Application of customized muffle furnace in the new energy industry

Customized muffle furnaces are widely and deeply used in the new energy industry. Through precise temperature control, atmosphere regulation, and flexible customized design, they have become the core equipment for key processes such as lithium battery material preparation, solar cell research and development, fuel cell catalyst optimization, and waste battery recycling. The following analysis will be conducted from four core application scenarios:

1. Preparation of lithium battery materials: precise temperature control to improve material performance
Synthesis of positive electrode materials
Application scenario: The sintering of positive electrode materials such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and ternary materials (NCM/NCA) requires a high temperature environment (700 ℃~1000 ℃), and has extremely high requirements for atmosphere purity (O ₂ concentration of 5%~20%).
Customization advantages:
Atmosphere control: The customized furnace can integrate an oxygen/nitrogen mixed gas system to accurately adjust the O ₂ concentration and prevent insufficient material oxidation or reduction.
Temperature uniformity: By independently controlling the temperature in multiple zones (such as 800 ℃ at the front end and 950 ℃ at the back end), the crystallinity of the material is ensured to be consistent, and the battery capacity is improved (such as increasing the capacity of LFP material by 5mAh/g).
Anti sticking design: Spray alumina coating on the inner wall of the furnace to reduce material adhesion and lower cleaning costs.
Case: A battery factory customized a 1000 ℃ oxygen furnace, which extended the cycle life of NCM811 positive electrode material by 200 times and reduced production costs by 12%.
Carbonization of negative electrode material
Application scenario: Graphite negative electrode material needs to be carbonized at 1200 ℃~1500 ℃ to remove impurities and improve conductivity.
Customization advantages:
Rapid heating: Microwave heating technology achieves a heating rate of 20 ℃/min, shortens carbonization time by 80%, and reduces energy consumption by 30%.
Atmosphere protection: Nitrogen environment prevents graphite oxidation and ensures material purity ≥ 99.9%.
Case: A negative electrode material company customized a microwave muffle furnace, which increased the efficiency of graphite negative electrodes to 95% for the first time, meeting the demand for high-end power batteries.

2. Research and Development of Solar Cells: High Temperature Uniformity Helps Breakthrough Efficiency
Processing of silicon-based battery materials
Application scenario: Silicon wafer oxidation, diffusion and other processes require high temperatures of 1100 ℃~1200 ℃, and temperature uniformity directly affects battery conversion efficiency.
Customization advantages:
High precision temperature control: PID algorithm controls temperature fluctuations within ± 1 ℃, ensuring uniformity of oxide layer thickness ≤ 2%.
Rapid cooling: The water cooling system is combined with nitrogen purging to shorten the process cycle (such as reducing the oxidation time from 2 hours to 30 minutes).
Case: A certain photovoltaic enterprise customized a 1200 ℃ oxidation furnace, which increased the conversion efficiency of monocrystalline silicon cells by 0.3%, reaching an industry-leading level of 24.5%.
Crystallization optimization of perovskite cells
Application scenario: Perovskite materials need to be annealed at 500 ℃~600 ℃ to form uniform crystals, and traditional heating methods are prone to local overheating.
Customization advantages:
Infrared heating plate: Combined with a heat reflection cover to achieve temperature uniformity of ± 2 ℃, promoting uniform crystallization of the material.
Roll to roll process: Integrated conveyor belt system, supports continuous production, and increases production capacity by 5 times.
Case: A university laboratory customized a winding annealing furnace, which increased the efficiency of perovskite cells from 18% to 21%, approaching the commercialization threshold.

3. Optimization of Fuel Cell Catalysts: Nanostructured Regulation to Enhance Activity
Synthesis of Platinum Carbon Catalyst
Application scenario: Fuel cell electrocatalysts need to be heat-treated at 800 ℃~1000 ℃ to form nanostructures with high specific surface area.
Customization advantages:
Atmosphere switching: air → hydrogen → air multi-stage program control, realizing the oxidation-reduction cycle on the catalyst surface and optimizing the active sites.
Small batch experiment: The furnace volume is 0.5L~5L, supporting rapid iteration during the R&D phase and shortening the experimental cycle by 50%.
Case: A hydrogen energy enterprise customized a tube furnace, which increased catalyst activity by 30% and reduced costs by 40%, promoting the commercialization process of fuel cells.
Calcination of perovskite catalyst
Application scenario: Perovskite type oxide catalysts need to be calcined at high temperatures to form stable crystal phases, and traditional heating methods can easily lead to sintering agglomeration.
Customization advantages:
Secondary combustion technology: The high temperature range of 850 ℃~1200 ℃ ensures complete crystallization of the catalyst while avoiding excessive sintering.
Exhaust gas treatment: Integrated cyclone dust removal+wet desulfurization system, meeting environmental emission standards.
Case: A certain environmental protection company customized a pyrolysis furnace, which increased the catalyst activity retention rate from 70% to 90% and extended its service life by 2 years.

4. Recycling of waste batteries: achieving resource recycling through high-temperature pyrolysis
Lithium ion battery recycling
Application scenario: Waste lithium-ion batteries need to be pyrolyzed at 500 ℃~800 ℃ to separate valuable metals (such as cobalt and nickel) and remove organic matter.
Customization advantages:
Secondary combustion technology: High temperature zone of 850 ℃~1200 ℃ ensures complete decomposition of dioxins and achieves harmless treatment.
Metal recycling system: Integrated screw conveyor and air lock valve to achieve continuous feeding, with a valuable metal recovery rate of over 95%.
Case: A recycling company customized a pyrolysis furnace, reducing processing costs by 60% and increasing annual profits by 20 million yuan.
Solid state battery waste disposal
Application scenario: Solid state battery waste needs to be pyrolyzed at high temperatures to remove sulfide electrolytes, and traditional equipment is prone to material cross contamination.
Customization advantages:
Vacuum environment: Mechanical pump+molecular pump combined vacuum pumping (≤ 10 ⁻⁴ Pa) to prevent sulfide volatilization pollution.
Modular design: The furnace can be quickly replaced to meet the needs of different types of waste disposal.
Case: A battery manufacturer customized a vacuum furnace to increase the purity of waste treatment to 99.9%, meeting the requirements for new material synthesis.