Reactor, System and Method for Carbon-Based Material Post-Modification

A carbon-based material post-modification reactor includes: a feeding port located upstream from the carbon-based material post-modification reactor and adapted to feed a carbon-based raw material into the reactor; a discharging port located downstream from the carbon-based material post-modification reactor and adapted to output a modified carbon-based material; and a screw conveying device disposed in the reactor to simultaneously convey and turn over the carbon-based raw material in the reactor, between the feeding port and the discharging port; and an intake device for inputting ozone gas to the interior of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor. The screw conveying device includes a shaft portion, reverse inner spiral blade group and forward outer spiral blade group. The screw conveying device simultaneously conveys forward, conveys reversely, and turns over the carbon-based raw material in the carbon-based material post-modification reactor, thereby enhancing the performance of post-modification reaction.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 110115315, filed Apr. 28, 2021, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to modification technology of carbon-based materials and, more particularly, to post-modification technology of carbon-based materials, such as carbon black, activated charcoal, carbon nanotubes, graphene and carbon fiber.

Description of the Prior Art

Carbon black is intrinsically lipophilic and demonstrates low dispersibility when present in polar solvents (for example, water), thereby having limited application. To extend the application of carbon black to related fields, such as ink, paint and electronic packaging, and thus broaden its application to thereby increase its application value, its manufacturing process entails performing surface oxidation modification processing on carbon black and thus enhancing the dispersion performance of carbon black to thereby allow the modified carbon black to disperse throughout polar solvents steadily and satisfactorily.

According to prior art, modification procedures of carbon black are mostly carried out in the course of manufacturing carbon black by introducing hydrogen peroxide to a manufacturing process to start a reaction in order to increase oxygen-containing polar groups of the carbon black produced. Alternatively, after its production, carbon black is treated with a strong acid (for example, hydrochloric acid and nitric acid) solution or ozone plasma in order to undergo post-modification processing, such as surface acidification and surface oxidation. Using strong acid solutions to carry out post-modification processing to carbon black inevitably leads to issues, such as treating and discharging severely polluted waste liquid. On the other hand, using ozone plasma to carry out post-modification processing to carbon black is disadvantaged by low efficiency because of low ozone plasma concentration. Furthermore, existing carbon black post-modification techniques always require a blender operating in a reaction tank and entail performing surface modification of carbon black in batches; thus, the existing carbon black post-modification techniques have two drawbacks: low efficiency, production yield and economic value; and inconsistent quality of the modified carbon black due to differences between conditions for batch processing. As a result, the issue with severely polluted waste liquid will not go away even if continuous processing is carried out with a fluidized bed. Furthermore, carbon-based material, such as activated charcoal, carbon nanotubes, graphene and carbon fiber, requires post-modification technology conducive to enhancing processing efficiency and capable of producing high-quality modified carbon-based material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art, the present disclosure provides a carbon-based material post-modification reactor, comprising the post-modification reactor for executing a carbon-based material post-modification processing system and method. According to the present disclosure, a produced carbon-based raw material, such as carbon black, activated charcoal, carbon nanotubes, graphene and carbon fiber, undergoes post-modification processing in a continuous manufacturing process to effectively enhance the quality of the modified carbon-based material and its production efficiency.

A first embodiment of the present disclosure provides a carbon-based material post-modification reactor comprising: a feeding port located at a point upstream from the carbon-based material post-modification reactor and adapted to feed a carbon-based raw material into the reactor; a discharging port located at a point downstream from the carbon-based material post-modification reactor and adapted to output a modified carbon-based material; a screw conveying device disposed in the carbon-based material post-modification reactor to simultaneously convey and turn over the carbon-based raw material admitted by the feeding port, between the feeding port and the discharging port; and an intake device for inputting ozone gas to the interior of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor. The screw conveying device comprises: a shaft portion coupled to a motor and driven by the motor; an inner spiral blade group comprising a plurality of inner spiral blades disposed equidistantly at a first portion of the shaft portion and extended radially from the shaft portion, wherein the first portion of the shaft portion is positioned proximate to the feeding port; and an outer spiral blade group comprising a plurality of short rods and a plurality of outer spiral blades. The plurality of short rods are disposed equidistantly at the shaft portion and extended radially from the shaft portion. The plurality of outer spiral blades surround spirally around the shaft portion and are disposed equidistantly at the shaft portion. The plurality of short rods each have an end connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of outer spiral blades.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the outer spiral blade group further comprises a part of a plurality of connection blades each connected between at least two outer spiral blades of the outer spiral blade group.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the inner spiral blade group is a right-hand turning spiral blade group, and the outer spiral blade group is a left-hand turning spiral blade group.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the outer spiral blade group has a first inter-blade distance, and the inner spiral blade group has a second inter-blade distance greater than the first inter-blade distance. Preferably, the first inter-blade distance ranges from 80 mm to 120 mm, and the second inter-blade distance ranges from 100 mm to 150 mm.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the shaft portion is of a length ranging from 1500 mm to 15000 mm. Preferably, the first portion of the shaft portion is of a length ranging from 1000 mm to 10000 mm.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the carbon-based material post-modification reactor is of an aspect ratio ranging from 3 to 8.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, regarding the carbon-based material post-modification reactor, the plurality of inner spiral blades of the inner spiral blade group each has a diameter ranging from 90 mm to 170 mm.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, regarding the carbon-based material post-modification reactor, a first inner spiral blade among the plurality of inner spiral blades and a front end of the shaft portion are separated by a first distance ranging from 0 to two-thirds of the length of the shaft portion.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the intake device comprises a plurality of injection holes, and ozone gas from the intake device reaches the interior of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor via the plurality of injection holes.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the intake device is disposed at an end of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor, below the feeding port in the carbon-based material post-modification reactor, or below the carbon-based material post-modification reactor, or forms from the shaft portion directly.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the carbon-based material post-modification reactor of the present disclosure further comprises a temperature control device coupled to the carbon-based material post-modification reactor to regulate temperature inside the carbon-based material post-modification reactor.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the carbon-based raw material is one of carbon black, activated charcoal, carbon nanotubes, graphene and carbon fiber.

A second embodiment of the present disclosure provides a carbon-based material post-modification reaction device comprising: a general feeding port located at a point upstream from the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device and adapted to feed a carbon-based raw material into the reaction device; a general discharging port located at a point downstream from the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device and adapted to output a modified carbon-based material; and the plurality of carbon-based material post-modification reactors as described above, wherein the discharging port of an upstream one of the plurality of carbon-based material post-modification reactors is connected to the feeding port of a downstream one of the plurality of carbon-based material post-modification reactors, wherein, between the general feeding port and the general discharging port, the plurality of carbon-based material post-modification reactors are connected in series, in fluid communication with each other, coupled to and driven by the motors, respectively, to simultaneously convey and turn over the carbon-based raw material in the carbon-based material post-modification reactors.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the respective intake devices of the plurality of carbon-based material post-modification reactors are fluidically coupled to a common ozone producing unit.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the carbon-based raw material is one of carbon black, activated charcoal, carbon nanotubes, graphene and carbon fiber.

A third embodiment of the present disclosure provides a carbon-based material post-modification processing system comprising: an air compression unit for receiving and compressing air to produce a compressed air; an oxygen gas producing unit for receiving the compressed air and producing a concentrated oxygen gas from the compressed air; an ozone producing unit for receiving the concentrated oxygen gas and producing an ozone gas from the concentrated oxygen gas; and a modification unit for receiving the ozone gas produced by the ozone producing unit and causing combination of the ozone gas and a carbon-based raw material and reaction therebetween to produce a modified carbon-based material.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the modification unit comprises the carbon-based material post-modification reactor according to any aforesaid embodiment or comprises the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device according to any aforesaid embodiment.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the carbon-based material post-modification processing system of the present disclosure further comprises a drying unit disposed between the air compression unit and the oxygen gas producing unit to dry the compressed air.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the carbon-based material post-modification processing system of the present disclosure further comprises an air tank disposed between the drying unit and the oxygen gas producing unit to store the dried compressed air.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the oxygen gas producing unit is a molecular sieve device for separating the oxygen gas and nitrogen gas in the compressed air to produce the concentrated oxygen gas.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the carbon-based material post-modification processing system of the present disclosure further comprises an oxygen gas tank disposed between the oxygen gas producing unit and the ozone producing unit to store the concentrated oxygen gas.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the ozone producing unit is a high-voltage discharge device.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the carbon-based material post-modification processing system of the present disclosure further comprises a feeding device for feeding the carbon-based raw material into the modification unit.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the carbon-based material post-modification processing system of the present disclosure further comprises a grinding device for grinding the modified carbon-based material outputted from the modification unit.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the carbon-based raw material is one of carbon black, activated charcoal, carbon nanotubes, graphene and carbon fiber.

A fourth embodiment of the present disclosure provides a carbon-based material post-modification processing method, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a compressed air; (b) separating a concentrated oxygen gas from the compressed air; (c) producing an ozone gas from the concentrated oxygen gas by high-voltage discharge; and (d) causing the ozone gas to pass through a carbon-based raw material and combine and react with the carbon-based raw material for a predetermined time period to produce a modified carbon-based material.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, after step (a), the method of the present disclosure further comprises a step (a1) of drying and/or storing the compressed air.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, after step (b), the method of the present disclosure further comprises a step (b1) of storing the concentrated oxygen gas.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, after step (c), the method of the present disclosure further comprises a step (c1) of controlling flow rate and/or concentration of the ozone gas passing through the carbon-based raw material.

According to the aforesaid embodiment, the carbon-based raw material is one of carbon black, activated charcoal, carbon nanotubes, graphene and carbon fiber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Concepts embodied in the present disclosure are depicted by drawings, illustrated by embodiments and described below. In the drawings and description, similar or identical constituent elements are denoted by identical reference numerals. The drawings serve an illustrative purpose and are not drawn to scale.

Referring toFIG. 1, there is shown a cross-sectional view of a carbon-based material post-modification reactor10according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The carbon-based material post-modification reactor10of the present disclosure comprises a feeding port12. The feeding port12is located at a point upstream from the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10. A carbon-based raw material (not shown) intended to be modified is fed into the interior of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10via the feeding port12. The carbon-based material post-modification reactor10of the present disclosure further comprises a discharging port14. The discharging port14is located at a point downstream from the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10, allowing a resultant modified carbon-based material (not shown) to be outputted from the discharging port14and then undergo a grinding and/or packaging process as needed. According to the present disclosure, the carbon-based raw material is any one of carbon black, activated charcoal, carbon nanotubes, graphene and carbon fiber.

According to the present disclosure, the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10has therein a screw conveying device16. The screw conveying device16simultaneously conveys and turns over the carbon-based raw material admitted by the feeding port12, between the feeding port12and the discharging port14. As shown in the diagram, the screw conveying device16comprises a first segment16A upstream from the reactor and a second segment16B downstream from the reactor. Thus, the first segment16A of the screw conveying device16is closer to the feeding port12of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10than the second segment16B.

As shown inFIG. 1, according to the present disclosure, the screw conveying device16of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10comprises a shaft portion162, an inner spiral blade group164and an outer spiral blade group166.

The shaft portion162is coupled to a motor15and driven by the motor15, such that the screw conveying device16simultaneously conveys and turns over the carbon-based raw material admitted by the feeding port12and existing within the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10. The shaft portion162is divided into a first portion162A and a second portion162B which correspond in position to the first segment16A and the second segment16B of the screw conveying device16, respectively. Thus, the first portion162A of the shaft portion162is located upstream from the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10and is closer to the feeding port12than the second portion162B, whereas the second portion162B of the shaft portion162is located downstream from the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10and is closer to the discharging port than the first portion162A.

Referring toFIG. 2A, there is shown a schematic view of the first segment16A of the screw conveying device16of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10according to the present disclosure. As shown in the diagram, the inner spiral blade group164has a continuous spiral structure and comprises a plurality of inner spiral blades164a1˜164a4. The inner spiral blades164a1˜164a4are disposed on the first portion162A of the shaft portion162, spaced apart equidistantly, and extended radially from the shaft portion162. In this embodiment, the inner spiral blade group164consists of four (i.e., four circles of) inner spiral blades164a1˜164a4. However, in another embodiment, the number (i.e., number of circles) of inner spiral blades is adjustable in accordance with an actual application condition and production need. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the inner spiral blade group164is a right-hand turning (i.e., reversely turning) spiral blade group and is confined to the first portion162A of the shaft portion162. Thus, the reversely turning inner spiral blade group164is confined to the first segment16A in the screw conveying device16. When driven by the shaft portion162, the reversely turning inner spiral blade group164reversely conveys the carbon-based raw material in the first segment16A to an upstream point to increase the time period during which the carbon-based raw material stays in the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10of the present disclosure.

In this embodiment, the inner spiral blade group164is disposed at the first portion162A of the shaft portion162, and the first inner spiral blade164a1is disposed at front end E of the shaft portion162of the screw conveying device16in the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10, as shown inFIG. 1. However, in another embodiment, the inner spiral blade group is disposed at a different point on the shaft portion, for example, at any point between the shaft portion front end and a point separated from the shaft portion front end by a distance equivalent to two-thirds of the total length of the shaft portion, as needed.

In this embodiment, the inner spiral blades164a1˜164a4of the inner spiral blade group164each have a diameter c (shown inFIG. 2A) of 130 mm, for example. However, in another embodiment, the diameter of the inner spiral blades is adjustable and ranges from 90 mm to 170 mm, for example, depending on the design of the reactor.

Refer toFIG. 1,FIG. 2AandFIG. 2B.FIG. 2Bis a schematic view of the second segment16B of the screw conveying device16of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10according to the present disclosure. As shown in the diagram, the outer spiral blade group166of the screw conveying device16comprises a plurality of short rods168and a plurality of outer spiral blades166a,166b. The plurality of short rods168are disposed equidistantly at the entire shaft portion162(comprising the first portion162A and second portion162B) and extended radially from the shaft portion162. The plurality of outer spiral blades166a,166bhave a continuous spiral structure each, surround the shaft portion162, and are disposed equidistantly on the first portion162A and second portion162B of the shaft portion162. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the outer spiral blade group166is a left-hand turning spiral blade group, and the outer spiral blades166a,166bare each connected to one end168A of a corresponding one of the short rods168(for example, by welding), thereby forming a forward turning spiral blade structure surrounding the shaft portion162to convey the carbon-based raw material in the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10toward a downstream point.

As shown inFIG. 1, the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10in an embodiment of the present disclosure is horizontally positioned. In this embodiment, the feeding port12located at a point upstream from the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10is on the left in the diagram, whereas the discharging port14located at a point downstream from the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10is on the right in the diagram. As mentioned before, in this embodiment, the outer spiral blade group166comprises outer spiral blades166aand outer spiral blades166bdisposed in the first segment16A and second segment16B of the screw conveying device16, respectively, and has a forward turning spiral blade structure, for example, a left-hand turning spiral blade group. Since the motor15drives the shaft portion162to axially rotate, the outer spiral blade group166is driven to convey the carbon-based raw material in the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10in the direction of the discharging port14(the discharging port14is a downstream point, and the direction is the rightward direction inFIG. 1). In this embodiment, the first segment16A of the screw conveying device16further comprises an inner spiral blade group164with a plurality of inner spiral blades164awhich are reversely turning spiral blades. The inner spiral blade group164is, for example, a right-hand turning spiral blade group. Since the motor15drives the shaft portion162to rotate axially, the inner spiral blade group164is driven to convey the carbon-based raw material in the direction of the feeding port12(the feeding port12is an upstream point, and the direction is the leftward direction inFIG. 1, allowing the carbon-based raw material to be conveyed in a reverse direction), so as to control the time period (reaction time) during which the carbon-based raw material stays in the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10of the present disclosure.

In this embodiment, the outer spiral blade group166of the screw conveying device16further comprises a plurality of connection blades167. The plurality of connection blades167are each connected between at least two blades of the outer spiral blade group166a,166b. For instance, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2A,FIG. 2B, a connection blade167a1is connected between blades166a1˜166a4of the outer spiral blade group166of the first segment16A of the screw conveying device16. In the second segment16B of the screw conveying device16, the connection blades167b1˜167b3are connected between two adjacent blades (for example, blade166b1and blade166b2, blade166b3and blade166b4, and blade166b5and blade166b6) of the outer spiral blade group166, respectively. According to the present disclosure, with the shaft portion162being axially rotated by the motor15, the connection blades167of the screw conveying device16are driven to turn over the carbon-based raw material in the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10and thus mix the carbon-based raw material and ozone in the reactor, thereby enhancing their reaction efficiency.

In this embodiment, the outer spiral blade group166of the screw conveying device16has a first inter-blade distance D1, whereas the inner spiral blade group164of the screw conveying device16has a second inter-blade distance D2, wherein the first inter-blade distance D1is less than the second inter-blade distance D2. Thus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the screw conveying device16of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10, the inter-blade distance D1of the outer spiral blade group166for forwardly conveying the carbon-based raw material is less than the inter-blade distance D2of the inner spiral blade group164for reversely conveying the carbon-based raw material.

According to the present disclosure, the inter-blade distances D1, D2of the outer spiral blade group166and inner spiral blade group164of the screw conveying device16of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10, the length of the first segment16A, the length of the second segment16B, and the length of the connection blades167are designed and adjusted according to the actual needs for the manufacturing process. For instance, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, regarding the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10, the first inter-blade distance D1ranges from 80 mm to 120 mm, whereas the second inter-blade distance ranges from 100 mm to 150 mm. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first segment has a length ranging from 1000 mm to 10000 mm, and the sum of the length of the first segment and the length of the second segment (i.e., the total length of the screw conveying device) ranging from 1500 mm to 15000 mm. For instance, in this embodiment, the inter-blade distance D1of the outer spiral blade group166is, for example, 100 mm, whereas the inter-blade distance D2of the inner spiral blade group164is, for example, 125 mm. Furthermore, the total length of the first segment16A of the screw conveying device16is, for example, 1000 mm, and the length of the connection blades167a1is, for example, 605 mm.

According to the present disclosure, the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10has an aspect ratio ranging from 3 to 8. For instance, in this embodiment, the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10has a total length L of 1500 mm and a width W (inner diameter of the reactor) of 212.3 mm, with an aspect ratio (L/D) of around 7.06.

According to the present disclosure, the carbon-based material post-modification reactor further comprises an intake device, such that ozone gas is inputted to the interior of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor through the intake device to mix and react with the carbon-based raw material. Referring toFIG. 3, there is shown a schematic view of an intake device mounted on the carbon-based material post-modification reactor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the intake device18of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10is disposed inside the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10and below the feeding port12and further comprises a plurality of (for example, five in this embodiment) injection holes182A, as shown inFIG. 3. The ozone gas inputted via the intake device18enters the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10through the injection holes182A. Therefore, the uniformity of dispersion of the ozone gas in the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10is enhanced, and the ozone gas is better mixed with the carbon-based raw material to augment the efficiency of the reaction therebetween. Furthermore, the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10of the present disclosure further comprises a temperature control device19. The temperature control device19is coupled to the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10to regulate the temperature inside (for example, by heating up) the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10, so as to enhance the reaction efficiency of the reaction between the ozone gas and the carbon-based raw material.

The intake device is disposed inside the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10. According to the present disclosure, the position of the intake device and the way of mounting the intake device in place may be subject to changes to meet actual needs for a manufacturing process. For instance, referring toFIG. 4AthroughFIG. 4D, there are shown schematic views of the intake device mounted on the carbon-based material post-modification reactor in terms of its position and intake method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, respectively. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the intake device is disposed at an end10aof the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10, such that the ozone enters the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10through the end10a, as indicated by arrow18ainFIG. 4A, to thereby mixing and reacting with the carbon-based raw material (indicated by arrow12a) admitted by the feeding port12and existing in the reactor. Alternatively, the intake device is disposed at an end10b(FIG. 4B) of the lower portion of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10or disposed along a lower portion10cof the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10(FIG. 4C), such that the ozone enters the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10via the end10bof the lower portion of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor or the lower portion10cof the carbon-based material post-modification reactor as indicated by arrow18binFIG. 4Band arrow18cinFIG. 4C, so as to mix and react with the carbon-based raw material (indicated by arrows12b,12c) admitted by the feeding port12and existing in the reactor. In yet another alternative embodiment, the intake device is formed from the shaft portion162with a plurality of injection holes, such that the ozone axially admitted from the shaft portion162enters the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10evenly through the injection holes on the shaft portion162, as indicated by arrows18d,18d1to18dninFIG. 4D, to mix and react with the carbon-based raw material (indicated by arrow12d) admitted by the feeding port12and existing in the reactor.

As mentioned before, the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10shown inFIG. 1is horizontally positioned, but the carbon-based material post-modification reactor of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For instance, as shown inFIG. 5AthroughFIG. 5C, the carbon-based material post-modification reactor50A,50B,50C of the present disclosure is vertically positioned, depending on the spatial capabilities of the factories of the manufacturers of the carbon-based material. Regarding the carbon-based material post-modification reactor50A,50B,50C positioned vertically and shown inFIG. 5AthroughFIG. 5C, its feeding port52and discharging port54lie at the top (an upstream point) and the bottom (a downstream point) of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor (i.e., the top and the bottom ofFIG. 5AthroughFIG. 5C), respectively, and the intake device is positioned in a way as needed, allowing the ozone to be admitted from the top (an upstream point) of the vertically positioned carbon-based material post-modification reactor50A, the bottom (a downstream point) of the vertically positioned carbon-based material post-modification reactor50B, or the side of the vertically positioned carbon-based material post-modification reactor50C, as indicated by arrow58ainFIG. 5A, arrow58binFIG. 5B, and arrow58cinFIG. 5C, respectively, so as to mix and react with the carbon-based raw material (indicated by arrows52a,52b,52c) admitted by the feeding port52and existing in the reactor. Persons skilled in the art understand that the screw conveying device, the blade rotation direction and inter-blade distance of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor shown inFIG. 5AthroughFIG. 5Ccan be adjusted in accordance with the orientation and motor driving direction of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor.

Referring toFIG. 6AandFIG. 6B, there are shown schematic views of the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG. 6A, in this embodiment, a carbon-based material post-modification reaction device60comprises a general feeding port62and a general discharging port64. The general feeding port62is located at an upstream point (for example, the upper left corner ofFIG. 6A) of the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device60, and the carbon-based raw material is fed into the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device60via the general feeding port62. The general discharging port64is located at a downstream point (for example, the lower left corner ofFIG. 6A) of the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device60, such that the resultant modified carbon-based material is outputted via the general discharging port64and then undergoes a grinding and/or packaging process as needed.

According to the present disclosure, the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device60comprises a plurality of (six, for example, in this embodiment) aforesaid carbon-based material post-modification reactors10A to10F connected in series. Regarding the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device60, the discharging port of an upstream reactor (for example, the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10A shown inFIG. 6A) among the plurality of carbon-based material post-modification reactors10A to10F is connected to the feeding port of a downstream reactor (for example, the carbon-based material post-modification reactor10B shown inFIG. 6A) among the plurality of carbon-based material post-modification reactors10A to10F to thereby achieve series connection and fluidic communication of the plurality of carbon-based material post-modification reactors10A to10F between the general feeding port62and general discharging port64. Thus, the carbon-based raw material (indicated by arrow62a) admitted by the general feeding port62is, within the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device60, forwardly conveyed, reversely conveyed and turned over by the screw conveying device to thereby evenly mixing and reacting with the ozone admitted by the intake device (admitted, in this embodiment, by the injection holes on the shaft portions of the reactors respectively, as indicated by arrows68ato68f) and existing in the reaction device. The shaft portions of the screw conveying devices of the carbon-based material post-modification reactors10A to10F are each coupled to a motor (not shown). The shaft portions are driven by the motors, respectively, to drive the outer spiral blade groups and inner spiral blade groups of the screw conveying devices to simultaneously forwardly convey, reversely convey and turn over the carbon-based raw material inside the carbon-based material post-modification reactors. In this embodiment, the number of the carbon-based material post-modification reactors of the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device60can be adjusted according to the height and area of the factories, whereas the carbon-based material post-modification reactors10A to10F are identical to the aforesaid carbon-based material post-modification reactor10in terms of internal constituent elements and operation and thus are, for the sake of brevity, not described again. The plurality of carbon-based material post-modification reactors connected in series effectively increase the time period during which the reaction between the carbon-based raw material and ozone takes place, thereby further enhancing the effect of modification.

Alternatively, the intake device is disposed at one end of the lower portion of the carbon-based material post-modification reactors10A to10F to admit ozone. The ozone thus admitted mixes and reacts with the carbon-based raw material inside the carbon-based material post-modification reactors10A ˜10F, as shown inFIG. 6B.

Understandably, the number and orientations of the reactors in the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device of the present disclosure as well as the design of the intake devices and the intake directions in the reactors in the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device of the present disclosure can be combined and changed as needed.

Referring toFIG. 7, there is shown a schematic view of the carbon-based material post-modification processing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 7, the carbon-based material post-modification processing system70of the present disclosure comprises: an air compression unit72for receiving and compressing air to produce a compressed air; an oxygen gas producing unit74for receiving the compressed air and producing a concentrated oxygen gas from the compressed air; an ozone producing unit76for receiving the concentrated oxygen gas and producing ozone gas from the concentrated oxygen gas; and a modification unit78for receiving the ozone gas produced by the ozone producing unit and causing the ozone gas and a carbon-based raw material to mix and react so as to produce a modified carbon-based material and output it. The air compression unit72comprises, but is not limited to, an air compression device722, a control unit724, a drying unit726(for example, a refrigeration and drying device) and an air tank728. After the inputted air has been compressed by the air compression device722and dried by the drying unit726, it is introduced into the air tank728for storage and subsequent use in the manufacturing process. The control unit724controls the flow rate and flow speed of the compressed air and performs air treatment (i.e., filtration, adjustment of pressure, and application of lubricants), in real time, to protect pipelines from wears and tears which will otherwise bring about impurities, thereby allowing the quality of the compressed air to meet actual needs for the manufacturing process. The compressed air compressed and dried by the air compression unit72is inputted to the oxygen gas producing unit74. The oxygen gas producing unit74is, for example, a molecular sieve device742, and is adapted to separate the oxygen gas and nitrogen gas in the compressed air to thereby produce concentrated oxygen gas with a concentration as high as 90%. The oxygen gas producing unit74further comprises an oxygen gas tank744for storing the concentrated oxygen gas to facilitate its subsequent use in the manufacturing process. The concentrated oxygen gas produced by the oxygen gas producing unit74is further inputted to the ozone producing unit76which comprises a high-voltage discharge device762capable of releasing energy for use in breaking the molecular bonds of the concentrated oxygen gas molecules to produce ozone (03) gas. By adjusting the gas flow rate and processing performance of the ozone producing unit76, it is feasible to change the flow rate and concentration of the ozone gas thus produced in order to meet the needs for subsequent reactions. The ozone gas thus produced is introduced into the carbon-based material post-modification reactor (device)782of the modification unit78to mix and react with the carbon-based raw material782A.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the modification unit78comprises the horizontally-positioned carbon-based material post-modification reactor10shown inFIG. 1. In another embodiment, the modification unit78comprises vertically positioned carbon-based material post-modification reactors50A-50C shown inFIG. 5AthroughFIG. 5C. In another embodiment, the modification unit78comprises the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device60shown inFIG. 6AorFIG. 6B. As mentioned before, the carbon-based material post-modification reaction device60comprises a plurality of carbon-based material post-modification reactors connected in series.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the carbon-based material post-modification reaction system70further comprises a feeding device784. The feeding device784is in fluid communication with the feeding port7822of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor (device)782of the modification unit78to feed a carbon-based raw material into the carbon-based material post-modification reactor (device)782of the modification unit78. In addition, the carbon-based material post-modification reaction system70of the present disclosure further comprises a grinding unit80. The modified carbon-based material outputted from the discharging port7824of the carbon-based material post-modification reactor (device)782of the modification unit78is inputted to the grinding unit80for grinding, so as to be packaged and outputted after meeting specifications required for carbon-based material product application.

Referring toFIG. 8, there is shown a schematic view of the process flow of a carbon-based material post-modification processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method of the present disclosure comprises the steps as follows: compressing the inputted air to provide a compressed air (step810); drying and storing the compressed air as needed (step815), for example, but is not limited to, drying the compressed air with a refrigeration drying device and storing it in an air tank, and then, for example, separating the nitrogen gas and oxygen gas in the compressed air with a molecular sieve device to produce a concentrated oxygen gas (step820); storing the concentrated oxygen gas thus produced, as needed (step825); producing an ozone gas from the concentrated oxygen gas by high-voltage discharge (step830); allowing the produced ozone gas to pass through a carbon-based raw material (for example, introducing the produced ozone gas into the carbon-based material post-modification reactor via the intake device) to thereby mixing and reacting with the carbon-based raw material for a predetermined time period to produce a modified carbon-based material (step840) (in step840, it is feasible to further control the flow rate and/or concentration of the ozone gas passing through the carbon-based raw material with a view to obtaining the modified carbon-based material product of required properties, as needed); grinding the modified carbon-based material as needed (step850); and carrying out packaging and outputting (step860).

The present disclosure provides a novel carbon-based material post-modification reactor (device), a carbon-based material post-modification processing system having the post-modification reactor (device), and a related method involving the post-modification reactor (device), to carry out a continuous manufacturing process and facilitate the manufacturing process control with a view to producing a modified carbon-based material product of required properties.

According to the present disclosure, the number of the carbon-based material post-modification reactors connected in series can be increased to meet actual processing needs, so as to prolong the reaction time which the carbon-based raw material in the reactors undergoes. By adjusting the feeding frequency of the carbon-based raw material (for example, raw carbon black) at the feeding port, it is feasible to adjust the production yield per unit time of the modified carbon-based material (for example, modified carbon black). Furthermore, in the carbon-based material post-modification reactors of the present disclosure, the positions and features (for example, the number and positions of the injection holes) of the intake devices for introducing ozone gas into the reactors can be adjusted as needed, such that the ozone gas thus introduced is uniformly distributed inside the reactors to mix and react with the carbon-based raw material. By adjusting the gas flow rate and processing performance in the ozone producing unit of the carbon-based material post-modification reaction system of the present disclosure, it is feasible to adjust the flow rate and concentration of the ozone gas being introduced into the reactors. By adjusting the operating frequency of a motor coupled to the screw conveying device, it is feasible to adjust the efficiency of turning over the carbon-based material in the reactors, so as to enhance the quality of the modified carbon-based material thus manufactured. Since the present disclosure entails performing post-modification processing on the manufactured carbon-based raw material (for example, raw carbon black, activated charcoal, carbon nanotubes, graphene and carbon fiber) in a continuous manufacturing process, the present disclosure is effective in adjusting various condition parameters of the post-modification reaction in real time to thereby effectively enhancing the quality of the modified carbon-based material product and its production efficiency.

Although the present disclosure is disclosed above by embodiments, the embodiments are not restrictive of the present disclosure. Changes and modifications made by persons skilled in the art to the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure must be deemed falling within the scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Identical or similar elements in different embodiments or elements denoted by identical reference numerals in different embodiments have identical physical or chemical properties. In addition, under appropriate conditions, the aforesaid embodiments of the present disclosure can be replaced by each other or combined but are not restricted to the specific embodiments described above. Connection relationship between a specific element and another element described in an embodiment is also applicable to any other embodiments and shall be deemed falling within the appended claims of the present disclosure.