physical stimuli and other conditions to, for example, a powder or granular raw material. The type and state of the raw material and reaction product are not particularly limited, but they may be inorganic substances such as metal oxides or metal sulfides containing lithium as one of their components, or organic substances such as hydrocarbons. Furthermore, the shape and size of the raw material and reaction product are not particularly limited, but if the shape is in the form of a lump, the diagonal length is preferably 0.1 mm to 50 mm, and more preferably 1 to 20 mm. Furthermore, if the shape of the raw material or reaction product is in the form of a lump, the ratio of the diagonal lengths (aspect ratio) is preferably 1 to 10, and more preferably 1.3 to 1.8. The reactor 10 mainly consists of a reactor 100, a temperature control area 110, a screw 120, a first fluid control area 130, and a second fluid control area 140.
[0013] In the following explanation, we will use the XYZ three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. The axial direction of the reaction apparatus 10 is defined as the Z direction, and the cross-section perpendicular to the Z direction is defined as the XY plane. The +Y direction is defined as the vertically upward direction, and the -Y direction is defined as the vertically downward direction. Here, the Z direction is described as being horizontal, but it may also be inclined vertically. Furthermore, the direction from the -Z side to the +Z side is the direction of transport for the raw material R10 and the reaction product.
[0014] The reactor 100 is a cylindrical furnace having a supply port 101 at one end (-Z side) for receiving the raw materials and a discharge port 102 at the other end (+Z side) for discharging the reaction products. 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 reaction products inside the furnace and contact with substances supplied into the furnace. For example, the reactor 100 may be made of an alloy mainly composed of nickel or chromium or ceramics containing alumina. Also, for example, the screw 120 may be made of an alloy mainly composed of nickel or chromium or ceramics containing alumina.
[0015] The reactor 10 shown in Figure 1 lies horizontally and has a supply port 101 at its upper left end and a discharge port 102 at its lower right end. The reactor 100 shown in Figure 1 receives the raw material R10 from the supply port 101. The reactor 10 propels the raw material R10 received by the reactor 100 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 intermediate 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 intermediate section of the reactor 100. The reactor 100 then discharges the produced reaction product R11 from the discharge port 102.
[0016] The feeder 180 is a raw material supply mechanism that supplies raw material R10 to the reactor 100 via the supply port 101. For example, a screw-type feeder, a table-type feeder, a vibrating feeder, or a circular feeder can be used as the feeder 180. For example, the feeder 180 drops powdered raw material R10 from above toward the supply port 101. The feeder 180 supplies the raw material R10 into the reactor 100 at a constant supply rate.
[0017] The temperature control region 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 section between the supply port 101 and the outlet port 102. The temperature control region 110 shown in Figure 1 has a heating device that surrounds the cylindrical reactor 100 in the intermediate section of the reactor 100. The heating device includes any temperature-controllable heater, such as a sheath heater, coil heater, or ceramic heater. The heating device heats in a range from room temperature to about 800 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, the temperature control region 110 can set different temperatures in each intermediate section of the reactor 100 along the axial direction of the screw 120, which will be described later. For example, the temperature control region 110 can control the temperature change applied to the raw material R10 in the first fluid control region 130 and the second fluid control region 140, which will be described later.
[0018] The temperature control region 110 may also include a control device for controlling a heating device or a cooling device. For example, the temperature control region 110 may have a thermometer at a predetermined location in the reactor 100 for monitoring the temperature. Alternatively, if the reactor 100 has a heating device that heats by passing an electric current, the temperature may be controlled by monitoring the current value.
[0019] The temperature control region 110 may have a configuration that performs heating or cooling by circulating, for example, water or oil. Alternatively, the temperature control region 110 may have a configuration that performs cooling using, for example, a Peltier element. With the above configuration, the temperature control region 110 can set various temperature distributions along the axial direction of the screw 120 in the reactor 100.
[0020] The screw 120 extends from one end to the other of the reactor 100, rotating to transport the raw material R10 supplied from the supply port 101 toward the discharge port 102. The screw 120 shown in Figure 1 comprises a convex portion (flight) 121 and a shaft 122. The shaft 122 is a cylindrical member extending in the Z direction. That is, the axial direction of the shaft 122 is parallel to the axial direction of the reactor 100. The convex portion 121 is a flight that protrudes outward from the cylindrical shaft 122.
[0021] The protrusion 121 is formed spirally around the shaft 122, which extends in the left-right direction. As this protrusion 121 rotates while in contact with the raw material R10, the screw 120 conveys the raw material R10 from the -Z side to the +Z right side.
[0022] Note that the shape of the protrusion 121 shown in Figure 1 is just one example, and the shape of the protrusion 121 is not limited to this. The protrusion 121 may have different shapes in each region of the reactor 100. More specifically, for example, the pitch of the spiral of the protrusion 121 may vary. Also, the spiral shape of the protrusion 121 may have two spirals instead of one. Furthermore, the protrusion 121 may have parts that are not spiral-shaped. This allows the reaction apparatus 10 to set the speed at which objects move and their behavior when moving in each region of the reactor 100. More specifically, for example, the reaction apparatus 10 transports, stirs, mixes, kneads, or grinds objects in the reactor 100.
[0023] The screw 120 is pivotally supported at both ends of the reactor 100. For example, bearings 151 that rotatably support the screw 120 are provided at both ends of the reactor 100. The screw 120 shown in Figure 1 is connected to a drive mechanism 150 on the side of the supply port 101. The drive mechanism 150 has a predetermined rotation mechanism such as a motor and rotates the screw 120. The drive mechanism 150 may be set to allow for variable speed control of the rotation speed of the screw 120. In this case, the drive mechanism 150 may be a motor with a variable rotation speed, or it may be a combination of a motor with a constant rotation speed and a speed reducer with a changeable reduction ratio.
[0024] A bearing section 170 is provided between the reactor 100 and the drive mechanism 150. The bearing section 170 rotatably supports the screw 120. The bearing section 170 is installed on the -Z end face of the reactor 100. The bearing section 170 includes a retaining member 171 and a sealing member 172.
[0025] The holding member 171 is positioned outside the reactor 100 and rotatably holds the shaft 122. For example, the holding member 171 is fixed to the -Z end face of the reactor 100. The shaft 122 passes through the holding member 171. In other words, the holding member 171 has a through hole through which the shaft 122 is inserted. The tip portion of the shaft 122 that protrudes further towards the -Z side than the holding member 171 is connected to the drive mechanism 150.
[0026] A sealing member 172 is positioned between the shaft 122 and the retaining member 171. It is provided between the retaining member 171 and the shaft 122 so that the space around the shaft 122 becomes a sealing space 174. The sealing member 172 is a ring-shaped elastic member through which the shaft 122 is inserted. The sealing member 172 can be an O-ring, X-ring, lip ring, etc.
[0027] The outer circumferential surface of the sealing member 172 is in contact with the retaining member 171. The inner circumferential surface of the sealing member 172 is in contact with the shaft 122. The sealing member 172 forms a sealing space 174 between the retaining member 171 and the shaft 122. In other words, the sealing space 174 is a sealed space surrounded by the shaft 122, the retaining member 171, and the two sealing members 172.
[0028] As described above, the sealing member 172 is housed within the retaining member 171. The retaining member 171 supports the shaft 122 via the sealing member 172. The shaft 122 rotates within the sealing member 172 when driven by the drive mechanism 150. Lubricating grease may be provided between the sealing member 172 and the shaft 122.
[0029] Here, two sealing members 172 are provided around the shaft 122. The two sealing members 172 are spaced apart in the Z direction. The space between the two sealing members 172 becomes the sealing space 174.
[0030] A monitoring gas is supplied to the seal space 174 to monitor for leaks. Specifically, a gas pipe 176 is connected to the retaining member 171. The gas pipe 176 is connected to the outer surface of the retaining member 171. The monitoring gas from the gas pipe 176 passes through the inside of the retaining member 171 and communicates with the seal space 174. The monitoring gas supplied from the gas pipe 176 reaches the seal space 174. The monitoring gas is an inert gas such as nitrogen. It is preferable that the monitoring gas is a different gas from the reaction gas supplied to the reactor 100 or the generated gas produced by the chemical reaction in the reactor 100.
[0031] Sensor 179 is a flow sensor that measures the flow rate of the monitoring gas. The monitoring gas is supplied to the seal space 174 at a constant pressure. If the sealing member 172 is worn, gas will leak from the seal space 174. Therefore, the amount of gas supplied increases in order to maintain a constant pressure in the seal space 174. Thus, by monitoring the gas flow rate, it is possible to detect whether or not there is a leak.
[0032] When the sensor 179 measures the gas flow rate, the control device 200, described later, detects whether or not there is an abnormality based on the measured gas flow rate and its variation. For example, if the amount of leakage increases, the measured gas flow rate will fluctuate. Therefore, by monitoring the measured gas flow rate and its variation, the presence or absence of a leak can be detected.
[0033] Alternatively, the sensor 179 may be a pressure sensor instead of a flow sensor. In this case, the sensor 179 becomes a pressure sensor that measures the pressure in the seal space 174. For example, gas is supplied to the seal space 174 at a constant flow rate. If a leak occurs due to wear of the seal member 172, the pressure in the seal space 174 decreases. Therefore, the presence or absence of a leak can be detected by the sensor 179 measuring the pressure.
[0034] If gas from inside the reactor 100 leaks to the outside of the reactor 100, it can affect the process. For example, a chemical reaction inside the reactor 100 may generate gases that affect the outside. If gas leaks, maintenance such as replacing parts is necessary. Therefore, the control device 200 notifies the user of the leak.
[0035] Furthermore, the holding member 171 may be a cooling block having a cooling pipe 175. For example, the cooling pipe 175 is a through-hole that penetrates into the holding member 171. Cooling water circulates through the cooling pipe 175. This allows the holding member 171 to be cooled. Therefore, damage to the sealing member 172 and the drive mechanism 150 due to heat from the reactor 100 or the like can be suppressed.
[0036] The first fluid control region 130 includes a first fluid inlet 131 and a first fluid outlet 132 for passing the first fluid into the reactor 100 in a predetermined region in the intermediate part. The first fluid control region 130 is located in the reactor 100 between the supply port 101 and the second fluid control region 140. The first fluid inlet 131 is connected to the first fluid supply pipe 133 and supplies the first fluid supplied from the first fluid supply pipe 133 to the reactor 100. The first fluid supply pipe 133 includes a first valve 134 for adjusting the flow rate of the first fluid. The first fluid outlet 132 is a hole for discharging the fluid from the first fluid control region 130 to the outside of the reactor 100.
[0037] With the above configuration, the reactor 10 reacts the raw material R10 with the first fluid in the first fluid control region 130 to produce an intermediate product. The reactor 10 also discharges the fluid after the reaction to the outside of the first fluid control region 130. Furthermore, the reactor 10 can promote the reaction with the first fluid by transporting the raw material R10 or reaction product with the rotating screw 120 and bringing it into contact with the first fluid. The first fluid may be a gas or a liquid.
[0038] The second fluid control region 140 includes a second fluid inlet 141 and a second fluid outlet 142 for allowing the second fluid to pass through a region different from the first fluid control region 130 in the intermediate section. In other words, the second fluid control region 140 may have the same configuration as the first fluid control region 130 in a region different from the first fluid control region 130.
[0039] The second fluid control region 140 is located in the reactor 100 between the first fluid control region 130 and the outlet 102. The second fluid inlet 141 is connected to the second fluid supply pipe 143, and the second fluid supplied from the second fluid supply pipe 143 is supplied to the reactor 100. The second fluid supply pipe 143 includes a second valve 144 for adjusting the flow rate of the second fluid. The second fluid outlet 142 is a hole for discharging the fluid from the second fluid control region 140 to the outside of the reactor 100.
[0040] With the above configuration, the reactor 10 reacts the intermediate material 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 fluid after the reaction to the outside of the second fluid control region 140. The second fluid may be a gas or a liquid.
[0041] For example, reaction gases that chemically react with the raw material R10 may be supplied as the first and second fluids. The reaction gases may be ethylene gas, hydrogen gas, etc. In this example, fluid (gas) is supplied to the reactor 100 through two systems, the first fluid control region 130 and the second fluid control region 140, but the fluid supplied to the reactor 100 may be from only one system.
[0042] The configuration of the reaction apparatus 10 has been described above, but the reaction apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 1 is not limited to the above configuration. For example, there may be two or more screws 120, as long as there is one or more. That is, the reaction apparatus 10 may have a plurality of screws 120 arranged in parallel.
[0043] The cross-sectional shape in a plane orthogonal to the axis of the screw 120 of the reactor 100 may have a combination defined by a constant-width figure of a rouleau. In this case, the cross-sectional shape of the convex portion 121 of the screw 120 has a shape formed by combining a plurality of arcs corresponding to the constant-width figure of the rouleau. For example, when the cross-sectional shape inside the reactor 100 is circular, the cross-sectional shape of the screw 120 has a rouleau constant-width figure composed of three arcs.
[0044] The reactor 100 is not limited to lying horizontally parallel, may have a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane, and the reactor 100 may have an inclined surface. The reaction device 10 has the first fluid control region 130 and the second fluid control region 140 in the middle part, but may further have a configuration for allowing another fluid to pass through. That is, the reaction device 10 may have three or more fluid control regions. Note that the above-described reaction device 10 is controlled by the control device 200.
[0045] Next, referring to FIG. 2, the function of the reaction device 10 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the reaction device 10 according to the first embodiment. In addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the reaction device 10 has a temperature control device 210, a first fluid control device 230, a second fluid control device 240, and an information input / output device 250.
[0046] The control device 200 is a circuit board including an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a MCU (Micro Controller Unit). The control device 200 is communicably connected to each of the sensor 179, the temperature control device 210, the first fluid control device 230, the second fluid control device 240, and the information input / output device 250, and controls the configuration of each of them. The control device 200 realizes its function by hardware and software mounted on the circuit board.
[0047] As the main functional components, the control device 200 includes 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, a memory unit 207, and a detection unit 208. These functional components of the control device 200 may be integrated or discrete. Also, these functional components of the control device 200 may be realized by the interlocking of a plurality of separate devices.
[0048] The overall control unit 201 is connected to each functional component of the control device 200 and controls the overall operation of these functions. For example, the overall control unit 201 can perform operations such as giving an operation instruction to the screw rotation control unit 203 according to the temperature state supplied from the temperature control unit 202.
[0049] The temperature control unit 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 unit 202 has at least one of a heating device and a cooling device. Also, the temperature control unit 202 may have one or more thermometers for controlling the temperature.
[0050] The screw rotation control unit 203 is connected to the drive mechanism 150 and controls the operation of the drive mechanism 150. The screw rotation control unit 203 may have, for example, a motor drive circuit for driving the motor of the drive mechanism 150. Also, the screw rotation control unit 203 may have a rotation sensor for monitoring the rotation speed of the motor.
[0051] The first fluid control unit 204 controls the flow of the first fluid in the first fluid control region 130. More specifically, the first fluid control unit 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 unit 205 controls the flow of the second fluid in the second fluid control region 140. More specifically, the second fluid control unit 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.
[0052] The IF control unit 206 (IF = Interface) is connected to the information input / output device 250 and is an interface for exchanging information with the user via the information input / output device 250. In other words, the IF control unit 206 receives operations from the user via the information input / output device 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 the display unit of the information input / output device 250.
[0053] The storage unit 207 is a storage device that includes non-volatile memory such as flash memory or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 207 stores a program for the reaction device 10 to realize the functions described in this disclosure. The storage unit 207 also includes volatile memory and temporarily stores predetermined information when the control device 200 is operating. The information input / output device 250 has, for example, buttons, switches, or a touch panel for receiving operations from the user. The information input / output device 250 also includes a display device for presenting information to the user.
[0054] The functional blocks of the reaction apparatus 10 have been described above. With the above configuration, the reaction apparatus 10 transports the received raw material R10 by 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.
[0055] Furthermore, the detection unit 208 acquires measurement results from the sensor 179 and detects whether or not there is an abnormality. Based on the measurement results, the detection unit 208 determines whether or not there is a leak. It acquires data on the gas flow rate or pressure value measured by the sensor 179. For example, the detection unit 208 compares the measured value of the sensor 179 with a threshold and determines whether or not there is a leak based on the comparison result. Alternatively, the detection unit 208 detects whether or not there is a leak based on the time change or variability of the measured value.
[0056] The detection unit 208 may perform processing to notify the user of the leak if it detects a leak. The detection unit 208 notifies the user of the leak via the IF control unit 206. For example, if a leak occurs, the detection unit 208 performs processing to output an alarm or message. Specifically, the detection unit 208 outputs a detection signal to the IF control unit 206 indicating that an abnormality has been detected.
[0057] For example, the information input / output device 250 has a display for displaying messages. In this case, when the detection unit 208 outputs a detection signal to the IF control unit 206, the IF control unit 206 causes the information input / output device 250 to display a message. The message may indicate that a leak has occurred, or it may indicate that maintenance is needed for the bearing unit 170 or that it is time to replace a part.
[0058] Alternatively, the information input / output device 250 has a speaker and a light for outputting an alarm. When the detection unit 208 outputs a detection signal to the IF control unit 206, the IF control unit 206 outputs an alarm sound from the speaker. Alternatively, it outputs an alarm by flashing a light. Furthermore, if a leak occurs, the detection unit 208 may make the reaction device 10 make an emergency stop. In this case, the detection unit 208 will stop the supply of raw material R10 or stop the rotation of the screw 120.
[0059] Embodiment 1 has been described above. In the above-described reactor 10, the reactor 10 has two fluid control regions (first fluid control region 130 and second fluid control region 140), but the reactor 10 may have three or more fluid control regions. Alternatively, the reactor 10 may have only one fluid control region.
[0060] Furthermore, the reaction apparatus 10 may have multiple temperature control regions 110 along the axial direction of the screw 120. The reaction apparatus 10 described above brings multiple fluids into contact separately with the raw material R10 received from the supply port 101 in the intermediate section. The reaction apparatus 10 also controls the temperature of the reactor 100 along the axial direction of the screw 120 in the intermediate section. Furthermore, the reaction apparatus 10 can transport objects inside the reactor 100 and provide physical stimulation such as stirring and kneading. The reaction apparatus 10 can perform the above-mentioned atmosphere control, temperature control, and physical control simultaneously and with high precision. Therefore, according to Embodiment 1, it is possible to provide a reaction apparatus that can efficiently manufacture a desired product.
[0061] <Embodiment 2> Next, Embodiment 2 will be described. Figure 3 is a side view of the reaction apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 2. In Embodiment 2, the configuration of the bearing portion 170 and the seal space 174 differs from that of Embodiment 1. The basic configuration of the reaction apparatus 10 is the same as in Embodiment 1, so the explanation will be omitted as appropriate.
[0062] As shown in Figure 3, a cover 177 is provided to cover the drive mechanism 150. The cover 177 is attached to the retaining member 171. The drive mechanism 150 is housed inside the cover 177. Also in Figure 3, a seal member 172 is provided between the retaining member 171 and the shaft 122.
[0063] Therefore, not only the space between the shaft 122 and the retaining member 171, but also the internal space of the cover 177 becomes the sealing space 174. In other words, the space between the shaft 122 and the retaining member 171 and the internal space of the cover 177 are in communication, and this communication space becomes the sealing space 174. The space between the retaining member 171, which is on the drive mechanism 150 side (-Z side) of the sealing member 172, and the shaft 122 becomes the sealing space 174, and the space around the drive mechanism 150 also becomes the sealing space 174.
[0064] In this embodiment, the internal space of the cover 177 that covers the drive mechanism 150 is connected to the space between the shaft 122 and the retaining member 171, forming a seal space 174. The sensor 179 measures the amount of gas supplied to the seal space 174 or the pressure in the seal space 174. In this way, the detection unit 208 can detect whether or not there is a leak.
[0065] <Embodiment 3> Next, Embodiment 3 will be described. Figure 4 is a side view of the reaction apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 3. In Embodiment 3, the configuration of the bearing portion 170 differs from that of Embodiment 1. The basic configuration of the reaction apparatus 10 is the same as in Embodiment 1, so the explanation will be omitted as appropriate.
[0066] In Embodiment 3, a gas cooler 178 is provided in the middle of the gas piping 176. The gas cooler 178 cools the monitor gas supplied to the seal space 174. By supplying cooled monitor gas to the seal space 174, the retaining member 171 and the seal member 172 can be cooled. This makes it possible to suppress damage to the seal member 172 and the drive mechanism 150 due to heat from the reactor 100 and the like. The sensor 179 measures the pressure in the seal space 174.
[0067] In Figure 4, the holding member 171 is not provided with a cooling pipe 175, but cooling by a cooling pipe 175 may be performed. In other words, both cooling by circulating cooling water and cooling by gas may be performed. Also, in the configurations of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, a gas cooler 178 may be provided.
[0068] The reaction apparatus 10 according to Embodiments 1 to 3 can be applied to a method for producing reactants. The reaction apparatus 10 can efficiently produce, for example, a desired battery material, a battery, or a predetermined material. The reaction apparatus 10 can produce a solid electrolyte as a reaction product. Furthermore, Embodiments 1 to 3 can be appropriately combined with other embodiments.
[0069] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0070] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-012757, filed on 29 January 2025, and incorporates all of its disclosures herein.
[0071] 10 Reactor 100 Reactor 101 Supply port 102 Outlet port 110 Temperature control area 120 Screw 121 Protrusion (flight) 122 Shaft 130 First fluid control area 131 First fluid inlet 132 First fluid outlet 133 First fluid supply pipe 134 First valve 135 First fluid outlet pipe 140 Second fluid control area 141 Second fluid inlet 142 Second fluid outlet 143 Second fluid supply pipe 144 Second valve 145 Second fluid outlet pipe 150 Drive mechanism 151 Bearing 170 Bearing part 171 Retaining member 172 Seal member 174 Seal space 175 Cooling pipe 177 Cover 178 Gas cooler 179 Sensor 200 Control device
Claims
1. A reaction apparatus comprising: a cylindrical reactor having a raw material supply port and a reaction product outlet; a screw provided inside the reactor and rotating to transport the raw material from the supply port to the outlet; a heater for heating the reactor; a fluid supply pipe provided for supplying fluid to the inside of the reactor; a drive mechanism for rotating the screw; a holding member disposed outside the reactor and rotatably holding the shaft of the screw; a sealing member provided between the holding member and the shaft so as to form a sealing space around the shaft; a monitoring gas supply pipe for supplying monitoring gas to the sealing space; a sensor for measuring the amount of monitoring gas supplied to the sealing space or the pressure inside the sealing space; and a detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of an abnormality based on the measurement result of the sensor.
2. The reaction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein two seal members are provided between the holding member and the shaft, the two seal members are spaced apart in the axial direction of the shaft, and the space between the two seal members constitutes the seal space.
3. The reaction apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a cover housing the drive mechanism is attached to the retaining member, and the space between the shaft on the drive mechanism side of the sealing member and the retaining member and the space inside the cover constitute the sealing space.
4. The reaction apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the holding member is cooled.
5. The reaction apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a gas cooler for cooling the monitor gas.
6. The reaction apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the holding member is provided with a cooling pipe.
7. The reaction apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: a feeder for supplying the raw materials to the reactor through the supply port; at least one temperature control region including a heating device or a cooling device for controlling the temperature of the reactor at a predetermined position in the intermediate portion between the supply port and the outlet; and at least one fluid control region in the predetermined region in the intermediate portion including a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet for passing a first fluid into the reactor.
8. A method for producing a reaction product using a reaction apparatus comprising: a cylindrical reaction furnace having a raw material supply port and a reaction product discharge port; a screw provided inside the reaction furnace and rotating to transport the raw material from the supply port to the discharge port; a heater for heating the reaction furnace; a fluid supply pipe provided for supplying fluid to the inside of the reaction furnace; a drive mechanism for rotating the screw; a holding member disposed outside the reaction furnace and rotatably holding the shaft of the screw; a sealing member provided between the holding member and the shaft so as to form a sealing space around the shaft; and a monitoring gas supply pipe for supplying monitoring gas to the sealing space, wherein monitoring gas is supplied to the sealing space, the amount of monitoring gas supplied to the sealing space or the pressure inside the sealing space is monitored by a sensor, and the presence or absence of an abnormality is detected based on the monitoring results of the sensor.
9. The method for producing a reaction product according to claim 8, wherein two seal members are provided between the holding member and the shaft, the two seal members are spaced apart in the axial direction of the shaft, and the space between the two seal members is the seal space.
10. The method for producing a reaction product according to claim 8 or 9, wherein a cover for housing the drive mechanism is attached to the retaining member, and the space between the shaft on the drive mechanism side of the sealing member and the retaining member and the space inside the cover constitute the sealing space.
11. The method for producing a reaction product according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the holding member is cooled.
12. The method for producing a reaction product according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the monitor gas is cooled by a gas cooler.
13. The method for producing a reaction product according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the holding member is provided with a cooling pipe.
14. A method for producing a reaction product according to any one of claims 8 to 13, comprising: supplying the raw material to the reactor through the supply port; controlling the temperature at a predetermined position in the intermediate section between the supply port and the outlet port in the reactor; and passing a first fluid through a fluid control region provided in the intermediate section to the reactor.