PL234758B1 - Device for drying metal powders in order to produce accumulator cell batteries and method for drying these metal powders - Google Patents

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for drying metal powders, and in particular, a device for drying metal powders for the production of storage cell batteries and a method for drying these metal powders.

State of the art background

Rechargeable cell batteries are widely used in a variety of portable devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, MP3 players and so on. In addition, they are used as an important power source for transportation means such as electric vehicles, electric bicycles, and so on.

Metal powders including lithium, nickel, cobalt, aluminum, and so on are essential for the manufacture of storage cell batteries. In particular, the properties of storage cell batteries such as rechargeability, discharge capacity and life span are very much dependent on the purity of metallic element powders, and it is known that the more impurities and moisture there are in cell storage batteries, the poorer their properties.

As a result, scrupulous quality management of the equipment supporting the production of cell batteries is necessary in order to prevent as far as possible moisture, other contaminants and so on from entering and mixing into and into metal powders such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, aluminum and so on.

In particular, during transport and during the production of metallic element powders, a small amount of moisture (4 to 12% by weight) which unintentionally enters the metallic element powders through contact with air should be removed in the pretreatment step before the main step in the manufacture of cell storage batteries.

In the drying step of removing moisture, mechanical contact between the metallic element powders and the drying device and physical contacts in the drying device between its components should be avoided as much as possible. Such contacts can cause other metal particles to mix with the highly pure metal powders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems

As a result, the present invention has been developed to solve the above-mentioned problems. A first object of the present invention is to provide a device for drying metal powders for the production of cell storage batteries and to provide a method for drying these metal powders, which device and method is capable of removing moisture from metallic element powders while preventing as far as possible contamination mixing. with powders of metallic elements used in the manufacture of cell storage batteries.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a device for drying metal powders for the production of cell storage batteries and a method for drying these metal powders, the device and method allowing to save raw materials and contribute to the protection of the environment by preventing metallic elements from penetrating into the moisture removal step of the metal elements. air.

Problem Solutions

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, there is provided a metal powder drying apparatus for making a cell storage battery comprising a dryer 110 into which on one side is injected a plurality of metallic element powders 60 used to manufacture the cell storage batteries; mixing device 520 for mixing metallic element powders 60 in dryer 110; a heating and cooling chamber 120 around dryer 110 located outside dryer 110 for heating or cooling dryer 110; an evaporator 300 and a cooler 400 for supplying the heating and cooling chamber 120 with steam or cool air; and a bag filter 200 provided on the other side of dryer 110 for venting air and moisture and for re-dumping the metallic element powders 60 into dryer 110.

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Additionally, the metallic element powders 60 may contain at least one of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and aluminum.

A metal powder drying apparatus for producing cellular storage batteries may additionally include a temperature sensor 170 installed in dryer 110; and a controller 10 for controlling the evaporator 300 and the cooler 400 based on the temperature signals detected by the temperature sensor 170.

A metal powder drying apparatus for producing cell batteries may additionally, include a moisture sensor 160 installed in dryer 110; a discharge device 500 provided on the other side of dryer 110; and a control device 10 for controlling the discharge device 500 based on the moisture signals detected by the moisture sensor 160.

A metal powder drying apparatus for producing cell storage batteries may additionally include a vibrating conveyor 600 for conveying mixed metal powders 650 being discharged from the discharge apparatus 500.

A metal powder drying apparatus for producing cellular batteries may additionally, comprise a material injector 50 for injecting metallic element powders 60 into the dryer 110; a weight sensor 150 installed below dryer 110; and a control device 10 for controlling the material injector 50 based on the weight signals detected by the weight sensor 150.

The heating and cooling chamber 120 may, in addition, include an outlet 450 for discharging steam or cool air.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, as a further object of the present invention, there is provided a method for drying metal powders for producing cell storage batteries using the above-mentioned drying device comprising the steps of injection (S100) on one side of dryer 110 and through a material injector 50, metallic element powders 60 for use in the manufacture of cell storage batteries; supplying (S125) the heating and cooling chamber 120 around the dryer 110 with steam and then heating and drying (S120) while the mixing device 520 performs mixing in the dryer 110; a drying stop step when the moisture sensor 160 determines that the moisture content of the metal powders 60 is 600 ppm; supplying (S145) the heating and cooling chamber 120 around dryer 110 with cool air and then cooling (S140) as the mixing device 520 performs mixing in dryer 110; and a step (S160) of the mixed metal powders discharging through the discharge device 500 when the temperature sensor 170 determines that the temperature of the metal powders 60 is below or equal to the standard temperature.

Additionally, the powders of the metallic elements 60, injected in the injection step (S100) may contain from 4 to 12% by weight of moisture.

Additionally, the dryer 110 in the heating step is heated to a temperature in the range of 120 ° C to 180 ° C, and the standard temperature is 50 ° C in the cooling step.

Beneficial Results

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the moisture content of the metallic element powders can be brought by its removal to a very low level of moisture while preventing as far as possible the contaminants from mixing with the metallic element powders. This makes it possible to manufacture high-quality rechargeable cell batteries.

Additionally, in the dehumidification step, the loss of raw materials can be avoided by preventing metallic element powders from escaping into the air, and the air containing moisture is evacuated, thereby protecting the environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As the drawings accompanying the present description illustrate a preferred of the preferred embodiments and embodiments of the present invention, and together with the detailed description of the present invention, aid in better understanding the technical concepts of the present invention, the present invention should not be construed as limited solely to what is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a metal powder drying apparatus for manufacturing cellular storage batteries as a whole, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

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Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the drying device 100 of Fig. 1 and its surrounding components of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the drying device 100 shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the drying device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a method for drying metal powders for manufacturing cellular storage batteries in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXAMPLES OF EXAMPLES AND IMPLEMENTATION

From there, the components of the present invention will be described in greater detail by referring to the accompanying drawings. As the present invention may be modified in many ways and may take various forms, specific preferred embodiments or embodiments will be shown in the drawings and will be described in detail in this specification.

It should be understood that, from this specification, the term "comprise or" have to indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, steps, elements, components or combinations thereof, but does not preclude the existence or addition of one or more features, numbers, steps or steps. , activities, elements, components or combinations thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms including technical or scientific terms used in this specification have the same meanings as generally understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Terms identical to those defined in the generally used vocabulary should be understood in accordance with their prior art and context meaning, unless otherwise expressly stated and should not be understood literally or too formally theoretically.

Components of the Preferred Embodiments

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a metal powder drying apparatus for manufacturing complete cell storage batteries according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the material injector 50, the discharge device 500, the bag filter 200, the mixing device 520, the evaporator 300, the cooler 400, the conveyor 600, and so on are provided around the drying device 100.

The drying device 100 is a cylindrical chamber and the mixing device 520 is provided inside the drying device 100. The drying device 100 dries the injected metallic element powders 60 by uniformly mixing them while the metallic element powders are heated at a high temperature.

Material injector 50 injects a constant amount of metallic element powders 60 inside the drying device 100 according to the control command of the control device 10. For this purpose, the material injector 50 is connected to the upper part of the drying device 100. The material injector 50 can be operated with worm conveyors, rotary feeders and vibratory feeders.

A discharge device 500 is located on the lower side of the drying device 100 and ejects the mixed metal powders 650 after drying is complete. The discharge device 500 may be open or closed on the bottom side of the drying device 100. The discharge device 500 is structured such that the metal powders, pushed towards the outer periphery by the mixing blades 525, when the bottom side of the drying device 100 is open, are discharged via the discharge from the discharge device 500. The discharge device 500 operates according to the control command of the control device 10.

A bag filter 200 is installed perpendicular to the top surface of the dehumidifier 100. A bag filter 200 throws the high temperature and moisture steam produced in the dehumidifier 100 together with air to the outside and drops metal powder particles mixed with air to recycle them to the device. for drying 100. Any detailed descriptions of the internal components of the bag filter 200 will be omitted as these components are well known in the art.

The mixing device 520 is installed above the center of the top of the dehumidifier 100. Mixing wings 525, positioned slightly away from the inner bottom of the dehumidifier 100, mix the injected metal powders evenly. Especially,

The angle of inclination of the mixing blades 525 preferably leads to the displacement of the metal powders towards the outer periphery during the rotation of the mixing blades. The axial shaft 522 of the mixing device is installed perpendicularly inside the drying device 100 and has mixing wings 525 at its lower end and a pulley at its upper end so that they can rotate integrally. The mixing device drive motor 527 is installed perpendicularly to the side of the drying device 100, and the mixing device drive belt 529 supplies the rotational power of the mixing device drive motor 527 to the axial shaft 522 of the mixing device. Additionally, the mixing blades are coated with tungsten to reduce wear during rotation.

The evaporator 300 is provided separately from the dehumidification device 100 and is connected to the dehumidification device 100 through a pipe through which the steam is supplied. A typical example of an evaporator 300 is a boiler.

A cooler 400 is provided separately from the dehumidifier 100 and is connected to the dehumidifying device 100 via a pipe through which cooling water is supplied. A typical example of a 300 cooler is an air conditioner. Cool air is the cooling liquid.

In particular, the evaporator 300 and the cooler 400 connected to the drying device 100 include a conversion valve (not visible) controlled by the control device 10 for selectively supplying the drying device 100 with steam or cool air.

A conveyor 600 connected to a discharge device 500 conveys the mixed metal powders 650 discharged for the next step. When augers are used it is very likely that contaminants are added due to friction between the metal screws and the metal powders. As a result, vibratory feeders are preferred, allowing contact with metal to be avoided as far as possible. This conveyor 600 may carry three barrels per hour (US barrel [U.S. bbl] US-1 bbl = 1,5898-10 ³ l = 1,5898m ^3; barrel (barrel) US).

An outlet 450 is provided on the lower surface of the heating and cooling chamber 120 of the drying device 100. The outlet 450 expels steam or cool air outward from the heating and cooling chamber 120. To this end, the outlet 450 may be constructed as pipes or valves. such valves operate according to the control command of the control device 10.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the drying device 100 of Fig. 1 and the surrounding components of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the drying device 100 has a two-layer construction. That is, a dryer 110 is provided inside the drying apparatus which is supplied with metallic element powders 60, and outside the dryer 110, a heating and cooling chamber 120 is provided around and outside the dryer 110. As a result, steam or cool air is provided. in the heating and cooling chamber 120, heats or cools the dryer 110 by heat exchange, but the steam or cool air is not in direct contact with the powders of the metallic elements 60.

The bottom of the drying device 100 is supported by a support 140, and a weight sensor 150 is installed on one side of the support 140 to detect weight changes based on the amount of the injected metallic element powders 60. The weight signals detected by the weight sensor 150 are sent to the control device 10 A typical example of a weight sensor 150 is a load cell.

A moisture sensor 160 is installed on one side inside the dryer 110 to detect the amount of moisture in the dryer 110. The moisture signals detected by the moisture sensor 160 are sent to the control device 10, so that the control device 10, based on the measured amount of moisture, can decide whether to continue. or complete the drying phase.

Temperature sensor 170 is installed on one side inside dryer 110 to detect temperature inside dryer 110. Temperature signals sensed by temperature sensor 170 are sent to control device 10 so that control device 10 can control the amount of steam supplied by the temperature sensor 10 based on measured temperatures. evaporator 300 or the amount of cool air supplied by the cooler 400.

Moisture and air 250 in the bag filter 200 flow towards the top portion and are discharged outward in the direction indicated by the arrows shown in Fig. 2, and the metallic element powders 60 contained in the moisture and air are filtered by the bag filter 200, are discharged into the portion. lower and returned to dryer 110.

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An injection inlet 130 is provided on one side of the heating and cooling chamber 120 to introduce steam or cool air, and a discharge device 500 connected to the dryer 110 can discharge the metal powders outside. Additionally, an exhaust port 450 is provided in the lower portion of the heating and cooling chamber 120 to expel steam or cool air to the outside.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the drying device 100 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, a heating and cooling chamber 120 is disposed around the cylindrical dryer 110. An axial shaft 522 of the mixing device is installed in the center of dryer 110, and four exhaust ports 450 are provided to implement a quick dump.

A material injector 50 with a circular cross-section is connected to the top surface of dryer 110. Around dryer 110 are installed three or four temperature sensors 170 for measuring temperatures at various points. Such temperature sensors 170 may be installed in the dryer 110 or in the heating and cooling chamber 120.

The discharge device 500 includes a cylinder and a piston horizontally installed on the bottom side of dryer 110. The bottom side of dryer 110 may be open or closed depending on the position of the piston in its reciprocating movement.

Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the drying device shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 4, material injector 50, mixing device 520, evaporator 300, cooler 400, temperature sensor 170, moisture sensor 160, weight sensor 150, filter the bag 200, the outlet 500 and the conveyor 600 are connected around the control device 10. The conveyor 600 may be directly connected to the control device 10 and may be connected to the discharge device 500. Typical examples of the control devices 10 may be microcomputers, central processing units, and so on. with computers containing microcomputers, central processing units, and so on being preferred.

Operation of the Preferred Embodiments

From here on, the methods carried out in operation of the preferred embodiments of the present invention having the above-mentioned components will be described in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings. First, Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing a method for drying metal powders for manufacturing cellular storage batteries in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 5, on one side of dryer 110, through the material injector 50, a plurality of metallic element powders 60 used in the manufacture of storage cells are injected (S100). Many of the metallic element powders 60 are metal powders such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, aluminum, and so on, and generally powders that contain from 4 to 12% moisture by weight during the manufacturing process. If they contain a large amount of moisture, more time is required for the drying step, thus ensuring that the entire process runs smoothly.

The weight of dryer 110 increases due to the injection of metallic element powders 60 into dryer 110 and, then, a weight sensor 150 detects the weight and sends the detected weight signals to the control device 10. The control device 10 inhibits the injection of materials by stopping the material injector 50 when the weight of dryer 110 exceeds. standard weight.

Thereafter, as the mixing device 520 performs mixing in dryer 110, steam is supplied (S125) to the heating and cooling chamber 120 around dryer 110, and the metallic element powders are heated and dried (S 120). That is, rotation of the drive motor 527 of the mixing device causes rotation of the mixing blades 525 through the drive belt 529 of the mixing device and the axial shaft 522 of the mixing device. Mixing wings 525 push the metallic element powders 60 evenly toward the outer periphery as the mixing blades are rotated. At the same time, evaporator 300 produces steam having a temperature in the range of 120 ° C to 180 ° C and is supplied inside the heating and cooling chamber 120 through the injection inlet 130. At temperatures lower than 120 ° C, the time required for the step is dehumidification is increased, while at temperatures exceeding 180 ° C, excessive amounts of steam or steam are supplied along with excessively high pressure, thus increasing the risk of explosion and changes in physical properties. As a result, temperatures in the range from 130 ° C to 150 ° C are more preferred than those in the range from 120 ° C to 180 ° C when the dried metal powders are dried for three hours. Such temperatures can be maintained by sending temperature signals detected by temperature sensor 170 to controller 10.

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High temperature heat from the heating and cooling chamber 120 is supplied to the dryer through the wall of the dryer 110 and heats the metallic element powders 60. The purity of the metallic element powders 60 can be maintained as they are not directly exposed to heat.

Thereafter, the moisture contained in the metallic element powders 60 is vaporized and released with the air 250 through the bag filter 200. The particles of metal powders that may be present in the exhaust air 250 are filtered by the bag filter, naturally discharged and returned to the dryer 110. As a result, the loss of metal powders in the drying step can be minimized.

Then, the moisture sensor 160 determines whether the moisture content of the metal powders 60 is less than or equal to 600 ppm, and the control device 10 stops the drying step (S120). When the drying step (S120) is stopped, the evaporator 300 causes the steam supplying step to stop.

Then, while the mixing device 520 performs mixing in dryer 110, cool air is supplied (S145) to the heating and cooling chamber 120 around the dryer and cools (S140) the dryer. The controller 10 stops the steam supply and allows cool air to be supplied to injection inlet 130 via tubular conversion. The supplied cool air fills the interior of the heating and cooling chamber 120 and lowers the temperature inside the dryer 110.

Then, when the temperature sensor 170 determines whether the temperatures of the metal powders 60 are less than or equal to a standard temperature (e.g., 50 ° C), the controller 10 controls the discharge device 500 so as to eject (S160) the mixed metal powders. When the standard temperature is higher than 50 ° C, the following steps do not run smoothly due to the high temperature. On the other hand, when the standard temperature is significantly lower than 50 ° C, more time is needed for the cooling step and more energy is used. As a result, it is preferable to set the standard temperature as the temperature in the range of 40 ° C to 50 ° C.

To eject the mixed metal powders 650, the discharge device 500 is opened and the mixing device 500 continues to operate. In turn, the metal powders that are pushed around the periphery in dryer 110 are dropped and transferred to the conveyor 600 by the discharge device 500.

Preferred Embodiments Modified

As an example of modifications to the above-mentioned preferred preferred embodiments, a vacuum pump may be added to heat and dry the drying device 100 under a vacuum.

Additionally, a pressure sensor may be added in the heating and cooling chamber 120 to prevent excessive pressure build-up of steam or cool air.

In addition, steam or cool air from the heating and cooling chamber 120, once used, is vented out into the air but, to increase thermal efficiency, can be recovered by installing a return pipe.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the above-mentioned preferred preferred embodiments, anyone skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can understand that many various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the inventive spirit and scope of the present invention. Additionally, it is evident that all modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (10)

Patent claims 1. Metal powder drying equipment for the manufacture of cellular storage batteries, comprising: a dryer (110) injected on one side with a plurality of metallic element powders (60) used to manufacture cell storage batteries; mixing device (520) for mixing metallic element powders (60) in the dryer (110); a heating and cooling chamber (120) around the dryer (110) located outside the dryer (110) for heating and cooling the dryer (110); An evaporator (300) and a cooler (400) for supplying the heating and cooling chamber (120) with steam or cool air; and a bag filter provided on the other side of the dryer (110) for bleeding air and moisture and for discharging the metallic element powders (60) back into the dryer (110). 2. Device for drying metal powders for the production of cell storage batteries according to claim 1. The process of claim 1, wherein the metallic element powders contain at least one of a metal including lithium, nickel, cobalt, aluminum, and so on. A device for drying metal powders for the production of cell storage batteries according to claim 1. 1, additionally containing: a temperature sensor (170) installed in the dryer (110); and a control device (10) for controlling the evaporator (300) and the cooler (400) based on the temperatures detected by the temperature sensor (170). 4. A device for drying metal powders for the production of cell storage batteries according to claim 1. 1, additionally containing: a moisture sensor (160) installed in the dryer (110); a discharge device (500) provided on the other side of the dryer (110); and a control device (10) for controlling the discharge device (500) based on the moisture signals detected by the moisture sensor (160). A device for drying metal powders for the production of cellular storage batteries according to claim 1. The method of claim 4, wherein the metal powder drying device for producing the cell storage batteries further comprises a vibrating conveyor (600) for conveying mixed metal powders (650) discharged by the discharge device (500). A device for drying metal powders for the production of cell storage batteries according to claim 1. 1, additionally containing: a material injector (50) for injecting metallic element powders (60) into the dryer (110); a weight sensor (150) installed in the lower portion of the dryer (110); and a control device (10) for controlling the material injector (50) based on the weight signals detected by the weight sensor (150). A device for drying metal powders for the production of cell storage batteries according to claim 1. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heating and cooling chamber (120) further comprises an exhaust port (450) for releasing steam and cool air. 8. A drying method using a metal powder drying device for the production of cellular storage batteries according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 1 to 7, comprising: a step of injecting (S100), through a material injector (50) on one side of the dryer (110), a plurality of metallic element powders (60) used to manufacture cell storage batteries; a heating and drying step (S120) of supplying steam (S125) to the heating and cooling chamber (120) around the dryer (110) while the mixing device (520) performs mixing in the dryer (110); a step of stopping the drying step when the moisture sensor (160) determines that the moisture content of the metal powders (60) is less than or equal to 600 ppm; a cooling step (S140) by supplying cool air (S145) to a heating and cooling chamber (120) around the dryer (110) while the mixing device (520) performs mixing in the dryer (110); and a step (S160) of the mixed metal powders through the discharger (500) when the temperature sensor (170) determines that the temperature of the metal powders (60) is less than or equal to the standard temperature. 9. A drying method using a metal powder drying device for the production of cell storage batteries according to claim 1. The process of claim 8, wherein the powders of the metallic elements (60) injected by the injection step (S100) contain from 4 to 12% by weight of moisture. 10. A drying method using a metal powder drying device for the production of cell storage batteries according to claim 1. The process of claim 8, wherein the dryer (110) in the drying step (S120) is heated to a temperature in the range from 120 ° C to 180 ° C; and wherein the standard temperature in the cooling step (S140) is 50 ° C.