KR20210053006A - Carbonation reactor for improving membrane stability - Google Patents

Abstract

A carbonation reactor for improving water film stability according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a pressure chamber; a reaction chamber coupled to the lower end of the pressure chamber to initiate a carbonation reaction; and a holding chamber coupled to the lower end of the reaction chamber to inject a product, wherein the pressure chamber includes a distributor arranged at the lower end of an inlet pipe through which raw materials are injected and having a plurality of through-holes formed therein.

Description

Carbonation reactor for improving water film stability{CARBONATION REACTOR FOR IMPROVING MEMBRANE STABILITY}

The present invention relates to a carbonation reactor, and more particularly, to a carbonation reactor for improving water film stability so as to reduce scale.

The method mainly used to extract lithium (Li) in the form of lithium _{carbonate (Li 2} CO ₃ ) from lithium hydroxide (LiOH) is to be recovered as lithium carbonate (Li ₂ CO _{3 ) by introducing sodium carbonate (Na 2} CO _{3 ).} , There is a method of producing lithium carbonate (Li ₂ CO ₃ ) by bubbling or injecting carbon dioxide (CO _{2) from the top.}

Of these, when carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) is injected to produce lithium carbonate (Li ₂ CO ₃ ), the production cost can be relatively lower than that of sodium carbonate (Na ₂ CO _{3 ), as well as carbon dioxide (CO 2} ). There is an advantage that it does not affect the purity of the _{produced lithium carbonate (Li 2} CO ₃ ) because it does not inject impurities.

However, the method of injecting carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) has conventionally used a simple batch reactor or a simple blowing reactor.

However, compared to the method using sodium carbonate (Na ₂ CO ₃ ), the reaction rate is slow, and lithium carbonate (Li ₂ CO ₃ ) grows like an adhering substance on the wall and has the disadvantage that it must be periodically removed.

That is, when carbonic acid is supplied through bubbling, deposits are generated in the bubbling line, and the gas pipe line is blocked. The components of the deposits generated at this time are the _{same as lithium carbonate (Li 2} CO ₃ ), but the deposits have strong adhesion to the reactor wall and the density of the deposits is high, so the external exposed surface area is very small compared to the volume.

It takes a considerable amount of time to remove the deposits generated due to this feature, even if a mechanical or chemical method is used, and this leads to a decrease in the operation rate due to the interruption of the production of the reactor, resulting in an increase in production cost and a decrease in productivity.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problem, there is a need for research on a reactor that minimizes the occurrence of wall deposits due to the formation of a water film and improves productivity through the introduction of a continuous reactor.

International Publication No. WO2015-102273 A1, Batch reactor with baffles (filed on December 18, 2014)

An object of the present invention is a continuous carbonation reactor that dissolves and reacts and circulates carbon dioxide in a lithium hydroxide aqueous solution by applying pressure with carbon dioxide to concentrated lithium hydroxide, and a distributor having a plurality of through holes to reduce scale by improving water film stability ( It is to provide a carbonation reactor for improving the water film stability equipped with a distributor).

A carbonation reactor for improving water film stability according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a pressure chamber, a reaction chamber coupled to a lower end of the pressure chamber to initiate a carbonation reaction, and a lower end of the reaction chamber. It is composed of a holding chamber in which the product is injected by being combined, and the pressure chamber is disposed at the lower end of the inlet pipe into which the raw material is injected, and includes a distributor having a plurality of through holes formed therein.

In the above, the distributor is characterized in that it is formed in a shape in which the center is convex downward in the shape of a disk.

In the above, it is characterized in that the plurality of through-holes are formed to be symmetrical to each other.

In the above, it is characterized in that the plurality of through-holes are arranged radially.

In the above, the reaction chamber is characterized in that it is formed inclined in the longitudinal direction.

In the above, the reaction chamber is characterized in that it has an inclination angle of 5 to 15 degrees downward.

The carbonation reactor of the present invention uses a continuous carbonation reactor that dissolves and reacts and circulates carbon dioxide in a lithium hydroxide aqueous solution by applying pressure with carbon dioxide to concentrated lithium hydroxide, thereby improving productivity and providing a distributor having a plurality of through holes. , There is an advantage that can improve the water film stability.

In addition, there is an advantage of minimizing the phenomenon of lifting of the water film or drifting of the water film (breaking the water film) due to high water film stability, thereby reducing wall adhesion or scale (water stain).

1 is a view showing an overall carbonation reactor for improving water film stability according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a detailed configuration of the pressure chamber of FIG. 1.
3 is a schematic plan view showing a through hole of a distributor according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a state diagram of a carbonation reactor for improving water film stability according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the presented embodiments, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention can add, change, or delete other elements within the scope of the same idea. Other embodiments included within the scope of the inventive concept may be easily proposed, but this will also be said to be included within the scope of the inventive concept. In addition, components having the same function within the scope of the same idea shown in the drawings of each embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals.

1 is a view showing the overall carbonation reactor for improving the water film stability according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a view showing a detailed configuration of the pressure chamber of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an embodiment of the present invention It is a schematic plan view showing a through hole of a distributor according to this, and FIG. 4 is a state diagram of a carbonation reactor for improving water film stability according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The carbonation reactor 1 of the present invention is a continuous carbonation reactor capable of continuous production by injecting and dissolving carbon dioxide into an aqueous lithium hydroxide solution in which a high concentration of lithium is concentrated, and reacting to produce lithium carbonate, and circulate.

The carbonation reactor 1 of the present invention includes a pressure chamber 20, a reaction chamber 30 coupled to the lower end of the pressure chamber 20 to initiate a carbonation reaction, and a product coupled to the lower end of the reaction chamber 30. And a holding chamber 40 into which lithium carbonate is injected.

In the pressure chamber 20, an inlet pipe 12 into which an aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide, which is a raw material for a carbonation reaction, is injected is disposed in the upper center, and a gas injection pipe 13 for injecting carbon dioxide is disposed on the left side of the inlet pipe 12.

In addition, the pressure chamber 20 is operated by maintaining it approximately 0.01 to 0.5 bar higher than the reaction chamber 30 to prevent backflow of carbon dioxide.

In addition, an air vent valve (Air vent V/V, not shown) is installed on the upper part of the pressure chamber 20 to remove unnecessary air during initial operation.

In addition, when the carbonation reactor 1 is operated, the pressure chamber 20 always maintains the liquid level in a full state and operates with a constant pressure difference from the reaction chamber 30.

In addition, the lower end of the inlet pipe 12 includes a distributor 10 having a plurality of through holes 11 formed therein.

The distributor 10 is formed in a baffle shape in which the center is convex downward in the shape of a disk or a plate.

The baffle-type distributor 10 serves to disperse the dynamic pressure of a fluid (aqueous lithium hydroxide solution).

The distributor 10 installed in the inlet pipe 12 may be installed by being joined with a plurality of rods made of steel to maintain a predetermined distance from the inlet pipe 12.

In addition, the plurality of through-holes 11 of the distributor 10 are formed to be symmetrical to each other, as shown in FIG. 3, and are arranged radially.

In addition, the size of the through hole 11 is manufactured between 10 to 50 mm, and the number is preferably manufactured in the range of 10 to 30. In particular, it is preferable that one area of the through hole 11 relative to the size of the distributor 10 is 1% or less, and the area ratio of the total through hole 11 in the distributor 10 is 5 to 10 of the total distributor 10. It is preferably between %.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the through holes 11 are overlapped along a concentric circle starting from the center, and the number of through holes 11 disposed in one circle is 20 or less. In addition, the concentric circles arranged along the center of the distributor 10 are between 1 and 7 layers, and the spacing between the concentric circles is between 0.5 and 3 times the size of the through hole 11.

The reaction chamber 30 is formed to be inclined in the longitudinal direction to form a substantially cone shape, so that the water film is not shaken or broken and maintains straightness. It is desirable to have an inclination angle of degrees.

If it is less than 5 degrees, the reaction chamber 30 is close to a vertical shape, so that the water film may not be formed well, and if it exceeds 15 degrees, the height at which the fluid descends is lowered, and the reaction surface area decreases, resulting in a slower reaction speed. In this case, the inclination angle is preferably between 5 and 15 degrees, because the reaction may not occur in time.

A ring nozzle plate 25 is provided between the reaction chamber 30 and the pressure chamber 20, and the ring nozzle plate 25 is manufactured in a diamond shape, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. .

A guide (not shown) is installed between the ring nozzle plate 25 and the outer case (not shown) to assist in stably forming the water film, and the fluid flowing through the nozzle through the center of the ring nozzle plate 25 is a reaction chamber. (30) Can be sprayed to the center.

Furthermore, a control valve (not shown) may be installed inside the reaction chamber 30 to discharge a certain amount of generated internal gas to the outside.

The holding chamber 40 provides a space into which lithium carbonate, which is a product, is injected, is designed in consideration of the volume of the injected lithium carbonate, and a line capable of circulating is installed.

In addition, the holding chamber 40 may further include a spray nozzle for removing partially generated wall attachments or scale.

In the carbonation reactor 1 of the present invention, a kind of drift is formed in the ring nozzle of the ring nozzle plate 25 through the plurality of through holes 11 of the distributor 10, which thickens the water film and makes the reaction chamber 30 The straightness of the water film flowing along the slope of) is strengthened, and as a result, the water film is kept stable.

The thickness of the water film generated through the carbonation reactor 1 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4, and it can be seen that the water film stably maintains straightness.

In addition, Table 1 shows an example of comparing the change in water film thickness of the present invention and the conventional reactor.

division section a b section c section d section e section Example 3.49 3.89 4.00 4.08 4.27 Comparative example 3.49 3.82 4.17 4.67 5.04

In Table 1, the example is a numerical value of the water film thickness change from section a to section e of FIG. 4 in the carbonation reactor 1 of the present invention, and the comparative example has a reaction chamber 30 in a form without a conventional through-hole. The change in the thickness of the water film for the reactor (1) was quantified.

In the comparative example, the thickness change increases toward the bottom, so that the straightness decreases and a splash phenomenon may occur, but the embodiment of the present invention maintains the straightness due to the small thickness change as shown in FIG. It is shown that the water film can be stably formed as a result because there is almost no fluid to be formed.

1: carbonation reactor
10: Distributor
11: through hole
12: Inlet piping
13: gas injection pipe
20: pressure chamber
25: ring nozzle plate
30: reaction chamber
40: holding chamber

Claims (6)

Consisting of a pressure chamber, a reaction chamber coupled to the lower end of the pressure chamber to initiate a carbonation reaction, and a holding chamber coupled to the lower end of the reaction chamber to inject a product,
In the pressure chamber
Distributor that is placed at the bottom of the inlet pipe into which raw materials are injected and has a plurality of through holes inside.
Carbonation reactor for improving the stability of the water film comprising a. The method of claim 1,
The above distributor
Carbonation reactor for improving water film stability, characterized in that the center is made of a convex downwardly in the shape of a disk. The method of claim 1,
The plurality of through holes
Carbonation reactor for improving water film stability, characterized in that formed to be symmetrical to each other. The method of claim 3,
The plurality of through holes
Carbonation reactor for improving water film stability, characterized in that arranged in a radial. The method of claim 1,
The reaction chamber is
Carbonation reactor for improving water film stability, characterized in that formed inclined in the longitudinal direction. The method of claim 5,
The reaction chamber is
Carbonation reactor for improving water film stability, characterized in that it has an inclination angle of 5 to 15 degrees downward.

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