Batch control method for lithium battery positive electrode material production process and storage medium
By virtualizing parallel batch units for the continuous process equipment of the lithium battery positive electrode material production line, the problem of missing batch data was solved, the accurate execution and recording of batch orders were achieved, and the quality traceability requirements of downstream battery integration manufacturers were met.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511037179.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-25
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-14
AI Technical Summary
In existing lithium battery positive electrode material production lines, continuous process equipment cannot be accurately occupied and released during batch production, resulting in missing batch data and affecting the accuracy of production records.
By virtualizing multiple parallel batch units for continuous process equipment, combining batch unit classes and production recipes, we ensure the accurate start and end of batch orders, record production data, and solve the accuracy problem of batch production.
It achieves accurate traceability and recording of batch orders during the production process of lithium battery positive electrode materials, ensures the accuracy and flexibility of production records, and meets the quality traceability needs of downstream battery integration manufacturers.
Smart Images
Figure CN120779898A_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to the field of lithium battery cathode materials, and more particularly, to a batch control method for lithium battery cathode material production process and a storage medium. BACKGROUND
[0002] The lithium battery cathode material industry has very high requirements for batch control of the production process. On the one hand, downstream battery integrated manufacturers need to strictly trace the quality of batches of lithium battery cathode materials, and on the other hand, production lines are required to quickly switch products to achieve flexible production.
[0003] For a lithium battery cathode material production line, the main processes include metering and mixing, kiln sintering, crushing, coating, impurity removal, and packaging. Among them, the metering and mixing and coating equipment meet the ISA88 standard and belong to batch process equipment, but the kiln sintering, crushing, impurity removal, and packaging equipment belong to continuous process equipment. When the kiln sintering and other continuous process equipment produce batches of orders, the following problems exist: when a batch of materials is processed in the continuous process equipment, the batch of materials occupies the batch record data of the batch, that is, the batch record data at this time belongs to this batch of materials, and only after the batch of materials is completely discharged from the continuous process equipment, the batch record data will be bound to the next batch of materials. However, in the production process, multiple batches of materials are produced at the same time in the continuous process equipment, which will cause the batch record data of the next batch of materials to be missing, thereby affecting the batch production record of the next batch of materials.
[0004] That is, in the existing lithium battery cathode material industry, the problem of batch unit occupation and release in the continuous process equipment of the production line cannot be solved. For continuous process equipment, batch data cannot be accurately traced. SUMMARY
[0005] In view of the status and deficiencies of the prior art, the purpose of the present application is to provide a batch control method for lithium battery cathode material production process and a storage medium, which solves the problem of inaccurate occupation and release of continuous process equipment unit batch order production by virtualizing multiple parallel batch units for continuous process equipment, thereby ensuring the accurate start and end of batch orders and ensuring the accuracy of batch order production records.
[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a batch control method for a lithium battery positive electrode material production process is provided. In the lithium battery positive electrode material production process, one or more batch process devices and one or more continuous process devices are used. The method includes: for one or more batch process devices, virtualizing a corresponding first batch unit for each batch process device, the first batch unit indicating the operating status of the corresponding batch process device; for one or more continuous process devices, virtualizing a plurality of parallel second batch units for each continuous process device, wherein the plurality of parallel second batch units indicate different operating states of the corresponding continuous process device; configuring a batch unit class for the plurality of parallel second batch units virtualized for a continuous process device, the batch unit class indicating that the plurality of parallel second batch units belong to the same continuous process device; constructing a production formula for producing lithium battery positive electrode materials based on the first batch units and the batch unit class; and executing a batch order for producing lithium battery positive electrode materials based on the production formula, wherein, when executing the batch order, the second batch unit in an idle state under the corresponding batch unit class is selected to execute the batch order based on the operating status indicated by the second batch unit.
[0007] Because multiple parallel batch units are virtualized for continuous process equipment, when executing a batch order, one of these multiple parallel batch units is automatically selected based on their occupancy status, resolving the issue of inaccurate occupancy and release of units in continuous process equipment batch production. Furthermore, when a batch order is executed and a batch unit is called from the multiple parallel batch units virtualized from the continuous process equipment, the accurate start and end of the batch order is guaranteed, and the batch unit accurately records all production data related to the batch order, ensuring the accuracy of the batch order production record.
[0008] In the batch control method for the production process of lithium battery positive electrode materials according to an embodiment of the present invention, the operating status includes at least: whether the equipment is occupied; the operating parameters of the equipment; the time when the materials in the batch order enter the equipment; and the time when the materials in the batch order leave the equipment.
[0009] Through the above method, a specific example of the operating state is provided.
[0010] In the batch control method for the production process of lithium battery positive electrode materials according to an embodiment of the present invention, virtualizing multiple parallel second batch units for each continuous process device includes: virtualizing multiple parallel second batch units for each continuous process device in a time-sharing manner according to the number of batches allowed to be produced simultaneously by one or more continuous process devices.
[0011] Through the above method, a specific method of virtualizing multiple parallel second batch units is provided.
[0012] In the batch control method for the lithium battery cathode material production process according to the embodiment of the present application, the production recipe for producing the lithium battery cathode material is constructed according to the first batch unit and the batch unit class, which comprises: specifying, in the production recipe, the respective first batch unit of each of the one or more batch process devices and the respective batch unit class of a plurality of parallel second batch units of each of the one or more continuous process devices, calling the respective batch process device by the respective first batch unit, and calling the respective continuous process device by the respective batch unit class.
[0013] In the above manner, a specific way of constructing the production recipe for the lithium battery cathode material is provided.
[0014] In the batch control method for the lithium battery cathode material production process according to the embodiment of the present application, the one or more batch process devices comprise the metering mixing device and the coating device, and the one or more continuous process devices comprise the kiln sintering device, the crushing and impurity removal device, and the packaging device.
[0015] In the above manner, examples of the batch process device and the continuous process device in the lithium battery cathode material production process are provided.
[0016] In the batch control method for the lithium battery cathode material production process according to the embodiment of the present application, when the batch order is executed, the data of each operation of the production process indicated by the first batch unit and the second batch unit is recorded for batch traceability of the production process.
[0017] In the above manner, accurate traceability of the accurate batch order production record is provided.
[0018] According to another embodiment of the present application, a computer readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program, when the program is executed, causes the processor to execute the above-mentioned batch control method for the lithium battery cathode material production process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0019] The drawings described herein are used to provide further understanding of the present application, and form a part of the present application. The illustrative embodiments of the present application and their description serve to explain the present application, and do not constitute an improper limitation of the present application. In the drawings:
[0020] Figure 1 A flow chart of the batch control method for the lithium battery cathode material production process according to the embodiment of the present application is shown.
[0021] In the drawings, the reference signs are as follows:
[0022] S1-S5: steps of the batch control method for the lithium battery cathode material production process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0024] To better understand the technical solution of the present invention, before describing the batch control method for the production process of lithium battery positive electrode materials according to an embodiment of the present invention, some concepts mentioned in the present invention are briefly introduced. It should be noted that these concepts are well known in the art and are described here only to facilitate understanding of the present invention.
[0025] Batch Process Equipment: Batch process equipment operates according to pre-set batches during the production process. This equipment processes raw materials in batches, with each batch having clear start and end points. After completing a batch, the equipment undergoes cleaning, maintenance, or parameter adjustments, if necessary, before starting the next batch. Examples of this type of equipment include metering and mixing equipment and coating equipment used in lithium battery cathode material production.
[0026] Continuous process equipment: This refers to production equipment that continuously delivers raw materials, undergoes a series of operations, and continuously outputs finished or semi-finished products. This equipment maintains constant operating parameters, such as temperature, pressure, and flow rate, to ensure consistent product quality. This equipment is primarily used for processes that can be considered continuous flows, such as those handling liquids, gases, or powders, and those that can operate continuously without interruption. Examples of this type of equipment include kiln sintering equipment, crushing and impurity removal equipment, and packaging equipment used in the production of lithium battery cathode materials.
[0027] Batch Unit: In a batch control system, such as PCS 7 Batch, a batch unit is an abstract model used to describe and control the physical equipment or group of equipment involved in a batch production process. Batch unit is one of the key concepts in ISA-88 batch control standard, which provides a way to map the equipment and operation logic in the actual production environment to the software system, so that the batch control system can understand and manage the state and operation of the equipment. Batch unit usually includes the following components: physical equipment: batch unit may represent a single physical equipment (such as a reactor), or a group of equipment working together (such as a combination of reactor, pump and valve); equipment state: batch unit tracks the running state of equipment, including whether it is available, whether it is running, whether it is occupied by one or more batches, etc.; operation logic: each batch unit has predefined operation logic and control strategy, which describes how the equipment participates in batch production and behaves in different operation modes; resource management: batch unit is the basis of resource management, the system allocates and recovers resources (such as equipment, raw materials, energy, etc.) through batch unit. In batch production, the role of batch unit is similar to that of "workstation" in production process, and the batch control system can automatically select and schedule batch units according to batch requirements and equipment state. For example, a batch may require the use of a specific reactor and mixer, and the batch control system will check the current state of these batch units, and if they are all idle, they will be allocated to this batch; if they are occupied by other batches, the batch control system will wait or select standby batch units to perform the task.
[0028] In this paper, the batch control method for lithium battery cathode material production process is executed in a batch control system, such as PCS 7 Batch.
[0029] Figure 1 The flow chart of the batch control method for lithium battery cathode material production process according to the embodiment of the present application is shown, and the batch control method for lithium battery cathode material production process according to the embodiment of the present application is described below. Figure 1 The batch control method for lithium battery cathode material production process according to the embodiment of the present application is described.
[0030] For a lithium battery cathode material production line, it mainly includes metering and mixing, kiln sintering, crushing, coating, impurity removal and packaging processes, among which, metering and mixing and coating equipment belong to batch process equipment, and kiln sintering, crushing, impurity removal and packaging process equipment belong to continuous process equipment.
[0031] As shown in Figure 1 The batch control method for lithium battery cathode material production process according to the embodiment of the present application includes steps S1 to S5.
[0032] In step S1 , for one or more batch process devices, a corresponding first batch unit is virtualized for each batch process device, where the first batch unit indicates an operating status of the corresponding batch process device.
[0033] Virtualization involves creating a software-level representation, or digital twin, that simulates and tracks the real-world status and operation of equipment. This virtual first-batch unit includes the equipment's operating parameters, status information, and production progress, enabling more flexible management and control of these equipment within the production management system.
[0034] A digital twin is a virtual representation of an entity or system in the physical world that reflects its operating status and behavior in real time. In the production of lithium-ion battery cathode materials, digital twin technology is used to create virtual models of continuous process equipment (such as kilns and sintering equipment, crushing and impurity removal equipment), as well as batch process equipment.
[0035] Specifically, in the production process of lithium-ion battery cathode materials, for example, for metering and mixing equipment, a batch control system such as PCS7 Batch can be used to virtualize a batch unit that complies with the ISA88 standard. The ISA88 standard is widely used in industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and food processing, as well as in fields like lithium-ion battery cathode materials. The production processes in these industries often involve multiple repetitive batch steps, requiring strict batch management and data traceability. By adhering to the ISA88 standard, companies can establish more flexible, efficient, and repeatable batch control systems, thereby improving product quality control and enhancing the transparency and traceability of the production process.
[0036] Similarly, for coating equipment, a batch control system such as PCS 7Batch can be used to virtualize a batch unit that complies with the ISA88 standard. For convenience, without distinguishing between the batch units virtualized from the metering and mixing equipment and the coating equipment, these batch units will be collectively referred to as the "first batch unit" below.
[0037] For larger orders, such as a large order of 50 tons of lithium battery positive electrode materials, depending on the load of the production line, it is usually necessary to break down the 50-ton large order into, for example, 50 small batch orders for production, with each batch order producing 1 ton of lithium battery positive electrode materials.
[0038] The first batch unit can indicate the operating status of batch process equipment such as metering and mixing equipment and coating equipment. The operating status includes at least: whether the equipment is occupied; equipment operating parameters; the time when the materials in the batch order enter the equipment; and the time when the materials in the batch order leave the equipment.
[0039] In step S2, for one or more continuous process equipment, a plurality of parallel second batch units are virtualized for each continuous process equipment, wherein the plurality of parallel second batch units indicate different running states of the corresponding continuous process equipment.
[0040] Specifically, in the production process of lithium battery positive electrode materials, for example, the continuous process equipment of kiln sintering equipment, which often has a long material transmission channel. By adjusting the entering rate and position of the material, the material from different batch orders can be processed in the same time period, separated by different areas or time periods inside the equipment, to ensure that the materials of different batch orders are not mixed. For example, after the material of a batch order enters the kiln sintering equipment to start sintering, the material of the next batch order will start to enter when the material of the previous batch order moves to the other end of the kiln sintering equipment, so as to realize continuous processing without cross contamination between batch orders.
[0041] Based on the above principle, for the same kiln sintering equipment, a plurality of parallel second batch units can be virtualized from the same kiln sintering equipment in a time-sharing manner for the material of different batch orders to enter the kiln sintering equipment without crossing with the material of the previous batch order, that is, each second batch unit can be understood as corresponding to a different section.
[0042] Specifically, for example, at a first time point, the material of a first batch order starts to enter the kiln sintering equipment, at a second time point, all the material of the first batch order enters the kiln sintering equipment. At a third time point after the second time point, the material of a second batch order starts to enter the kiln sintering equipment, at a fourth time point, all the material of the second batch order enters the kiln sintering equipment. At a fifth time point after the fourth time point, the material of a third batch order starts to enter the kiln sintering equipment, at a sixth time point, all the material of the third batch order enters the kiln sintering equipment. In the time period from the first time point to the sixth time point, the materials of three batch orders are simultaneously sintered in the same kiln sintering equipment. At a seventh time point, the material of the first batch order is completely discharged from the kiln sintering equipment, at an eighth time point, the material of the second batch order is completely discharged from the kiln sintering equipment, at a ninth time point, the material of the third batch order is completely discharged from the kiln sintering equipment.
[0043] For the three different cases of sintering process in the same kiln sintering device for the above-mentioned first time point to the seventh time point (hereinafter referred to as "first predetermined time period"), the third time point to the eighth time point (hereinafter referred to as "second predetermined time period"), the fifth time point to the ninth time point (hereinafter referred to as "third predetermined time period"), the second batch unit can be virtually generated in the same kiln sintering device according to the state of the kiln sintering device corresponding to the first predetermined time period, the second predetermined time period and the third predetermined time period. Among them, the first second batch unit corresponds to the running state of the kiln sintering device in the first time period, the second second batch unit corresponds to the running state of the kiln sintering device in the second time period, and the third second batch unit corresponds to the running state of the kiln sintering device in the third time period.
[0044] Specifically, for example, for the kiln sintering device, the conveying belt speed is usually uniform and known, the material is loaded by multiple sagger with known capacity, the sagger is placed on the conveying belt with known interval, and the sagger is conveyed to the kiln sintering device. According to the conveying speed of the conveying belt, the length of the conveying belt, the width of the sagger and the interval between the sagger, the discharge time of the last sagger in a batch of material from the kiln sintering device can be calculated from the time point when the batch of material enters the kiln sintering device, so as to obtain the feeding time and the discharge time of the batch of material.
[0045] Alternatively, a weighing device can also be provided at the feeding port and the discharge port of the kiln sintering device. The accumulated amount of material at the feeding port and the discharge port is weighed to confirm whether the accumulated amount reaches the amount of a batch order, and the weighing start time of the batch of material at the feeding port and the time when the accumulated amount of the batch of material at the discharge port reaches the amount of a batch order are recorded, so as to obtain the feeding time and the discharge time of the batch of material.
[0046] According to the feeding time and the discharge time of a batch of material, the interval between the feeding time and the discharge time, and the number of batch orders allowed to be produced simultaneously in the lithium battery positive electrode material production process, multiple parallel second batch units can be virtually generated from the same kiln sintering device in a time-sharing manner. Each of the multiple parallel second batch units has different feeding time and discharge time.
[0047] Similarly, for the crushing device, the impurity removal device and the packaging device, a batch processing control system such as PCS 7Batch can also be used to virtually generate multiple parallel batch units conforming to the ISA88 standard from them. For the sake of convenience, without distinguishing the batch units virtually generated from the kiln sintering device, the crushing device, the impurity removal device and the packaging device, these batch units are collectively referred to as "second batch units" hereinafter.
[0048] Here, the performance of the second batch units and the first batch unit are the same, and both comply with the ISA88 standard. For the kiln sintering equipment, the multiple parallel second batch units correspond to the segments available to the kiln sintering equipment at different time periods. Each second batch unit indicates the running state on the segment available to the kiln sintering equipment at the corresponding time period, for example, whether the equipment is occupied; the running parameters of the equipment; the time when the material in the batch order enters the equipment; and the time when the material in the batch order leaves the equipment, etc.
[0049] For the continuous process equipment, the number of the parallel second batch units that can be virtualized is determined according to the number of batch orders that are allowed to be produced simultaneously in the production process. For example, in the current lithium battery positive electrode material production process, the number of batch orders that are allowed to be produced simultaneously is less than or equal to 5, and thus the number of the parallel second batch units that can be virtualized from the same continuous process equipment is less than or equal to 5.
[0050] In step S3, a batch unit class is configured for the multiple parallel second batch units virtualized for one continuous process equipment, and the batch unit class indicates that the multiple parallel second batch units belong to the same continuous process equipment.
[0051] The batch unit class refers to a class or template used to define and describe a specific type of equipment or process unit in the batch control system. It contains standardized information such as control logic, process parameters, and operation flow of the equipment. Through the batch unit class, multiple devices of the same type can be uniformly managed and scheduled. The batch unit class includes characteristics such as input, output, state transition, material flow management, operation command, and possible exception handling of the equipment.
[0052] A batch unit class is configured for the continuous process equipment, so that when constructing a production recipe, the corresponding continuous equipment unit is selected according to the batch unit class, and when executing a batch order, an idle virtual unit is automatically selected for production.
[0053] In step S4, a production recipe for producing lithium battery positive electrode material is constructed according to the first batch unit and the batch unit class.
[0054] Production recipe refers to a file or data set that specifies the types and proportions of raw materials, processing parameters, and operation steps required to manufacture a specific product in manufacturing. In an automated and digitized production environment, the production recipe is usually programmed into the control system, such as PCS 7 Batch, and the system automatically controls the operation of the equipment according to the recipe, including starting, stopping, parameter adjustment, etc.
[0055] Specifically, in the production process of lithium battery positive electrode material, the production formula thereof specifies the raw materials (such as lithium carbonate, etc.) required for manufacturing lithium battery positive electrode material and the proportion thereof, the equipment (such as metering mixing equipment, kiln sintering equipment, crushing equipment, coating equipment, impurity removal equipment and packaging equipment, etc.) used, the processing parameters of the equipment, the process steps, etc. Each equipment is virtually divided into a corresponding batch unit, for batch process equipment such as metering mixing equipment, a single batch unit is virtually divided therefrom, while for continuous process equipment such as kiln sintering equipment, a plurality of (for example, 3) parallel batch units can be virtually divided therefrom, and a batch unit class is configured for the plurality of parallel batch units.
[0056] When designing the production formula, for batch process equipment, a corresponding batch unit thereof is specified, and the corresponding batch process equipment is invoked by the corresponding batch unit, while for continuous process equipment, a batch unit class to which a plurality of batch units thereof belong is specified without specifying the plurality of batch units thereof, and the corresponding continuous process equipment is selected by the batch unit class. As for the selected continuous process equipment, which batch unit thereof is adopted, can be automatically determined according to the occupation status of each batch unit of the continuous process equipment.
[0057] In step S5, the batch order for producing lithium battery positive electrode material is executed according to the production formula.
[0058] Specifically, when executing the batch order, a second batch unit in an idle state under the corresponding batch unit class is selected according to the running state indicated by the second batch unit to execute the batch order.
[0059] In addition, when executing the batch order, the data of each operation of the production process indicated by the first batch unit and the second batch unit is recorded for batch traceability of the production process.
[0060] In the batch control method for the production process of lithium battery positive electrode material according to the present application, since the continuous process equipment is virtually divided into a plurality of parallel batch units, when executing the batch order, one batch unit of the plurality of parallel batch units is automatically selected according to the occupation status of the parallel batch units, thereby solving the problem that the units of continuous process equipment cannot be accurately occupied and released in batch production. In addition, for the plurality of parallel batch units virtually divided from the continuous process equipment, when one batch unit is invoked to execute the batch order, the accurate start and end of the batch order are ensured, and the batch unit accurately records all production data related to the batch order, ensuring the accuracy of the production record of the batch order.
[0061] According to another embodiment of the present application, a computer readable storage medium is provided, on which a computer program is stored, which, when executed, causes a processor to perform the above-mentioned batch control method for the production process of lithium battery positive electrode material.
[0062] The above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present application, it should be pointed out that for those skilled in the art, without departing from the principles of the present application, can make several improvements and refinements, these improvements and refinements should also be considered as the protection scope of the present application.
Claims
1. A batch control method for a lithium battery positive electrode material production process, wherein one or more batch process equipment and one or more continuous process equipment are used in the lithium battery positive electrode material production process, the method comprising: For the one or more batch process devices, virtualizing a corresponding first batch unit for each batch process device, wherein the first batch unit indicates an operating status of the corresponding batch process device; For the one or more continuous process devices, virtualize a plurality of parallel second batch units for each continuous process device, wherein the plurality of parallel second batch units indicate different operating states of the corresponding continuous process device; Configuring a batch unit class for a plurality of parallel second batch units virtualized for a continuous process device, wherein the batch unit class indicates that the plurality of parallel second batch units belong to the same continuous process device; Constructing a production formula for producing a lithium battery positive electrode material based on the first batch unit and the batch unit class; and According to the production formula, execute the batch order of producing lithium battery positive electrode materials, When executing the batch order, a second batch unit in an idle state under a corresponding batch unit class is selected according to the operating state indicated by the second batch unit to execute the batch order.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The operating status includes at least: Whether the device is occupied; The operating parameters of the equipment; The time when materials in the batch order enter the facility; and The time when materials in a batch order leave the facility.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein Virtualizing multiple parallel second batch units for each continuous process device includes: According to the number of batches that the one or more continuous process devices are allowed to produce simultaneously, a plurality of parallel second batch units are virtualized for each continuous process device in a time-sharing manner.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein According to the first batch unit and the batch unit class, constructing a production formula for producing lithium battery positive electrode materials includes: In the production recipe, a corresponding first batch unit of each of the one or more batch process devices and a corresponding batch unit class of multiple parallel second batch units of each of the one or more continuous process devices are specified, and the corresponding first batch unit calls the corresponding batch process device, and the corresponding batch unit class calls the corresponding continuous process device.
5. The method according to claim 3, wherein The one or more batch process equipment include metering and mixing equipment and coating equipment, and the one or more continuous process equipment include kiln sintering equipment, crushing and impurity removal equipment and packaging equipment.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: When executing the batch order, data of each step of the production process indicated by the first batch unit and the second batch unit are recorded for batch tracing of the production process.
7. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed, causes a processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.