Material Characteristics The lithium iron phosphate (LFP) filter cake with an initial moisture content of 55% is paste‑like, highly viscous and poorly flowable. Direct drying tends to cause agglomeration. LFP material is heat‑sensitive. High temperature (>120 °C) shall be avoided to prevent crystal structure damage or metal ion leaching.
Production Requirements Target moisture content ≤0.5%, with guaranteed batch consistency (compacted density, particle size distribution). Continuous production to meet the ten‑thousand‑ton‑level capacity demand of lithium‑battery industry.
Three‑step drying system:
Pre‑dehydration Stage (Moisture: 55% → 30%)
Main Drying Stage (Moisture: 30% → 2%)
Cooling & Shaping Stage
Anti‑caking Design A screw extrusion granulator is equipped at the feeding end to pre‑treat filter cake into 3‑5 mm particles. High‑speed crushing blades are optionally installed inside the dryer.
Exhaust Gas Treatment System Cyclone separator + bag‑house dust collector + condensation recovery. Dust emission ＜10 mg/m³, water recovery rate ＞90%.
Intelligent Control PLC system monitors moisture content in real time via near‑infrared on‑line detection, and automatically adjusts heating plate temperature and rake arm rotating speed.
Customer Pain Points: The original oven drying process suffered low efficiency and large moisture fluctuation (0.3%‑1.0%), which restricted supporting demands for high‑nickel ternary batteries.
Solution: Customized 6‑layer continuous plate dryer (including pre‑granulation and exhaust gas recovery), integrated with DCS control system. Centrifugal dehydration was added in pre‑treatment to reduce moisture content from 55% to 28%.
Operation Results: ‑ Capacity: Increased from 1.2 tons/day to 12 tons/day under 24‑hour continuous operation. ‑ Energy Consumption: Cost per ton of material dropped from RMB 420 to RMB 180. ‑ Quality: Moisture content stably maintained at 0.2%‑0.4%; battery cycle life improved by 8%.
"Three Reductions in One Machine"
‑ Cost Reduction: Over 40% cut in energy and labor costs. ‑ Risk Reduction: Sealed explosion‑proof design and zero metal contamination, compliant with IATF 16949 certification. ‑ Threshold Reduction: 7‑day installation and commissioning, seamless connection with existing production lines with no plant reconstruction required.
With closed‑loop process design (pre‑dehydration + drying + exhaust gas recovery), the continuous plate dryer is more than equipment. It serves as a strategic tool for LFP manufacturers to improve product quality and production efficiency.