Production of spherical graphite powder

A system comprising:

• a spray dryer,
• wherein, when a slurry comprising a first plurality of particles and a petroleum pitch is dispensed from a nozzle of the spray dryer, the spray dryer produces a second plurality of particles;
• wherein a sphericity of the second plurality of particles is different from a sphericity of the first plurality of particles;
• a vertical graphitization column,
• wherein the vertical graphitization column is configured to receive the second plurality of particles from the spray dryer;
• wherein, when the second plurality of particles are heated in the vertical graphitization column, the vertical graphitization column produces a third plurality of particles;
• wherein a sphericity of the third plurality of particles is different from the sphericity of the first plurality of particles;
• and
• at least one heater,
• wherein the at least one heater is configured to heat at least the spray dryer and the vertical graphitization column.

A vertical graphitization column for graphitizing carbon particles, the column comprising:

• a column chamber;
• an inlet configured to receive the carbon particles into the column chamber;
• a heating system configured to heat the carbon particles within the column chamber;
• and
• an outlet configured to discharge the graphitized particles from the column chamber;
• a first sensor positioned within the column chamber at an intermediate location along the heated zone;
• a second sensor positioned proximate to the outlet of the column chamber;
• each sensor comprising a sampling mechanism configured to extract particles via a pressure differential and direct the particles through an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) to measure a graphitization percentage;
• and
• a control unit operatively coupled to the sensors and the outlet, the control unit being configured to regulate the discharge rate of particles from the column chamber based on the measured graphitization percentage, thereby adjusting the residence time of the particles within the heated zone to optimize product uniformity and throughput.