Patents by Inventor Motoaki SARUWATARI

Motoaki SARUWATARI has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11892388
    Abstract: A simulation device for analyzing behavior of a granular material that includes a plurality of particles includes a first parameter acquisition unit that acquires a first parameter including a parameter relating to the granular material, a second parameter calculation unit that calculates a second parameter, when a particle group including the plurality of particles is coarsely viewed as a single coarse-view particle, the second parameter relating to the coarse-view particle, and a coarse-view particle behavior analysis unit that analyzes a behavior of the coarse-view particle based on the first parameter and the second parameter. The second parameter calculation unit calculates the second parameter by solving a characteristic equation that uses a relationship between an elastic energy of the particle group and an elastic energy of the coarse-view particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignees: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD., University Public Corporation Osaka
    Inventors: Motoaki Saruwatari, Hideya Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11862793
    Abstract: The positive electrode active material is for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, suppressing deterioration of battery characteristics due to exposure to the atmosphere and having excellent battery capacity. A positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a lithium-nickel composite oxide represented by general formula (1): LiaNi1?x?yCoxMyO2+? (in which 0.05?x?0.35, 0?y?0.10, 0.95?a?1.10, 0?a?0.2, and M represents at least one element selected from Mn, V, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ti, W, and Al) and Li3BO3. At least a part of a surface of the lithium-nickel composite oxide is coated with Li3BO3. The content of boron in the positive electrode active material is 0.001% by mass or more and 0.2% by mass or less with respect to the entire positive electrode active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuomi Ryoshi, Motoaki Saruwatari, Hiroko Oshita, Yoshihiro Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20230091287
    Abstract: A simulation device for analyzing behavior of a granular material that includes a plurality of particles includes a first parameter acquisition unit that acquires a first parameter including a parameter relating to the granular material, a second parameter calculation unit that calculates a second parameter, when a particle group including the plurality of particles is coarsely viewed as a single coarse-view particle, the second parameter relating to the coarse-view particle, and a coarse-view particle behavior analysis unit that analyzes a behavior of the coarse-view particle based on the first parameter and the second parameter. The second parameter calculation unit calculates the second parameter by solving a characteristic equation that uses a relationship between an elastic energy of the particle group and an elastic energy of the coarse-view particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Motoaki SARUWATARI, Hideya NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 11482700
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a lithium-nickel-cobalt-zinc composite oxide powder that contains lithium (Li); nickel (Ni); cobalt (Co); element M, which is at least one element selected from the group consisting of manganese (Mn), vanadium (V), magnesium (Mg), molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb), silicon (Si), titanium (Ti), and aluminum (Al); and zinc (Zn). A molar element ratio (Li:Ni:Co:M) of the lithium-nickel-cobalt-zinc composite oxide powder satisfies Li:Ni:Co:M=z:(1-x-y):x:y (where 0.95?z?1.10, 0.05?x?0.35, and 0?y?0.10); a zinc content with respect to Li, Ni, Co, the element M, and oxygen in the lithium-nickel-cobalt-zinc composite oxide powder is greater than or equal to 0.01 mass % and less than or equal to 1.5 mass %; and at least a part of a surface of the lithium-nickel-cobalt-zinc composite oxide powder includes a zinc solid-solved region where zinc is solid-solved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoaki Saruwatari, Hiroko Oshita, Kazuomi Ryoshi
  • Patent number: 11305243
    Abstract: A chemical reaction device that supplies a raw material liquid into a solution and causes particles to precipitate in the solution is provided. The chemical reaction device includes an agitation tank configured to accommodate the solution, an impeller configured to agitate the solution, and a plurality of discharge parts configured to discharge the raw material liquid into the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Nakakura, Kazuhiko Tsuchioka, Koichiro Maki, Motoaki Saruwatari, Kazuomi Ryoshi, Masafumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11063258
    Abstract: A method for producing a nickel-containing hydroxide is provided that includes a particle growth step of promoting growth of nickel-containing hydroxide particles by neutralization crystallization in an aqueous solution accommodated in an agitation tank. In the particle growth step, a volume fraction of a highly supersaturated region in the aqueous solution where the molar concentration of the nickel-containing hydroxide dissolved in the aqueous solution is greater than or equal to 1.7 mol/m3 is less than 0.624% of the aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Nakakura, Kazuhiko Tsuchioka, Koichiro Maki, Motoaki Saruwatari, Kazuomi Ryoshi, Yoshihiko Nakao
  • Patent number: 11024836
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery which not only suppresses gelation of a positive electrode mixed material paste upon producing the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery but also improves the stability thereof. Provided is the positive electrode active material represented by general formula LisNi1?x?y?zCoxMnyMzO2+? (0?x?0.35, 0?y?0.35, 0?z?0.10, 0.95<s<1.30, and 0???0.2, and M represents at least one element selected from V, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ti, W, and Al) and containing secondary particles formed by agglomeration of primary particles, wherein at least part of the surface of the primary particles thereof is covered with a lithium boron compound, and the amount of redundant lithium hydroxide of the positive electrode active material measured with a neutralization titration is at least 0.003% by mass and up to 0.5% by mass relative to the total of the positive electrode active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoaki Saruwatari, Kazuomi Ryoshi
  • Patent number: 10978711
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery contains a first lithium-metal composite oxide represented by General Formula: Lis1Ni1-x1-y1-z1Cox1Mny1Mz1O2+? and containing a secondary particle formed of a plurality of flocculated primary particles and either one or both of a first compound containing lithium and boron and a second compound containing lithium and tungsten. Either one or both of the following characteristics (1) and (2) are satisfied: (1) the first compound covers surfaces of the primary particles, and a boron content is at least 0.01% by mass and up to 0.5% by mass relative to the entire positive electrode active material; and (2) the second compound covers the surfaces of the primary particles, and a tungsten content is at least 0.01% by mass and up to 1.0% by mass relative to the entire positive electrode active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Otsuka, Motoaki Saruwatari, Kazuomi Ryoshi
  • Publication number: 20200358094
    Abstract: An object is to provide a positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that can suppress gelation of a positive electrode mixture paste and can improve stability when a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is manufactured. A positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a hexagonal layered crystal structure, is represented by general formula (1): Li1+sNixCoyMnzMwBtO2+?, and includes a lithium-metal composite oxide containing a secondary particle with a plurality of aggregated primary particles and a lithium-boron compound present on at least a part of surfaces of the primary particles. The amount of lithium hydroxide that elutes when the positive electrode active material is dispersed in water, measured by a neutralization titration method, is 0.01% by mass or more and 0.5% by mass or less with respect to the entire positive electrode active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroko Oshita, Motoaki Saruwatari, Kazuomi Ryoshi
  • Publication number: 20200313180
    Abstract: The positive electrode active material is for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, suppressing deterioration of battery characteristics due to exposure to the atmosphere and having excellent battery capacity. A positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a lithium-nickel composite oxide represented by general formula (1): LiaNi1-x-yCoxMyO2+? (in which 0.05?x?0.35, 0?y?0.10, 0.95?a?1.10, 0?a?0.2, and M represents at least one element selected from Mn, V, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ti, W, and Al) and Li3BO3. At least a part of a surface of the lithium-nickel composite oxide is coated with Li3BO3. The content of boron in the positive electrode active material is 0.001% by mass or more and 0.2% by mass or less with respect to the entire positive electrode active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuomi Ryoshi, Motoaki Saruwatari, Hiroko Oshita, Yoshihiro Otsuka
  • Patent number: 10781531
    Abstract: A method for producing a nickel-containing hydroxide is provided that includes a nucleation step of generating nuclei of nickel-containing hydroxide particles by neutralization crystallization in an aqueous solution accommodated in an agitation tank. In the nucleation step, a volume fraction of a highly supersaturated region in the aqueous solution where the molar concentration of the nickel-containing hydroxide dissolved in the aqueous solution is greater than or equal to 5.0 mol/m3 is less than 0.100% of the aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Nakakura, Kazuhiko Tsuchioka, Koichiro Maki, Motoaki Saruwatari, Kazuomi Ryoshi, Yoshihiko Nakao, Masafumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10689262
    Abstract: A method for producing a nickel-containing hydroxide is provided that includes a particle growth step of promoting growth of nickel-containing hydroxide particles by neutralization crystallization in an aqueous solution accommodated in an agitation tank. In the particle growth step, an averaged value of the maximum accelerations of the flows of streamlines for the aqueous solution is greater than 600 m/s2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Nakakura, Kazuhiko Tsuchioka, Koichiro Maki, Motoaki Saruwatari, Kazuomi Ryoshi, Yoshihiko Nakao, Masafumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10586983
    Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries that suppresses the gelling of a positive electrode mixture material paste and has high weather resistance, a production method thereof, and the like. A method for producing a positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries includes cleaning a powder famed of a lithium-nickel composite oxide represented by a general formula LizNi1-x-yCoxMyO2 where 0?x?0.35; 0?y?0.10; 0.95?z?1.10; and M is at least one element selected from Mn, V, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ti, and Al with an aqueous solution containing one or more lithium salts selected from water-soluble lithium salts other than lithium hydroxide and drying the cleaned powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroko Oshita, Kazuomi Ryoshi, Motoaki Saruwatari
  • Publication number: 20190312279
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery contains a first lithium-metal composite oxide represented by General Formula: Lis1Ni1-x1-y1-z1Cox1Mny1Mz1O2+? and containing a secondary particle formed of a plurality of flocculated primary particles and either one or both of a first compound containing lithium and boron and a second compound containing lithium and tungsten. Either one or both of the following characteristics (1) and (2) are satisfied: (1) the first compound covers surfaces of the primary particles, and a boron content is at least 0.01% by mass and up to 0.5% by mass relative to the entire positive electrode active material; and (2) the second compound covers the surfaces of the primary particles, and a tungsten content is at least 0.01% by mass and up to 1.0% by mass relative to the entire positive electrode active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Otsuka, Motoaki Saruwatari, Kazuomi Ryoshi
  • Publication number: 20190309437
    Abstract: A method for producing a nickel-containing hydroxide is provided that includes a nucleation step of generating nuclei of nickel-containing hydroxide particles by neutralization crystallization in an aqueous solution accommodated in an agitation tank. In the nucleation step, a volume fraction of a highly supersaturated region in the aqueous solution where the molar concentration of the nickel-containing hydroxide dissolved in the aqueous solution is greater than or equal to 5.0 mol/m3 is less than 0.100% of the aqueous solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Shuhei NAKAKURA, Kazuhiko TSUCHIOKA, Koichiro MAKI, Motoaki SARUWATARI, Kazuomi RYOSHI, Yoshihiko NAKAO, Masafumi YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20190292068
    Abstract: A method for producing a nickel-containing hydroxide is provided that includes a particle growth step of promoting growth of nickel-containing hydroxide particles by neutralization crystallization in an aqueous solution accommodated in an agitation tank. In the particle growth step, an averaged value of the maximum accelerations of the flows of streamlines for the aqueous solution is greater than 600 m/s2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Shuhei NAKAKURA, Kazuhiko TSUCHIOKA, Koichiro MAKI, Motoaki SARUWATARI, Kazuomi RYOSHI, Yoshihiko NAKAO, Masafumi YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20190217260
    Abstract: A chemical reaction device that supplies a raw material liquid into a solution and causes particles to precipitate in the solution is provided. The chemical reaction device includes an agitation tank configured to accommodate the solution, an impeller configured to agitate the solution, and a plurality of discharge parts configured to discharge the raw material liquid into the solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Shuhei NAKAKURA, Kazuhiko TSUCHIOKA, Koichiro MAKI, Motoaki SARUWATARI, Kazuomi RYOSHI, Masafumi YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20190198872
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a lithium-nickel-cobalt-zinc composite oxide powder that contains lithium (Li); nickel (Ni); cobalt (Co); element M, which is at least one element selected from the group consisting of manganese (Mn), vanadium (V), magnesium (Mg), molybdenum (Mo), niobium (Nb), silicon (Si), titanium (Ti), and aluminum (Al); and zinc (Zn). A molar element ratio (Li:Ni:Co:M) of the lithium-nickel-cobalt-zinc composite oxide powder satisfies Li:Ni:Co:M=z:(1-x-y):x:y (where 0.95?z?1.10, 0.05?x?0.35, and 0?y?0.10); a zinc content with respect to Li, Ni, Co, the element M, and oxygen in the lithium-nickel-cobalt-zinc composite oxide powder is greater than or equal to 0.01 mass % and less than or equal to 1.5 mass %; and at least a part of a surface of the lithium-nickel-cobalt-zinc composite oxide powder includes a zinc solid-solved region where zinc is solid-solved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Motoaki SARUWATARI, Hiroko OSHITA, Kazuomi RYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20190165360
    Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery which not only suppresses gelation of a positive electrode mixed material paste upon producing the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery but also improves the stability thereof. Provided is the positive electrode active material represented by general formula LisNi1?x?y?zCoxMnyMzO2+? (0?x?0.35, 0?y?0.35, 0?z?0.10, 0.95?s?1.30, and 0???0.2, and M represents at least one element selected from V, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ti, W, and Al) and containing secondary particles formed by agglomeration of primary particles, wherein at least part of the surface of the primary particles thereof is covered with a lithium boron compound, and the amount of redundant lithium hydroxide of the positive electrode active material measured with a neutralization titration is at least 0.003% by mass and up to 0.5% by mass relative to the total of the positive electrode active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoaki Saruwatari, Kazuomi Ryoshi
  • Patent number: 10305105
    Abstract: A nickel cobalt manganese composite hydroxide with low impurity content and high reactivity when synthesizing a positive electrode active material, which can be used as a precursor of the positive electrode active material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries with low irreversible capacity, represented by a general formula: NixCoyMnzMt(OH)2+a (wherein x+y+z+t=1, 0.20?x?0.80, 0.10?y?0.50, 0.10?z?0.90, 0?t?0.10, 0?a?0.5, and M is at least one additive element selected from Mg, Ca, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, W), which includes: spherical secondary particles formed by aggregation of a plurality of plate-shaped primary particles, which have an average particle diameter of 3 ?m to 20 ?m, a sulfate radical content of 1.0 mass % or less, a chlorine content of 0.5 mass % or less, and a carbonate radical content of 1.0 mass % to 2.5 mass %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoaki Saruwatari, Hiroko Oshita