Intelligent chemical equipment Empowers the New energy industry: Shanghai YHChem Technology's Innovative Application in Lithium Battery Material Manufacturing

Introduction

 

With the rapid development of the global new energy vehicle industry, lithium-ion batteries, as a key energy storage technology, have seen the technological upgrading and capacity expansion of their industrial chain become the focus of the industry. As the core components of lithium batteries, the preparation processes of key materials such as electrolyte and cathode materials directly affect the performance, safety and cost of the battery. Shanghai YHChem Intelligent Technology Co., LTD., as a professional supplier of chemical separation and purification equipment, plays a significant role in the manufacturing of new energy materials with its advanced core equipment such as molecular distillation and reaction vessels.

 

Enterprise background and technical strength

 

Shanghai YHChem Intelligent Technology was established in 2009. It is a listed company on the STAR Market of the Shanghai Equity Exchange, a national high-tech enterprise, and a specialized, refined, distinctive and innovative enterprise. The company is dedicated to providing global customers with comprehensive solutions and equipment for reaction, concentration, separation, purification and temperature control. It has tens of thousands of equipment systems serving over a thousand well-known enterprises in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. In the field of new energy materials, YHChem Technology, with its profound accumulation in chemical separation technology, has provided crucial process equipment support for the manufacturing of lithium battery materials.

 

The application of core technologies in the field of new energy

 

The Application of Molecular Distillation Technology in the Purification of Electrolyte solvents

Technical background

 

The electrolyte of lithium-ion batteries is mainly composed of lithium salts, solvents and additives. Among them, solvents account for 70-80% of the weight of the electrolyte and mainly include carbonate compounds such as ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), methyl ethyl carbonate (EMC), and diethyl carbonate (DEC). The purity of these solvents directly affects the cycle life, safety performance and electrochemical performance of the battery.

 

YHChem Technology Solutions

 

The short-path molecular distillation system of YHChem Technology has demonstrated significant advantages in the purification of electrolyte solvents

 

Process features

 

• Low-temperature operation: Molecular distillation operates under vacuum conditions, with an operating temperature 50-100℃ lower than that of atmospheric distillation, effectively preventing the thermal decomposition of heat-sensitive carbonate compounds

 

• High-purity separation: It can effectively separate low-boiling-point and high-boiling-point impurities in the solvent, making the product purity reach over 99.9%

 

• Short residence time: The liquid film evaporation technology enables the material to stay in the high-temperature zone for an extremely short time, reducing the occurrence of side reactions

 

Practical application cases A well-known electrolyte manufacturer has adopted the YMD-10S short-path molecular distillation system of YHChem Technology for the refining of dimethyl carbonate (DMC). The processing capacity of this system reaches 80kg/h, increasing the purity of DMC from 98.5% to 99.95% and reducing the moisture content to below 10ppm, significantly enhancing the electrochemical performance of the electrolyte.

 

Application of Continuous Flow Microreactors in Lithium Salt Synthesis

 

Technical background

 

Lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆) is the most important lithium salt in the electrolyte. Its synthesis involves the reaction of hydrogen fluoride and diphosphorus pentoxide. During the process, the reaction conditions need to be strictly controlled to avoid the occurrence of side reactions.

 

YHChem Technology Solutions

 

The continuous flow microreactor system of YHChem Technology provides a more precise and safe process route for lithium salt synthesis

 

Technical advantages

 

• Rapid mixing: Laminar flow mixing within microchannels ensures rapid and uniform contact of reactants

 

• Precise control: Real-time adjustment of reaction temperature, residence time and material ratio

 

•  Safe production: Small-volume reactors reduce the stock of hazardous materials

 

• Continuous production has improved production efficiency and the consistency of product quality

 

Application of Rotary Evaporation Technology in the Recovery of Organic Solvents

 

Technical background

 

A large amount of waste liquid containing organic solvents is produced in the manufacturing process of new energy materials, including by-products in the production of electrolyte, mother liquor in the synthesis process of cathode materials, and organic component separation in the process of battery disassembly and recycling. The recycling and utilization of these solvents can not only reduce production costs but also minimize environmental pollution, which is in line with the development concepts of green manufacturing and circular economy.

 

YHChem Technology Solutions

 

YHChem Technology's large-scale rotary evaporator system provides efficient solvent recovery solutions for new energy enterprises

 

Equipment features

• Large-capacity design: The processing capacity of a single device can reach 50-200L, meeting the demands of industrial production

 

• High-efficiency condensation: Multi-stage condensation system, solvent recovery rate reaches over 95%

 

• Automation control: Integrated automatic control system for temperature, pressure and rotational speed, easy to operate

 

• Explosion-proof design: Meets the safety requirements for organic solvent treatment, with an explosion-proof grade reaching ExdIIBT4

 

• Material selection: Choose the appropriate material based on the characteristics of the solvent, such as 316L stainless steel, PTFE coating, etc

 

Process advantages

 

• Temperature conditions: Low-temperature and reduced pressure operation to protect heat-sensitive substances

 

• High recovery rate: The multi-stage condensation and vacuum system ensure high recovery efficiency

 

• Batch processing: Suitable for intermittent production mode

 

• Flexible operation: It can handle various types of organic solvent mixtures

 

Application fields

• The recovery of solvents such as DMC, EMC and DEC in the electrolyte production process

 

• Recycling of solvents such as N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) during the preparation of <s:1> cathode materials

 

• Separation and extraction of organic electrolytes in the battery recycling process

 

• Recovery of valuable solvents from laboratory waste liquids

 

Application of Thin-film Evaporation Technology in Waste Treatment

 

Technical background

 

The treatment of high-viscosity, high-boiling-point and heat-sensitive waste generated during the production process of new energy materials is a technical challenge. These wastes often contain valuable components, but traditional treatment methods are inefficient or prone to causing the decomposition and damage of useful components.

 

YHChem Technology Solutions

 

The thin-film evaporator of YHChem Technology provides an effective solution for the treatment of highly challenging waste materials

 

Process advantages

• Strong adaptability: It can handle high-viscosity (up to 50,000cP), heat-sensitive and easily scaling materials

 

• The heat transfer efficiency is high: The heat transfer coefficient of thin-film evaporation is 3 to 10 times that of traditional evaporators

 

• The residence time is short: The residence time of the material on the heating surface is only a few seconds to tens of seconds, greatly reducing thermal decomposition

 

• Flexible operation: It can operate under high vacuum conditions, further reducing the evaporation temperature

 

• Continuous operation: Supports continuous feeding and discharging, suitable for large-scale industrial production

 

Equipment type

• Scraping film type thin-film evaporator: Suitable for medium-viscosity materials

 

• Centrifugal thin-film evaporator: Suitable for high-viscosity and easily scaling materials

 

• Vacuum falling film type thin-film evaporator: suitable for heat-sensitive materials

 

Application scenarios

• Treatment and recycling of polymer electrolyte waste

 

• Recovery of organic components in the waste liquid of adhesive bonding

 

• Concentration and purification of high boiling point additives

 

• Reduction treatment of waste liquid containing metal salts

 

• Process optimization and technological innovation

 

Intelligent control system

 

YHChem Technology has integrated advanced DCS (Distributed Control System) into its equipment, achieving the following functions:

 

• Real-time monitoring: Real-time collection of key parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow rate and liquid level

 

• Automatic control: Automatically adjust the reaction conditions according to the process requirements

 

• Data recording: Complete production data records facilitate quality traceability

 

• Remote monitoring: Supports remote diagnosis and technical support

 

Green and environmentally friendly design

 

In the manufacturing of new energy materials, YHChem Technology attaches great importance to environmental protection and sustainable development

 

• Solvent recovery: The accompanying solvent recovery system achieves a recovery rate of over 95%

 

• Waste gas treatment: Integrated tail gas treatment device to ensure compliance with emission standards

 

• Energy consumption optimization: Through process optimization and equipment improvement, the energy consumption per unit product is reduced by 20-30%

 

Trends and Prospects of Technological development

 

Preparation of solid-state battery materials

 

With the development of solid-state battery technology, the preparation of solid electrolyte materials such as sulfides and oxides has put forward new requirements for equipment. YHChem Technology is developing dedicated equipment for the preparation of solid electrolyte materials, including:

 

• Ultra-high vacuum molecular distillation system

 

• Inert atmosphere high-temperature reactor

 

• Precision grinding and dispersion equipment

 

2. Recycling and reuse

 

The recycling and treatment of used lithium batteries is an important link in the sustainable development of the new energy industry. YHChem Technology's technical reserves in the field of battery material recycling include:

 

• Organic solvent recovery and refining system

 

• Metal salt separation and purification equipment

 

• Harmless treatment device for waste materials

 

Digital and intelligent upgrading

 

Combining Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence technologies, YHChem Technology is promoting the intelligent upgrade of its equipment

 

• Youdaoplaceholder0 Process optimization algorithm based on machine learning

 

• Predictive maintenance system

 

• A full-process digital management platform

 

At the end

 

Shanghai YHChem Intelligent Technology, leveraging its technological advantages in the field of chemical separation and purification, has successfully combined traditional chemical equipment with the manufacturing demands of new energy materials, providing crucial technical equipment support for the lithium battery industry chain. Through the innovative application of core equipment such as molecular distillation, reaction vessels, and continuous flow reactors, not only has the product quality and production efficiency of new energy materials been enhanced, but also the entire industry has been promoted to develop in a greener, smarter, and more efficient direction.

 

With the continuous and rapid development of the new energy industry and the constant progress of technology, YHChem Technology will continue to deepen technological innovation and market expansion in the field of new energy material manufacturing, contributing more technical solutions and equipment support to the high-quality development of the global new energy industry.