A warm isostatic pressing apparatus for solid state battery production

Abstract

The application aims to provide a warm isostatic pressing device for solid battery production. The application comprises a booster, a feeding module, a discharging module and a sliding table module. The action end of the sliding table module is provided with a high-pressure bin in communication with the booster. The high-pressure bin is used for loading a material cylinder. The two ends of the high-pressure bin are respectively in butt joint with the feeding module and the discharging module to realize the feeding and discharging of the material cylinder. The end of the sliding table module is provided with a force receiving frame. The force receiving frame is provided with a through groove. The left and right ends of the through groove are respectively provided with a horizontal moving air cylinder. The action end of the horizontal moving air cylinder is provided with a plug. When the sliding table module drives the high-pressure bin to move to the force receiving frame, the horizontal moving air cylinder drives the plug to extend forward. The plug is in sealing cooperation with the opening of the high-pressure bin to realize the pressure maintaining test of the high-pressure bin. The application is applied to the technical field of isostatic pressing devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of isostatic pressing equipment, and particularly to a warm isostatic pressing equipment for solid-state battery production. Background Technology

[0002] The large-scale application of batteries has fundamentally transformed the electronics industry, revolutionizing the development of electric and hybrid vehicles. Simultaneously, the electrification transformation initiated by the automotive and aerospace sectors has accelerated the continued development of solid-state battery technology. Solid-state batteries utilize a solid electrolyte sandwiched between the anode and cathode, possessing more stable chemical properties and energy storage capacity. They also charge faster, have a longer lifespan, and avoid the risks of personnel and equipment loss caused by short-circuit thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries.

[0003] Solid-state batteries refer to secondary battery systems that use solid electrolytes instead of traditional liquid or gel electrolytes. Based on the different liquid content in the electrolyte, current related technologies are mainly divided into semi-solid-state batteries, quasi-solid-state batteries, and all-solid-state batteries. According to the electrochemical system, they can also be divided into solid-state lithium batteries, solid-state sodium batteries, etc., among which all-solid-state lithium batteries are considered one of the important candidate routes for next-generation high-specific-energy storage technology.

[0004] Solid-state batteries, as a novel battery technology, have attracted widespread attention due to their high safety and high energy density. However, to ensure their stability and reliability in practical applications, rigorous testing is essential. High-temperature and high-pressure testing are crucial methods for evaluating solid-state battery performance. These tests simulate the pressure and temperature environments that solid-state batteries may encounter during actual use, thereby detecting their performance under extreme conditions. This testing not only helps assess battery safety but also reveals the battery's charge-discharge characteristics under high or low pressure conditions, providing important data for battery design and optimization. High-temperature and high-pressure testing can reveal the performance degradation of batteries under extreme temperatures and pressures, helping researchers improve battery structure or materials and enhance their pressure resistance. Furthermore, the tests can verify the battery's stability and efficiency during rapid charge and discharge processes, providing data support for optimizing battery management systems. By conducting high-temperature and high-pressure tests on solid-state batteries, a more comprehensive understanding of their performance characteristics can be achieved, providing strong assurance for their safety and reliability in practical applications. Because batteries contain porous separators, applying excessive external pressure, such as the hundreds of megapascals required for solid-state batteries, can cause the separator to deform, close its pores, hinder ion transport, or even crush the separator, leading to a short circuit. Excessive pressure can also cause electrolyte to be squeezed out of the electrodes or the encapsulation structure to rupture, resulting in leakage and safety incidents.

[0005] Isostatic pressing (IPC) involves placing the workpiece in a sealed container filled with liquid and gradually increasing pressure through a pressurization system to apply equal pressure to all surfaces of the workpiece. This reduces the distance between molecules, increases density, and improves the physical properties of the material without altering its shape. There are two methods of IPC: cold IPC and hot IPC. Cold IPC is further divided into wet and dry methods. In solid-state battery manufacturing, IPC is a newly added step in the equipment. Hot IPC involves placing the workpiece in a sealed container and applying isotropic pressure while maintaining high temperature. Under high temperature and pressure, the workpiece is sintered and densified. By simulating the high-temperature or high-pressure operating environment of solid-state batteries, the battery structure can be tested for damage, effectively eliminating the risk of leakage.

[0006] A warm isostatic press is a device that uses a fluid medium, such as a liquid or gas, under uniform high pressure at a specific temperature environment to perform isostatic pressing treatment on a workpiece. It is widely used in powder metallurgy, ceramic molding, and composite material densification. One of the core components of a warm isostatic press is the cylinder that bears the enormous working pressure. The cylinder is a cylindrical structure with high pressure inside, and plugs at both ends form a seal inside the cylinder. However, during the operation of the warm isostatic press, the high internal pressure exerts outward pressure on the plugs. In existing technologies, the plugs are usually connected to the cylinder using threads or clamps. This connection method has insufficient connection force when facing the internal working pressure of the warm isostatic press, which can easily lead to loosening, leakage, or even detachment of the plug from the cylinder.

[0007] For example, Chinese patent CN203756976U discloses a novel ultra-high pressure plug self-sealing device. When high-pressure liquid enters the ultra-high pressure chamber, as the pressure inside the chamber increases, the high-pressure liquid exerts pressure on the plug. Without external force to support the plug, the plug may loosen, leak, or even detach from the chamber. Another example is Chinese patent CN222217156U, which discloses an ultra-high pressure sterilization device. The sterilization chamber has a relatively simple structure, lacks insulation, and is unsuitable for thermal isostatic pressure testing. Furthermore, the inlet and outlet of the fluid medium are both located inside the chamber, making it difficult to ensure the chamber remains a sealed space. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a thermal isostatic pressure testing device for solid-state battery production that is compact, stable, able to withstand the pressure of the high-pressure chamber, ensures the chamber's sealing, has good insulation and sealing effects, and is suitable for thermal isostatic pressure testing. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a temperature isostatic pressing device for solid-state battery production. It has a compact structure, good stability, can withstand the pressure of the high-pressure chamber, ensures the sealing of the chamber, has good heat preservation and sealing effects, and is suitable for temperature isostatic pressing tests.

[0009] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows: This invention includes a booster, a feeding module, a discharging module, and a slide module. The sliding module has a high-pressure chamber connected to the booster at its actuating end. The high-pressure chamber is used to load a material cylinder. The two openings of the high-pressure chamber are respectively connected to the feeding module and the discharging module to realize the loading and unloading of the material cylinder. The end of the slide module is provided with a force-bearing frame. The force-bearing frame has a through groove. Both ends of the through groove are provided with transverse cylinders. The actuating end of the transverse cylinder is provided with a plug. When the slide module drives the high-pressure chamber to move to the force-bearing frame, the transverse cylinder drives the plug to extend forward. The plug seals with the opening of the high-pressure chamber to realize the pressure holding test of the high-pressure chamber.

[0010] As can be seen from the above scheme, the barrel is loaded with solid-state batteries, the feeding module transports the barrel to the high-pressure chamber, the sliding module drives the high-pressure chamber to move to the force-bearing frame, the transverse cylinder serves as the power source for the high-pressure chamber, the transverse cylinder drives the plug to extend forward, the plug seals with the opening of the high-pressure chamber, the booster delivers fluid medium to the high-pressure chamber to perform pressure holding tests, under isostatic pressure, the inner cylinder withstands extremely high internal pressure, the force-bearing frame applies radial compressive stress through pre-tightening, so that the inner cylinder is mainly under pressure during service, thereby efficiently bearing tangential tensile stress and ensuring the stability of the force-bearing frame.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the feeding module includes a transfer conveyor line and a feeding conveyor line. The transfer conveyor line is raised and lowered by a lifting module. A handcart is provided on the feeding side of the transfer conveyor line. The discharge end of the transfer conveyor line is connected to the feeding end of the feeding conveyor line, and the discharge end of the feeding conveyor line is connected to the inlet of the high-pressure chamber.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the sliding module has a bracket at its actuating end, and the top of the bracket has an arc-shaped groove, on which the high-pressure chamber is disposed.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the force-bearing frame is an annular frame, which includes two sets of semicircular blocks and two sets of elongated blocks. The two sets of semicircular blocks are symmetrically distributed from left to right, and the two sets of elongated blocks are symmetrically distributed from top to bottom. The semicircular blocks are connected to the elongated blocks by pins. The outer layer of the annular frame is provided with a wound steel wire ring. When an external force applies a pushing force to the semicircular blocks, the semicircular blocks gradually move away from the elongated blocks, and the semicircular blocks cooperate with the wound steel wire ring for support.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, both the outer layer of the wound wire ring and the outer layer of the annular frame are provided with an outer protective plate.

[0015] A preferred embodiment is that the through groove has a U-shaped structure, and two sets of plugs are symmetrically arranged at the left and right ends of the through groove.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the isostatic pressing equipment for solid-state battery production further includes a sealed oil tank and an auxiliary oil tank. The sealed oil tank is filled with heat transfer oil and is equipped with heating pipes and high-pressure coils. The heating pipes heat the heat transfer oil, and the auxiliary oil tank collects the heat transfer oil that overflows from the sealed oil tank. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the feeding module; Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the bracket and the high-pressure chamber; Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the high-pressure chamber during pressure holding; Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the force-bearing frame; Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the enclosed oil tank. Detailed Implementation

[0018] like Figures 1 to 4As shown, in this embodiment, the present invention includes a booster 1, a feeding module 2, a discharging module 3, and a slide module 4. The sliding module 4 has a high-pressure chamber 5 connected to the booster 1 at its actuating end. The high-pressure chamber 5 is used to load a material cylinder 6. The two openings of the high-pressure chamber 5 are respectively connected to the feeding module 2 and the discharging module 3 to realize the loading and unloading of the material cylinder 6. The end of the slide module 4 is provided with a force-bearing frame 7. The force-bearing frame 7 has a through groove 8. Both the left and right ends of the through groove 8 are provided with transverse cylinders 9. The actuating end of the transverse cylinder 9 is provided with a plug 10. When the slide module 4 drives the high-pressure chamber 5 to move to the force-bearing frame 7, the transverse cylinder 9 drives the plug 10 to extend forward. The plug 10 seals with the opening of the high-pressure chamber 5 to realize the pressure holding test of the high-pressure chamber 5.

[0019] The material cylinder 6 is loaded with a solid-state battery. The feeding module 2 transports the material cylinder to the high-pressure chamber 5. The sliding module 4 drives the high-pressure chamber 5 to move to the force-bearing frame 7. The transverse cylinder 9 serves as the power source for the high-pressure chamber 5. The transverse cylinder 9 drives the plug 10 to extend forward. The plug 10 is sealed to the opening of the high-pressure chamber 5. The booster 1 delivers a fluid medium to the high-pressure chamber 5 to perform a pressure holding test. Under isostatic pressure, the inner cylinder withstands extremely high internal pressure. The force-bearing frame 7 applies radial compressive stress through pre-tightening, so that the inner cylinder is mainly under pressure during service, thereby efficiently bearing tangential tensile stress and ensuring the stability of the force-bearing frame.

[0020] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the feeding module 2 includes a transfer conveyor line 11 and a feeding conveyor line 12. The transfer conveyor line 11 is raised and lowered by a lifting module 13. A handcart 14 is provided on the feeding side of the transfer conveyor line 11. The discharge end of the transfer conveyor line 11 is connected to the feeding end of the feeding conveyor line 12, and the discharge end of the feeding conveyor line 12 is connected to the inlet of the high-pressure chamber 5. The feeding module 2 and the unloading module 3 are symmetrically arranged. The feeding module 2 conveys the material cylinder to the high-pressure chamber 5, and the unloading module 3 conveys the tested material cylinder to the external conveyor line.

[0021] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the sliding module 4 has a bracket 15 at its actuating end. The top of the bracket 15 has an arc-shaped groove, and the high-pressure chamber 5 is disposed on the arc-shaped groove. The bracket 15 supports and positions the high-pressure chamber 5.

[0022] like Figure 5As shown, in this embodiment, the force-bearing frame 7 is an annular frame, which includes two sets of semicircular blocks 16 and two sets of long strips 17. The two sets of semicircular blocks 16 are symmetrically distributed from left to right, and the two sets of long strips 17 are symmetrically distributed from top to bottom. The semicircular blocks 16 are connected to the long strips 17 by pins. The outer layer of the annular frame is provided with a winding steel wire ring 18. When an external force applies a pushing force to the semicircular blocks 16, the semicircular blocks 16 gradually move away from the long strips 17, and the semicircular blocks 16 and the winding steel wire ring 18 provide support and cooperation. The semicircular block 16 is movably connected to the long strip block 17 via a pin. When an external force applies a pushing force to the semicircular block 16, the semicircular block 16 slides horizontally and gradually moves away from the long strip block 17. The semicircular block 16 cooperates with the wound steel wire ring 18 for support. The wound steel wire ring 18 deforms under compression. The wound steel wire ring 18 is used to construct the reinforced structure of the high-pressure vessel, bear the main working stress, improve safety, and achieve lightweight load-bearing. The wound steel wire ring 18 is a metal elastic element whose function is to connect and fix various objects. It can provide a certain tension and resistance by compressing the object, thereby keeping the object in a stable position and motion state. Under isostatic pressure, the inner cylinder bears extremely high internal pressure. The wound steel wire applies radial compressive stress through pre-tightening, so that the inner cylinder is mainly under pressure during service, thereby efficiently bearing tangential tensile stress and ensuring the stability of the annular frame.

[0023] like Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, both the outer layer of the wound wire ring 18 and the outer layer of the annular frame are provided with an outer protective plate 19. The outer protective plate 19 serves as the outer skin of the annular frame, acting as a partition.

[0024] like Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment, the through groove 8 has a U-shaped structure, and two sets of plugs 10 are symmetrically arranged at the left and right ends of the through groove 8.

[0025] like Figure 6As shown, in this embodiment, the isostatic pressing equipment for solid-state battery production further includes a sealed oil tank 20 and an auxiliary oil tank 21. The sealed oil tank 20 is filled with heat-conducting oil and is equipped with a heating tube and a high-pressure coil. The heating tube heats the heat-conducting oil, and the auxiliary oil tank 21 collects the heat-conducting oil overflowing from the sealed oil tank 20. The heating tube is connected to an external power source and heats the heat-conducting oil. The booster 1 pressurizes the fluid medium, which is then introduced into the high-pressure coil through a high-pressure inlet pipe. The high-pressure coil is immersed in the heat-conducting oil, and heat transfer occurs between the heat-conducting oil and the high-pressure coil. The fluid medium in the high-pressure coil is rapidly heated, achieving efficient heat exchange. The heated fluid medium flows into the high-pressure chamber 5 through a high-pressure outlet pipe, thus performing the isostatic pressing process. The sealed oil tank 20 serves as the main oil tank. As the heat transfer oil expands and changes volume during the heating process, the auxiliary oil tank 21 collects the heat transfer oil overflowing from the sealed oil tank. The auxiliary oil tank 21 collects the heat transfer oil and gas overflowing from the sealed oil tank 20 to prevent the main oil tank from overflowing due to abnormal pressure rise.

[0026] Although the embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to actual solutions, they do not constitute a limitation on the meaning of the present invention. Modifications to the embodiments and combinations with other solutions based on this specification will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A temperature isostatic pressing device for solid-state battery production, comprising a booster (1), a feeding module (2), a discharging module (3), and a sliding table module (4), characterized in that: The sliding module (4) is equipped with a high-pressure chamber (5) connected to the booster (1) at its actuating end. The high-pressure chamber (5) is used to load the material cylinder (6). The openings at both ends of the high-pressure chamber (5) are respectively connected to the loading module (2) and the unloading module (3) to realize the loading and unloading of the material cylinder (6). The end of the sliding module (4) is equipped with a force-bearing frame (7). The force-bearing frame (7) has a through groove (8). Both the left and right ends of the through groove (8) are equipped with transverse cylinders (9). The actuating end of the transverse cylinder (9) is equipped with a plug (10). When the sliding module (4) drives the high-pressure chamber (5) to move to the force-bearing frame (7), the transverse cylinder (9) drives the plug (10) to extend forward. The plug (10) seals with the opening of the high-pressure chamber (5) to realize the pressure holding test of the high-pressure chamber (5).

2. The isostatic pressing apparatus for solid-state battery production according to claim 1, characterized in that: The feeding module (2) includes a transfer conveyor line (11) and a feeding conveyor line (12). The transfer conveyor line (11) is lifted and lowered by a lifting module (13). A handcart (14) is provided on the feeding side of the transfer conveyor line (11). The discharge end of the transfer conveyor line (11) is connected to the feeding end of the feeding conveyor line (12). The discharge end of the feeding conveyor line (12) is connected to the feeding port of the high-pressure chamber (5).

3. The isostatic pressing apparatus for solid-state battery production according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sliding module (4) is provided with a bracket (15) at its actuating end. The top of the bracket (15) is provided with an arc-shaped groove, and the high-pressure chamber (5) is provided on the arc-shaped groove.

4. The isostatic pressing apparatus for solid-state battery production according to claim 1, characterized in that: The force-bearing frame (7) is an annular frame, which includes two sets of semicircular blocks (16) and two sets of long strips (17). The two sets of semicircular blocks (16) are symmetrically distributed from left to right, and the two sets of long strips (17) are symmetrically distributed from top to bottom. The semicircular blocks (16) are connected to the long strips (17) by pins. The outer layer of the annular frame is provided with a winding steel wire ring (18). When an external force applies a pushing force to the semicircular blocks (16), the semicircular blocks (16) gradually move away from the long strips (17). The semicircular blocks (16) and the winding steel wire ring (18) support each other.

5. The isostatic pressing apparatus for solid-state battery production according to claim 4, characterized in that: The outer layer of the wound wire ring (18) and the outer layer of the annular frame are both provided with outer protective plates (19).

6. The isostatic pressing apparatus for solid-state battery production according to claim 1, characterized in that: The through groove (8) has a square-shaped structure, and two sets of plugs (10) are symmetrically arranged at the left and right ends of the through groove (8).

7. The isostatic pressing apparatus for solid-state battery production according to claim 1, characterized in that: The isostatic pressing equipment for solid-state battery production also includes a closed oil tank (20) and an auxiliary oil tank (21). The closed oil tank (20) is filled with heat transfer oil. The closed oil tank (20) is equipped with a heating tube and a high-pressure coil. The heating tube heats the heat transfer oil. The auxiliary oil tank (21) collects the heat transfer oil overflowing from the closed oil tank (20).

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