In the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lithium batteries will play a critical role in powering electric vehicles, and by providing storage to offset the variability of green energy sources, such as solar and wind.
Our article in the November 2024 issue of Processing, titled “Control valve selection for the lithium battery value chain,” describes how capable control valves address challenging conditions in the various stages of lithium battery production and recycling.
Lithium battery trends
Global demand for lithium is growing and expected to accelerate as electric vehicles and variable energy sources become more common. Because cobalt, manganese, and nickel also perform essential functions in lithium batteries, demand for each of these materials will also grow.
The demand for lithium carbonate equivalent has been increasing rapidly, and this growth is projected to continue well into the next decade.
In all stages of the lithium value chain, control valves play an important role, facing significant challenges in many upstream, midstream, and recycling applications.
Control valves for lithium production
Like most mining activities, the upstream area consists of the typical slurry and ore extraction processes that include erosive process streams, corrosive chemicals and heating processes requiring tight natural gas and air controls.
The midstream area contains slurries, precipitators and solids handling.
The lithium battery value chain includes mining and ore concentration (upstream), chemical processing and material refinement (midstream), and the final production of batteries (downstream). Recycling has been slower to develop, but it is an obvious part of the lifecycle.
Eccentric plug valves with hardened trim, such as the , are well-suited for erosive slurries, preventing plugging and directing erosive forces away from sensitive valve sealing areas.
Corrosive streams require careful material selection tailored to the specific chemicals found in process media. Fisher™ E-series and Fisher™ GX valves provide tight control over a wide flow range in these conditions, and they are available with a wide variety of body and trim materials, including Alloy 20, Monel, Hastelloy C and Duplex.
For slurries, a Fisher™ V500 Eccentric Plug Valve with high hardness trim can be a good choice (left). Corrosive liquid flow can be tightly controlled using rising stem valves, like the Fisher™ GX (middle) or E-Series (right), each with carefully chosen materials of construction.
For applications requiring high precision, properly sized sliding stem valves, like the Fisher™ easy-e™ EZ control valve and the Fisher GX valve, paired with a Fisher™ FIELDVUE™ digital valve controller, provide the required performance.
Finally, process areas prone to cavitation and flashing may require specialized anti-cavitation trims, such as the designed for dirty applications, and the designed for rotary valves.
Cavitation applications can be addressed in a variety of ways depending on the service. Fisher™ Whisper Trim™ I Cage (left) works well for clean services, Fisher™ NotchFlo™ DST Control Valve (middle) handles dirty applications, and Fisher™ Cavitrol™ Hex Trim can be used on rotary valves.
Recycling applications
While many lithium batteries currently end up in landfills, the industry is working hard to develop commercial recycling processes and facilities across the globe. Recycling is typically carried out through pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, or direct recycling.
Like upstream and midstream processes, recycling operations may involve slurries, corrosive chemicals and a requirement for tight control, and the control valve suggestions in those areas generally also apply here.
Select valves for long-term performance
The entire lithium battery value chain is dependent on reliable control valves to ensure product quality, reliable and extended service life, and safety.
Knowledgeable control valve venders can assist end users in selecting a valve style, a positioner, and materials of construction suited for their unique process requirements. Visit our Valve Service Provider Locator webpage to find our hand-picked providers near you.
