Local Injection Devices for Thermal Treatment of Battery Cathode Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal treatment apparatuses for materials, such as battery cathode materials, face challenges in maintaining a defined process gas flow and temperature distribution, leading to incomplete reactions and increased wear due to unsatisfactory control over atmospheric conditions and thermal stresses.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs multiple local injection devices with adjustable nozzles to deliver process gas streams in defined directions, ensuring a reproducible and homogeneous thermal and atmospheric environment by integrating these devices with the heating system and conveying system, allowing for precise control over process gas delivery and temperature distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If process gas is supplied to the process chamber using conventional systems, then the process chamber can be provided with process gas, but the process gas mixes with the atmosphere already present in the process chamber on the flow pathway toward the material, resulting in undefined flow direction and insufficient control over atmospheric conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The process gas delivery system is segmented into multiple local injection devices distributed throughout the process chamber. Each device independently supplies process gas directly to the material, eliminating the mixing problem of conventional single-point injection and enabling precise local control of atmospheric conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements local quality by providing process gas at multiple specific locations within the process chamber rather than relying on bulk gas mixing. Each local injection device creates a defined process gas atmosphere directly at the material surface, ensuring consistent and controllable atmospheric conditions for thermal treatment.
2Reliability
If process gas is supplied at temperatures considerably lower than the process chamber atmosphere, then the process chamber can be supplied with required process gas, but the cooler process gas absorbs heat from material carriers or conveying system components, resulting in thermal stresses and increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The process gas is preheated to temperatures closer to the process chamber atmosphere before being injected locally at multiple points. This preliminary heating action prevents the process gas from absorbing heat from material carriers and conveying system components, thereby eliminating thermal stresses and extending component lifespan.
3Productivity
If process gas is supplied in a manner that does not reach the material directly, then the process chamber atmosphere can be maintained, but the process gas takes considerable time to reach the material and influences atmospheric conditions in an undefined manner
Solution Approach 1:
The process gas delivery is segmented into multiple local injection points positioned to deliver gas directly to the material surface. This segmentation eliminates the time delay and undefined flow patterns associated with bulk gas mixing, enabling immediate and precise control of atmospheric conditions at the material interface.
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
This approach enables consistent and efficient thermal treatment by ensuring that the process gas reaches the material uniformly, enhancing reaction conditions, reducing thermal stresses, and prolonging equipment lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a heating system, by means of which a process chamber atmosphere present in the process chamber can be heated up
Implementation Method 2
the process gas system comprises multiple local injection devices arranged and set up such that process gas in multiple local process gas streams each with a main flow direction can be delivered targeted onto the material
Implementation Method 3
apparatus for thermal or thermochemical treatment, especially for calcination, of material
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for the thermal or thermo-chemical treatment, more particularly calcination, of material (12), more particularly battery cathode material (14), comprising a housing (16), in which a process space (20) is located. The material (12), or carrying structures (40) loaded with the material (12), can be conveyed in a conveying direction (30) into or through the process space (20) by means of a conveying system (28). A process space atmosphere (50) prevailing in the process space (20) can be heated by means of a heating system (48). There is a process gas system (64), by means of which a process gas (66) can be fed to the process space (20), said process gas being required for the thermal treatment of the material (12). The process gas system (64) comprises a plurality of local injection units (68), which are arranged and configured such that process gas (66) can be released in a targeted manner onto the material (12) or onto the carrying structures (40) loaded with material (12), the process gas being released in a plurality of local process gas streams (70), each having a main stream direction (72). The invention also specifies a method for the thermal or thermo-chemical treatment of material (12), in which process gas (66) is released in a targeted manner onto the material (12) or onto the carrying structures (40) loaded with material (12), the process gas being released in a plurality of local process gas streams (70), each having a main stream direction (72).