Lithium Metal Extrusion Barrel Layout for Continuous Inert Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing processes for producing battery-grade lithium strips face high safety risks, high production and transportation costs due to the reactivity of lithium metal, and difficulties in removing residual lithium from the extrusion barrel, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for preparing lithium metal products that includes a lithium storage tank, extrusion barrel, and extrusion mechanism, utilizing vacuum pumps and inert gas to prevent oxidation, continuous production, and a heating mechanism to facilitate easy removal of residual lithium from the barrel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lithium metal is cast into molds and demolded in an argon-filled glove box to prevent oxidation and nitridation, then the lithium metal quality is improved, but the production cost and safety risks increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an argon-filled glove box as the processing environment to prevent lithium metal from contacting oxygen and nitrogen. The entire casting and demolding process occurs within this inert atmosphere, eliminating oxidation and nitridation reactions while maintaining lithium metal quality without requiring complex external protection systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the processing system into distinct functional zones: the glove box for inert atmosphere protection, the mold cavity for casting, and the demolding area. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability and preventing contamination.
2Reliability
If lithium ingots are packaged and stored before transportation to extrusion equipment, then the lithium metal is protected from oxidation, but the time cost and production efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the storage function with the processing function by keeping lithium ingots in the argon-filled glove box from casting through storage to extrusion. This eliminates the need for separate packaging and unpacking steps, as the glove box serves as both protection environment and processing workspace, significantly reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous processing by maintaining the lithium metal in the inert atmosphere throughout the entire workflow. The glove box remains sealed and pressurized with argon, allowing uninterrupted transfer of lithium ingots from casting to extrusion without breaking the protective atmosphere, thus eliminating idle time for repackaging and re protection.
3Productivity
If the extrusion mechanism extrudes lithium metal from the extrusion barrel, then the lithium strip is produced, but residual lithium remains on the inner wall making removal extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the extrusion barrel within the argon-filled glove box, creating an inert atmosphere that prevents oxidation of residual lithium on the barrel walls. This allows for safer and easier removal of residual lithium, as it does not form hard-to-remove oxide scales, and enables more frequent cleaning cycles without safety concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical environment parameter by maintaining argon atmosphere during and after extrusion. This prevents the formation of oxidized lithium residues that are difficult to remove, keeping the residual lithium in a softer, more easily removable state and simplifying the cleaning 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
Enables continuous production of lithium products, reduces oxidation risks, conserves resources, and enhances production efficiency by simplifying the removal of residual lithium, thereby reducing labor and time costs.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum environment is created in an extrusion barrel
Implementation Method 2
a heating mechanism to facilitate easy removal of residual lithium from the barrel
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present disclosure belongs to the field of lithium metal product production technology, and particularly relates to a device and method for preparing lithium metal products, which enables continuous production of lithium products, wherein an extrusion barrel is vertically disposed, with openings upward, an extrusion mechanism has a vertically disposed push rod, which protrudes into an inner cavity of the extrusion barrel through an opening on an upper end of the extrusion barrel, and a lower end of the push rod is connected with a pressing plate adapted to the inner cavity of the extrusion barrel; a base plate of the extrusion barrel is provided with an openable/closable lithium product outlet; a first lithium conveying pipe is arranged at a feed port of a lithium storage tank, and a discharge port of the lithium storage tank communicates with the feed port of the extrusion barrel through a second lithium conveying pipe; and an initial position of the pressing plate is located above the feed port of the extrusion barrel, and a first gate valve is arranged on the second lithium conveying pipe. The lithium metal can be effectively prevented from being oxidized or nitrided by reducing an ingot casting process thereof, thereby enabling resource conservation. This facilitates removal of the lithium metal adhering to an inner wall of the extrusion barrel, thereby enabling convenient operation and labor savings as well as enhancing production efficiency.