EP3897950A1

EP3897950A1 - Injection device for discharging a gas, process gas system for supplying a process gas, and device and method for the thermal or thermo-chemical treatment of material

Info

Publication number: EP3897950A1
Application number: EP19828707.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arian Esfehanian; Daniel Hipp
Original assignee: Onejoon GmbH
Current assignee: Onejoon GmbH
Priority date: 2018-12-21
Filing date: 2019-12-18
Publication date: 2021-10-27
Also published as: WO2020127460A1; US20220072496A1; CN113195089B; DE102018133362A1; KR20210127134A; CN113195089A; JP2022514366A

Abstract

Injection device (56) for discharging a gas (54), in particular a process gas (54), onto a material (12), in particular onto a battery cathode material (14) that is to be calcined, having at least one inlet (58) through which the gas (54) can be supplied to the injection device (56), and at least one outlet (60) through which the gas (54) can be discharged from the injection device (56), the inlet and outlet being connected to one another by a flow path (62) for the gas (54). According to the invention, the flow path (62) has a heat exchanger (64) with a heat exchanger housing (68) which is accessible from the outside for an ambient atmosphere (66) and in which a duct arrangement (70) is integrated. The duct arrangement (70) comprises a first flow duct (72.1) and a second flow duct (72.2) between which there is formed a redirection region (74.1) such that the gas (54) can flow through the first and second flow duct (72.1, 72.2) in different main flow directions. The invention further relates to a process gas system (52) for supplying a gas (54) and to a device (10) and a method for the thermal or thermo-chemical treatment of material.

Description

Injection device for dispensing a gas, process gas system for

Supply of a process gas, and device and method for the thermal or thermo-chemical treatment of material

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an injection device for dispensing a gas, a process gas system for supplying a process gas and an apparatus and a method for thermal or thermo-chemical treatment, in particular for calcining, of material, in particular battery cathode material.

2. Description of the prior art With the aid of such devices and with such a method, for example, in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries in a furnace, a powdery cathode material is calcined in a special atmosphere, in particular in an inert or oxygen-containing one The atmosphere.

A powdered cathode material is, for example, a lithium-containing transition metal precursor which is calcined in the furnace to form a lithium transition metal oxide. Depending on whether lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate precursors are used, this process releases water (H ₂ O) or carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) as exhaust gas from the lithium-containing transition metal precursor.

In order to maintain the oxygen-containing atmosphere, fresh process gas is supplied to the process room and the water (H ₂ O) or carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) formed is removed from the combustion chamber by continuous or intermittent suction of the process room atmosphere. Suction creates spaces with a lower gas partial pressure, which also makes it necessary to continuously feed fresh process gas. In principle, however, such devices and methods are also used for the thermal treatment of other materials, which may also be workpieces, for example, which must be thermally or thermo-chemically treated under the influence of a process gas. The temperatures in such ovens can be up to 2000 ° C. The invention is further explained using the example of the thermal treatment of the above-mentioned cathode material. The temperature during the calcination of such materials depends in a manner known per se on the material to be treated and the type of furnace used. In devices and methods known from the market for calcining material, the process gas which is blown into the process space mixes on the way to the material to be treated with the atmosphere which is already present in the process space. This mixed gas, which ultimately reaches the material, therefore contains the process gas in a lower concentration on the one hand and, on the other hand, exhaust gas already present in the process room atmosphere. The effect of the process gas on the material to be treated can therefore only be influenced to a slightly satisfactory degree, and there is only limited control and control of the atmosphere prevailing on the material.

With such treatments, it is also necessary to keep the thermal level in the process space of the furnace constant. To ensure this, the process gas must be heated to the temperature in the process room. As a rule, this heating of the process gas takes place actively, ie using the energy required to generate the heat, by heating units. The actively heated process gas is then, for example, a gas flow generated by a blower in gas lines, which for the most part leads outside the furnace, but partly also in the furnace wall, to the place of action in, on and in a close area around the battery. Cathode material directed. In order to avoid loss of thermal energy, cost-intensive and complex measures for isolating the gas line routed outside the furnace are necessary. However, the temperature of the process gas fed in is generally considerably lower than the temperature of the process room atmosphere. The process gas fed in is often not adequately heated before reaching the material to be treated or loses heat energy on the way there, so that incomplete reactions can result. In addition, the cooler process gas can absorb heat from the material carriers or from other components of the conveyor system, which can lead to thermal stresses, which can lead to higher wear and possibly to premature failure of components and components of the furnace.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an injection device for dispensing a gas, a process gas system for supplying a process gas and an apparatus and a method for thermal or thermo-chemical treatment, which counter the disadvantages from the prior art explained above and in the process space optimally passively and energy-efficiently transfer existing heat to the gas / process gas. This object is achieved according to the invention by an injection device for dispensing a gas, in particular a process gas, onto a material, in particular onto a battery cathode material to be calcined, with a) at least one inlet, through which the gas can be fed to the injection device, and at least one outlet, through which the gas can be discharged from the injection device, which are connected to one another by a flow path for the gas; wherein b) the flow path has a heat exchanger with a heat exchanger housing which is accessible from the outside for an ambient atmosphere and in which a duct arrangement is accommodated; c) the channel arrangement comprises a first flow channel and a second flow channel, between which a deflection area is formed, such that the first and second flow channels can be flowed through by the gas with different main flow directions. With the help of such an injection device, the heat of a process room atmosphere that is already in a process room can be used effectively to heat up the process gas, which leads overall to an improved overall efficiency. For this purpose, the injection device is arranged in a furnace or the like such that the existing process room atmosphere flows around the heat exchanger housing or at least is surrounded by the existing process room atmosphere, so that heat transfer is possible. The heat transfer from the furnace atmosphere or from the furnace interior to the injection device takes place not only by flow, but also and possibly even predominantly by radiation. Even if there is no flow in the furnace, heat is transferred. The heat exchanger housing can thus be arranged in a largely flow-free or even stationary process room atmosphere. In the following, it is assumed as an example that a moving process space atmosphere flows around the heat exchanger housing.

Depending on the area of application, it may be expedient if the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet are arranged essentially mirror-symmetrically or asymmetrically with respect to one another with respect to an axis of symmetry.

In addition, it is advantageous if the channel arrangement has a third flow channel in addition to the first and second flow channels, a second deflection region being formed between the third and second flow channels, such that the second and third flow channels are separated from the gas with different main flows flow directions are flowable. The flow channels preferably specify a meandering flow pattern within the channel arrangement. A meandering flow course can be present in the case of a two-dimensional S flow course, but also three-dimensional channel arrangements which, for example, prescribe a tortuous flow course in which the flow is deflected at least twice and the deflections are in two at an angle to one another, in particular to one another vertical, planes.

For this purpose, the first and the second, the first and the third, or the second and the third flow channel advantageously define a common plane, the third or the second or the first flow channel being offset with respect to this plane or being arranged at an angle . With such an arrangement of the flow channels, the gas flowing through the flow channels is redirected once within the defined level and once from the defined level to another level, that is to say for example to the left / right or up / down. Deflections at an angle of 20 ° to 180 ° to the main flow direction in the respective flow channel are preferred. A deflection by 180 °, for example, causes a change in the main flow direction in a direction opposite to the main flow direction of the previous flow channel.

It is expedient if the channel arrangement comprises, in addition to the three flow channels, one or more further flow channels and in each case a deflection area in front of each further flow channel, such that the gas can flow through two successive flow channels with different main flow directions.

In this way, an available installation space, for example in a housing, can be used efficiently. With the housing remaining the same, the necessary reduction in the flow cross-sections leads on the one hand to an increase in the contact area for the gas and on the other hand to an increase in the flow velocity of the gas, which in total increases the thermal energy transferred to the gas flow per distance covered. In order to further increase the efficiency of the heat transfer from the heat exchanger to the gas flowing through it, it is advantageous if a core structure is formed in one or more flow channels. By means of these core structures, a temperature transfer surface with which the gas flowing through the flow channels is in thermal interaction is enlarged compared to the temperature transfer surface of the flow channels without core structures. The core structures can be arranged on the flow guide elements or on an inner surface of the heat exchanger housing. But they can also be arranged such that they form an annular space in the flow channels for the gas. In such an arrangement, the core structures can preferably be connected at the end with the inner surfaces of the heat exchanger housing.

It can be advantageous if the core structures are solid core bodies. However, it can also be advantageous if core bodies have throughflow openings in such a way that the gas flowing through the flow channels likewise flows through the throughflow openings and can therefore not only absorb heat energy on outer surfaces of the core bodies.

With regard to the core body, it is also advantageous if, at least in sections, they have a cross section in the flow direction that is circular, elliptical, segmental, segmental, polygonal, in particular triangular, quadrangular, in particular trapezoidal, trapezoidal or rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal or polygonal. The core bodies can have indentations and / or protuberances for a further enlargement of the temperature transfer surface involved in the temperature transfer, with the volume of the flow channels remaining essentially the same. These indentations and / or protuberances can be present regularly or irregularly on the core bodies.

An advantageous embodiment provides that at least two flow channels run parallel to one another. Furthermore, the heat exchanger and / or one or more of the flow channels can have a cross section, at least in sections, which is circular, is elliptical, segment-shaped, sector-shaped, polygonal, in particular triangular, four-sided, in particular trapezoidal, trapezoidal or rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal or polygonal.

In this case, one or more of the flow channels in the respective main flow direction can have cross-sections which change in area shape and / or area size at least in sections.

So that as much of the heat energy absorbed by the heat exchanger as possible can be transferred to the gas to be heated, it is advantageous if the heat exchanger housing and walls of the flow channels formed therein are made of one or more particularly thermally conductive materials. The material or the materials preferably have a specific thermal conductivity of 1> 50 Wm ¹ K ¹ , preferably 1> 75 Wm 1 K ¹ and particularly preferably 1> 100 Wm 1 K ¹ .

Particularly suitable materials for this are, for example, materials which have a metal content, for example elemental metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, metal nitrides or metal carbides. The metal content can advantageously be copper (Cu), tin (Sb), zinc (Zn), silver (Ag), magnesium (Mg), nickel (Ni), beryllium (Be), aluminum (Al), potassium (Ka), Molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), silicon (Si) and tantalum (Ta). Heat exchangers comprising silicon carbide (SiC) and copper alloys are particularly suitable for the injection device according to the invention due to their high thermal conductivity. Especially at temperatures above 400 ° C, the heat exchanger mainly uses metal-ceramic materials. In any case, materials are used which do not release metal or metal compounds at the present temperatures, which can contaminate the material to be calcined. In addition, it can furthermore be advantageous if the channel arrangement can at least partially be formed by a flow guide structure which can be inserted into the heat exchanger housing and can be detachably fastened therein. A flow control structure can be used here can be formed, for example, by connecting flow guide elements. A part of this constructive embodiment is that the heat exchanger housing can be provided as a hollow body, for example, and the flow guide structure can be used to form the channel arrangement in this prior to assembly of the injection device. A detachable fastening of the flow guide structure enables a user to adapt the distance to be covered by the gas within the heat exchanger to the requirements of the respective production step.

It is advantageous if the heat exchanger housing comprises housing caps, which in particular provide part of the channel arrangement. In this case, part of the heat exchanger and the channel arrangement can be formed in one piece, for example as an extruded profile or a rolled profile. The heat exchanger is then completed by the housing caps. Alternatively, a separate flow guide structure can also be used in the heat exchanger shear housing with the housing caps removed, which are then introduced. It is advantageous if the housing caps define the deflection areas.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the injection device comprises a nozzle arrangement with one or more injection nozzles, by means of which the gas can be delivered in a directed manner to the material to be treated.

The nozzle arrangement can be a component independent of the heat exchanger, but can also be comprised by the heat exchanger.

In a process gas system according to the invention for supplying a process gas, in particular a process gas for a thermal or thermochemical treatment, in particular a calcination, of material, in particular battery cathode material, into a process space, the above-mentioned object is achieved in that the Process gas system uses at least one injection device according to the invention, which comprises at least some of the features explained above for the injection device. In a device for thermal or thermo-chemical treatment, in particular for calcining, of material, in particular battery cathode material, with a) a housing; b) a process space located in the housing; c) a conveyor system by means of which the material or support structures loaded with the material can be conveyed in a conveying direction in or through the process space; d) a heating system, by means of which a process room atmosphere prevailing in the process space can be heated, and e) a process gas system, by means of which a process gas can be supplied to the process space, which is required for the thermal or thermo-chemical treatment of the material, the above said object is achieved in that f) the process gas system is such a process gas system and the process gas can be dispensed in a targeted manner onto the material or onto the supporting structures loaded with material by means of the injection device; g) the injection device is arranged in such a way that the process atmosphere can flow around and / or irradiate the heat exchanger, so that the process gas can be passively heated.

In a method for thermal or thermo-chemical treatment, in particular for calcining, material, in particular battery cathode material, in which a) the material or the supporting structures loaded with the material are conveyed through a process space of a device for thermal treatment of the material the; b) a process room atmosphere prevailing in the process room is heated, and c) a process gas which is required for the thermal or thermo-chemical treatment is supplied to the process space, the above object is achieved in that d) the process gas is heated with the aid of a heat exchanger which is arranged in the process space.

The process gas can preferably be supplied to the process space at a temperature which essentially corresponds to the temperature of the process space atmosphere.

Furthermore, it is preferred in the method to use the above-mentioned device for thermal or thermo-chemical treatment of material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. In these show:

1 shows a longitudinal section of a device for the thermal or thermochemical treatment of material with a process gas system, by means of which a process gas is guided through injection devices into a process space;

Figures 2a to 2c cross sections of the device of Figure 1, each with an exemplary embodiment from an injection device, in which a heat exchanger is arranged in the process space;

Figures 3a and 3b, the injection devices of Figures 2a and 2b, each with one

Partial section of the heat exchanger;

Figures 4a and 4b is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the heat exchanger according to the invention; Figures 5a and 5b is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

Figures 6a and 6b is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the

Heat exchanger; Figures 7a and 7b is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the

Heat exchanger;

Figures 8a to 8c cross sections of three further embodiments of the heat exchanger;

Figures 9a and 9b is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the

Heat exchanger;

Figures 10a and 10b is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of the heat exchanger.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First of all, reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 2c. In these, 10 denotes a device for the thermal or thermo-chemical treatment of material 12. In the following, this device 10 is referred to as furnace 10 for the sake of simplicity. In FIGS. 2a to 2c, for reasons of clarity, not all components and components that are already identified in FIG. 1 are provided with a reference number again.

The material 12 can be, for example, battery cathode material 14, which has to be calcined in the manufacture of batteries by a thermal treatment in the furnace 10.

The furnace 10 comprises a housing 16 with a bottom 16a, a ceiling 16b and two vertical side walls 16c and 16d, which delimits an interior 18 in which a process space 20 is located. The housing 16 thus forms the housing of the process space 20. If necessary, the interior 18 of the furnace 10 can be defined by a separate housing 16 surrounding the housing Ge. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the process space 20 extends between an inlet 22 and an outlet 24 of the housing 16, which can each be closed with a gate 26. Alternatively, an open inlet 22 and an open outlet 24 or, in contrast, a gas-tight double peltor lock can also be present, with which a separation of the atmosphere in the furnace from the ambient atmosphere is ensured.

The material 12 is conveyed through the process space 20 in a conveying direction 30 with the aid of a conveying system 28; the conveying direction 30 is indicated by an arrow only in FIG. 1. In the present exemplary embodiment, the furnace 10 is designed as a continuous furnace and specifically as a push-through furnace in which the conveyor system 28 conveys the material 12 through the furnace 10. For this purpose, the conveyor system 28 comprises a conveyor track 32, along which several support trays 34, so-called trays, are pushed, as is known per se. In FIG. 1, only one support base is provided with a reference symbol.

The conveyor system 28 comprises a thrust device 36 with a driven thrust punch 38, which pushes a support base 34 from the outside through the entrance 22 into the process space 20 into it. This shelf 34 abuts against the first shelf 34 in the conveying direction 30, which is already in the process space 20, whereby all the shelves 34 located in the process space 20 are pushed one place further and the last shelf 34 in the conveying direction 30 through the outlet 24 the process space 20 is pushed out.

In the case of modifications that are not specifically shown, other concepts known per se for continuous furnaces are also possible. Roller ovens, conveyor belt ovens, chain continuous ovens, drive-through ovens and the like may be mentioned here only by way of example. Alternatively, the furnace 10 can also be designed as a batch furnace, which has only one access through which the material 12 can be conveyed into and out of the process space 20. In this case, individual batches of the Materials 12 in the process space 20 through this access in the conveying direction 30 into ge, thermally treated, then removed again in the opposite direction to the conveying direction 30 through the access from the process space 20 and thus promoted overall through the process space 20. The material 12 can be promoted depending on its nature as such with the aid of the conveyor system 28 and, for example, be placed directly on the shelves 34 from. This is possible, for example, if the material 12 is a structural work piece.

In the present exemplary embodiment, support structures 40 loaded with the material 12 are provided, which in the case of the battery cathode material 14 are formed as braziers 42, which in English terminology are referred to as so-called saggar.

These support structures 40 can be placed on top of one another in a manner known per se to form a shelf-like conveyor frame 44 having a plurality of levels, with in the present embodiment three support structures 40 loaded with battery cathode material 14 each forming a conveyor frame 44 and a support base 34 each such För derträger 44 carries. Two or more than three, for example four, five, six or more levels per conveyor frame 44 are also conceivable; the number of possible levels largely depends on the overall height of the process space 20 and the support structures 40. In a modification, the conveyor frame 44 is a separate component, for example made of metal or ceramic, which receives the support structures 40 in several planes.

The furnace 10 comprises a heating system 45 known from the market and only schematically and only indicated in FIG. 1, by means of which an atmosphere prevailing in the process space 20 can be heated. The atmosphere can be heated in a known manner by means of convection, electromagnetic heat radiation or heat diffusion. Exemplary heating systems can therefore include radiant heating elements, heating ventilation elements or the like, which are arranged distributed on or in the furnace floor 16a, the furnace ceiling 16b and / or one of the vertical side walls 16c, 16d and / or in the process space 20 can. As an alternative or in addition, a circulating air heating system can be considered, by means of which the furnace atmosphere is sucked out of the process space 20, heated up with a heating unit and blown back into the process space 20.

During the thermal treatment of materials 12, an exhaust gas 46 can arise, which must be withdrawn from the process space 20. Such an exhaust gas 46 is indicated in FIGS. 2a to 2c in dashed lines and provided with a reference symbol. In the calcination of battery cathode material 14, for example, water (H2O) or carbon dioxide (CO2) is formed as exhaust gas 46. In addition, phases containing lithium (Li) can be released. In order to be able to remove exhaust gas 46 from the process space 20, there is an extraction system 48 which can be seen in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c and which comprises extraction openings 50 in the bottom 16a of the housing 16, via which the exhaust gas 46 is extracted from the process space 20 can be. Components necessary for this and known per se, such as blowers, lines, filters and the like, are not specifically shown for the sake of clarity.

In the furnace 10, materials 12 can be thermally treated, in the thermal treatment of which a process gas is required. In the case of the battery cathode material 14 mentioned, oxygen (O2), for example, is required for effective calcination, which is blown into the process space 20 in the form of conditioned air. In this case, air forms such a process gas. The oxygen (O2) contained therein is converted during the formation of the metal oxide and water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are produced. Other process gases may be required for other processes. In some processes, oxygen-enriched air or pure oxygen is required; the oxygen content of such process gases can range from 21% to 100%. An inert gas, for example an inert gas, can also be used as the process gas required for smooth thermal or thermochemical treatment be understood. Therefore, the furnace 10 comprises a process gas system 52, by means of which the process space 20 can be supplied with a process gas 54, which is required for the thermal treatment.

The process gas system 52 in turn comprises at least one injection device 56, which is shown schematically in FIGS. 3a and 3b and by means of which a gas, here the process gas 54, can be dispensed onto the material 12. FIG. 1 shows a plurality of injection devices 56, only a few having a reference symbol. The injection device 56 has an inlet 58, through which the process gas 54 can be fed to the injection device, and at least one outlet 60, through which the process gas 54 can be discharged from the injection device 56, the inlet 58 only in FIGS. 3a and 3b is shown. The inlet 58 and the one or more outlets 60 are connected to one another in terms of flow technology through a flow path 62 through which the process gas 54 can flow.

The flow path 62 has a heat exchanger 64 with a heat exchanger housing 68 accessible from the outside for an ambient atmosphere, here a process chamber atmosphere 66 prevailing in the process space 20, which heat exchanger housing 68 is referred to below as WT housing 68. A channel arrangement 70, which comprises at least two flow channels 72, is accommodated in the WT housing 68.

The process gas 54 on the flow path 62 to the outlet 60 is heated up by the heat exchanger 64 by using the heat of the process space atmosphere 66 and transferring it to the process gas 54.

FIG. 3a shows a channel arrangement 70 with two flow channels 72, namely a first flow channel 72.1 and a second flow channel 72.2; an injection device 56 formed in this way is also shown in FIG. 2a. FIG. 3b illustrates a channel arrangement 70 with three flow channels 72, in which a third flow channel 72.3 is also formed; such injection devices 56 are also shown in FIGS. 2b and 2c, which will be discussed again below. For the sake of clarity, the same parts and components are subsequently not always provided with a reference number.

The flow channels 72 can be flowed through by the process gas 54 and, in variants not shown, also lead out as pipe elements which are guided separately within the WT housing 68. In the channel arrangement 70, a deflection region 74 is formed in each case between two flow channels 72 which follow one another in the flow direction, such that process gas 54 with different main flow directions flows through two successive flow channels 72. Specifically, a deflection area 74.1 is formed between the first flow channel 72.1 and the second flow channel 72.2 and, in the variant according to FIG. 3b, a second deflection area 74.2 is also formed between the second flow channel 72.2 and the third flow channel 72.3.

A deflection area 74 is understood to mean any area in which the main flow direction of the process gas 54 is changed. The term main flow direction is intended to express that when considering the flow direction of the process gas 54 through a flow channel 72, turbulence or eddies that can occur in the flow channel 72 are disregarded. A deflection can be effected in particular by abrupt changes in the channel profile through the deflection area 74, for example through a U-shaped channel profile in the deflection area 74. Insofar as the main flow direction before the deflection area 74 differs from the main flow direction after the deflection area 74, curved ones can also be used Form changes in the channel course a deflection region 74.

In order to be able to dispense the process gas 54 onto the material 12, the injection device 56 also has a nozzle arrangement 76 which comprises a plurality of injection nozzles 76a, by means of which the process gas 54 can be discharged onto the material 12 to be treated. The nozzle arrangement 76 can be integrated into the WT housing 68, as shown in FIG. 3a. The nozzle arrangement 76 can also be a separate unit, as can be seen in FIG. 3b. The individual injection nozzles 76a can be formed by simple outlet openings, which can be designed, for example, as a circular opening, oval opening or slot. The injection nozzles 76a can be movable, so that the outflow direction of the emitted local process gas 54 can be set individually for each injection nozzle 76a. This is not specifically illustrated in the figures. Furthermore, the injection nozzles 76a can be arranged at an angle to the nozzle arrangement 76 with respect to the base 16a and / or the conveying direction 30 in order to dispense the process gas 54 in a directed manner onto the brazier 42 and / or the material 12. All the injection nozzles 76a arranged on the nozzle arrangement 76 can dispense the process gas 54 at different or the same angles.

Through the nozzle arrangement 76 of the injection device 56, all braziers 42 and the material 12 in the process space 20 are supplied and acted upon largely homogeneously with process gas 54, so that the thermal treatment of the material 12 in all brazas 42 is highly reproducible and uniform. On the one hand, process gas 54 reaches the process location on the material 12, on the other hand, the process gas 54 displaces the resulting exhaust gas 46, in the present case thus water (H2O) or carbon dioxide (CO2), as a result of which the discharge 46 is effectively removed from the exhaust system 48 Process room 20 can be suctioned off.

Due to the directed delivery of the process gas 54, the gas partial pressure in the immediate vicinity of the material 12 is changed, which in turn has an influence on the process parameters and thereby on the chemical and physical properties of the resulting product. Furthermore, the quality of the product obtained can be increased, thus reducing the production waste. In addition, process gas 54 can be saved. With the help of the directionally discharged process gas 54 from the injection nozzles 76a, it is also possible to influence the temperature in the vicinity of the material 12 to be treated; Both the temperature in the vicinity of the material 12 can be homogenized and a specifically heterogeneous temperature profile can be brought about on the material 12, for example if the path leading through the heat exchanger 64 is intentionally insufficient to heat the process gas 54 to the temperature of the process room atmosphere 66. These effects can be achieved both by a corresponding prior conditioning of the process gas 54 by the process gas system 52 and by a correspondingly coordinated delivery of the process gas 54 by the injection device 56.

The injection of the process gas 54 by the injection device 56 can be continuous or pulsed; this is set by a corresponding control and corresponding control means of the process gas system 52.

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c show injection devices 56 with differently designed or arranged heat exchangers 64, in which the injection nozzles 76a of the nozzle arrangement 76, as in FIG. 1, are each arranged next to the conveyor track 32 along a vertical. However, the invention also includes an arrangement of the injection nozzles 76a, which includes an angle with the ceiling 16b and / or the vertical side walls 16c, 16d that is not 90 °. In FIG. 2a, as mentioned above, a variant with the injection device 56 according to FIG. 3a is shown. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2b, the heat exchanger 64 runs close to the ceiling 16b of the furnace 10 transversely to the conveying direction 30 in order to use the areas of the process space atmosphere 66 with the greatest possible heat for heating the process gas 54. The nozzle arrangement 76 projects vertically from the heat exchanger 64 guided along the ceiling 16b of the furnace 10. FIG. 2c shows an alternative arrangement of the heat exchanger 64 parallel to the conveying direction 30 in a variant on the vertical side wall 16c.

FIGS. 4a, 4b show a first and FIGS. 5a and 5b a second embodiment of the heat exchanger 64 of the injection device 56, in each of which there are two flow channels 72.1 and 72.2 which are connected by the deflection area 72.1. The two flow channels 72.1 and 72.2 and the deflection area 74.1 in the WT housing 68 are formed by a flow guide element 78, which acts as a type of partition 80, so that through an outer casing 82 of the WT housing 68 on the one hand and the flow guide element 78, the channel arrangement 70 with the first flow channel 72.1, the deflection region 74.1 and the second flow channel 72.2 is formed.

As a result, the distance that the process gas 54 travels within the heat exchanger 64 of the injection device 56 is lengthened in comparison to a direct flow path to the outlets 60. 3a and 10b, the distance covered by the heat exchanger 64 of the injection device 56, compared with heat exchangers 64 without one or more deflection regions 74 or one or more guide bulkheads 80, is at least twice as long. This is to ensure that the process gas 54 covers the longest possible path within the heat exchanger 64 in order to maximize the entry of thermal energy to be absorbed until the outlet 60 is reached. In the case of modifications which are not specifically shown, a plurality of separating partitions 80 can be arranged alternately to one another transversely to the longitudinal direction, for example in a zigzag arrangement or on opposite longitudinal sides of the outer casing shell 82 of the heat exchanger 64. The invention also includes heat exchangers 64, in which the distance of the process gas 54 to be covered within the heat exchanger 64 is not at least twice as long as without one or more guide bulkheads 80.

In a further exemplary embodiment, not shown, a plurality of guide baffles 80 are arranged in such a way that a turbulent flow through the heat exchanger 64 composed of a plurality of main vortices of the process gas flow results.

In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 4a to 5b, there is an inlet 84 and an output 86 of the heat exchanger 64 at a common connection end 88 of the heat exchanger 64. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4a, 4b, the inflow direction of the process gas 54 is into the heat exchanger 64 parallel but opposite to its outflow direction from the heat exchanger 64.

The embodiment shown in Figures 5a and 5b, the output 86 of the heat exchanger 64 is formed at the connection end so that the process gas 54 in one Direction flows perpendicular to the inflow direction from the heat exchanger 64. In the exemplary embodiment of the heat exchanger 64 shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b with three flow channels 72.1, 72.2 and 72.3 and two deflection areas 74.1 and 74.2, the WT housing 68 is designed as an elongated prism with the cross section of an equilateral triangle.

The three flow channels 72.1, 72.2, 72.3 and the two deflection areas 74.1, 74.2 are formed with the aid of three elongated separating partitions 80.1, 80.2 and 80.3, which are arranged in a star shape in cross section with a common contact line at an angle of 120 ° to one another. In this way, two of the partitions, namely the partitions 80.1, 80.2, the partitions 80.2, 80.3 and the partitions 80.3, 80.1, and the outer casing 82 of the WT housing 68 form the flow channels 72.1, 72.2 and 72.3.

In this variant, each flow channel 72.1, 72.2, 72.3 lies in a plane which is offset from a reference plane Es, which is defined by the two other flow channels 72.2 and 72.3, 72.1 and 72.3 or 72.1 and 72.2. This is explained further below in connection with FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c with reference to FIG. 8a.

In the case of these three flow channels 72, the inlet 84 and the outlet 86 of the heat exchanger 64 are arranged at opposite ends of the HE housing 68, so that an inlet end 90 and an outlet end 92 of the heat exchanger 64 are formed there.

In the exemplary embodiment of the heat exchanger 64 shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b, four flow channels 72.1, 72.2, 72.3 and 72.4 and three deflection regions 74 are formed by four separating partitions 80.1, 80.2, 80.3 and 80.4, with only the second and third deflection regions 74.2 and 74.3 being closed are recognizable. In the third deflection area 74.3, the WT housing is shown in a clear view. The WT housing 68 is designed, for example, as an elongated tube with a circular cross section. In this configuration of four flow channels 72, the input 84 and the output 86 of the heat exchanger 64 are again arranged at a common connection end 88.

In the case of modifications which are not specifically shown, the channel arrangement 70 comprises one or more further flow channels 72 and in each case a deflection region 74 in front of each flow channel 72, such that the process gas 64 with different main flow directions flows through two successive flow channels 72.

All of the exemplary embodiments of the heat exchanger 64 with at least three flow channels 72 have in common that at least the three flow channels 72 specify a meandering flow course 94. This meandering flow course 94 can extend over one or more mutually parallel planes.

FIGS. 8a to 8c show variants of the heat exchanger 64 in which the WT housing is designed as an elongated tube with a circular cross section, as in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 7, but in which three flow channels 72.1, 72.2 and 72.3 to each other again are arranged offset, as is the case with the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6.

One of the above-mentioned planes. It should be defined between two geometrical focal points 96.1 and 96.2 of the cross sections of the flow channels 72.1 and 72.2, as illustrated in FIG. 8a, the plane Es standing there perpendicular to the paper plane. The third geometric center of gravity 96.3 of the third flow channel 72.3 is arranged offset to this plane Es, as was explained above.

The cross sections of the flow channels 72.1, 72.2, 72.3 shown in FIG. 8a have a circular sector shape defined by the separating partitions 80.1, 80.2, which are planar in this exemplary embodiment, and the outer casing 82 of the WT housing 68. This in cross-section circular sector-shaped flow channels 72.1, 72.2 and 72.3 are arranged starting from the flow channel 72.1 rotated by the same angular amount of 120 ° around the center point M of the circular cross section of the WT housing 68. The three separating bulkheads 80.1, 80.2, 80.3 arranged along a common axis include the same or different tilt angles a, β, g, and if the tilt angles are different, these preferably a = 100 °, β = 120 ° and g = 140 ° be wear. In Figure 8b, a modified embodiment of the heat exchanger 64 is shown in cross section. The cross sections of the flow channels 72.1, 72.2, 72.3 here have rounded corners 97 and different cross-sectional areas.

FIG. 8c illustrates core structures 98 formed in the flow channels 72.1, 72.2, 73.3, which are provided by core body 100 in this exemplary embodiment. By means of these core structures 98, the surface of the heat exchanger 64 which is involved in the temperature transfer and with which the process gas 54 through which flow can flow through in thermal interaction is, based on the heat exchanger 64 without core structures 98 enlarged. In addition, the flow channel cross section that can be flowed through by the process gas 54 is reduced in relation to this, as a result of which the process gas 54 can flow through the heat exchanger 64 at a higher flow rate and the volume fraction of the process gas 54 that comes into direct contact with the temperature transfer surface is increased . A higher flow rate also increases the efficiency of the temperature transfer.

FIGS. 9a and 9b now show an exemplary embodiment in which the nozzle arrangement 76 is encompassed by the heat exchanger 64. For this purpose, the injection nozzles 76a of the nozzle arrangement 76 are integrated into the outer casing 82 of the WT housing 68. As shown, the third flow channel 72.3 here opens into a distributor channel 102, via which the process gas reaches the injection nozzles 76. In a simple embodiment, the injection nozzles 76 can be through openings in the WT housing 68. The distribution channel 102 can also act as part of the heat exchanger 64 and in this case, in addition to its function as a distribution channel, define a fourth flow channel 72.4 of the heat exchanger 64, to which the process gas 54 flows via an upstream third deflection area 74.4. In order to simplify the manufacture of the heat exchanger 64, the WT housing 68 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b has housing caps 104 which can be attached to its opposite end faces. These can provide part of the channel arrangement 70 and the WT housing 68. The housing caps 104 provide the deflection regions 74 here and can furthermore have one or more inlets 58 and / or one or more outlets 60. The heat exchanger 64 can thus be manufactured in individual parts and can only be completed by fitting the housing caps 104 during assembly.

In a further variant, which is not specifically shown, the channel arrangement 70 is formed in the WT housing 68 by inserting a separate flow guide structure into the WT housing 68 and fastening it there. The flow guide structure can be detachably fastened so that it can be exchanged for another flow guide structure if necessary, for example if it turns out that the channel arrangement formed by the flow guide structure used is not sufficient to bring the process gas 54 to the temperature of the process space atmosphere 66 to heat up ..

The concepts described with the housing caps 104 or an insertable and optionally interchangeable flow guide structure can be implemented in all the exemplary embodiments explained above.

According to the invention, the heat exchanger housing 68, the separating partitions 80.1, 80.2, 80.3, the core structures 98 and / or the housing caps 104 are made of one or more materials which have a specific thermal conductivity of l> 50 Wm ¹ K ¹ , l> 75 Wm ^ K ¹ or l> 100 Wm ^ K ¹ . In particular, materials with a metal component, for example elemental metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, metal nitrides or metal carbides, can be used for this. Examples of metals to be mentioned are copper (Cu), tin (Sb), zinc (Zn), silver (Ag), magnesium (Mg), nickel (Ni), beryllium (Be), aluminum (AI), potassium (Ka) , Molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), silicon (Si) and tantalum (Ta).

Claims

1. Injection device for dispensing a gas (54), in particular a Prozessga ses, on a material (12), in particular on a battery cathode material (14) to be calcined, with a) at least one inlet (58) through which the injection device (56) the gas (54) can be supplied, and at least one outlet (60) through which the gas

(54) can be dispensed from the injection device (56), which are connected to one another by a flow path (62) for the gas (54); characterized in that b) the flow path (62) is a heat exchanger (64) with one for a reverse

exercise atmosphere (66) from the externally accessible heat exchanger housing (68), in which a channel arrangement (70) is housed; c) the channel arrangement (70) comprises a first flow channel (72.1) and a second flow channel (72.2), between which a deflection area (74.1) is formed, such that the first and the second flow channel (72.1, 72.2) from the gas (54) can be flowed through with different main flow directions.

2. Injection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the channel arrangement (70) has a third flow channel (72.3), a second deflection area (74.2) being formed between the third and the second flow channel (72.3, 72.2), such that the second and third flow channels (72.2, 72.3) can be flowed through by the gas (54) with different main flow directions.

3. Injection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first

second and third flow channels (72.1, 72.2, 72.3) specify a meandering flow course (94).

4. Injection device according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the first and the second (72.1, 72.2), the first and the third (72.1, 72.3), or the second and the third flow channel (72.2, 72.3) one Define the common plane (Es) and the third (72.3) or the second (72.2) or the first (72.1) flow channel (72) is offset or arranged at an angle with respect to this plane (Es).

5. Injection device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the channel arrangement (70) one or more further flow channels (72; 72.1, 72.2, 72.3, 72.4) and each a deflection area (74; 74.1, 74.2, 74.3 ) in front of each further flow channel (72; 72.1, 72.2, 72.3, 72. 4), such that two successive flow channels (72; 72.1, 72.2, 72.3, 72. 4) of the gas (54) with below can flow through different main flow directions.

6. Injection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a core structure (98) is formed in one or more flow channels (72; 72.1, 72.2, 72.3, 72.4). 7. Injection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two flow channels (72; 72.1, 72.2, 72.3, 72.4) run parallel to one another.

8. Injection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat exchanger (64) and / or one or more of the flow channels (72; 72.1, 72.2, 72.3, 72.4) at least in sections have a cross section which is circular, is elliptical, segment-shaped, sector-shaped, polygonal, in particular triangular, quadrangular, in particular trapezoidal, trapezoidal or rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal or polygonal.

9. Injection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more of the flow channels (72; 72.1, 72.2, 72.3, 72.4) have cross-sections which change at least in sections in the respective main flow direction.

10. Injection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat exchanger housing (68) and walls of the flow channels formed therein (72; 72.1, 72.2, 72.3, 72.4) are made of one or more materials, which or which have a specific thermal conductivity of l> 50 Wm ¹ K ¹ , preferably l> 75 Wm ¹ K ¹ and particularly preferably l> 100 Wm ^ K ¹ .

1 1. Injection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel arrangement (70) is at least partially formed by a flow guide structure which can be used in the heat exchanger housing (68) and detachably fastened therein.

12. Injection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat exchanger housing (68) comprises at least one housing cap (104), which in particular provides part of the channel arrangement (70).

13. Injection device according to claim 12, characterized in that the housing cap (104) has at least one inlet (58) through which the gas (54) can be supplied to the heat exchanger (64) and / or an outlet (60) through which the gas (54) can flow out of the heat exchanger (64).

14. Injection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the injection device (56) comprises a nozzle arrangement (76) with one or more injection nozzles (76a), by means of which the gas (54) on the material to be treated (12) can be directed.

15. Injection device according to claim 14, characterized in that the nozzle arrangement (76) is comprised by the heat exchanger (64).

16. Process gas system for supplying a process gas (54), in particular a process gas (54) for a thermal or thermo-chemical treatment, in particular a calcination, of material (12), in particular battery cathode material (14), into a process space (20), characterized in that the process gas system (52) at least one injection device (56) according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. Device for thermal or thermochemical treatment, in particular for calcining, of material (12), in particular of battery cathode material (14), with a) a housing (16; 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d); b) a process space (20) located in the housing (16; 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d); c) a conveyor system (28), by means of which the material (12) or with the material (12) loaded support structures (40) can be conveyed in a conveying direction (30) in or through the process space (20); d) a heating system (45), by means of which one is located in the process space (20)

process atmosphere (66) can be heated; e) a process gas system (52), by means of which the process space (20) can be supplied with a process gas (54) which is required for the thermal or thermo-chemical treatment of the material (12), characterized in that f) the process gas system (52) is a process gas system (52) according to claim 16 and the process gas (54) can be dispensed specifically by means of the injection device (56) onto the material (12) or onto the support structures (40) loaded with material (12); g) the injection device (56) is arranged such that the process chamber atmosphere (66) can flow around and / or irradiate the heat exchanger (64), so that the process gas (54) can be passively heated.

18. Process for thermal or thermo-chemical treatment, in particular for

Calcining, of material (12), in particular battery cathode material (14), in which a) the material (12) or the supporting structures (40) loaded with the material (12) are conveyed through a process space (20) of a device (10) for the thermal treatment of the material (12); b) a process room atmosphere (66) prevailing in the process room (20) is heated; c) the process space (20) is supplied with a process gas (54) which is required for the thermal or thermo-chemical treatment, characterized in that d) the process gas (54) is heated with the aid of a heat exchanger (64) which is arranged in the process space (20).

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the process gas (54) is fed to the process space (20) at a temperature which essentially corresponds to the temperature of the process space atmosphere (66).

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that a Vorrich device (10) according to claim 17 is used.