Powder coating device and powder dispersion device

A coating apparatus for forming a film of a coating material on a raw material powder, the coating apparatus comprising:

• a dispersion unit that disperses a slurry obtained by mixing a raw material powder and a coating solution containing a coating material by using a dispersion gas flow while causing the film of the coating solution to attach to a surface of the raw material powder;
• a conveyance unit that conveys the raw material powder to which the film of the coating solution is attached and which flows into the conveyance unit from the dispersion unit by causing a gas flow to carry the raw material powder and that dries the coating solution during the conveyance;
• and
• a collection unit that collects a composite powder produced by drying the coating solution in the conveyance unit, wherein:
• the dispersion unit includes a flow path, a gas flow introduction port that introduces the dispersion gas flow into the flow path and a slurry introduction port that is provided downstream of the gas flow introduction port in a flow direction of the dispersion gas flow and that introduces the slurry into the flow path,
• a de Laval nozzle configuration is formed in the flow path, the de Laval nozzle configuration comprising a reduction and an increase of a cross-section of the flow path at a middle portion of the flow path between the gas flow introduction port and the slurry introduction port, and
• a shear force generated by the dispersion gas flow passing through the de Laval nozzle configuration is applied to the slurry in the flow path to disperse the slurry and turn the slurry into the composite powder in which the film of the coating solution is attached to the surface of the raw material powder.