In the new energy industry, electric furnaces are core equipment
for the processing of cobalt, nickel, and lithium materials, which
are crucial for manufacturing lithium - ion battery cathodes and
recycling waste batteries. The supporting automation systems
further improve processing efficiency, product consistency, and
operational safety. Below is a detailed introduction to mainstream
electric furnaces and their automation systems for cobalt, nickel,
and lithium processing:
These electric furnaces are designed according to different process
requirements such as sintering, smelting, and thermal decomposition
of cobalt - nickel - lithium materials, and their structures and
performances are highly targeted.
- Rotary Kiln
- Core Application: It is mainly used for the roasting of cobalt - nickel raw ores,
the thermal decomposition of waste lithium - battery electrodes,
and the sintering of lithium iron phosphate black powder. For
example, the continuous atmosphere rotary calcining kiln
independently developed by Longxin Drying is well - applied in the
thermal decomposition of lithium - battery electrodes and the
sintering of lithium iron phosphate black powder.
- Key Features: The furnace body adopts a composite furnace liner made of N6
alloy and stainless steel SUS310S, which is corrosion - resistant
during long - term use. It is equipped with a precision atmosphere
guarantee system and an upgraded sealing system. The spiral flow -
guiding inner liner and zoned temperature control technology enable
uniform heating of materials. The surface temperature rise of the
insulated furnace chamber is less than 50°C, resulting in low heat
loss.
- Roller Hearth Furnace
- Core Application: It is suitable for the continuous firing of powder materials such
as lithium cobaltate and ternary cobalt - nickel - manganese
materials in an oxidizing atmosphere. It is a key equipment in the
mass production of lithium - battery cathode materials.
- Key Features: Yixing Bangshida Furnace Industry's BGD - 120 - 10 electric
roller hearth furnace is a typical product. Its rated temperature
is 1200°C, and the temperature control accuracy is ≤±1°C. The
furnace uses high - density and high - purity silicon carbide rods
for heating. The inlet and outlet are equipped with sealed gates,
which can ensure that the oxygen content in the sintering area is
less than 30ppm. It adopts frequency conversion stepless speed
regulation, and the transmission speed can be adjusted between 800
- 2000mm/h, which is suitable for continuous large - batch
production.
- Medium - Frequency Induction Melting Furnace
- Core Application: It is mainly used for the smelting of cobalt - nickel alloys and
the laboratory research of cobalt - nickel - lithium alloy
materials. For instance, the CY - IV700 - 60KW nickel - cobalt
alloy medium - frequency induction melting experimental furnace can
smelt and prepare nickel - cobalt alloys under vacuum or protective
atmosphere conditions.
- Key Features: The maximum smelting temperature can reach 1600°C. It is equipped
with a high - vacuum molecular pump unit to improve the vacuum
degree of the furnace and the smelting quality. The stainless steel
water - cooled cavity is equipped with a quartz observation window
for observing the smelting situation. It also has a lifting
platform and a flipping handle, facilitating casting and sampling
after smelting.
- Pusher Furnace
- Core Application: It is applicable to the sintering of high - performance cobalt -
nickel - lithium materials and nuclear - grade powders. It is often
used in scenarios that require high temperature stability, such as
the sintering of special lithium - battery cathode materials.
- Key Features: Huayou Kiln's pusher furnace has a maximum operating temperature
of 1700°C and a common temperature of 1650°C. It adopts molybdenum
wire as the heating element and can place materials in double rows
and multiple layers. Similar to the rotary kiln, its insulated
furnace chamber has low heat loss, and the equipment structure is
compact, which is easy to maintain.
The automation system is closely integrated with electric furnaces,
covering multiple links such as temperature control, atmosphere
regulation, and process monitoring. It realizes intelligent
operation and precise control of the processing process. The
specific components are as follows:
- Basic Control System
- Temperature and Speed Control: Most electric furnaces adopt PID automatic temperature control.
For example, the roller hearth furnace uses a thyristor single -
phase voltage regulation method for temperature control, with 38
groups of temperature control units. It is equipped with
intelligent temperature regulators that have functions such as over
- temperature alarm and thermocouple breakage indication. The
transmission system of the roller hearth furnace uses frequency
conversion speed regulation, and the main drive motor is equipped
with phase failure protection and over - current protection.
- Atmosphere Regulation: The continuous rotary calcining kiln uses multi - sensor fusion
technology to conduct millisecond - level precise control of the
gas composition and flow rate in the furnace. It can automatically
adjust the air intake and exhaust volume through intelligent
algorithms. The roller hearth furnace is provided with 14 air
intake pipes in the preheating and firing sections, and an exhaust
pipe on the top of the furnace head. It uses a furnace pressure
negative feedback design to automatically control the furnace
pressure with a control accuracy of ±10Pa.
- Centralized Monitoring and Control System
- DCS Distributed Control System: It is widely used in large - scale cobalt - nickel processing
projects. Taking the Indonesian Hanrui nickel - cobalt project as
an example, its DCS system integrates the monitoring of the entire
plant's equipment, covering key processes such as high - pressure
leaching and flash evaporation. It can collect real - time data and
achieve remote control, which is convenient for managers to grasp
the operation status of electric furnaces and other equipment in a
centralized manner.
- Upper Computer Monitoring: Taizhou Shikong Automation's control system uses upper computer
software and general Ethernet communication to collect and control
data of all equipment. It has a complete data management and alarm
recording function, which can record the occurrence, handling, and
end of events. Operators can monitor and control some equipment in
the workshop on the upper computer.
- Safety and Intelligent Optimization System
- Safety Interlock Protection: The SIS safety instrument system is configured for high - risk
links. For example, the Indonesian Hanrui nickel - cobalt project
sets up emergency shutdown and interlock protection for high - risk
equipment such as high - pressure reactors. The roller hearth
furnace is equipped with over - temperature alarm devices for each
temperature zone, and each zone has an independent air switch. The
rotary calcining kiln is also equipped with an over - temperature
alarm system and a pressure protection device.
- Intelligent Optimization Modules: Some advanced systems use AI algorithms to dynamically adjust
parameters such as leaching temperature and acid - ore ratio to
improve metal recovery rate. Online analysis instruments such as
XRF X - ray fluorescence spectrometers are used to monitor the
concentration of nickel and cobalt in solutions in real time.
pH/ORP sensors can automatically adjust the dosage of reagents in
the neutralization process, ensuring the stability of the cobalt -
nickel - lithium processing process. In addition, some projects
also build a digital twin platform to link 3D factory models with
real - time data to support fault prediction and maintenance
decisions.
Product presentation:
Shaanxi Chengda Industrial furnace Manufacturing company is firmly
optimistic about the development prospects of new energy lithium
industry. After more than 20 years of development, the company has
formed an integrated development pattern from nickel cobalt lithium
resource development, green smelting and processing, ternary
precursor and cathode material manufacturing to resource recycling
and recycling of new energy lithium battery materials, with
industry-leading comprehensive competitiveness. The company always
adheres to the development of the new energy lithium battery
material industry as the core, adheres to the overall development
of the three-in-one road of "resource control, capacity
enhancement, and market expansion", adheres to the competitive
strategy of "product leadership, cost leadership", continues to
deepen the global layout of industrial integration, comprehensively
improves the comprehensive competitive advantage of industrial
integration, and strives to build a new quality productivity
pattern of industrial integration. Strive to become a leader in the
new energy lithium battery material industry.
Shaanxi Chengda Industrial Furnace Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a
professional supplier of waste lithium electricity and wet slag
recovery electric furnace.
Background introduction :
With the popularity of electronic products, lithium batteries are
also more and more widely used. However, with the gradual
shortening of service life, the disposal of waste lithium batteries
is becoming increasingly prominent. Improper disposal of waste
lithium batteries will not only cause pollution to the environment,
but also waste a lot of resources. Therefore, it is of great
significance to carry out research on the recycling technology of
waste lithium batteries.
Process description:
Raw materials such as battery disassembly material and wet slag are
added to the disposal furnace and melted by electric heating. After
a certain time, the liquid alloy flows into the alloy package
through the chute from the iron outlet, and the alloy package moves
to the refining position and begins refining. The slag from the
slag mouth of the electric furnace is buffered by the chute and
flows directly into the depleted electric furnace in the downstream
process for secondary extraction.
Device structure form:
1) Use a semi-closed fixed furnace with a low smoke hood for the
disposal of the electric furnace
Type;
2) The use of all water-cooled bellows pressure ring, so that the
copper tile force uniform, balanced and uniform conduction;
3) The use of new water-cooled cable technology and forged copper
shingles, water-cooled cable and copper pipe connection selection
of button-type connection, which can reduce the contact resistance;
4) The new short network structure of one to one between the
transformer outlet and the copper tile makes the equipment more
advanced and the operation rate is high;
5) The short-net design uses the three-phase electrode triangle
connection method, which has good short-net compensation, low
impedance, low three-phase unbalance coefficient, high power factor
and significant power-saving effect;
6) Full hydraulic lock, PLC control, to achieve voltage discharge,
improve the operation rate of the electrode system;
7) The use of non-magnetic steel near the large current carrying
conductor can greatly reduce the power loss