Vortex Mixer for Lithium Composite Oxide Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for preparing lithium composite transition metal oxides using supercritical or subcritical water face challenges with uniform mixing of raw materials and fluidity, leading to clogging issues due to the use of fixed mixers that act as resistance and hinder the flow of reaction fluids in a gel state.
Innovation Solution
A device with a first mixer featuring ring-shaped vortex pairs rotating in opposite directions within a closed structure, optimized for the reaction space, ensures uniform mixing and fluidity of the reaction fluid, addressing clogging problems and enhancing manufacturing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fixed mixers are used to mix raw materials in supercritical or subcritical water, then mixing is performed, but the mixers act as resistance and hinder the flow of reaction fluids in a gel state, causing clogging issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed static mixers with a dynamic rotor-stator mixer system where the rotor rotates at high speed to create vortex flow. This dynamic mixing mechanism eliminates the resistance problem of fixed mixers while maintaining effective mixing capability, preventing clogging of gel-state reaction fluids.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes traditional mechanical fixed mixer structures with a fluid dynamic system using vortex flow generated by rotating impellers. This replaces static mechanical mixing with dynamic fluid mechanical mixing, eliminating the resistance issue while achieving uniform mixing of raw materials.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional mixing methods are used, then mixing is achieved, but uniform mixing of raw materials is difficult to obtain
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor-stator mixer creates periodic vortex flow patterns through high-speed rotation, generating alternating zones of high and low shear stress that enhance mixing efficiency. This periodic fluid dynamic action ensures uniform distribution of raw materials throughout the reaction fluid.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mixing parameters by using high rotational speed to generate intense vortex flow, creating extreme shear rates and turbulent mixing conditions. This parameter change from conventional slow mixing to high-speed vortex mixing achieves superior uniformity in raw material distribution.
3Device complexity
If fixed mixers are used, then device structure is simple, but manufacturing efficiency is reduced due to clogging issues
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic rotor-stator mixer eliminates clogging by using rotational motion to maintain continuous fluid flow and prevent gel-state reaction fluids from stagnating. This dynamic design, while slightly more complex than fixed mixers, dramatically improves manufacturing efficiency by preventing production interruptions.
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
The device effectively secures fluidity and uniform mixing of reaction fluids, preventing clogging and improving the efficiency of lithium composite transition metal oxide production, enabling the production of high-quality lithium composite transition metal oxides for lithium secondary batteries.
Implementation Method 1
ring-shaped vortex pairs rotating in opposite directions within a closed structure
Data Source
AI summary
A device for preparing a lithium composite transition metal oxide includes first and second mixers continuously arranged in a direction in which a fluid proceeds, wherein the first mixer has a closed structure including a hollow fixed cylinder, a rotating cylinder having the same axis as that of the hollow fixed cylinder and having an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the fixed cylinder, an electric motor to generate power for rotation of the rotating cylinder, a rotation reaction space, as a separation space between the hollow fixed cylinder and the rotating cylinder, in which ring-shaped vortex pairs periodically arranged along a rotating shaft and rotating in opposite directions are formed, first inlets through which raw materials are introduced into the rotation reaction space, and a first outlet to discharge a reaction fluid formed from the rotation reaction space.