Processing equipment and process for flow battery stack

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the technical field of liquid flow battery stack production, and discloses a processing device and a processing technology applied to liquid flow battery stacks. The processing equipment applied to liquid flow battery stacks includes a material feeding device, an electrode area flow channel processing device, and a flow channel product inspection and sorting device connected in sequence. The material is fed out by the material feeding device, processed by the electrode area flow channel processing device, and finally collected and sorted by the flow channel product inspection and sorting equipment, and then transferred to the next process for use. The present application can realize the processing of the electrode area flow channels of two different stack components, namely electrodes and bipolar plates, with high production efficiency and low cost; it can meet the needs of mass production of battery stacks.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of liquid flow battery stack production, and in particular relates to processing equipment and a processing technology applied to liquid flow battery stacks. Background Art

[0002] In today's society, with the improvement of living standards, various high-end electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, televisions, electric vehicles, and other high-end devices are constantly developing, greatly enriching the lives of the majority of users. The development of these high-tech products has become more and more dependent on high-quality energy (primarily electricity), and the demand is increasing day by day.

[0003] At the same time, the dwindling availability of energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas, along with the environmental pollution they cause, has made research and development of large-scale renewable energy a top priority. Because renewable energy (such as wind, solar, and tidal energy) is unstable and discontinuous, it requires a supporting energy storage system to balance its continuous and stable use.

[0004] Energy storage batteries are the heart of energy storage systems. Among existing energy storage batteries, flow batteries are the best choice for large-scale energy storage solutions due to their safety, high power, long service life, and clean and environmentally friendly properties.

[0005] In the current production of liquid flow energy storage battery stacks, carbon felt is often used as an electrode. For carbon felt with a flow channel structure, manual cutting or punching is often used during the production process. For bipolar plates with a flow channel structure, engraving machines are often used for programming and engraving.

[0006] During the production of fuel cell components, manual cutting of carbon felt or bipolar plates with specific flow channel structures is not only inefficient and inaccurate. Furthermore, for structures with required flow channel depth or varying cross-sections, manual or press cutting is impossible. Using an engraving machine to process bipolar plates also results in long processing times and high costs, making it unsuitable for mass production. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology, the present invention provides a processing equipment and processing technology applied to liquid flow battery stacks, which can realize the processing of electrode area flow channels of two different stack components, namely electrodes and bipolar plates, with high production efficiency and low cost, and can meet the needs of mass production of battery stacks.

[0008] The above-mentioned purpose of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions: a processing equipment applied to liquid flow battery stacks, comprising a material feeding equipment, an electrode area flow channel processing equipment, and a flow channel product inspection and sorting equipment connected in sequence. The material is fed out by the material feeding equipment, processed by the electrode area flow channel processing equipment, and finally collected and sorted by the flow channel product inspection and sorting equipment and transferred to the next process for use.

[0009] The material feeding equipment includes a material resting device in the upper part and a material storage device in the lower part. The material is conveyed through the material resting device to adjust the preload force and is trimmed in size, blown in appearance, and smoothed on the surface. The material then enters the electrode area flow channel processing equipment.

[0010] The electrode area flow channel processing equipment includes a processing stepper, a flow channel processing platform, a flow channel press-fit fixture, a right flow channel processing main unit, a base bracket, an equipment program control system module, and a left flow channel processing main unit. The base bracket provides support for the electrode area flow channel processing equipment. The flow channel processing platform is located at the top of the base bracket, and the equipment program control system module is mounted on the bottom base bracket of the flow channel processing platform. The left flow channel processing main unit, the flow channel press-fit fixture, and the right flow channel processing main unit are mounted on the flow channel processing platform from left to right. The processing stepper is installed on the outer periphery of the left flow channel processing main unit, the flow channel press-fit fixture, and the right flow channel processing main unit. The processing stepping device includes a stepping bracket arranged on the left and right edges of the flow channel processing platform, a stepping guide rail above the stepping bracket, and a stepping left machine head and a stepping right machine head installed on the stepping guide rail; the flow channel processing platform includes a platform base plate, a platform slide rail, and a dividing pad. The platform slide rails are arranged on the front and rear sides of the platform base plate and are parallel to the stepping guide rails. The dividing pad is perpendicular to the platform guide rails and divides the platform base plate into three parts for installing the flow channel processing left main machine, the flow channel pressing fixture, and the flow channel processing right main machine; the flow channel pressing fixture includes a front clamping drive, a front clamping device, a split clamping device, a split clamping drive, a rear clamping device, and a rear clamping drive. One side of the front clamping drive is docked with the front platform slide rail, and the other side is connected to the front clamping device. The split clamping device is connected to the lower split clamping drive. One side of the rear clamping drive is docked with the rear platform slide rail, and the other side is connected to The rear clamp is connected, and the rear clamp is connected to the end point of the splitting clamp; the left runner processing host and the right runner processing host both include a runner splitting knife group, a splitting cutting drive, a runner splitting cutter, and a processing slide; the runner splitting knife group includes a splitting knife head and a splitting knife holder; the runner splitting cutter includes a cutting blade and a cutting knife holder; a plurality of splitting knife heads are provided on the splitting knife holder; a splitting cutting drive is provided above the runner splitting knife group; a runner splitting cutter is provided below the splitting cutting drive and in front of the runner splitting knife group; the cutting knife holder of the runner splitting cutter is connected to the splitting cutting drive; the cutting head is provided on the cutting knife holder and cooperates with the splitting knife head; the top layer of the runner processing host is a processing slide; all devices and components in the liquid flow battery stack processing equipment are controlled by the equipment program control system module to realize automatic operation function and complete product processing.

[0011] The product inspection and sorting equipment includes an online detection device and a product sorting and storage device; the online detection device includes an appearance imaging detector, a size detector, and an infrared flaw detection detector.

[0012] The specific steps of the processing technology using the processing equipment applied to the flow battery stack are as follows:

[0013] 1. The material is conveyed through the material rest device to adjust the preload force, and at the same time undergoes size trimming, surface cleaning, and surface balancing. The material then enters the electrode area flow channel processing equipment;

[0014] 2. The materials sequentially enter the left main machine for runner processing, the runner pressing fixture, and the right main machine for runner processing of the runner processing equipment in the electrode area. During this process, the left main machine for runner processing and the right main machine for runner processing are driven by the processing stepping device to reciprocate along the platform slide rail on the platform bottom plate, and the materials are split and processed by the splitting cutter head and the cutting blade. During this process, the runner pressing fixture clamps and fixes the materials. Specifically, the materials sequentially pass through the space between the platform bottom plate and the front clamp, the spacer pad and the spacer clamp, and the platform bottom plate and the rear clamp. The spacer clamp first completes the downward pressing action to flatten and fix the materials, and then the front and rear clamps press down at the same time to prevent displacement during material segmentation. After the materials are segmented and processed, they enter the product inspection and sorting equipment.

[0015] 3. The materials enter the product inspection and sorting equipment, and the online detection device inspects the processed materials including size, appearance defects, and internal losses. The materials are then divided into good and defective products and enter the product sorting and storage device for sorting and stacking.

[0016] The materials cut and divided by the processing equipment for the above-mentioned liquid flow battery stack include plates and sheets.

[0017] Furthermore, the materials cut and divided by the processing equipment of the above-mentioned liquid flow battery stack include bipolar plates, carbon felt, PVC, PP, PE plastic plates, and EPDM fluororubber plates.

[0018] The beneficial effects of the present invention compared with the prior art are: the present application can realize the processing of electrode area flow channels of two different battery stack components, namely electrodes and bipolar plates, with high production efficiency and low cost; it can meet the needs of mass production of battery stacks; the use of the present application in the processing of liquid flow battery stacks can save 8 times the labor cost, and in the bipolar plate flow channel processing process, the use of the present application is 2.1 times faster than using an engraving machine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the processing equipment for the flow battery stack of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the material feeding equipment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the product inspection and sorting equipment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of the electrode area flow channel processing equipment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the stepping device for processing of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of the flow channel processing platform of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a structural diagram of the flow channel press-fitting fixing device of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the carbon felt flow channel processing process of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 9 This is a structural diagram of the flow channel processing host of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 10 This is a structural diagram of the flow channel segmentation knife group of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 11 This is a structural diagram of the flow channel dividing and cutting device of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of carbon felt and bipolar plate structure;

[0032] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of a bipolar plate;

[0033] Figure 14 Schematic diagrams of flow channel cross sections in several different forms.

[0034] In the figure, 1. Material feeding equipment; 2. Electrode area flow channel processing equipment; 3. Flow channel product inspection and sorting equipment; 4. Flow channel carbon felt; 5. Flow channel bipolar plates; 11. Material resting device; 12. Material storage device; 21. Processing stepper device; 22. Flow channel processing platform; 23. Flow channel press-fitting fixture; 24. Flow channel processing right main unit; 25. Base bracket; 26. Equipment program control system module; 27. Flow channel processing left main unit; 211. Stepper bracket; 212. Stepper left head; 213. Stepper guide rail; 214. Stepper right head; 221. Platform bottom plate; 222. Platform slide rail; 223. Splitting pad; 231. Front clamping drive; 232. Front clamping device; 233. Splitting clamping device; 234. Splitting clamping drive; 235. Rear clamping device; 236. Rear clamping drive; 241. Flow channel splitting knife group; 242. Splitting and cutting drive; 243. Flow channel splitting and cutting device; 244. Processing slide; 2411. Splitting knife head; 2412. Splitting knife holder; 2431. Cutting blade; 2432. Cutting knife holder; 31. Online detection device; 32. Product sorting and storage device; 41. Square cross-section flow channel; 42. Flat-bottomed circular cross-section flow channel; 43. U-shaped cross-section flow channel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The present invention is described in detail below by specific examples, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited. Unless otherwise specified, the experimental methods adopted in the present invention are all conventional methods, and the experimental equipment, materials, reagents, etc. used can be obtained from commercial channels.

[0036] Example 1

[0037] A processing device for flow battery stacks

[0038] As attached Figure 1 As shown in the figure, the processing equipment for the flow battery stack includes: material feeding equipment 1, electrode area flow channel processing equipment 2, and flow channel product inspection and sorting equipment 3. The material is fed by the material feeding equipment 1, processed by the electrode area flow channel processing equipment 2, and finally collected and sorted by the flow channel product inspection and sorting equipment before being transferred to the next process.

[0039] As attached Figure 2 As shown, the material feeding device 1 includes: a material resting device 11 and a material storage device 12. The material is adjusted for preload by the material resting device 11, and is trimmed, purged, and smoothed before entering the electrode area flow channel processing device 2.

[0040] As attached Figure 3 As shown, product inspection and sorting equipment 3 includes an online inspection device 31 and a product sorting and storage device 32. The online inspection device 31 includes an appearance imaging detector, a dimensional detector, and an infrared flaw detector, which inspects the processed flow channel products for dimensions, appearance defects, and internal damage. The product sorting and storage device 32 separates good and bad products based on the inspection results and sorts and stores the products appropriately to prevent excessive accumulation and product deformation.

[0041] As attached Figure 4 As shown, the electrode area flow channel processing equipment includes: a processing stepper 21, a flow channel processing platform 22, a flow channel press-fit fixture 23, a flow channel processing right main unit 24, a base bracket 25, an equipment program control system module 26, and a flow channel processing left main unit 27. The flow channel processing platform 22 is supported by the base bracket 25. The processing stepper 21, the flow channel press-fit fixture 23, the flow channel processing right main unit 24, and the flow channel processing left main unit 27 are mounted on it. All devices and components of the flow battery stack processing equipment are centrally controlled by the equipment program control system module 26, achieving automatic operation and completing product processing.

[0042] As attached Figure 5 As shown, the processing stepping device 21 includes: a stepping bracket 211, a stepping left head 212, a stepping guide rail 213, and a stepping right head 214.

[0043] As attached Figure 6As shown, the flow channel processing platform 22 includes a platform base plate 221, platform slide rails 222, and a splitting pad 223. During processing, the flow channel processing left main unit 27 and the flow channel processing right main unit 24 are driven by the processing stepping device 21 to reciprocate along the platform slide rails 222 on the platform base plate 221 to complete the splitting process of the electrode or bipolar plate.

[0044] As attached Figure 7 As shown, the flow channel press-fitting and fixing device 23 includes: a front pressing drive 231, a front pressing device 232, a split pressing device 233, a split pressing drive 234, a rear pressing device 235, and a rear pressing drive 236. The flow channel press-fitting and fixing device 23 plays a role in clamping and fixing the material during the processing.

[0045] As attached Figure 8 As shown, during operation, the material passes through the platform bottom plate 221 and the front compressor 232, the dividing pad 223 and the dividing compressor 233, and the platform bottom plate 221 and the rear compressor 235 in sequence. The dividing compressor 233 first completes the downward pressing action to flatten and fix the material, and then the front compressor 232 and the rear compressor 235 press down at the same time to prevent displacement when the material is divided.

[0046] As attached Figure 9 As shown, the runner processing right main machine 24 includes: a runner segmentation knife group 241 , a segmentation and cutting drive 242 , a runner segmentation and cutting device 243 , and a processing slide 244 .

[0047] As attached Figure 4 As shown, the runner processing right main unit 24 and the runner processing left main unit 27 have the same symmetrical structure.

[0048] As attached Figure 10 As shown, the flow channel segmentation knife assembly 241 includes a segmentation knife head 2411 and a segmentation knife holder 2412. The flow channel segmentation knife assembly 241 can adjust the horizontal spacing position and vertical height position of the segmentation knife holder 2412 according to processing requirements to meet the requirements of different flow channel product structures.

[0049] As attached Figure 11 As shown, the runner segmentation cutter 243 includes a cutting blade 2431 and a cutting blade holder 2432. After the runner segmentation blade assembly 241 moves to a designated position to complete runner processing, the runner segmentation cutter 243 cuts off excess material under the action of the segmentation and cutting drive 242 to complete the processing of the finished product.

[0050] Example 2

[0051] The processing equipment used is the same as in Example 1.

[0052] The production process is as follows:

[0053] Step 1: As attached Figure 2 As shown, the material is placed in the material storage device (12). To prevent the material from being compressed and deformed due to stacking and stacking, the material rest device (11) has a pre-tightening force of 0 to 2000N for conveying the material. The pre-tightening force is adjusted to prevent the material from loosening and deforming before entering the cutting process. The material rest device (11) has the function of leveling the flatness of the material, and its flatness accuracy can be adjusted to less than 0.005mm. The material storage device (12) can trim the material width to 100 to 2000mm, trim the material to size according to the cutting requirements, and at the same time, dust and blow the upper and lower surfaces of the material. Then the material enters the electrode area flow channel processing equipment (2).

[0054] Step 2: As attached Figure 8 As shown, the material enters the electrode area flow channel processing equipment (2), and passes through between the platform base plate (221) and the front clamp (232), between the splitting pad (223) and the splitting clamp (233), and between the platform base plate (221) and the rear clamp (235). The splitting and clamping drive (234) first acts to drive the splitting and clamping device (233) to complete the downward pressure, flattening and fixing the material. Then, the front clamp (232) and the rear clamp (235) press down at the same time to prevent displacement of the material when it is split. The equipment can adjust the downward clamping force to 0 to 8000N to control the size of the downward pressure and prevent permanent deformation of the material caused by excessive pressure.

[0055] Step 3: As attached Figure 10 As shown, adjust the shape, quantity, spacing and depth of the flow channel to be processed according to the design requirements: confirm the shape of the corresponding segmentation blade (2411) to ensure that the flow channel shape is consistent with the design requirements, as shown in the attached Figure 14 As shown, the processing shapes include square, U-shaped, V-shaped, etc. Open the fixing bolts on the splitting tool holder (2412) and adjust the number of splitting tool heads (2411). The equipment can install 1 to 100 splitting tool heads, and the adjustable spacing between each splitting tool head (2411) is 10 to 100 mm. Adjust the distance between the splitting tool head (2411) and the splitting pad (223) to confirm the flow channel processing depth. The depth can be adjusted within a range of 0 to 50 mm.

[0056] Step 4: As attached Figure 4As shown, the left main machine (27) and the right main machine (24) for flow channel processing are respectively placed on the left and right sides of the flow channel processing platform (22). The right stepping machine head (214) drives the right main machine (24) for flow channel processing to move from right to left along the platform slide rail (222). The left stepping machine head (212) drives the left main machine (27) for flow channel processing to move from left to right along the platform slide rail (222). The left and right main machines for flow channel processing move back and forth alternately to complete the processing of the material flow channel. The adjustable movement speed of the left stepping machine head (212) and the right stepping machine head (214) is 0.01 to 2 m / s, and the movable range is 10 to 2000 mm. The inlet and outlet flow channels of the electrode area can be processed by the left and right flow channel processing machines respectively. For each flow channel, the shape of the segmentation cutter head (2411) can be the same or different, so as to obtain inlet and outlet electrodes with different flow channel shapes. Pay attention to the processing of the material flow channel to prevent wrinkles, scratches, breaks and burrs.

[0057] Step 5: As attached Figure 11 As shown, after the runner processing main machine runs to the designated position and completes the runner processing, the splitter (243) on it moves downward to complete the work of cutting off the remaining material. According to the design requirements, full cutting or partial cutting can be selected. After the runner cutting process is completed, the runner splitter (243) moves upward and returns to its original position.

[0058] Step 6: As attached Figure 3 , Attachment Figure 12 As shown, the online detection device (31) performs inspection according to the dimensions given by the design, and at the same time completes appearance imaging detection and infrared flaw detection according to the product appearance requirements, and automatically completes product sorting and storage. The product stacking height is determined based on the principle of effective product protection. The maximum storage height of the product sorting and storage device (32) is 1.5m.

[0059] like Figure 12 As shown, this equipment was used to process flow channels on carbon felt and assemble it into an experimental stack. The electrodes used cross-type flow channels, with a channel width of 3.25mm and a channel spacing of 14.3mm. The positive and negative electrodes were arranged symmetrically.

[0060] The production process parameters of the above equipment are shown in Table 1

[0061] Table 1

[0062]

[0063]

[0064] The production products and results are shown in Table 2

[0065] Table 2

[0066]

[0067] like Figure 13 As shown in the production process of the embodiment, it can be seen that the use of this equipment saves 8 times the labor cost in the carbon felt flow channel processing step. In the bipolar plate flow channel processing step, the use of this equipment is 2.1 times faster than using an engraving machine.

[0068] like Figure 13 、 14 As shown, for channels with different channel depths and shapes, this equipment has advantages that cannot be matched by manual cutting.

[0069] The above-described embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to be all feasible embodiments of the present invention. Any obvious modifications made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention should be considered to be included in the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A processing device for a flow battery stack, characterized in that: It includes a material feeding device (1), an electrode area flow channel processing device (2), and a flow channel product inspection and sorting device (3) which are connected in sequence; The material feeding device (1) comprises a material resting device (11) in the upper part and a material storage device (12) in the lower part; The electrode area flow channel processing equipment (2) comprises a processing stepping device (21), a flow channel processing platform (22), a flow channel pressing and fixing device (23), a flow channel processing right main machine (24), a base bracket (25), an equipment program control system module (26), and a flow channel processing left main machine (27); the top of the base bracket (25) is the flow channel processing platform (22), the equipment program control system module (26) is installed on the base bracket (25) at the bottom of the flow channel processing platform (22), and the flow channel processing left main machine is installed on the flow channel processing platform (22) from left to right. (27), a flow channel press-fitting fixture (23), a flow channel processing right main machine (24), and a processing stepping device (21) is installed on the periphery of the flow channel processing left main machine (27), the flow channel press-fitting fixture (23), and the flow channel processing right main machine (24); wherein the processing stepping device (21) includes a stepping bracket (211) arranged on the left and right edges of the flow channel processing platform (22), a stepping guide rail (213) above the stepping bracket (211), and a stepping left machine head (212) and a stepping right machine head (214) installed on the stepping guide rail (213); the The flow channel processing platform (22) includes a platform base plate (221), a platform slide rail (222), and a dividing pad (223). The platform slide rail (222) is arranged on the front and rear sides of the platform base plate (221) and is parallel to the stepping guide rail (213). The dividing pad (223) is perpendicular to the platform guide rail and divides the platform base plate (221) into three parts for installing the flow channel processing left main machine (27), the flow channel pressing and fixing device (23), and the flow channel processing right main machine (24). The flow channel pressing and fixing device (23) includes a front pressing drive (231), a front pressing device (231), and a front pressing device (232). 32), a splitting compactor (233), a splitting compacting drive (234), a rear compactor (235), and a rear compacting drive (236), one side of the front compacting drive (231) is docked with the front platform slide rail (222), and the other side is connected to the front compactor (232), the splitting compactor (233) is connected to the lower splitting compacting drive (234), one side of the rear compacting drive (236) is docked with the rear platform slide rail (222), and the other side is connected to the rear compactor (235), and the rear compactor (235) is connected to the end point of the splitting compactor (233);The left runner processing main unit (27) and the right runner processing main unit (24) both comprise a runner segmentation knife group (241), a segmentation and cutting drive (242), a runner segmentation cutter (243), and a processing slide plate (244). The runner segmentation knife group (241) comprises a segmentation knife head (2411) and a segmentation knife holder (2412). The runner segmentation cutter (243) comprises a cutting blade (2431) and a cutting knife holder (2432). The segmentation knife holder (2412) is provided with a plurality of segmentation blades. A cutting head (2411) is provided with a cutting drive (242) above the flow channel cutting knife group (241); a flow channel cutting cutter (243) is provided below the cutting drive (242) and in front of the flow channel cutting knife group (241); a cutting knife holder (2432) of the flow channel cutting cutter (243) is connected to the cutting drive (242); a cutting head is provided on the cutting knife holder (2432) and cooperates with the cutting head (2411); and a processing slide (244) is provided on the top layer of the flow channel processing main unit; The product inspection and sorting equipment comprises an online detection device (31) and a product sorting and storage device (32).

2. The processing equipment for flow battery stack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The online detection device (31) includes an appearance imaging detector, a dimension detector, and an infrared flaw detection detector.

3. A processing technology for processing equipment used in flow battery stacks, characterized in that: The processing equipment for a flow battery stack according to claim 1 is used, and the specific steps are as follows: S1. The material is conveyed through the material rest device (11) to adjust the preload, and the size is trimmed, the appearance is purged, and the surface is balanced. Then the material enters the electrode area flow channel processing equipment (2); S2. The material enters the left main machine (27) of the flow channel processing equipment (2) in the electrode area, the flow channel pressing and fixing device (23), and the right main machine (24) of the flow channel processing. During this process, the left main machine (27) and the right main machine (24) of the flow channel processing are driven by the processing stepping device (21) to reciprocate along the platform slide rail (222) on the platform bottom plate (221). The material is split and processed by the splitting head (2411) and the cutting blade (2431). During this process, the flow channel pressing and fixing device (23) are fixed. The fixing device (23) clamps and fixes the material. Specifically, the material passes through the platform bottom plate (221) and the front pressing device (232), the dividing pad (223) and the dividing pressing device (233), and the platform bottom plate (221) and the rear pressing device (235) in sequence. The dividing pressing device (233) first completes the downward pressing action to flatten and fix the material. Then, the front pressing device (232) and the rear pressing device (235) press down at the same time to prevent displacement during the material segmentation. After the material is segmented and processed, it enters the product inspection and sorting equipment. S3. The materials enter the online inspection device (31) in the product inspection and sorting equipment to inspect the processed materials including size, appearance defects, and internal losses. The materials are then divided into good and bad products and enter the product sorting and storage device (32) for sorting and stacking.

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