The disclosure relates to a machine for thermal treatment of bulk material, comprising, a stationary furnace which presents a support structure, and a plurality of pallet cars traveling through the furnace, said plurality of pallet cars together defining, at a lateral side thereof, a common engagement surface which extends through the furnace, wherein a gap is defined between the support structure of the furnace and the common engagement surface, said gap having a gap length, the machine further comprising: a sealing system comprising: one or more drop bars, wherein each drop bar of the one or more drop bars includes a brush arranged on the drop bar such that the brush is configured to be in engagement with the common engagement surface such that the one or more drop bars covers the gap over at least parts of the gap length.

A shuttle kiln (100) according to certain aspects includes at least one flue channel (124) and multiple flue risers (122) in fluid communication with the flue channel (124), and at least one shuttle (104) defining multiple exhaust shafts (140) arranged above the multiple flue risers (122), wherein an aggregate volume of a first exhaust shaft/riser pair (140-1, 122-1) differs from an aggregate volume of a second exhaust shaft/riser pair (140-2, 122-2). Such configuration at least partially compensates for different backpressures that would otherwise be experienced by flue gas exiting a shuttle kiln cavity (138) through different exhaust shafts (140), thereby improving uniformity of flue gas flow and reducing temperature variability within a kiln cavity (138).

A vertical-type firing apparatus for a positive electrode material for a secondary battery, for vertically moving and firing the positive electrode material for the secondary battery, comprises: a vertical-type firing furnace including an exhaust part, an air supply part, and a firing space positioned between the exhaust part and the air supply part; and a heater for heating the firing space of the vertical-type firing furnace, wherein the firing space includes a temperature-raising space, a cooling space, and a temperature-maintaining space located between the temperature-raising space and the cooling space, and the temperature of the temperature-maintaining space is higher than the temperature of the temperature-raising space and the temperature of the cooling space.

A vertical-type firing apparatus for a positive electrode material for a secondary battery, for vertically moving and firing the positive electrode material for the secondary battery, comprises: a vertical-type firing furnace including an exhaust part, an air supply part, and a firing space positioned between the exhaust part and the air supply part; and a heater for heating the firing space of the vertical-type firing furnace, wherein the firing space includes a temperature-raising space, a cooling space, and a temperature-maintaining space located between the temperature-raising space and the cooling space, and the temperature of the temperature-maintaining space is higher than the temperature of the temperature-raising space and the temperature of the cooling space.

A shuttle kiln according to certain aspects includes at least one flue channel and multiple flue risers in fluid communication with the flue channel, and at least one shuttle defining multiple exhaust shafts arranged above the multiple flue risers, wherein at least one radiation blockers is arranged above outlet ports of the at least one shuttle. Such a configuration blocks line-of-sight radiant heat transfer between (i) heated surfaces above the shuttle within the kiln housing and (ii) outlet ports of the exhaust shafts, thereby enhancing radiant heat retention and reducing temperature variability within a kiln cavity of the shuttle kiln.

A shuttle kiln according to certain aspects includes at least one flue channel and multiple flue risers in fluid communication with the flue channel, and at least one shuttle defining multiple exhaust shafts arranged above the multiple flue risers, wherein at least one radiation blockers is arranged above outlet ports of the at least one shuttle. Such a configuration blocks line-of-sight radiant heat transfer between (i) heated surfaces above the shuttle within the kiln housing and (ii) outlet ports of the exhaust shafts, thereby enhancing radiant heat retention and reducing temperature variability within a kiln cavity of the shuttle kiln.

An apparatus for calcining a secondary battery cathode material includes: a calcination furnace including an inner space that includes a temperature rising space, a temperature maintaining space, and a cooling space, which sequentially communicate; a plurality of rollers for transferring a sagger, in which a cathode material is accommodated, from the temperature rising space to the cooling space via the temperature maintaining space; a plurality of heaters arranged along the inner space; a plurality of gas feeding parts for feeding gas to the inner space; and a plurality of exhaust parts for exhausting gas from the inner space, wherein the cross-sectional area of the temperature maintaining space is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the temperature rising space and the cross-sectional area of the cooling space.

An apparatus for calcining a secondary battery cathode material includes: a calcination furnace including an inner space that includes a temperature rising space, a temperature maintaining space, and a cooling space, which sequentially communicate; a plurality of rollers for transferring a sagger, in which a cathode material is accommodated, from the temperature rising space to the cooling space via the temperature maintaining space; a plurality of heaters arranged along the inner space; a plurality of gas feeding parts for feeding gas to the inner space; and a plurality of exhaust parts for exhausting gas from the inner space, wherein the cross-sectional area of the temperature maintaining space is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the temperature rising space and the cross-sectional area of the cooling space.

The disclosure relates to a machine for thermal treatment of bulk material, comprising: a stationary furnace which presents a support structure, and a plurality of pallet cars traveling through the furnace, said plurality of pallet cars together defining, at a lateral side thereof, a common engagement surface which extends through the furnace, wherein a gap is defined between the support structure of the furnace and the common engagement surface, said gap having a gap length, the machine further comprising: a sealing system comprising a series of leaf members which are partially overlapping, wherein each leaf member of the series of leaf members is connected to the support structure at a first end thereof, and self-biased into engagement with the engagement surface at a second, opposite, end thereof such that the series of leaf members, together, cover the gap over at least part of the gap length.

The disclosure relates to a machine for thermal treatment of bulk material, comprising, a stationary furnace which presents a support structure, and a plurality of pallet cars traveling through the furnace, said plurality of pallet cars together defining, at a lateral side thereof, a common engagement surface which extends through the furnace, wherein a gap is defined between the support structure of the furnace and the common engagement surface, said gap having a gap length, the machine further comprising: a sealing system comprising: one or more drop bars, wherein each drop bar of the one or more drop bars includes a brush arranged on the drop bar such that the brush is configured to be in engagement with the common engagement surface such that the one or more drop bars covers the gap over at least parts of the gap length.