Thin-Film Evaporation for LiFSI Drying and Solvent Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing water from lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide are complex and ineffective in separating and recovering solvents, leading to impurity residues and degraded battery performance.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage thin film evaporator system with a water separator and drying device, utilizing liquid level sensors and temperature/pressure controls, to purify lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide and recover solvents efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If dehydrating agents are added to remove moisture, then water removal is achieved, but impurity residues are generated and manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts water and solvents from the crude product through evaporation and separation processes, obtaining high-purity lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide without adding dehydrating agents that would leave impurity residues
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes evaporation phase transition to remove water and solvents from the crude product, transforming the liquid mixture into a concentrated solution that can be separated through phase changes without chemical additives
2Manufacturing precision
If existing purification systems are used, then lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide purification is achieved, but device complexity increases and solvent recovery is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the purification process into distinct functional units: a first thin film evaporator for initial evaporation, a water separator for water-solvent separation, and a second thin film evaporator for final concentration, making the system more manageable and efficient
Solution Approach 2:
The water separator serves multiple functions simultaneously: separating water from solvents, recovering solvents for reuse, and concentrating the lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide solution, thereby reducing the need for additional separate equipment
3Manufacturing precision
If existing purification systems are used, then lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide purification is achieved, but loss of substance increases due to lack of solvent recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers solvents from the evaporation process and water separator output, allowing them to be reused in subsequent processing steps, thereby minimizing solvent loss and reducing waste
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a continuous process where solvents recovered from the water separator are fed back into the evaporation system, maintaining continuous useful action and maximizing solvent utilization throughout the purification process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Achieves high-purity lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide with moisture content below 50 ppm and solvent recovery with less than 2% organic phase solvents, simplifying the system structure and reducing energy consumption by 20%.
Implementation Method 1
a first thin film evaporator comprising a first feed port, a first light component discharge port, and a first heavy component discharge port
Implementation Method 2
the first light component discharge port is in communication with the water separator
Implementation Method 3
a water separator configured to separate water and organic phase solvents for recovery respectively
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is provided with water removal and recovery system and method for lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide. Specifically, the purification of lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide crude products is achieved by two-stage thin film evaporators in series, thereby acquiring lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide with sufficiently high purity with a relatively simple structure. The thin film evaporators themselves integrate the evaporation system and the condensation system, which not only simplifies the system configuration of connecting pipelines or tubs, but also lowers resistance and reduces the risk of system leakage. Furthermore, the solvents and water after evaporation can be effectively separated by a water separator, such that the content of organic phase solvents in the separated water is very low, and the content of water in the organic phase solvents is also very low. This allows for the maximum recovery of high-purity solvent for reuse, thereby facilitating the reduction of wastewater treatment costs.