Movable Induction Heating Coil for Continuous Graphite Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat treatment devices for producing graphite suffer from poor maintainability due to the deterioration of components exposed to high temperatures, necessitating device shutdown for maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A heat treatment device and method that includes a movable induction heating coil, a transport system, and a deaerated or inert gas atmosphere, allowing for continuous processing while maintaining components like the furnace shell, susceptor, and heat insulating materials, which are transported together with the treatment target.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high temperature heat treatment is applied to produce graphite, then graphite can be continuously obtained, but members to be heated (crucible, electrode, heat insulating material) deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous graphite productionVSAvoidmaintainability of members to be heated

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the heating elements (crucible and electrode) movable rather than stationary. The transport device moves the crucible containing carbon powder through the heating zone, allowing the heating elements to be continuously replaced without stopping production. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by enabling continuous operation while maintaining component reliability through easy replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements discarding and recovering by designing a system where deteriorated heating elements can be quickly removed and replaced with fresh ones. The movable crucible and electrode allow for continuous replacement of worn components without interrupting the graphite production process, thus maintaining high productivity while improving maintainability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Device complexity

If heating elements are made stationary to simplify device structure, then device complexity is reduced, but maintenance requires stopping device operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure of heating elementsVSAvoidcontinuous operation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms stationary heating elements into movable ones that travel with the transport device. This dynamic configuration allows heating elements to be replaced during operation, eliminating the need to stop production for maintenance while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple through the use of a straightforward transport mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If air is blocked off during high temperature heating, then oxidation is prevented, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxidation preventionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the inert atmosphere principle by using a deaerated atmosphere (removal of oxygen) during high temperature heating. This prevents oxidation of the carbon powder and heating elements, allowing energy-efficient heating without the need for excessive insulation or complex protective structures, thus balancing oxidation prevention with energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

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 operation without interrupting maintenance, improves component durability, and reduces environmental impact by minimizing oxidation and energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

an induction heating device that includes a heating coil that is movable to advance and retract with respect to the object to be transported, and makes a magnetic field act on the object to be transported to generate heat from the heating element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInduction heating: Induction Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20250227818A1Heat treatment device and heat treatment method

Publication Date: 2025.07.10 IHI MACHINERY & FURNACE CO LTD

AI summary

A heat treatment device includes an object to be transported that contains a treatment target and includes at least a heating element that heats the treatment target, a transport device that transports the object to be transported, and an induction heating device that includes a heating coil that is movable to advance and retract with respect to the object to be transported, and makes a magnetic field act on the object to be transported to generate heat from the heating element.