Jiangsu LONGXIN has conducted in-depth research into the characteristics of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) materials and independently developed an innovative ultrafine powder spray dryer specifically designed for LFP production. The technology is supported by two patented innovations: a vortex-type liquid distributor (Patent No. ZL 2021 2 2093525.2) and a versatile spray dryer for ultrafine powder production (Patent No. ZL 2023 2 1168225.9).
Designed to meet the stringent requirements for particle size and sphericity, the equipment overcomes key limitations of conventional spray drying technology and enables precise control of particle size distribution. It can achieve two target D50 particle size ranges: 20–30 μm and 5–10 μm, while producing highly spherical, solid particles.
The new-generation spray dryer continues to advance in energy efficiency, drying performance, and automation, helping meet the evolving demands of LFP battery manufacturing and supporting the growing need for high-performance drying solutions.
Working Principle of the Ultrafine Powder Spray Dryer for Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
1. Feed Atomization
The LFP slurry is delivered by a feeding system, such as a feed pump, to a high-speed centrifugal atomizer located at the top of the dryer. Rotating at very high speeds, typically tens of thousands of revolutions per minute or more, the atomizer uses centrifugal force to disperse the slurry into fine droplets. This significantly increases the surface area available for heat and mass transfer, promoting rapid drying.
2. Hot Air Supply and Contact
Air passes through a filtration system to remove dust and other impurities, ensuring clean drying conditions. The filtered air is then heated to the required temperature and introduced into the drying chamber through an air distributor at the top of the dryer. The hot air flows in a uniform spiral pattern, contacting the atomized droplets in a co-current direction. Operating temperatures typically range from 130°C to 300°C, depending on the material properties and process requirements.
3. Moisture Evaporation and Drying
Upon contact with the hot air, the fine droplets rapidly transfer heat and evaporate moisture due to their large surface area. Within seconds, most of the moisture is removed, and the droplets progressively dry and solidify into LFP particles. Precise control of the drying conditions helps achieve the required particle size distribution and product characteristics.
4. Product Collection
The dried LFP particles travel downward with the airflow and enter a bag filter system. The filter bags separate the solid particles from the exhaust gas, allowing the finished powder to be collected efficiently. The cleaned exhaust gas is then discharged from the drying system by an induced-draft fan.
Technical Advantages of the Ultrafine Powder Spray Dryer for Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
1. High Drying Efficiency
Rapid Atomization
The high-speed centrifugal atomizer rapidly transforms LFP slurry into fine droplets, dramatically increasing the surface area available for heat and mass transfer. This enables rapid moisture evaporation, allowing droplets to dry within seconds under suitable operating conditions and form powder or granular products, reducing the need for additional drying steps and improving production efficiency.
Uniform Drying
Hot air enters the drying chamber in a uniform spiral flow and contacts the atomized droplets in a co-current pattern. This promotes consistent heat transfer throughout the chamber, helping minimize uneven drying and ensuring stable product quality.
2. Superior Product Quality
High Product Purity
The enclosed drying system minimizes exposure to the external environment, reducing the risk of contamination. For applications requiring stricter oxygen control, specialized configurations such as closed-loop nitrogen circulation can provide additional protection. Maintaining product purity is essential for LFP cathode materials and helps support consistent battery performance and safety.
Uniform Particle Size and Dense Structure
High-speed centrifugal atomization promotes consistent droplet formation, helping achieve a uniform particle size distribution in the dried product. With precise process control, the system can produce highly spherical, solid particles with favorable flowability and dispersion properties. These characteristics can improve powder packing density and support downstream processing and battery performance.
3. Convenient Operation and Control
High Level of Automation
The system can be equipped with an advanced control system, such as a PLC, to automate the drying process. Operators can set key parameters, including feed rate, atomizer speed, and drying temperatures, reducing manual intervention, simplifying operation, and minimizing the impact of human error on product consistency.
Flexible Process Adjustment
Operating parameters can be adjusted to suit different production requirements and material characteristics, enabling precise control over key product properties, including particle size, bulk density, and residual moisture content.
4. Energy Efficiency and Environmental Performance
Waste Heat Recovery
Depending on the system configuration, waste heat recovery units can capture and reuse thermal energy from the drying process to preheat incoming air or support other heating requirements. This helps improve overall energy efficiency and reduce operating costs.
Efficient Dust Collection
High-efficiency dust collection systems, such as pulse-jet bag filters, capture fine powder generated during drying and reduce dust emissions. This helps maintain a cleaner production environment while improving powder recovery.
Versatile Applications
Beyond LFP materials, the equipment can be adapted to other battery electrode materials and suitable liquid feedstocks, including solutions, emulsions, suspensions, and pastes, for the production of powders or granules. Operating parameters and process configurations can be tailored to the specific properties of each material and the required product characteristics.
Why LONGXIN's Lithium Iron Phosphate Spray Dryers May Have a Strong Market Position
LONGXIN's lithium iron phosphate (LFP) spray dryers may enjoy a competitive position in the market for several reasons, including technical advantages, manufacturing capabilities, industry credentials, and growing demand for high-performance LFP materials.
1. Technical Advantages
Precise Particle Size Control
LONGXIN's newly developed ultrafine powder spray dryer for LFP materials offers precise particle size control, achieving two target D50 particle size ranges: 20–30 μm and 5–10 μm. Compared with conventional spray dryers commonly used in China, which typically produce particles with a D50 of 30–50 μm, this technology offers greater flexibility in meeting the requirements of different applications. More precise particle size control can help manufacturers optimize material properties and meet the growing demand for high-performance LFP materials.
High Sphericity and Solid Particle Structure
LONGXIN's equipment is designed to produce highly spherical, solid LFP particles. Compared with the hollow or irregularly shaped particles that may be produced by conventional spray drying processes, a more spherical and compact particle structure can improve powder flowability and packing characteristics, supporting subsequent processing and material performance.
Large-Scale Production Capacity
The equipment is reported to offer evaporation capacities ranging from 25 to 8,000 kg/h, compared with approximately 100–1,000 kg/h for conventional equipment. This broad capacity range allows solutions to be tailored to different production scales, making the technology potentially attractive to large battery material manufacturers.
2. Corporate Strength and Industry Credentials
Strong Engineering and Manufacturing Capabilities
LONGXIN specializes in the design, manufacture, sales, and servicing of drying equipment, as well as industrial thermal technology and large-scale drying engineering projects. With a modern machining workshop covering approximately 20,000 m², the company has a substantial manufacturing base to support equipment production and project delivery.
Recognized Certifications and Qualifications
LONGXIN Group has been recognized as a National High-Tech Enterprise and has received the Jiangsu Famous Trademark designation. Its reported certifications include CE marking, ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification, occupational health and safety management certification, and environmental management system certification. These credentials can help strengthen customer confidence in its manufacturing processes and quality management.
Experienced Technical Team
The company has a team of professionals with more than a decade of experience in mechanical transmission and drying equipment. Their expertise spans process solution development, equipment design, manufacturing process engineering, electrical automation, production management, and customer service. This multidisciplinary capability supports customized engineering solutions and ongoing technical assistance.
3. Market Demand and Industry Development
Growing Demand for LFP Materials
The continued development of electric vehicles and lithium-ion battery storage is driving demand for battery materials, including lithium iron phosphate. As manufacturers seek improved energy density, safety, processing efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, demand for specialized drying technologies capable of meeting increasingly stringent material specifications may continue to grow.
Industry Reputation and Customer Relationships
Through its engineering project experience and equipment development capabilities, LONGXIN may have built a strong reputation among customers in the drying equipment industry. Long-term customer relationships, successful project delivery, and referrals can help strengthen brand recognition and support further market development.
Conclusion
LONGXIN's potential competitive strengths lie in its particle size control technology, ability to produce highly spherical and solid particles, scalable production capacity, and integrated engineering capabilities. Combined with its manufacturing resources and experience in industrial drying, these strengths may position the company to serve LFP manufacturers seeking higher-performance processing solutions.
However, a high market share cannot be established from technical specifications and corporate credentials alone. Verifying this claim would require independent market data, confirmed equipment installations, customer references, or industry shipment figures.
Jiangsu LONGXIN is committed to driving technological innovation in drying equipment, industrial thermal systems, and intelligent equipment, and deeply values the trust placed in us by our customers.
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