REDUCTION DEVICE USING LIQUID METAL

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reduction device using a liquid metal, which can improve the oxidation reaction of a reducing agent for reducing a material to be reduced using a liquid metal, while simultaneously effectively controlling the same. The reduction device according to the present invention comprises: a storage unit in which the liquid metal is supplied and stored; a reducing agent positioned in the storage unit; a reduction unit positioned on a side of the storage unit, which receives a material to be reduced and enables fluid communication with the storage unit; and a liquid metal storage unit. According to the present invention, a reducing agent, which has strong reducing ability, is sublimated using a liquid metal, thereby further improving the reduction capability, and the same is also controlled precisely, thereby removing restrictions on use resulting from the explosive reaction of the reducing agent, and guaranteeing efficient operation.

Claims

1. A reduction device using a liquid metal, comprising: a storage unit in which the liquid metal is supplied and stored; a reducing agent block positioned in the storage unit; and a reduction unit positioned on a side of the storage unit, which receives a material to be reduced and enables fluid communication with the storage unit.

2. The reduction device of claim 1, wherein the reducing agent block is sublimated by the liquid metal, to form a reducing agent particle, and the reducing agent particle flows to the reduction unit.

3. The reduction device of claim 2, wherein the reduction device further comprises a dispersion plate positioned between the storage unit and the reduction unit.

4. The reduction device of claim 3, wherein the reduction device further comprises a refrigerant supply unit supplying a refrigerant to the reducing agent block in the storage unit and a first controller controlling the refrigerant supply unit.

5. The reduction device of claim 4, further comprising a gas supply unit supplying an inactive gas to the storage unit and a second controller controlling the gas supply unit.

6. The reduction device of claim 5, wherein an amount of reducing agents passing through the dispersion plate is controlled by the first and second controllers.

7. The reduction device of claim 6, wherein the reduction reaction of the material to be reduced is controlled by the amount of the reducing agent particles.

8. The reduction device of claim 1, wherein the reducing agent block is a magnesium block.

9. The reduction device of claim 1, wherein the liquid metal is one selected from the group consisting of tin, bismuth, lead, and gallium.

10. The reduction device of claim 1, wherein the reducing agent block is a reservoir for the reducing agent, wherein the reservoir comprises a reservoir in the form of a mesh and a particulated reducing agent which the reservoir receives.

11. The reduction device of claim 7, wherein the reduction device further comprises a liquid metal keeping unit connected to a side of the storage unit.

12. The reduction device of claim 11, wherein the liquid metal in the storage unit is discharged into the liquid metal keeping unit when a temperature inside the storage unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

13. The reduction device of claim 12, wherein the liquid metal discharged from the storage unit into the liquid metal keeping unit is reheated to a temperature equal to or higher than a melting temperature of the liquid metal and re-supplied to the storage unit.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a reduction device using a liquid metal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

MODE FOR INVENTION

[0022] The objects, features, and other advantages of the present invention as described above will be apparent from the appropriate exemplary embodiments of the present invention in detail. In this process, thicknesses of lines or sizes of constituent elements illustrated in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience in explanation. Further, all terms to be described later are defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, and may differ depending on users, operator's intentions or customs. Accordingly, definition of such terms should be disclosed based on the contents over the whole description of the invention.

[0023] Additionally, the described exemplary embodiments are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0024] Each constitutional element of the reduction device using the liquid metal according to the present invention may be used as an integrated form or separated and used respectively. Further, depending on a form of use, some of the constituent elements may be omitted.

[0025] Hereafter, the reduction device using the liquid metal according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings (FIG. 1) (hereinafter, for convenience of description, it is referred to “reduction device”).

[0026] The reduction device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may comprise a storage unit 100, reducing agent block 110, reduction unit 200, dispersion plate 300, refrigerant supply unit 400, and liquid metal storage unit 600.

[0027] A liquid metal is supplied and stored in the storage unit 100 and a room for the liquid metal is prepared therein. The liquid metal heated to an appropriate temperature in the liquid metal supply unit 10 linked to the storage unit 100 may be supplied to the storage unit 100 using a pump. A heating means is located in the liquid metal supply unit 10 to heat the liquid metal.

[0028] A type of the liquid metal supplied and stored is not limited, but is preferably a metal having a low melting point and high boiling point, that is, a metal in a liquid state having a broad range of temperatures, e.g., tin, bismuth, lead, gallium, etc. Such metals have low viscosity in a liquid state and can be supplied and circulated by a simple transfer using a pump, etc.

[0029] The reducing agent block 110 is received with the liquid metal into the storage unit 100. A type of the reducing agent block 110 is not limited, but is preferably an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal having strong oxidizing ability. The reducing agent block may consist of numerous particulated reducing agents, enabling having numerous holes so that the liquid metal can flow and reach the reducing agent or receiving the particulated reducing agent using the reservoir in the form of a mesh.

[0030] For example, in case of magnesium (Mg), an exposure to the air at room temperature and normal pressure will result in a formation of magnesium oxide (MgO) or magnesium peroxide (MgO.sub.2). When magnesium is in a form of powder or a fine line, it quickly reacts with oxygen and nitrogen in the air, resulting in a combustion reaction with white light and may yield magnesium oxide and magnesium nitride (Mg.sub.3N.sub.2). Magnesium also reacts with water to produce hydrogen gas and magnesium oxide (Mg+2H.sub.2O.fwdarw.Mg(OH).sub.2+H.sub.2) and insoluble magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH).sub.2) and hydrogen in the presence of excessive vapor. As described above, the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal including magnesium is highly reactive with various substances and causes an oxidation reaction in a wide range of temperature, and thus can be used as an effective reducing agent block 110 with respect to a material to be reduced. In particular, when solid magnesium is heated, sublimation takes place at about 550° C., and such sublimation increases exponentially as the temperature increases. As sublimated particles have a very large surface area relative to the form of powder or a line, they are likely to undergo an oxidation reaction and can be used as a strong oxidant.

[0031] However, when magnesium undergoes a combustion reaction in the air, a flame temperature may increase up to 3100° C., causing an explosive reaction. Therefore, an appropriate reduction condition in which a sublimation rate can be controlled by controlling the temperature is necessary. Accordingly, in the present invention, reactions of the reducing agent block 110 can be controlled using the liquid metal introduced in the storage unit 100.

[0032] The reduction unit 200 is positioned on a side of the storage unit 100, and a material to be reduced is received therein. The reduction unit 200 can have fluid communication with the storage unit 100, thereby enabling flow of the reducing agent particles produced by sublimation of the reducing agent block 110 by the liquid metal into the storage unit 100, by which reduction of the material to be reduced occurs.

[0033] Herein, there may be a dispersion plate 300 between the storage unit 100 and the reduction unit 200 so that the sublimated reducing agent particles can uniformly flow into the reduction unit 200.

[0034] The refrigerant supply unit 400 connected to the storage unit 100 supplies a refrigerant to the reducing agent block 110 introduced therein. This is to independently control the temperature of the reducing agent block 110 as necessary, and may be effective when a reduction condition needs to be changed, i.e., dramatically reducing or increasing sublimation rate of the reducing agent block 110, etc.

[0035] The gas supply unit 500 connected to the storage unit 100 preferably supplies an inactive gas to the bottom of the storage unit 100. The inactive gas may play a role in transferring the sublimated reduced particles, enabling easy flow thereof, as well as controlling a concentration of the reduced particles and temperature.

[0036] The liquid metal storage unit 600 connected to a side of the storage unit 100 may be used in improving a refrigerating effect of the reducing agent block using a refrigerant by releasing the liquid metal at a high temperature from the storage unit 100 when the temperature inside the storage unit 100 needs to be instantaneously lowered. In other words, during the reduction process, the liquid metal storage unit 600 may be effective when the temperature inside the storage unit 100 is equal to a predetermined temperature or higher and requires a momentary control. In order to control the same, a valve controlling an amount of the discharged liquid metal may be between the storage unit 100 and the liquid metal storage unit 600.

[0037] Additionally, the liquid metal discharged to the liquid metal storage unit 600 is re-supplied to the liquid metal supply unit 10 and re-heated to a temperature higher than the melting point thereof. The liquid metal is then re-supplied to the storage unit 100 and may be re-used in a reduction process.

[0038] Hereinbelow, a mechanism of the reduction device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0039] The liquid metal is first heated up to the sublimation point of the reducing block 110 or higher in the liquid metal supply unit 10 and is supplied to the storage unit 100 while controlling the pressure of the storage unit 100. The reducing agent block 110 inside the storage unit 100 is heated up to the sublimation point or higher by the liquid metal supplied to the storage unit 100 and is sublimated, producing reducing agent particles. The produced reducing agent particles flow toward the reduction unit 200 and then are uniformly dispersed by the dispersion plate 300, thereby reducing the material to be reduced in the reduction unit 200.

[0040] Herein, a reduction rate needs to be controlled, and a pressure sensor and temperature sensor are thus equipped in the storage unit 100. The reduction device may further comprise a control unit (not shown in the FIGURE) controlling the refrigerant supply unit 400, gas supply unit 500, and the liquid metal supply unit 10, which receives the information of the sensed pressure and temperature from the sensors.

[0041] For example, if sublimation rate is too high, the reduction rate can be controlled by lowering the temperature of the supplied liquid metal or supplying a refrigerant to the reducing agent block 110. Alternatively, the concentration of reducing agent particles, etc. can be controlled by controlling the supply amount of an inactive gas.

[0042] Additionally, if the temperature of the liquid metal inside the storage unit 100 is low, the liquid metal is transferred to the liquid metal supply unit 10, is re-heated, and then re-supplied back to the storage unit 100.

[0043] Further, as integratedly constituted, the control unit can control the refrigerant supply unit 400, gas supply unit 500, and liquid metal supply unit 10 integratedly. Meanwhile, the control unit consists of a first control unit (not shown in the FIGURE) connected to the refrigerant supply unit 400, a second control unit (not shown in the FIGURE) connected to the gas supply unit 500, and a third control unit (not shown in the FIGURE) connected to the liquid metal supply unit 10 and thus is able to control each supply unit 10, 400, 500 as needed.

[0044] In case of a liquid metal, due to its high heat capacity, the liquid metal is not greatly affected by surrounding temperature, and contact with the air, etc., which may affect an oxidation reaction of the reducing agent block by the liquid metal, is completely prevented. Accordingly, such method can solely control a reduction rate, enabling precise control.

[0045] As described above, according to the reduction device according to the present invention, a reducing agent having strong reducing ability is sublimated using a liquid metal, thereby further improving the reduction capability, and the same is also controlled precisely, thereby removing restrictions on use resulting from the explosive reaction of the reducing agent, and guaranteeing efficient operation.

[0046] Additionally, if the reducing agent is inside the liquid metal, there is no direct contact of the reducing agent and an oxidizing agent even if the oxidizing agent is supplied to the reactor, thereby preventing oxidization or explosion, and the liquid metal coagulates in the form of surrounding the reducing agent, enabling a safe storage even after the operation.

[0047] Even though the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described and illustrated, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments but may be modified in various ways by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure defined by the appended claims, and such modifications should not be interpreted separately from the technical feature and prospect of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0048] 10: Liquid metal supply unit [0049] 100: Storage unit [0050] 110: Reducing agent block [0051] 200: Reduction unit [0052] 300: Dispersion plate [0053] 400: Refrigerant supply unit [0054] 500: Gas supply unit [0055] 600: Liquid metal storage unit