Heating vacuum charge-discharge device and cooling method thereof

Abstract

A heated vacuum charge-discharge apparatus and a method of cooling the same are provided. The heating vacuum charge-discharge device comprises: a chamber; a charge-discharge structure for performing a charge-discharge process on the plurality of battery cells preheated and positioned in the chamber; a cooling structure connected to the chamber and including a plurality of coolers grouped into a plurality of cooling groups according to a cooling area; and a cooling controller for controlling each of the cooling groups to perform a cooling operation on the battery cells according to the cooling region during the charge-discharge process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods of heating a vacuum charge-discharge device and cooling the heated vacuum charge-discharge device. Background Art

[0002] Secondary batteries can be widely used as energy sources for mobile devices and vehicles, and are provided as products through an assembly process and a forming process. A secondary battery assembled by sealing an electrode assembly and an electrolyte into a cell housing is stabilized by exposure to an environment having a predetermined temperature and humidity, and can achieve stable electrical characteristics by repeating a charge-discharge process. Therefore, a heated vacuum charge-discharge device capable of maintaining a uniform or substantially uniform cell temperature during a charge-discharge process may be required.

[0003] The above information disclosed in this Background section is for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not constitute the prior art. Summary of the invention

[0004] One or more embodiments of the present disclosure may be directed to a heating vacuum charge-discharge device capable of performing cooling according to an individualized process or method for each cooling setting area.

[0005] One or more embodiments of the present disclosure may be directed to a method of cooling a secondary battery during a charge-discharge process using a heated vacuum charge-discharge device.

[0006] However, the aspects and features of the present disclosure are not limited to those described above, and those having ordinary skill in the art may more clearly understand the above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure from the following description.

[0007] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a heated vacuum charge-discharge device includes: a chamber; a charge-discharge structure configured to perform a charge-discharge process on a plurality of battery cells preheated and positioned in the chamber; a cooling structure connected to the chamber and including a plurality of coolers, the plurality of coolers being grouped into a plurality of cooling groups according to cooling regions; and a cooling controller configured to control each of the cooling groups to perform a cooling operation on the battery cells according to the cooling regions during the charge-discharge process.

[0008] In an embodiment, the cooling structure may include: a top cooler located on a middle portion of a top of the chamber to cool a middle portion of a battery cell located below the top cooler; a first cooler and a second cooler located on a first side wall and a second side wall of the chamber, respectively, the first side wall and the second side wall facing each other; and a lower cooler located on a bottom of the chamber to cool a lower portion of the battery cell located above the lower cooler. The first and second coolers may be configured to cool a first side portion, a second side portion, and a middle portion of the battery cell.

[0009] In an embodiment, the top cooler may include a plurality of first fans, the plurality of first fans being arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal direction of the chamber. The first cooler may include a plurality of second fans, the plurality of second fans being arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal direction. The second cooler may include a plurality of third fans, the plurality of third fans being arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal direction.

[0010] In an embodiment, the cooling group may include: first to third cooling groups configured to cool first to third cooling regions positioned adjacently in the longitudinal direction on the middle portion of the battery cell; fourth to sixth cooling groups configured to cool fourth to sixth cooling regions adjacent to the first to third cooling regions on opposite side portions of the battery cell, respectively; and a seventh cooling group configured to cool the lower portion of the first to sixth cooling regions. The first to third cooling groups may be associated with the top cooler, the fourth to sixth cooling groups may be associated with the first and second coolers, and the seventh cooling group may be associated with the lower cooler.

[0011] In an embodiment, the cooling controller may include: a battery information detector configured to detect the type and arrangement shape of battery cells input into a chamber; a mapping creator configured to create a cooling map by matching cooling areas with cooling groups according to the type and the arrangement shape; a process setter configured to set a cooling table corresponding to the cooling map as a cooling process; and a cooling driver configured to obtain a detection temperature detected from the cooling area and drive the cooling groups respectively according to the driving conditions of the cooling process corresponding to the detection temperature.

[0012] In an embodiment, the battery information detector may include: a reader configured to read a barcode on a battery cell; and a tray detector configured to detect information about a shape and an arrangement pattern of a receiving tray receiving the battery cell.

[0013] In an embodiment, the cooling table may include driving conditions of the cooling groups according to driving start temperatures of the cooling areas, and the driving conditions of the cooling groups may be sorted according to the driving start temperatures.

[0014] In an embodiment, the driving condition may define a ratio of an actual output voltage of a corresponding cooling fan to a maximum output voltage, so that the cooling fan may be driven in a rotation mode with a controllable number of revolutions.

[0015] In an embodiment, the driving condition may define a ratio of an actual operation time of a corresponding cooling fan to a maximum operation time, so that the cooling fan may be driven in a duty cycle mode in which the operation time may be controlled.

[0016] In an embodiment, the detected temperature may include at least one of a battery temperature actually detected from a battery cell located in the cooling region or a bottom temperature actually detected from a bottom plate of the chamber.

[0017] In an embodiment, the charge-discharge structure may include: a battery holder configured to accommodate the battery cells by arranging the battery cells and heating the battery cells to maintain a predetermined temperature; a plurality of terminals connected to the top of the chamber and configured to selectively contact the battery cells to apply a charge-discharge current for the battery cells; and a lifter configured to move the battery holder up and down so that the terminals selectively contact the battery cells.

[0018] In an embodiment, the battery holder may include: a workbench having a plate shape and including a heater configured to heat a battery cell located on the workbench; a plurality of accommodating trays extending in a second direction on an upper surface of the workbench and spaced apart from each other in a first direction to accommodate the battery cells; and a plurality of temperature sensors positioned along the accommodating trays according to cooling areas to detect battery temperatures of the battery cells located in the cooling areas and transmit the detected battery temperatures to a cooling controller.

[0019] In an embodiment, the terminal may include: a plurality of electrode terminal pairs arranged along the receiving tray and in contact with the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cells; and a plurality of vacuum hoppers located between the electrode terminal pairs to extract and remove reaction gases generated by chemical reactions inside corresponding battery cells in the battery cells.

[0020] In an embodiment, the elevator may include: an elevator head connected to a bottom surface of the workbench; and an elevator driver on a bottom portion of the chamber to move the elevator head up and down.

[0021] In an embodiment, the heated vacuum charge-discharge apparatus may further include an ambient air supplier located outside the chamber and configured to supply ambient air into the chamber.

[0022] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for cooling a heated vacuum charge-discharge device includes: creating a cooling map, including matching cooling areas of a plurality of battery cells loaded into a chamber including a plurality of coolers with cooling groups, each of the cooling groups including at least one cooler of the plurality of coolers; setting a cooling table corresponding to the cooling map as a cooling process, the cooling table being one of a plurality of cooling tables, the plurality of cooling tables including driving conditions of the cooling groups sorted according to driving start temperatures of the cooling areas; obtaining a detection temperature for each cooling area during a heated vacuum charge-discharge process for the preheated battery cells; and cooling the battery cells according to the cooling areas by driving the cooling groups separately based on the obtained detection temperature and cooling process of each cooling area.

[0023] In an embodiment, the cooling map may be classified according to the type and arrangement shape of the battery cells, the cooling table may include labels corresponding to the type and arrangement shape of the battery cells, and in setting the cooling table to the cooling process, a cooling table having labels corresponding to the type and arrangement shape of the battery cells in the cooling map may be selected from the cooling table.

[0024] In an embodiment, cooling the battery cells according to the cooling regions may include: determining a driving condition corresponding to the detected temperature of each cooling region from driving conditions of the cooling groups during the cooling process; and driving the cooling groups respectively according to the determined driving conditions.

[0025] In an embodiment, each of the cooling groups may include at least one cooling fan, and the driving condition may be set as a ratio of an actual output voltage of the cooling fan to a maximum output voltage.

[0026] In an embodiment, each of the cooling groups may include at least one cooling fan, and the driving condition may be set as a ratio of an actual operation time of the cooling fan to a maximum operation time.

[0027] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, by respectively cooling the battery cells arranged on the stage according to set or predetermined cooling zones, the temperature of the battery cells of a zone may be uniformly or substantially uniformly maintained during a charge-discharge process.

[0028] In some embodiments, after preheating to activate the electrolyte, the heated vacuum charge-discharge device may perform a charge-discharge process. Therefore, due to the separate reaction heat generated by the charge-discharge process and preheating (e.g., initial preheating), the battery cells may have a temperature difference (e.g., a significant temperature difference) with each other. As a result, using a comparative battery cooling method that uniformly cools the battery cells at the start of charge-discharge may not overcome (e.g., may not be easily overcome) the temperature difference in the battery cells performing the heated vacuum charge-discharge process.

[0029] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the cooling performance of the cooling area can be controlled by respectively considering the temperature difference in the cooling area caused by preheating (e.g., initial preheating). For a cooling area with a relatively high temperature, the cooling performance can be improved by relatively increasing the number of revolutions or the operating time of the cooling fan. For a cooling area with a relatively low temperature, the cooling performance can be reduced by relatively reducing the number of revolutions or the operating time of the cooling fan.

[0030] Thus, in some embodiments, the temperature of the battery cells may remain uniform or substantially uniform during the heated vacuum charge-discharge process regardless of initial temperature differences due to preheating.

[0031] In some embodiments, due to cooling by cooling groups that are independently driven according to cooling zones, the batteries may be quickly cooled to a uniform or substantially uniform temperature even when the batteries have significant temperature differences from each other due to preheating of the batteries.

[0032] However, the aspects and features of the present disclosure are not limited to those described above. Those skilled in the art can more clearly understand the above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure from the detailed description below with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in part can be obvious from it, or can be learned by practicing one or more of the presented embodiments of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of illustrative, non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0034] Figure 1 shows a front view of a heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0035] Figure 2 Shown is provided in Figure 1 A perspective view of a battery holder in a heated vacuum charge-discharge device shown in;

[0036] Figure 3 According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 1 The ambient air supply shown in ;

[0037] Figure 4 It is shown that the Figure 1 A perspective view of a portion of a cooling structure in a heated vacuum charge-discharge device shown in FIG.

[0038] Figure 5 It is shown Figure 4 A plan view of a cooling structure and a cooling group of a cooling structure as shown in ;

[0039] Figure 6 It is shown Figure 5 A view of a cooling group and cooling areas corresponding to the cooling group shown in ;

[0040] Figure 7 Shows the display Figure 1 A block diagram of the configuration of the cooling controller shown in;

[0041] Figure 8 Shown in Figure 1 A flow chart of a method for cooling a battery cell during charge-discharge in a heated vacuum charge-discharge device as shown in; and

[0042] Fig. 9 A flow chart showing a method of driving cooling groups separately according to cooling areas. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals always refer to the same elements. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in various different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments shown herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided as examples so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the aspects and features of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Therefore, processes, elements and techniques that are unnecessary for a person of ordinary skill in the art to fully understand the aspects and features of the present disclosure may not be described. Unless otherwise stated, throughout the drawings and written descriptions, the same reference numerals represent the same elements, and therefore, their redundant descriptions may not be repeated.

[0044] When a certain embodiment can be implemented differently, the specific processing order may be different from the described order. For example, two processes described in succession may be performed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously, or may be performed in the reverse order of the described order.

[0045] In the accompanying drawings, for the sake of clarity, the relative size, thickness and ratio of elements, layers and regions may be exaggerated and / or simplified. For ease of explanation, spatial relative terms such as "below", "below", "lower", "below", "above", "upper", etc. may be used herein to describe the relationship between an element or feature and another element or feature as shown in the figure. It should be understood that, in addition to the orientation shown in the figure, spatial relative terms are intended to cover different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, if the device in the accompanying drawings is turned over, the element described as "below" or "below" or "below" of other elements or features will be oriented to be "above" other elements or features. Therefore, the example terms "below" and "below" can cover the orientation of above and below. The device can be oriented in other ways (for example, rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0046] In the drawings, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis are not limited to the three axes of the rectangular coordinate system and can be interpreted in a broader sense. For example, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis can be perpendicular to each other or substantially perpendicular to each other, or can represent different directions that are not perpendicular to each other.

[0047] It should be understood that although the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and / or parts, these elements, components, regions, layers and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or part from another element, component, region, layer or part. Therefore, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, the first element, component, region, layer or part described below may be referred to as a second element, component, region, layer or part.

[0048] It should be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "on," "connected to," or "bonded to" another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected to, or bonded to the other element or layer, or there can be one or more intervening elements or layers. Similarly, when a layer, region, or element is referred to as being "electrically connected to" another layer, region, or element, it can be directly electrically connected to the other layer, region, or element, and / or can be indirectly electrically connected to one or more intervening layers, regions, or elements therebetween. In addition, it should also be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "between" two elements or layers, it can be the only element or layer between the two elements or layers, or there can also be one or more intervening elements or layers.

[0049] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "one" and "an" are intended to also include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that when used in this specification, the terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including", "has", "have" and "having" specify the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more associated listed items. For example, the statement "A and / or B" means A, B or A and B. Statements such as "at least one of ...", when following a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements, rather than modifying the individual elements in the list. For example, the expressions "at least one of a, b or c", "at least one of a, b and c", and "at least one selected from the group consisting of A, b and c" mean only a, only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, all of a, b and c, or variations thereof.

[0050] As used herein, the terms "substantially," "about," and similar terms are used as terms of approximation rather than terms of degree, and are intended to take into account the inherent variation in measurements or calculations that one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize. In addition, when describing embodiments of the present disclosure, the use of "may" refers to "one or more embodiments of the present disclosure." As used herein, the terms "use," "using," and "used" may be considered synonymous with the terms "utilize," "utilizing," and "utilized," respectively.

[0051] Any numerical range disclosed and / or listed herein is intended to include all subranges of the same numerical precision contained in the listed range. For example, a range of "1.0 to 10.0" is intended to include all subranges between the minimum value 1.0 and the maximum value 10.0 (and including the endpoints), that is, having a minimum value equal to or greater than 1.0 and a maximum value equal to or less than 10.0, such as, for example, 2.4 to 7.6. Any maximum numerical limit described herein is intended to include all lower numerical limits contained therein, and any minimum numerical limit described in this specification is intended to include all higher numerical limits contained therein.

[0052] Referring to two compared elements, features, etc. as being "the same" as one another may mean that they are "substantially the same" as one another. Thus, the phrase "substantially the same" may include situations with deviations that are considered low in the art, such as 5% or less. Additionally, when a parameter is referred to as being uniform in a given area, it may mean that it is uniform in terms of average value.

[0053] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that, unless explicitly defined as such herein, terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and / or this specification, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense.

[0054] Generally, during the charge-discharge process of a secondary battery, an irreversible reaction of an electrolyte and an additive may occur due to the formation of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer, thereby generating a reaction gas inside the battery housing. A vacuum charge-discharge device may be provided with a terminal for performing a charge-discharge process by contacting a battery cell and a vacuum hopper configured to remove the reaction gas, and the reaction gas inside the battery housing may be removed in real time during the charge-discharge process.

[0055] In this case, the vacuum charge-discharge device may be provided with a heater arranged at the lower portion of the tray to uniformly or substantially uniformly heat the battery contained in the containing tray, thereby increasing the activity of the electrolyte and increasing the purity of the battery by discharging residual gas and impurities. Therefore, the vacuum charge-discharge device can be used as a heated vacuum charge-discharge device.

[0056] Therefore, in the case of performing a charge-discharge process on a battery using a heated vacuum charge-discharge apparatus, preheating may be performed by preheating the battery using a heater before the charge-discharge process in order to increase the activity of the electrolyte.

[0057] However, the preheating of the battery is performed to heat the entire receiving tray, not individual battery cells, and therefore, the battery cells received in the receiving tray may have temperature differences from each other depending on their positions in the receiving tray. In the case where the charge-discharge process is performed cell by cell, heat generated by the charge-discharge process may cause the battery cells to have different temperatures from each other.

[0058] Since the battery cells have different temperatures from each other, even when a cooling fan provided in the charge-discharge device is operated, all the battery cells may not be maintained at a uniform or substantially uniform temperature. In the case where the charge-discharge process is performed at different temperatures, the formation of the electrolyte interface layer of the battery may differ depending on the battery, making it difficult to achieve uniform or substantially uniform battery performance.

[0059] Figure 1 A front view of a heated vacuum charge-discharge device 1000 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0060] Reference Figure 1 , the heated vacuum charge-discharge device 1000 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may include a chamber 100, a charge-discharge structure CDS, a cooling structure 600, and a cooling controller 700. The chamber 100 may include an entrance / exit door and may have an internal space separated from the outside. The charge-discharge structure CDS may perform a charge-discharge process on the battery cell EC. The cooling structure 600 may cool the battery cell EC during the charge-discharge process. The cooling controller 700 may control the cooling structure 600 to cool the battery cell EC according to the corresponding cooling setting area CA of the battery cell EC.

[0061] In some embodiments, the charge-discharge structure CDS may include a battery holder 200 accommodating a battery cell EC loaded through a door, a terminal 300 fixed on an upper portion of a chamber 100 and selectively contacting the battery cell EC to apply a charge-discharge current, a lifter 400 for moving the battery holder 200 up and down, and an ambient air supplier 500 for supplying ambient air into the chamber 100. In this case, the ambient air supplier 500 may be referred to as a lower cooler.

[0062] For example, the chamber 100 may include an internal structure separated from the outside to provide a charge-discharge space for the battery cell EC and perform a charge-discharge process. In the present embodiment, the chamber 100 may be implemented as a frame having a suitable strength and may include first and second side walls 111 and 112, a bottom plate 113, and a top plate 114.

[0063] The driving rods R1 and R2 that reciprocate in the third direction III (e.g., in the height direction of the chamber) may be positioned on the first side wall 111 and the second side wall 112. The terminal 300 for supplying current for the charging-discharging process may be positioned on the top plate 114, and the lifter 400 for transferring the battery holder 200 and the power supply PS for driving the lifter 400 may be positioned on the bottom plate 113.

[0064] The chamber 100 may serve as a basic frame for fixing and driving the battery holder 200 , the terminal 300 , and the lifter 400 .

[0065] The battery holder 200 may accommodate a plurality of battery cells EC by arranging the battery cells EC, and may heat the battery cells EC at a suitable temperature (eg, a predetermined temperature).

[0066] Figure 2 Shown is provided in Figure 1 A perspective view of a battery holder in a heated vacuum charge-discharge device shown in FIG.

[0067] refer to Figure 2 , the battery holder 200 may include a workbench 210, a receiving tray 220, and a battery temperature sensor 230. The workbench 210 may include a heater 211 therein to heat the battery cells EC. For example, the heater 211 may have a plate shape extending in the second direction II (e.g., the longitudinal direction of the chamber 100), and may have a width in the first direction I (e.g., the transverse direction of the chamber 100).

[0068] The workbench 210 may be provided as a plate having appropriate strength to be firmly connected to (e.g., coupled to or attached to) the lifter 400 while supporting the heater 211 and the receiving tray 220 receiving the battery cells EC therein. For example, the workbench 210 may be provided to have an appropriate size to receive battery cells EC of various appropriate sizes supplied to the charge-discharge device 1000.

[0069] The heater 211 may be positioned inside the workbench 210 to heat the battery cells EC positioned on the workbench 210 simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. For example, the heater 211 may be implemented as a surface heating element that contacts the workbench 210 and provides simultaneous or substantially simultaneous heating through the contact surface. In this case, the heater 211 may heat the receiving tray 220 through the upper surface of the workbench 210. In another example, the heater 211 may directly heat the receiving tray 220, with its upper surface directly contacting the receiving tray 220.

[0070] The heater 211 may preheat the battery cells EC so that the electrolyte contained in each battery cell EC is pre-activated and a sufficient amount of reaction gas is generated. Therefore, the preheating temperature of the battery cells EC preheated by the heater 211 may be pre-set (eg, may be pre-determined) in consideration of the type of the battery cells EC.

[0071] The receiving trays 220 may be positioned on the upper surface of the stage 210 to extend in the second direction II, and may be spaced apart from each other in the first direction I so as to receive the battery cells EC.

[0072] Each receiving tray 220 may have a groove space extending in the second direction II and having an open top, thereby allowing a plurality of battery cells EC to be arranged in the second direction II in the groove space. For example, 24 battery cells EC may be arranged simultaneously in the groove space of each receiving tray 220. In this case, a total of 96 battery cells EC may be positioned in four receiving trays 220.

[0073] A plurality of battery cells EC are received in the receiving tray 220 from the outside of the chamber 100, and may be loaded on the worktable 210 through the door of the chamber 100. In this case, a transfer device such as a robot arm may be used to load the battery cells EC.

[0074] The number of receiving trays 220 corresponding to the allowable capacity of the charging-discharging device 1000 may be supplied. For example, four receiving trays 220 may be loaded on the workbench 210 so that the charging-discharging process of all 96 battery cells EC may be performed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously with each other. However, the number of batteries to be charged-discharged together may be variously modified according to the type and size of the battery and the size of the receiving tray 220.

[0075] Although the heater 211 Figure 2 2 is illustrated as a surface heating element for generating Joule heat using electricity, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various suitable types of heating elements may be used as the heater 211 .

[0076] The battery temperature sensor 230 may be positioned on the surface of the receiving tray 220 to detect the battery temperature increased by the internal reaction heat of the battery generated from the battery cells EC during the charge-discharge process. The battery temperature sensor 230 may be positioned to measure the temperature of a suitable number (eg, a predetermined number) of battery cells EC.

[0077] The battery cell EC may be implemented as a chemical cell, such as a lithium (Li) ion cell. Therefore, charging and discharging of the battery cell EC may be accompanied by an exothermic chemical reaction between an electrode assembly and an electrolyte inside each battery cell EC, and the reaction heat may be dissipated from the battery cell EC.

[0078] The battery temperature sensor 230 may detect the temperature of the battery cell EC increased by dissipating the reaction heat, and transmit the detected temperature to the cooling controller 700 described in more detail below. Therefore, in the event that any temperature of the battery cell EC reaches a threshold temperature (e.g., a predetermined temperature), the cooling controller 700 may operate the cooling structure 600, and may manage the temperature difference and the upper temperature limit within a desired temperature range.

[0079] In this case, the battery temperature sensor 230 may have various positions according to the accuracy of cooling control. For example, the battery temperature sensors 230 may be positioned on the battery cells EC, respectively. As another example, the battery temperature sensors 230 may be positioned in cooling setting areas CA, respectively, wherein each cooling setting area CA includes some battery cells EC. As another example, some battery cells EC may be combined with each other as detection units, and the battery temperature sensor 230 may be positioned according to the detection units. For example, in the case where 96 battery cells EC are positioned in 4 receiving trays 220, 16 battery temperature sensors 230 may be used to measure the temperature of battery cell groups, each group including 6 battery cells EC.

[0080] Each battery temperature sensor 230 may include a thermistor (eg, a metal-semiconductor temperature sensor), a thermocouple, a bimetallic thermometer, etc. for accurate temperature detection.

[0081] In some embodiments, the terminal 300 may be fixed to the top of the chamber 100 and selectively contact the battery cell EC to apply a charge-discharge current to the battery cell EC. The terminal 300 may include an electrode terminal 310 including a positive terminal 311 contacting the positive electrode of the battery cell EC and a negative terminal 312 contacting the negative electrode of the battery cell EC. The terminal 300 may include a vacuum hopper 320 positioned between the positive terminal 311 and the negative terminal 312 to contact the battery cell EC to extract a reaction gas from the battery cell EC during the charge / discharge process.

[0082] The electrode terminal 310 may be connected to an external power source, and may be in contact with the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery cell EC through the positive terminal 311 and the negative terminal 312. In this case, the battery cell EC may be charged or discharged by changing the polarity of the external power source applied to the positive terminal 311 and the negative terminal 312. The charging and discharging of the battery cell EC may reversibly change the chemical reaction occurring inside the battery cell EC, and may be performed by changing the polarity of the battery supply energy with the positive terminal 311 and the negative terminal 312.

[0083] When the electrode terminal 310 is in contact with the battery cell EC, the vacuum hopper 320 may be in contact with the battery cell EC to extract the reaction gas and electrolyte generated by the chemical reaction from the battery cell EC using vacuum pressure. Thereafter, the reaction gas inside the battery cell EC may be extracted to the outside by degassing the reaction gas to the outside and returning the electrolyte to the battery cell EC.

[0084] The electrode terminal 310 and the vacuum hopper 320 may form a single terminal 300 and, at the same time, may be in contact with or separated from the battery cell EC.

[0085] In some embodiments, the electrode terminal 310 and the vacuum hopper 320 may be positioned by the battery cells EC, respectively. Therefore, in the case where a plurality of battery cells EC are accommodated in a single accommodation tray 220, the electrode terminal 310 and the vacuum hopper 320 may extend along the accommodation tray 220 in the second direction II, thereby forming a terminal row TS. Therefore, the single terminal row TS may contact the battery cells EC accommodated in the single accommodation tray 220 simultaneously or substantially simultaneously.

[0086] In this embodiment, if four receiving trays 220 (eg, Figure 6 221, 222, 223 and 224) are loaded on the workbench 210, then four terminal strips TS can be provided above the four receiving trays 220, respectively. Therefore, the plurality of battery cells EC received in the four receiving trays 220 can be in contact with the four terminal strips TS simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. Therefore, for the battery cells EC received in the four receiving trays 220 (e.g., 221, 222, 223 and 224), the charge-discharge process and the degassing process can be performed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously with each other.

[0087] The lifter 400 may be positioned on the bottom plate 113 to move the battery holder 200 up and down so that the terminal 300 can selectively contact the battery cell EC. For example, the lifter 400 may include a lift head 410 connected to the bottom surface of the work table 210 and a lift driver 420 positioned on the bottom plate 113 of the chamber to reciprocate the lift head 410 in the third direction III.

[0088] The lifting head 410 may include a coupling plate connected to (e.g., coupled to or attached to) the bottom surface of the workbench 210 to support the workbench 210 and a lifting rod connected to the coupling plate and extending downward. The lifting rod may be connected to (e.g., coupled to or attached to) the lifting driver 420, and may be driven by a driving portion of the lifting driver 420 to perform piston motion, thereby moving up and down in the third direction III. Therefore, the lifting rod may move up and down while supporting the workbench 210, thereby moving the battery cell EC positioned on the workbench 210 up and down.

[0089] The lifting driver 420 can use the driving force capable of driving the lifting rod to move the lifting rod up and down according to the control logic of the charge-discharge process. In this embodiment, the driving force can be transmitted to the lifting driver 420 through an external power source PS. The power source PS may include a hydraulic source or an electric source.

[0090] In some embodiments, the lifter 400 may further include a lift guide 430 connected to the lift head 410 and allowing the workbench 210 to move up and down along the first side wall 111 and the second side wall 112. The lift guide 430 may include linear guide rails positioned on the first side wall 111 and the second side wall 112, respectively, and a drive guide connected to (e.g., coupled to or attached to) the guide rails to move linearly in the upward and downward directions in response to the upward and downward movement of the lift head 410. The lift guide 430 may allow the battery holder 200 to move linearly in the upward and downward directions.

[0091] The cooling structure 600 for preventing or substantially preventing the temperature of the battery cell EC from increasing due to the reaction heat generated during the charge-discharge process may be implemented as an air cooling structure such as a cooling fan. Therefore, ambient air having a temperature lower than that of the battery cell EC may be continuously supplied into the chamber 100 to effectively cool the battery cell EC. Therefore, the ambient air supplier 500 may be positioned outside the chamber 100.

[0092] Figure 3 According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 1 The ambient air supply shown in .

[0093] Reference Figure 3 , the ambient air supplier 500 may include an ambient air intake terminal 510, a branch line 520, and a flow control structure 530. For example, the ambient air intake terminal 510 may be implemented as a tube positioned outside the chamber 100 to draw in relatively cool ambient air. By maintaining or substantially maintaining the internal pressure of the tube below the atmospheric pressure, the ambient air of the tube may be drawn into the tube. In this case, a filter (e.g., a precision filter) may be positioned in the ambient air intake terminal 510 to remove impurities contained in the ambient air, thereby improving the purity of the ambient air supplied to the chamber 100.

[0094] The branch line 520 may be branched from the ambient air intake terminal 510 to be distributed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 113 of the chamber 100. Therefore, the branch line 520 may be positioned between the lifting drive 420 and the bottom plate 113 to supply ambient air into the chamber 100. For example, the branch line 520 may include 4 supply lines, which branch from the ambient air intake terminal 510 to be positioned on the upper surface of the bottom plate 113 and may be spaced apart from each other by equal or substantially equal distances. Therefore, the ambient air supplied from the ambient air intake terminal 510 may be uniformly or substantially uniformly supplied upward from the bottom plate 113 along the second direction II.

[0095] In addition, a plurality of supply holes 521 may be uniformly or substantially uniformly positioned in the branch line 520 along the first direction I. Ambient air supplied through the branch line 520 is supplied to the upper portion of the chamber 100 through the supply holes 521. Therefore, ambient air may be uniformly or substantially uniformly supplied along the first direction I.

[0096] In some embodiments, a bottom temperature sensor may be positioned on an upper portion of a corresponding one of the branch lines 520 to detect a bottom temperature of an area adjacent to the branch line 520. The detected bottom temperature may be transmitted to the cooling controller 700 so that a flow rate of ambient air supplied into the chamber 100 may be controlled according to the bottom temperature.

[0097] Each flow control structure 530 may be positioned at an inlet of a corresponding one of the branch lines 520 to supply ambient air from the ambient air intake terminal 510 to the corresponding branch line 520. The flow control structure 530 may control air to flow toward the branch lines 520, respectively. Therefore, the ambient air may be forced to flow from the ambient air intake terminal 510 toward the branch line 520.

[0098] In this embodiment, the flow control structure 530 can be provided as a forced flow structure to force air flow. For example, each of the flow control structures 530 can include a cooling fan to cool the bottom plate 113 of the chamber 100 as needed or desired to reduce the bottom temperature to be equal to or lower than a threshold temperature (e.g., a set or predetermined temperature).

[0099] The operation of the flow control structure 530 may be controlled by a cooling controller 700 described in more detail below to systematically cool the battery cells EC together with the cooling structure 600 .

[0100] In some embodiments, the cooling structure 600 may be positioned in the upper portion of the chamber 100 to cool the battery cells EC due to air circulation while performing the charge-discharge process. For example, the cooling structure 600 may be fixed in the upper portion of the chamber 100 and may include a plurality of cooling groups CG respectively grouped according to the cooling setting areas CA to cool the battery cells EC according to the cooling setting areas CA during the charge-discharge process.

[0101] Figure 4 It is shown that the Figure 1 A perspective view of a portion of a cooling structure in a heated vacuum charge-discharge device shown in FIG. Figure 5 It is shown Figure 4 A plan view of the cooling structure and the cooling group of the cooling structure shown in FIG. Figure 6 It is shown Figure 5 A view of a cooling group and cooling areas corresponding to the cooling groups shown in FIG.

[0102] Reference Figures 4 to 6 , the cooling structure 600 may include a top cooler 610 and a side cooler 620. The top cooler 610 may be positioned in the middle portion of the top plate 114 to cool the middle portion C of the battery cell EC located thereunder. The side cooler 620 may be positioned on the first side wall 111 and the second side wall 112 of the chamber 100 to cool the first side portion P1 and the second side portion P2 and the middle portion C of the battery cell EC.

[0103] The middle portion C and the side portions P1 and P2 of the battery cells EC are accommodated in the accommodation tray 220 to be defined based on a rectangular arrangement shape determined in the first direction I and the second direction II. In the present embodiment, four accommodation trays 220 (each accommodating 24 battery cells EC) are arranged on the workbench 210, so a total of 96 battery cells EC are arranged in a rectangular shape.

[0104] The top cooler 610 may be implemented as a plurality of coolers (e.g., cooling fans) positioned on the middle portion of the top plate 114 and aligned with each other in the second direction II. For example, the top cooler 610 may be positioned between the second terminal row and the third terminal row corresponding to the second receiving tray 222 and the third receiving tray 223, respectively, so as to prevent or substantially prevent interference with the terminal row TS positioned on the top plate 114. In an example, the top cooler 610 may be fixed to the top plate 114.

[0105] In some embodiments, a plurality of cooling fans may be aligned in the second direction II at a suitable distance (e.g., a predetermined distance) from each other between the second terminal row and the third terminal row. In this case, each cooling fan may extend downward to be located at the same first cooling level (e.g., the same first height) as each other. The first cooling level may be a position where air diffused from the cooling fan can be sufficiently diffused into the middle portion C of the battery cell EC located below the cooling fan.

[0106] The side cooler 620 may include a first cooler 621 and a second cooler 622 respectively positioned on (e.g., above) the first side wall 111 and the second side wall 112 facing each other. In the present embodiment, each of the first cooler 621 and the second cooler 622 may be implemented as a plurality of coolers (e.g., cooling fans) arranged in a straight line in the second direction II, as in the top cooler 610.

[0107] In some embodiments, the first cooler 621 and the second cooler 622 may be positioned obliquely on the upper portions of the first side wall 111 and the second side wall 112. For example, the first cooler 621 may be positioned to be inclined downward to the left toward the first side portion P1, and the second cooler 622 may be positioned to be inclined downward to the right toward the second side portion P2. In addition, the first cooler 621 and the second cooler 622 may extend obliquely from the first side wall 111 and the second side wall 112 to be located at the same cooling level as each other (e.g., at a single cooling level or a second cooling level). The second cooling level may be a position where air diffused from the cooling fan can be fully diffused to the first side portion P1 and the second side portion P2 of the battery cell EC located below the cooling fan.

[0108] In the present embodiment, the top cooler 610 may include first to third cooling fans 611, 612, and 613 extending in a straight line with each other in the second direction II. In addition, the first cooler 621 may include fourth to sixth cooling fans 621a, 621b, and 621c. In addition, the second cooler 622 may include seventh to ninth cooling fans 622a, 622b, and 622c. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and each of the top cooler 610, the first cooler 621, and the second cooler 622 may include a greater number of cooling fans.

[0109] In some embodiments, the first to ninth cooling fans may be classified into various cooling groups CG according to the cooling arrangement areas CA of the battery cells EC located thereunder. The cooling fans included in a single cooling group CG may be driven in a single operation to cool the corresponding cooling arrangement area CA.

[0110] like Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 , a plurality of battery cells EC arranged in a first direction I and a second direction II may be classified into 12 unit areas UA1 to UA12. For example, a total of 96 battery cells EC may be classified into 12 unit areas UA1 to UA12, each unit area including 8 battery cells EC. Although an area including 8 battery cells EC is defined as a unit area in the present embodiment, an area including a smaller number of battery cells EC may be set as a unit area to improve cooling accuracy.

[0111] In the present embodiment, the fourth unit area UA4 and the seventh unit area UA7 are defined as the first cooling area CA1, the fifth unit area UA5 and the eighth unit area UA8 are defined as the second cooling area CA2, and the sixth unit area UA6 and the ninth unit area UA9 are defined as the third cooling area CA3. In addition, the first unit area UA1, the fourth unit area UA4, the seventh unit area UA7 and the tenth unit area UA10 are defined as the fourth cooling area CA4. The second unit area UA2, the fifth unit area UA5, the eighth unit area UA8 and the eleventh unit area UA11 are defined as the fifth cooling area CA5. The third unit area UA3, the sixth unit area UA6, the ninth unit area UA9 and the twelfth unit area UA12 are defined as the sixth cooling area CA6. Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 5 , the unit areas UA4 to UA9 of the middle portion C may belong to two different cooling areas.

[0112] A cooling map may be created by matching cooling groups (each cooling group including at least one cooling fan) with cooling areas CA1 to CA6, respectively. For example, cooling of the first cooling area CA1 may be performed by the first cooling group CG1 including the first cooling fan 611, cooling of the second cooling area CA2 may be performed by the second cooling group CG2 including the second cooling fan 612, and cooling of the third cooling area CA3 may be performed by the third cooling group CG3 including the third cooling fan 613.

[0113] In addition, cooling of the fourth cooling area CA4 can be performed by the fourth cooling group CG4 including the fourth cooling fan 621a and the seventh cooling fan 622a. Cooling of the fifth cooling area CA5 can be performed by the fifth cooling group CG5 including the fifth cooling fan 621b and the eighth cooling fan 622b. Cooling of the sixth cooling area CA6 can be performed by the sixth cooling group CG6 including the sixth cooling fan 621c and the ninth cooling fan 622c.

[0114] The flow control structure 530 positioned outside the chamber 100 to supply ambient air into the chamber 100 may be a seventh cooling group (eg, Figure 3 CG7 in ). The seventh cooling group (e.g., Figure 3 CG7) in the figure may include first to twelfth unit areas UA1 to UA12.

[0115] In some embodiments, all cooling fans included in the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 may be operated by the cooling controller 700 under the same conditions to cool the battery cells EC in the cooling area or supply ambient air thereto.

[0116] The number of cooling fans included in each of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 may be one or more. In the present embodiment, each of the first cooling group CG1 to the third cooling group CG3 may include a single cooling fan, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and each cooling group may include two or more cooling fans. In addition, each of the fourth cooling group CG4 to the sixth cooling group CG6 includes a pair of cooling fans included in the first cooler 621 and the second cooler 622, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and each cooling group may include a cooling fan included in one of the first cooler 621 and the second cooler 622. In addition, the seventh cooling group CG7 may include cooling fans, the number of which is equal to or greater than the number of branch lines 520.

[0117] The mutual correspondence of the cooling areas CA1 to CA7 and the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 may be variously modified according to the arrangement shape of the battery cells EC and the arrangement of the cooling fans, and the number of cooling fans included in each cooling group may also be variously modified as needed or desired.

[0118] In the case of generating a cooling map matching the cooling areas CA1 to CA7 with the cooling groups CG1 to CG7, the cooling controller 700 may perform cooling on the corresponding battery cells EC arranged on the workbench 210 according to the cooling groups. The cooling controller 700 may independently operate the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 to perform cooling on the corresponding cooling areas CA1 to CA7 of the corresponding battery cells EC.

[0119] Figure 7 Shows the display Figure 1 A block diagram of the configuration of the cooling controller is shown in FIG.

[0120] Reference Figure 7 , the cooling controller 700 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may include a battery information detector 710 , a map creator 720 , a process setter 730 , a cooling driver 740 , and a cooling control center 750 .

[0121] In some embodiments, the battery information detector 710 may detect the type and arrangement shape of the battery cells EC input into the chamber 100. The type of the battery cells EC may be determined based on the output voltage, size, etc. The arrangement shape may be variously modified based on the type of the battery cells EC, and thus, the shape of the receiving tray 220 receiving the battery cells EC, the alignment aspect of the receiving tray 220 positioned on the workbench 210, etc. may also be variously modified.

[0122] In the present embodiment, the battery information detector 710 may include a reader 711 for reading a barcode attached to the battery cell EC and a tray detector 712 for detecting information about the shape and arrangement pattern of the receiving tray 220 receiving the battery cell EC. For example, a label or a barcode including information about the type and arrangement shape of the battery cell EC may be attached to the surface of the battery cell EC or the surface of the corresponding receiving tray 220, and the type or arrangement shape of the battery cell EC may be obtained by detecting the label or the barcode while the receiving tray 220 receiving the battery cell EC is input into the chamber 100.

[0123] The map creator 720 may create a cooling map matching the cooling areas CA1 to CA6 with the cooling groups CG1 to CG6 according to the arrangement shape of the battery cells EC. For example, the map creator 720 may include an area setter 721 and a group setter 722.

[0124] After the cooling specification of the battery cell EC on which the heated vacuum charge-discharge process is performed is input to the map creator 720, the region setter 721 sets the cooling regions CA1 to CA7 for performing the given cooling specification by the obtained arrangement shape. In addition, the group setter 722 may set the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 for performing cooling according to the cooling regions CA1 to CA7 based on the arrangement information of the cooling structure 600 provided in the chamber 100.

[0125] An optimal combination for performing the input cooling specification for the set cooling areas CA1 to CA7 may be detected from various suitable combinations of cooling fans positioned or pre-positioned in the chamber 100, and may be set as cooling groups CG1 to CG7. Thereafter, cooling mapping may be completed by sequentially matching the set cooling areas CA1 to CA7 and the set cooling groups CG1 to CG7 with each other.

[0126] The process setter 730 can set the cooling table corresponding to the created cooling map as a cooling process. A plurality of cooling tables can be created by sorting the driving conditions of the cooling group according to the driving start temperature for all cooling maps that can be created for the battery cell EC, and the plurality of cooling tables can be stored in the database 731. The corresponding cooling table can be obtained from the experimental results for achieving the best or desired cooling effect of the corresponding cooling map. In another example, the cooling table can be obtained from the cumulative cooling results of charging / recharging the battery using the heated vacuum charge-discharge device 1000. In this case, the cooling tables can be classified by setting labels based on the type and arrangement shape of the battery cell EC.

[0127] The cooling map created by the map creator 720 may be transmitted to the table detector 732, and a cooling table corresponding to the created cooling map may be searched from the database 731 and set as a cooling process. Because the cooling tables are classified by the type of battery cells EC arranged on the workbench 210 and the arrangement shape of the battery cells EC, when the label of the cooling table matches the type and arrangement shape of the battery cells EC in the created cooling map, the cooling table specified by the label may be selected as the cooling process corresponding to the created cooling map. In another example, the process for creating a cooling map may be omitted, and a cooling table corresponding to the type and arrangement shape of the detected battery cells EC may be searched from the database 731 and set as a cooling process. In this case, the process for creating a cooling map may be performed in advance, stored in the database 731, and used to search for a cooling table corresponding to the type and arrangement shape of the detected battery cells EC.

[0128] The driving start temperature of the cooling process indicates the temperature at which the driving of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 starts according to the set driving conditions by comparison with the battery temperature detected in the corresponding cooling area. In addition, the driving condition of the cooling process indicates the output of each of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 when the detected temperature is higher than the driving start temperature. In other words, the driving condition indicates the driving intensity / hour of each of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 desired in order to reduce the average temperature of the corresponding cooling areas CA1 to CA7.

[0129] The cooling driver 740 may obtain the detected battery temperature or bottom temperature from each of the cooling areas CA1 to CA7 , and may drive each of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 by comparing the obtained temperature with the driving condition of the cooling process.

[0130] The battery information detector 710, the map creator 720, the process setter 730, and the cooling driver 740 may be systematically controlled by the cooling control center 750 to individually cool the battery cells EC according to the cooling area while performing charging and discharging in the heated vacuum charging-discharging apparatus 1000. Therefore, the temperature of the battery cells EC may be stably maintained during the heated vacuum charging-discharging process.

[0131] In some embodiments, the driving condition of the cooling table may set a ratio of an actual output voltage of the cooling fan of each of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 relative to a maximum output voltage so that the cooling fan may be driven in a rotation mode (RPM mode) for controlling the number of revolutions.

[0132] Table 1 below shows an example of a cooling process provided in a rotational mode.

[0133] Table 1:

[0134]

[0135] In Table 1, the set temperature represents the driving start temperature, and the numerical value corresponding to the driving start temperature in each of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 represents the ratio of the actual output voltage to the maximum output voltage.

[0136] Therefore, in the case where the battery temperature or bottom temperature actually detected in each of the corresponding cooling areas CA1 to CA7 exceeds the driving start temperature, the output ratio or number of revolutions of each cooling group for all the battery cells EC and the bottom plate 113 of the cooling chamber 100 can be determined by Table 1. For example, in the case where the cooling table corresponding to the created cooling map is given as Table 1 and the battery temperature or bottom temperature of the first cooling area CA1 to the seventh cooling area CA7 is 47.1°C, 46.6°C, 45.2°C, 46.8°C, 45.9°C, 44.4°C and 45.8°C, respectively, the output power or number of revolutions of the cooling fan or flow control structure of the first cooling group CG1 to the seventh cooling group CG7 can be adjusted to 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 75%, 70%, 70%, 70% and 80% of the maximum power, respectively. In another embodiment, in the case where the battery temperature or bottom temperature of the first cooling area CA1 to the seventh cooling area CA7 is lower than 40°C, the first cooling group CG1 to the seventh cooling group CG7 may not be driven.

[0137] In some embodiments, the driving condition of the cooling process may include a duty mode for controlling an operating time by setting a ratio of an actual operating time of a cooling fan of each of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 with respect to a maximum operating time.

[0138] Table 2 below shows an example of a cooling process provided in a duty cycle mode.

[0139] Table 2:

[0140]

[0141] In Table 2, the set temperature represents the driving start temperature, and the numerical value corresponding to the driving start temperature in each of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 represents the ratio of the actual operation time with respect to 120 seconds.

[0142] Therefore, in the case where the battery temperature or the bottom temperature actually detected in each of the corresponding cooling areas CA1 to CA7 exceeds the driving start temperature, the operation time of each cooling group for all the battery cells EC and the bottom plate 113 of the cooling chamber 100 can be determined by Table 2. For example, in the case where the cooling table corresponding to the created cooling map is given as Table 2 and the battery temperatures or the bottom temperatures of the first cooling area CA1 to the seventh cooling area CA7 are 47.1°C, 46.6°C, 45.2°C, 46.8°C, 45.9°C, 44.4°C and 45.8°C, respectively, the first to third and seventh cooling groups CG1, CG2, CG3 and CG7 can be continuously operated for 120 seconds, and the fourth cooling group CG4 to the sixth cooling group CG6 can perform an on / off operation of operating for 35%, 30% and 20% of the 120 seconds, respectively, and stopping for the rest of the time. Therefore, for every 120 seconds, the fourth cooling group CG4 will repeat the on / off cycle of running for 42 seconds and stopping for 78 seconds, the fifth cooling group CG5 will repeat the on / off cycle of running for 36 seconds and stopping for 84 seconds, and the sixth cooling group CG6 will repeat the on / off cycle of running for 24 seconds and stopping for 96 seconds. In another example, when the battery temperature or the bottom temperature of the first cooling area CA1 to the seventh cooling area CA7 is lower than 40°C, the first cooling group CG1 to the seventh cooling group CG7 may not be driven.

[0143] According to the above-described heated vacuum charge-discharge apparatus 1000 , the cooling areas CA1 to CA7 provided for the battery cells EC arranged on the stage 210 may be cooled respectively to uniformly or substantially uniformly maintain the temperature of the battery cells EC during the charge-discharge process.

[0144] Because the heated vacuum charge-discharge device performs the charge-discharge process after preheating for electrolyte activation, the battery cells EC may have a significant temperature difference due to the separate reaction heat of the charge-discharge process and the initial preheating. Therefore, the temperature difference of the battery cells EC subjected to the heated vacuum charge-discharge process may not be easily eliminated by a comparative battery cooling method in which the battery cells EC are uniformly cooled at the same time as the charge-discharge starts.

[0145] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling performance of the corresponding cooling area can be controlled by considering the temperature difference in the cooling area caused by the initial preheating. For a cooling area with a relatively high temperature, the cooling performance can be improved by relatively increasing the number of revolutions or the operating time of the cooling fan. For a cooling area with a relatively low temperature, the cooling performance can be reduced by relatively reducing the number of revolutions or the operating time of the cooling fan.

[0146] Therefore, the temperatures of the battery cells EC can be maintained uniform or substantially uniform during the heated vacuum charge-discharge process regardless of initial temperature differences therebetween due to preheating.

[0147] Figure 8 Shown in the display Figure 1 Flow chart of a method for cooling a battery cell EC during charge-discharge in a heated vacuum charge-discharge device shown in FIG. Figure 8 Shows the use of Figures 1 to 7 An example of a method of cooling a battery cell EC during a charge-discharge process by heating a vacuum charge-discharge device 1000 as shown in FIG. Figure 8 , the same reference numerals are used to refer to the above reference Figures 1 to 7 The components described are the same or substantially the same components, and therefore, redundant descriptions thereof may not be repeated.

[0148] refer to Figure 8 First, a cooling map matching cooling areas for battery cells EC loaded into the chamber 100 including the coolers 610 and 620 with cooling groups may be created ( S100 ).

[0149] The battery cells EC to be charged-discharged may be accommodated on the accommodation tray 220 and then loaded on the worktable 210 through the door of the chamber 100. In this case, information on the type and arrangement shape of the battery cells EC and the accommodation tray 220 may be obtained.

[0150] The cooling areas CA1 to CA7 of the battery cells EC are matched with the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 (for example, using the type and arrangement shape of the battery and the input cooling specifications, the combination of multiple coolers is matched with the cooling area). Therefore, a cooling map can be created in which the cooling areas CA1 to CA7 are matched with the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 in a one-to-one relationship.

[0151] Each of the cooling areas CA1 to CA7 may include at least one battery cell EC, and each of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 may include at least one cooler. The cooler may be implemented as at least one cooling fan.

[0152] A cooling table corresponding to the cooling map is set as a cooling process (S200). In the cooling table, driving conditions of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 are sorted according to the driving start temperatures of the cooling areas CA1 to CA7.

[0153] The cooling table may be a table in which driving conditions of cooling groups are sorted according to driving start temperatures for various cooling maps that may be created for battery cells EC. The cooling table may be created based on the type and arrangement shape of battery cells EC and may be stored in the database 731.

[0154] The cooling table can be obtained from the test results for achieving the best or expected cooling effect of the corresponding cooling map, or from the cumulative cooling results of the heated and cooled rechargeable-dischargeable batteries. In this case, the cooling tables can be classified by setting labels based on the type and arrangement shape of the battery cells EC. Therefore, a cooling table with a label matching the type and arrangement shape corresponding to the created cooling map can be searched from the database 731 and set as the cooling process. In another example, the process of creating a cooling map can be omitted, and one of the cooling tables stored in the database 731 can be selected and set as the cooling process based on the type and arrangement shape of the obtained battery cell EC (e.g., tray information).

[0155] In some embodiments, a preheating process for a battery cell may be performed. While the preheated battery cell is subjected to a heating vacuum charge-discharge process, the detected temperatures of a plurality of cooling regions are obtained (S300). For example, the temperature of each cooling region may be an average value of the detected temperatures obtained in the corresponding cooling region.

[0156] In some embodiments, in the case where the receiving tray 220 receiving the battery cells EC is arranged on the workbench 210, the battery cells EC may be heated using a heater 211 provided in the workbench 210. Therefore, the electrolyte stored inside each battery cell EC may be sufficiently activated to easily remove the reaction gas from the inside of the battery cell EC through the vacuum hopper 320 during the charge-discharge process.

[0157] During the charge-discharge process, the reaction heat is continuously dissipated from the inside of the battery cell EC to increase the temperature of the battery cell EC. In this case, the battery temperature sensor 230 positioned on the receiving tray 220 may be used to detect the battery temperature of the first cooling area CA1 to the seventh cooling area CA7. Additionally or as another example, a bottom temperature sensor may be used to detect the bottom temperature (e.g., the temperature of the bottom of the chamber 100).

[0158] The battery temperature may determine the driving conditions of the first cooling group CG1 to the seventh cooling group CG6 for the first cooling area CA1 to the seventh cooling area CA7 from the cooling process. Additionally or as another example, the bottom temperature may determine the driving conditions of the seventh cooling group CG7 for the seventh cooling area CA7 from the cooling process.

[0159] Thereafter, according to a driving condition of a cooling process corresponding to a detected temperature (such as a battery temperature and / or a bottom temperature), corresponding cooling groups may be individually driven to cool the battery cells according to cooling areas ( S400 ).

[0160] Fig. 9 A flow chart showing a method of driving cooling groups separately according to cooling areas. Fig. 9 Shows the use of Figures 1 to 7 The example of the method of driving the cooling group according to the cooling area of ​​the heating vacuum charge-discharge device 1000 shown in FIG. Fig. 9 , the same reference numerals are used to refer to the above reference Figures 1 to 7 The components described are the same or substantially the same components, and therefore, redundant descriptions thereof may not be repeated.

[0161] In some embodiments, the temperature of each cooling area CA1 to CA7 may be obtained (S410). For example, an average value of the detected temperatures of the fourth unit area UA4 and the seventh unit area UA7 included in the first cooling area CA1 may be used as the temperature of the first cooling area CA1.

[0162] Thereafter, the driving conditions of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 associated with the respective cooling areas CA1 to CA7 may be determined by comparing the detected temperatures of the cooling areas CA1 to CA7 with the driving start temperatures in the cooling table (S420). For example, in a case where the temperature of the first cooling area CA1 is 47.1°C, by comparing with the driving start temperature of the first cooling area CA1 in the cooling table, the output power or number of revolutions of the cooling fan of the first cooling group CG1 associated with the first cooling area CA1 may be determined to be 100% of the maximum power (RPM mode), or the cooling fan may be determined to be turned on continuously for 120 seconds (duty cycle mode).

[0163] Thereafter, the battery cells EC located in the cooling areas CA1 to CA7 corresponding to the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 may be cooled by driving each of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 according to the determined driving conditions ( S430 ).

[0164] According to the driving conditions of the cooling groups CG1 to CG7, the cooling performance of the corresponding cooling areas CA1 to CA7 can be respectively controlled by adjusting the driving power or driving time of the cooler. For example, the cooling groups CG1 to CG7 may include at least one cooling fan, and the driving condition may be set to the ratio of the actual output voltage of the cooling fan to the maximum output voltage of the cooling fan. Therefore, the cooling fans can be driven at different numbers of revolutions according to the detected temperature to have different cooling performances according to the cooling areas. In another example, the driving condition may be set to the ratio of the actual operating time of the cooling fans to the maximum operating time, so that the cooling fans can be driven for different operating times according to the detected temperature to achieve different cooling performances of the cooling areas CA1 to CA7.

[0165] The chargeable-dischargeable battery cells EC as described above can be cooled by cooling groups CG1 to CG7 driven independently according to cooling areas CA1 to CA7, so that the batteries can be quickly cooled to a uniform or substantially uniform temperature even when the batteries have a significant temperature difference with each other due to battery preheating.

[0166] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure as described above, cooling may be performed respectively for cooling regions provided for the battery cells EC arrayed on the stage 210 to uniformly or substantially uniformly maintain the temperature of the battery cells EC during the charge-discharge process.

[0167] Due to the corresponding cooling of the cooling areas CA1 to CA6 driven independently according to the cooling groups CG1 to CG7, the batteries can be quickly cooled to a uniform or substantially uniform temperature even when the batteries have a significant temperature difference with each other due to battery preheating.

[0168] The electronic or electrical devices and / or any other related devices or components according to the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein can be implemented using any suitable hardware, firmware (e.g., application specific integrated circuits), software, or a combination of software, firmware, and hardware. For example, the various components of these devices can be formed on an integrated circuit (IC) chip or on separate IC chips. In addition, the various components of these devices can be implemented on a flexible printed circuit film, a tape carrier package (TCP), a printed circuit board (PCB), or formed on a substrate. In addition, the various components of these devices can be processes or threads running on one or more processors in one or more computing devices, executing computer program instructions and interacting with other system components to perform the various functions described herein. The computer program instructions are stored in a memory, which can be implemented in a computing device using a standard memory device (e.g., a random access memory (RAM)). The computer program instructions can also be stored in other non-temporary computer-readable media, such as, for example, a CD-ROM, a flash drive, etc. In addition, those skilled in the art should recognize that without departing from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the functions of various computing devices can be combined or integrated into a single computing device, or the functions of a particular computing device can be distributed on one or more other computing devices.

[0169] The foregoing is an illustration of some embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting them. Although some embodiments have been described, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. It should be understood that, unless otherwise specified, the description of the features or aspects within each embodiment should generally be considered to be applicable to other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. Therefore, it is obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that, unless otherwise specifically specified, the features, characteristics and / or elements described in conjunction with a particular embodiment may be used alone or in combination with the features, characteristics and / or elements described in conjunction with other embodiments. Therefore, it should be understood that the foregoing is an illustration of various example embodiments and should not be construed as being limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and various modifications to the disclosed embodiments and other example embodiments are intended to be included in the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A heated vacuum charge-discharge device, comprising: Chamber; a charge-discharge structure configured to perform a charge-discharge process on a plurality of battery cells preheated and positioned within the chamber; a cooling structure connected to the chamber and comprising a plurality of coolers grouped into a plurality of cooling groups according to cooling regions; as well as A cooling controller is configured to control each of the cooling groups to perform a cooling operation on the battery cells according to the cooling areas during the charge-discharge process.

2. The heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to claim 1, wherein: The cooling structure comprises: a top cooler located on a middle portion of a top of the chamber to cool a middle portion of the battery cell located below the top cooler; a first cooler and a second cooler respectively located on a first side wall and a second side wall of the chamber, the first side wall and the second side wall facing each other; and a lower cooler located on the bottom of the chamber to cool the lower portion of the battery cell located above the lower cooler, and The first cooler and the second cooler are configured to cool the first side portion, the second side portion and the middle portion of the battery cell.

3. The heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to claim 2, wherein: The top cooler includes a plurality of first fans, and the plurality of first fans are arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal direction of the chamber. Wherein, the first cooler comprises a plurality of second fans, and the plurality of second fans are respectively arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal direction, and Wherein, the second cooler includes a plurality of third fans, and the plurality of third fans are respectively arranged in a straight line along the longitudinal direction.

4. The heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to claim 3, wherein: The cooling group comprises: first to third cooling groups configured to cool first to third cooling regions located adjacently in the longitudinal direction on the middle portion of the battery cell; fourth to sixth cooling groups configured to cool fourth to sixth cooling regions respectively adjacent to the first to third cooling regions on opposite side portions of the battery cell; and a seventh cooling group, configured to cool the first cooling area to the lower part of the sixth cooling area, Wherein, the first cooling group to the third cooling group are associated with the top cooler, wherein the fourth cooling group to the sixth cooling group are associated with the first cooler and the second cooler, and Wherein, the seventh cooling group is associated with the lower cooler.

5. The heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to claim 1, wherein: The cooling controller comprises: a battery information detector configured to detect the type and arrangement shape of the battery cells input into the chamber; a map creator configured to create a cooling map by matching the cooling areas with the cooling groups according to the types and the arrangement shapes; A process setter configured to set a cooling table corresponding to the cooling map as a cooling process; and A cooling driver is configured to obtain a detected temperature detected from the cooling area and respectively drive the cooling groups according to a driving condition of the cooling process corresponding to the detected temperature.

6. The heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to claim 5, wherein: The battery information detector comprises: a reader configured to read a barcode on the battery cell; and The tray detector is configured to detect information about a shape and an arrangement pattern of a receiving tray receiving the battery cells.

7. The heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to claim 5, wherein: The cooling table includes the driving conditions of the cooling groups according to the driving start temperatures of the cooling areas, and the driving conditions of the cooling groups are sorted according to the driving start temperatures.

8. The heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to claim 7, wherein: The driving condition defines a ratio of an actual output voltage of a corresponding cooling fan to a maximum output voltage so that the cooling fan is driven in a rotation mode in which the number of revolutions is controlled.

9. The heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to claim 7, wherein: The driving condition defines a ratio of an actual operation time of a corresponding cooling fan to a maximum operation time so that the cooling fan is driven in a duty cycle mode controlling the operation time.

10. The heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to claim 5, wherein: The detected temperature includes at least one of a battery temperature actually detected from the battery cells located in the cooling area or a bottom temperature actually detected from a bottom plate of the chamber.

11. The heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to claim 1, wherein: The charge-discharge structure comprises: a battery holder configured to accommodate the battery cells by arranging the battery cells and to heat the battery cells to maintain a predetermined temperature; a plurality of terminals connected to the top of the chamber and configured to selectively contact the battery cells to apply a charge-discharge current for the battery cells; and The lifter is configured to move the battery holder up and down so that the terminal selectively contacts the battery cell.

12. The heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to claim 11, wherein: The battery holder comprises: a workbench having a plate shape and comprising a heater configured to heat the battery cell located on the workbench; a plurality of receiving trays extending in the second direction on an upper surface of the workbench and spaced apart from each other in the first direction to receive the battery cells; and A plurality of temperature sensors are positioned along the receiving tray according to the cooling regions to detect battery temperatures of the battery cells located in the cooling regions and transmit the detected battery temperatures to the cooling controller.

13. The heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to claim 12, wherein: The terminal comprises: a plurality of electrode terminal pairs arranged along the receiving tray and contacting the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cells; and A plurality of vacuum hoppers are located between the electrode terminal pairs to extract and remove reaction gases generated by chemical reactions inside corresponding ones of the battery cells.

14. The heated vacuum charge-discharge device according to claim 12, wherein: The lifter comprises: a lifting head connected to the bottom surface of the workbench; and A lift drive is provided on a bottom portion of the chamber to move the lift head up and down. 15 . The heated vacuum charge-discharge device of claim 1 , further comprising an ambient air supplier located outside the chamber and configured to supply ambient air into the chamber.

16. A method for cooling a heated vacuum charge-discharge device, the method comprising: creating a cooling map including matching cooling regions of a plurality of battery cells loaded into a chamber including a plurality of coolers to cooling groups, each of the cooling groups including at least one cooler of the plurality of coolers; setting a cooling table corresponding to the cooling map as a cooling process, the cooling table being one of a plurality of cooling tables including driving conditions of the cooling groups sorted according to driving start temperatures of the cooling areas; obtaining a detected temperature for each of the cooling regions during a heated vacuum charge-discharge process for the preheated battery cells; as well as The battery cells are cooled according to the cooling areas by driving the cooling groups respectively based on the obtained detected temperature and the cooling process of each of the cooling areas.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein: classifying the cooling map according to the type and arrangement shape of the battery cells, wherein the cooling table includes labels corresponding to the type and the arrangement shape of the battery cells, and Wherein, in setting the cooling table as the cooling process, a cooling table having a label corresponding to the type and the arrangement shape of the battery cells in the cooling map is selected from the cooling table.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein: Cooling the battery cell according to the cooling area includes: determining a driving condition corresponding to the detected temperature in each of the cooling areas from among the driving conditions of the cooling group from the cooling process; and The cooling groups are driven respectively according to the determined driving conditions.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein: Each of the cooling groups includes at least one cooling fan, and The driving condition is set as a ratio of an actual output voltage of the cooling fan to a maximum output voltage.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein: Each of the cooling groups includes at least one cooling fan, and The driving condition is set as a ratio of an actual operation time of the cooling fan to a maximum operation time.

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