Circulating defoaming device for battery slurry
By forming a self-circulating structure inside the battery slurry tank, combined with stirring and vacuum treatment, the problem of difficult removal of air bubbles in high-viscosity slurry is solved, improving defoaming efficiency and slurry consistency, thereby enhancing battery product quality and production efficiency.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520198949.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-08
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-13
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-02-08
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies are unable to effectively remove air bubbles from high-viscosity non-Newtonian fluid slurries, resulting in defects such as pinholes, pits, or foil leakage in coated electrodes, which affect the electrochemical and safety performance of battery products.
A battery slurry circulation defoaming device is designed. By forming a self-circulating structure in one or more slurry tanks, combined with stirring and vacuum treatment, the defoaming time is extended to ensure that the bubbles completely escape.
It improves the defoaming efficiency of the slurry, ensures slurry consistency, reduces coating defects, enhances battery performance and production efficiency, and achieves fully automated control.
Smart Images
Figure CN223788110U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of battery slurry manufacturing technology and relates to a battery slurry circulation defoaming device. Background Technology
[0002] Lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries are increasingly widely used in energy storage, 3C (computer, communication, and consumer electronics) and power fields due to their high energy density, long cycle life, and environmental friendliness. A crucial step in battery production is uniformly coating a prepared slurry onto a current collector to form electrode sheets. Before coating, air bubbles in the slurry need to be removed to ensure consistent electrode surface density. Therefore, the quality of the battery slurry directly affects the electrochemical and safety performance of the final battery product. High-viscosity non-Newtonian fluid slurries suffer from low air bubble removal efficiency and incomplete defoaming. If the slurry contains a large number of air bubbles, defects such as shrinkage cavities, pits, or foil leakage may appear on the baked electrode sheets.
[0003] Traditional defoaming methods for slurry mainly utilize the centrifugal force provided by a rotating motor to force the slurry against the rim of the container, breaking large air bubbles into smaller ones. Negative pressure is then used to remove these smaller bubbles, thus achieving the defoaming effect. However, because the entire defoaming process is relatively short and the bubbles are small, they are difficult to escape from the slurry, resulting in a weak defoaming effect and the retention of air bubbles, which in turn affects the production quality of the product. Utility Model Content
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the aforementioned problems in the existing technology by proposing a battery slurry circulation defoaming device.
[0005] The objective of this utility model can be achieved through the following technical solution: a battery slurry circulation defoaming device, comprising:
[0006] The slurry tank is equipped with an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a vacuum pumping device, and a vacuum breaking device. A stirring paddle is installed inside the slurry tank. The outlet of the inlet pipe is located inside the slurry tank, and the outlet pipe is located at the bottom of the slurry tank.
[0007] The number of slurry tanks is at least one; the discharge pipe and the feed pipe of the slurry tank are connected to form a self-circulating structure; or the discharge pipe of one slurry tank is connected to the feed pipe of another slurry tank, and the feed pipe of one slurry tank is connected to the discharge pipe of another slurry tank.
[0008] Preferably, a discharge pipe is also installed at the bottom of the slurry tank; or a discharge pipe is connected to the discharge pipe.
[0009] Preferably, a motor is installed on the top of the slurry tank, and the motor is equipped with a stirring shaft. The stirring shaft passes through the slurry tank and is connected to the stirring paddle. When the motor is started, it drives the stirring paddle to rotate through the stirring shaft.
[0010] Preferably, the outlet of the feed pipe is located near the top center of the slurry tank.
[0011] Preferably, the outlet of the feed pipe is close to the inner wall of the slurry tank so that the slurry flowing out of the feed pipe outlet flows along the inner wall of the slurry tank.
[0012] Preferably, a flow plate is provided on the stirring shaft, the stirring shaft is configured as a hollow shaft structure, the feed pipe is disposed inside the stirring shaft, a through hole is opened in the wall of the stirring shaft, the outlet of the feed pipe communicates with the through hole, and the through hole is located above the flow plate.
[0013] Preferably, the impeller is configured as one or a combination of more than one of the following: disc impeller, anchor impeller, frame impeller, ribbon impeller, and screw impeller.
[0014] Preferably, when the number of slurry tanks is set to one, the discharge pipe and the feed pipe are connected by a conveying pipe, and the conveying pipe is equipped with a conveying pump.
[0015] Preferably, when the number of slurry tanks is set to two, the discharge pipe of one slurry tank is connected to the feed pipe of the other slurry tank through a conveying pipe, and the feed pipe of one slurry tank is connected to the discharge pipe of the other slurry tank through another conveying pipe, and both conveying pipes are equipped with conveying pumps.
[0016] Preferably, both the feed pipe and the discharge pipe are equipped with automatic valves.
[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:
[0018] 1. This device can repeatedly defoam the slurry through circulation. The slurry is circulated for defoaming in a single slurry tank or between two slurry tanks, which prolongs the defoaming process time and greatly improves the defoaming effect of the slurry.
[0019] 2. In the dual-tank circulation structure (Example 2), each batch of slurry undergoes the same processing, which improves the consistency of the slurry and reduces the differences between different batches.
[0020] 3. The entire defoaming process is fully automated, reducing the need for manual intervention and thus improving production efficiency. Parameters such as stirring speed, vacuum level, vacuum holding time, and number of cycles can be flexibly adjusted according to the slurry characteristics and process requirements. Attached Figure Description
[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of Embodiment 1 combined with Embodiment 3 of this utility model.
[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of Embodiment 4 of this utility model.
[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the principle of Embodiment 5 of this utility model.
[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the principle of Embodiment 2 of this utility model.
[0025] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of Embodiment 1 of this utility model.
[0026] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of Embodiment 2 of this utility model.
[0027] In the diagram, 100 is the slurry tank; 110 is the feed pipe; 120 is the discharge pipe; 130 is the vacuum pump; 140 is the vacuum breaking device; 150 is the discharge pipe; 200 is the agitator; 300 is the motor; 310 is the agitator shaft; 320 is the flow plate; 400 is the delivery pump; 500 is the automatic valve; and 600 is the delivery pipe. Detailed Implementation
[0028] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention, which are described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
[0029] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, a battery slurry circulation defoaming device includes: a slurry tank 100, which is provided with an inlet pipe 110, an outlet pipe 120, a vacuum pumping device 130, and a vacuum breaking device 140. A stirring paddle 200 is provided inside the slurry tank 100. The outlet of the inlet pipe 110 is located inside the slurry tank 100, and the outlet pipe 120 is located at the bottom of the slurry tank 100. The number of slurry tanks 100 is at least one. The outlet pipe 120 and the inlet pipe 110 of the slurry tank 100 are connected to form a self-circulating structure; or the outlet pipe 120 of one slurry tank 100 is connected to the inlet pipe 110 of another slurry tank 100, and the inlet pipe 110 of one slurry tank 100 is connected to the outlet pipe 120 of another slurry tank 100.
[0030] The core principle of this device is to repeatedly cycle the battery slurry through mechanical stirring and vacuum treatment, thereby thoroughly removing air bubbles from the slurry. This cyclic defoaming structure extends the defoaming process time. The slurry is continuously subjected to stirring and vacuuming, giving air bubbles in the slurry more opportunities to escape, thus improving defoaming efficiency. Furthermore, multiple cycles of defoaming ensure that air bubbles in the slurry are completely removed.
[0031] In this apparatus, the slurry tank 100 is a container for holding and processing the slurry. The feed pipe 110 is used to feed the slurry into the slurry tank 100, and the discharge pipe 120, located at the bottom of the slurry tank 100, is used for slurry discharge and circulation defoaming. The vacuum pumping device 130 reduces the air inside the slurry tank 100, creating a low-pressure environment that promotes the expansion and escape of air bubbles in the slurry. The vacuum breaking device 140 allows air to enter the slurry tank 100 after the defoaming process is complete, restoring the normal atmospheric pressure inside the tank. In short, the vacuum pumping device 130 and the vacuum breaking device 140 work together to regulate the pressure inside the tank. The stirring paddle 200 breaks the air bubbles in the slurry into smaller bubbles, facilitating their faster escape.
[0032] It should be noted that the vacuum level inside the tank can be automatically adjusted within the range of 0-100 kPa by the vacuum pumping device 130 and the vacuum breaking device 140, the stirring speed of the stirring paddle 200 can be automatically adjusted within the range of 0-100 rpm by the motor 300, and the number of cycles can be manually set by the delivery pump 400 and the automatic valve 500.
[0033] The following are examples of single-tank circulating defoaming structures and dual-tank circulating defoaming structures;
[0034] Example 1:
[0035] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 As shown, when there is only one slurry tank 100, the discharge pipe 120 is connected to the feed pipe 110 through the conveying pipe 600, forming a closed-loop system. The slurry circulates continuously in this closed loop, that is, the slurry repeatedly enters the slurry tank 100, the stirring paddle 200 works continuously to break up the air bubbles in the slurry, and the low-pressure environment created by the vacuum device 130 can cause the air bubbles in the slurry to expand and thus escape.
[0036] In Example 1, the entire defoaming process is fully automated. The slurry enters the slurry tank 100 through the feed pipe 110. The vacuum pumping device 130 is activated to create a vacuum in the tank. The motor 300 is started to drive the stirring paddle 200 through the stirring shaft 310. When the vacuum level reaches the set value, the vacuum pumping device 130 is stopped, and the feeding is completed. Then, the vacuum needs to be maintained for a certain period of time. If the vacuum level is lower than the set value during this process, the vacuum pumping device 130 needs to be activated again. After the vacuum is maintained, the vacuum breaking device 140 is activated, and the slurry leaves the slurry tank 100 through the discharge pipe 120. Since the discharge pipe 120 is connected to the feed pipe 110 through the conveying pipe 600, the slurry flows back to the feed pipe 110 through the conveying pipe 600 and re-enters the tank to repeat the above defoaming process, thus completing one cycle. When the number of cycles reaches the set value, the discharge pipe 150 can be opened to discharge the slurry in the tank to the next process. After the discharge is completed, the motor 300 stops.
[0037] Example 2:
[0038] like Figure 4 , Figure 6 As shown, in the case of two slurry tanks 100, the discharge pipe 120 of the first slurry tank 100 is connected to the inlet pipe 110 of the second slurry tank 100, while the discharge pipe 120 of the second slurry tank 100 is connected back to the inlet pipe 110 of the first slurry tank 100, forming a continuous flow path. Embodiment 2 allows the slurry to flow alternately between the two tanks, increasing the contact area and residence time of the slurry, which helps to remove air bubbles more effectively. Similarly, in Embodiment 2, vacuuming and stirring are also used to assist in defoaming the slurry. Either of the two slurry tanks 100 can be selected as the inlet tank, and either can be selected as the outlet tank to discharge the defoamed slurry to the next process.
[0039] In Example 2, the entire defoaming process is fully automated. Two slurry tanks 100 are designated as Slurry Tank 100 No. 1 and Slurry Tank 100 No. 2. The feed valve of Slurry Tank 100 is opened, allowing slurry to enter. The vacuum device 130 of Slurry Tank 100 is activated to create a vacuum inside the tank. The motor 300 of Slurry Tank 100 is started to drive the stirring paddle 200. When the vacuum level reaches a set value, the vacuum device 130 of Slurry Tank 100 is stopped, completing the feeding process. A vacuum period is then required. If the vacuum level falls below the set value during this period, the vacuum device 130 of Slurry Tank 100 must be activated again. After the vacuum period is complete, the vacuum breaking device 140 of Slurry Tank 100 is activated, transferring slurry from Slurry Tank 100 to the feed inlet of Slurry Tank 100 via a conveying pipe 600. Slurry Tank 100 No. 2... The feed valve of 0 is opened to receive slurry. The vacuum device 130 of slurry tank 2 is activated to create a vacuum inside the tank. The motor 300 of slurry tank 2 is started to drive the stirring paddle 200 to rotate. When the vacuum degree reaches the set value, the vacuum device 130 of slurry tank 2 is stopped. At this time, the feeding is completed. Then, the vacuum needs to be maintained for a certain period of time. If the vacuum degree is lower than the set value during this process, the vacuum device 130 of slurry tank 2 needs to be activated. After the vacuum is maintained, the vacuum breaking device 140 of slurry tank 2 is activated. The slurry is transferred from slurry tank 2 to slurry tank 100 through another conveying pipe 600 to repeat the defoaming process. At this time, one cycle is completed. When the number of cycles reaches the set value, the discharge pipe 150 of the set slurry tank 100 can be opened to discharge the slurry in the tank to the next process. After the discharge is completed, the motor 300 is stopped.
[0040] Compared to Example 1, the dual-tank circulation in Example 2 ensures that each batch of slurry undergoes the same processing, improving the consistency of the slurry and reducing batch-to-batch differences.
[0041] Both the self-circulating structure in Example 1 and the dual-tank circulating structure in Example 2 aim to repeatedly stir and vacuum the slurry, continuously removing air bubbles. Through circulation, the slurry flows repeatedly within or between tanks, significantly extending the defoaming time, increasing the chance of bubble escape, and reducing defects such as pinholes, dents, or foil leaks on the coated electrode, thereby improving the performance and reliability of the finished battery. Furthermore, the entire defoaming process is fully automated, reducing the need for manual intervention and improving production efficiency. Parameters such as stirring speed, vacuum level, vacuum holding time, and number of cycles can be adjusted as needed to adapt to different slurry characteristics and process requirements.
[0042] like Figure 1As shown, based on the above embodiments, a discharge pipe 150 is also installed at the bottom of the slurry tank 100; or a discharge pipe 150 is connected to the discharge pipe 120.
[0043] The discharge pipe 150 is used to discharge the slurry in the tank to the next process; the discharge pipe 150 can be directly installed at the bottom of the slurry tank 100 or connected to the discharge pipe 120.
[0044] like Figure 1 As shown, based on the above embodiment, a motor 300 is installed on the top of the slurry tank 100. The motor 300 is equipped with a stirring shaft 310. The stirring shaft 310 passes through the slurry tank 100 and is connected to the stirring paddle 200. When the motor 300 is started, it drives the stirring paddle 200 to rotate through the stirring shaft 310.
[0045] The motor 300 drives the stirring shaft 310 to rotate as a power source. The stirring shaft 310 extends through the sealing cover or flange at the top of the slurry tank 100 into the interior of the slurry tank 100. The stirring shaft 310 is connected to the stirring paddle 200. The stirring paddle 200 is located in the lower part of the slurry tank 100. The design of the stirring paddle 200 can be optimized according to the characteristics of the slurry, such as propeller shape, anchor type or frame type, to adapt to different stirring needs.
[0046] When the motor 300 starts, it drives the agitator 200 to rotate through the agitator shaft 310. The high-speed rotation of the agitator 200 can break large bubbles in the slurry into smaller bubbles. The small bubbles have a relatively large surface area and are easier to escape from the slurry, thereby improving the defoaming efficiency.
[0047] There are three embodiments of the form and position of the feed pipe 110. The feed pipe 110 is located at the top middle position of the slurry tank 100, or near the inner wall of the slurry tank 100, or inside the stirring shaft 310.
[0048] Example 3:
[0049] like Figure 1 As shown, the outlet of the feed pipe 110 is located near the top center of the slurry tank 100. In Embodiment 3, the slurry enters the slurry tank 100 in a suspended manner from near the top center of the slurry tank 100.
[0050] Example 4:
[0051] like Figure 2As shown, the outlet of the feed pipe 110 is close to the inner wall of the slurry tank 100 so that the slurry flowing out of the outlet of the feed pipe 110 flows along the inner wall of the slurry tank 100. In Embodiment 4, the outlet of the feed pipe 110 is located close to the inner wall of the slurry tank 100, so that the slurry flows along the inner wall of the tank, making the slurry flow more smoothly during the feeding process and avoiding the generation of air bubbles during the feeding process.
[0052] Example 5:
[0053] like Figure 3 As shown, a flow plate 320 is provided on the stirring shaft 310. The stirring shaft 310 is a hollow shaft structure. The feed pipe 110 is provided inside the stirring shaft 310. A through hole is provided on the wall of the stirring shaft 310. The outlet of the feed pipe 110 is connected to the through hole. The through hole is located above the flow plate 320.
[0054] In Embodiment 5, the stirring shaft 310 is hollow to accommodate the feed pipe 110. Through holes are formed in the wall of the stirring shaft 310, allowing the slurry to flow from inside the shaft to its outer wall, then along the shaft onto the flow plate 320, and finally into the lower part of the tank from the edge of the flow plate 320. This arrangement integrates the feed pipe 110 and the stirring shaft 310, allowing the slurry to be fed through the inside of the stirring shaft 310 and then drip smoothly over the flow plate 320, thereby reducing the amount of air bubbles that may be generated during the feeding process.
[0055] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, based on the above embodiments, the stirring paddle 200 is configured as one or more of the following structures: disc paddle, anchor paddle, frame paddle, ribbon paddle, and screw paddle.
[0056] like Figure 1 As shown, in Embodiment 1, when the number of slurry tanks 100 is set to one, the discharge pipe 120 and the feed pipe 110 of the slurry tank 100 are connected by a conveying pipe 600, and the conveying pipe 600 is equipped with a conveying pump 400.
[0057] The installation of a delivery pump 400 on the pipeline is an important design feature. The delivery pump 400 can transport the slurry from the discharge pipe 120 (bottom of the slurry tank 100) to the feed pipe 110 (top of the slurry tank 100). The delivery pump 400 enables the self-circulation process of the slurry, and it also allows for discharge even under negative pressure conditions in the slurry tank 100. In this embodiment, the delivery pump 400 is preferably a rotary pump.
[0058] like Figure 4As shown, in Embodiment 2, when the number of slurry tanks 100 is set to two, the discharge pipe 120 of one slurry tank 100 is connected to the feed pipe 110 of the other slurry tank 100 through a conveying pipe 600, and the feed pipe 110 of one slurry tank 100 is connected to the discharge pipe 120 of the other slurry tank 100 through another conveying pipe 600. Both conveying pipes 600 are equipped with a conveying pump 400.
[0059] In this embodiment, the function of the transfer pump 400 is to transport the slurry between the two slurry tanks 100 to achieve slurry circulation. During operation, the slurry in one slurry tank 100 is fed into the other slurry tank 100 via the transfer pump 400, and after the slurry is processed in the other slurry tank 100, it is fed back into the first slurry tank 100 via the transfer pump 400, thereby achieving the effect of circulation. In this embodiment, the transfer pump 400 is preferably a screw pump or a diaphragm pump.
[0060] like Figure 1 As shown, based on the above embodiment, both the feed pipe 110 and the discharge pipe 120 are equipped with automatic valves 500. Installing automatic valves 500 on the feed pipe 110 and discharge pipe 120 of the slurry tank 100 can further improve the automation level and operational accuracy of the system. The introduction of automatic valves 500 enables precise control of the slurry flow, ensuring the reliability and consistency of the processing.
[0061] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in this utility model embodiment are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.
[0062] Furthermore, in this utility model, the use of terms such as "first," "second," and "a" is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0063] In this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixing" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.
[0064] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments of this utility model can be combined with each other, but only if they are based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.
Claims
1. A battery slurry circulation defoaming device, characterized in that, include: A slurry tank (100) is provided with a feed pipe (110), a discharge pipe (120), a vacuum device (130), and a vacuum breaking device (140). A stirring paddle (200) is provided inside the slurry tank (100). The outlet of the feed pipe (110) is located inside the slurry tank (100), and the discharge pipe (120) is located at the bottom of the slurry tank (100). The number of slurry tanks (100) is at least one; the discharge pipe (120) and the feed pipe (110) of the slurry tank (100) are connected to form a self-circulating structure; or the discharge pipe (120) of one slurry tank (100) is connected to the feed pipe (110) of another slurry tank (100), and the feed pipe (110) of one slurry tank (100) is connected to the discharge pipe (120) of another slurry tank (100).
2. The battery slurry circulation defoaming device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the slurry tank (100) is also equipped with a discharge pipe (150); or the discharge pipe (120) is connected to a discharge pipe (150).
3. The battery slurry circulation defoaming device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A motor (300) is installed on the top of the slurry tank (100). The motor (300) is equipped with a stirring shaft (310). The stirring shaft (310) passes through the slurry tank (100) and is connected to the stirring paddle (200). When the motor (300) is started, it drives the stirring paddle (200) to rotate through the stirring shaft (310).
4. The battery slurry circulation defoaming device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outlet of the feed pipe (110) is located near the top center of the slurry tank (100).
5. The battery slurry circulation defoaming device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outlet of the feed pipe (110) is close to the inner wall of the slurry tank (100) so that the slurry flowing out from the outlet of the feed pipe (110) flows along the inner wall of the slurry tank (100).
6. The battery slurry circulation defoaming device as described in claim 3, characterized in that: A flow plate (320) is provided on the stirring shaft (310). The stirring shaft (310) is a hollow shaft structure. The feed pipe (110) is located inside the stirring shaft (310). A through hole is opened in the wall of the stirring shaft (310). The outlet of the feed pipe (110) is connected to the through hole. The through hole is located above the flow plate (320).
7. The battery slurry circulation defoaming device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The stirring paddle (200) is configured as one or more of the following structures: disc paddle, anchor paddle, frame paddle, ribbon paddle, and screw paddle.
8. The battery slurry circulation defoaming device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: When the number of slurry tanks (100) is set to one, the discharge pipe (120) and the feed pipe (110) are connected by a conveying pipe (600), and a conveying pump (400) is provided on the conveying pipe (600).
9. The battery slurry circulation defoaming device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: When the number of slurry tanks (100) is set to two, the discharge pipe (120) of one slurry tank (100) is connected to the feed pipe (110) of the other slurry tank (100) through a conveying pipe (600), and the feed pipe (110) of one slurry tank (100) is connected to the discharge pipe (120) of the other slurry tank (100) through another conveying pipe (600). Both conveying pipes (600) are equipped with a conveying pump (400).
10. A battery slurry circulation defoaming device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: Both the feed pipe (110) and the discharge pipe (120) are equipped with automatic valves (500).