Aokai manufactures baghouse filter media, filter bags and filter cages.

Renewable Energy Industry

Renewable Energy Industry

Industry Overview

Lithium batteries are increasingly becoming the power source of automotives, and the common power storage media for vast commercial and household applications. It is now the integral part of modern society’s move toward a lower carbon economic model. It is estimated that the global lithium mining market is projected to grow at least 6% for the next several years, and the lithium-ion battery market will grow at a CAGR of 30% through 2030.

At many points of raw material processing, and battery manufacturing, particularly the milling & grinding of lithium raw material processing, and electrode production of battery manufacturing, fine and combustible dust is generated, posing significant safety and health risks. Specific regulations require lithium facilities to rigorously test and control dust emissions.

Lithium Plant Dust Collection
Renewable Energy Industry Filtration Characteristics

Dust Filtration Challenges

Raw material handling and processing for lithium-ion and other types of batteries create significant hazards and challenges. Mining, processing, and preparing materials for battery production, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and copper, can involve large quantities of toxic, fine, and combustible dust. In addition, electrode production is one of the dustiest parts of the battery manufacturing process. Dust is created during several processes for both cathode and anode preparation, including material preparation and mixing, slurry preparation, calendering, and slitting. Lithium dust is both combustible and reactive. This fine particulate material has the following characteristics:

While the extra-fine particulates and nanomaterials are increasingly used to improve energy density and performance of lithium-ion batteries, the manufacturing process also creates lithium particles that measures less than 5 microns, making particle capturing challenging. Smaller particles alao create higher specific surface area. Combining with its high flammbility and reactivity characteristics, this specific surface increases the risk of explosions or fires when in the presence of ignition sources.

With about half the density of water, lithium is the lightest of all metals. Lithium dust can easily be dispersed into the air and remain suspended for extended periods. Its suspension also increases the risk of inhalation or accumulation into a cloud ripe for combustion.

This property makes lithium dust more likely to cling to surfaces or equipment.  

Lithium is a highly reactive substance that responds vigorously to water, steam, or moisture in the air, producing flammable hydrogen gas. This reactivity increases the risk of explosions or fires when in the presence of ignition sources.

Fine lithium dust can ignite spontaneously in the presence of air or moisture, which greatly increases the risk of combustion explosion.  

Smaller lithium particles can penetrate more deeply into the lungs if inhaled. It can also cause various health issues, including skin and eye irritation or respiratory ailments.

The challenges of lithium dust require careful design and planning to build a proficient dust collection system to control it.

Renewable Energy Industry Filtration Solutions

Aokai Industrial Filtration Solutions

Lithium processors and battery manufacturers require a high-performance industrial dust collection system that is customizable to respond to lithium dust’s unique characteristics, and maintain safety. Effective industrial dust removal improves plant safety, assists with plant maintenance, improves air quality, and decreases potential health hazards.

Aokai offers robust and innovative dust filtration solutions for all stages of raw material handling and battery production. We are continuing to innovate to meet the needs of the growing and evolving battery manufacturing industry, including solutions for EV battery and energy storage battery manufacturers.

Aokai offers specialized and engineered solutions that consider factors such as filter media selection, air-to-cloth ratio, and interstitial velocity, among others, based on operating conditions like moisture levels, particle sizes, or timing for cleaning cycles. Focusing on lithium dust’s unique characteristics and industry-specific emission control requirements, our lithium dust filtration solution has the following advantages:

  • Reduced dust emissions
  • High temperature and corrosion resistance
  • Easy dust cake release and longer cleaning cycle due to smooth surface of low coefficient friction
  • Increased energy efficiency due to reduced cleaning
Renewable Energy Industry Filtration Solutions

Aokai Renewable Energy Industry Product Line

Aokai baghouse filter bag products that are most commonly used in the Renewable Energy Industry:

CharacteristicsRatingRatingRating
ProductPT175MPT180MPT380
Fiber Content100% PTFE100% PTFEPTFE Blen Fiberglass
Weight750g/m² (22.12oz/yd²)800g/m² (23.60oz/yd²)800g/m² (23.60oz/yd²)
Thickness1.0mm (0.039in)1.2mm (0.047in)1.6mm (0.063in)
Continuous Operating Temperature240°C (464°F)240°C (464°F)240°C (464°F)
Maximum Surge Temperature260°C (500°F)260°C (500°F)260°C (500°F)
Emission10mg/Nm³10mg/Nm³10mg/Nm³
Abrasion ResistanceGoodGoodExcellent
Acid ResistanceExcellentExcellentGood
Alkali ResistanceExcellentExcellentExcellent
Moist Heat ResistantExcellentExcellentExcellent
Energy AbsorbsionExcellentExcellentExcellent
Filtration Property99.99%99.99%99.99%