Slurry detection device and battery production equipment

Abstract

The utility model discloses a slurry detection device and battery production equipment, and relates to the technical field of battery production, in the slurry detection device, when a power pump works, a flow path with controllable flow can be formed at an opening of a first pipeline, and a first conductor is embedded in the side wall of the first pipeline; at least part of the first conductor is exposed on the side wall of the first pipeline to form the first electrode, so that an independent first electrode does not need to be arranged, parts of the slurry detection device are reduced, and the cost is reduced; the first electrode is arranged close to the open hole, the second electrode is immersed in a flow path of the battery slurry, the voltage collector collects a voltage signal of the flow path between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the processor determines a detection result of the metal particles in the battery slurry according to the voltage signal. The detection efficiency and the detection accuracy are greatly improved, and due to the fact that the detection result is fed back in time, the situation of poor batch of pole pieces is avoided.

Description

Slurry testing equipment and battery production equipment Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery production technology, and in particular to slurry testing devices and battery production equipment. Background Technology

[0002] During the production and transportation of battery slurry, mechanical equipment inevitably experiences wear and tear, resulting in the formation of metal particles that become trapped within the slurry and thus affect battery quality.

[0003] Currently, the process involves extracting battery slurry samples and manually testing them. This process is time-consuming and yields inaccurate results. More importantly, if substandard metal particles are detected, the coating machine will already be running, leading to a batch of defective electrode sheets. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main purpose of this application is to provide a slurry testing device and battery production equipment, which aims to improve the detection efficiency and accuracy of metal particles in battery slurry and avoid batch defects of electrode sheets.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this application proposes a slurry detection device for detecting metal particles in battery slurry within a container. The device includes: a first pipe, one end of which is immersed in the battery slurry; a first conductor embedded in the sidewall of the first pipe, with at least a portion of the first conductor exposed on the sidewall to form a first electrode; an opening on the sidewall of the first pipe, with the first electrode positioned close to the opening; a power pump, the inlet of which is connected to the other end of the first pipe, for drawing the battery slurry from the opening into and out of the first pipe, forming a flow path for the battery slurry at the opening, the opening being used to limit the flow rate of the flow path; a second electrode immersed in the flow path of the battery slurry; a voltage acquisition unit connected between the first and second electrodes, for acquiring a voltage signal of the flow path when the first and second electrodes are powered on; and a processor connected to the voltage acquisition unit, for determining the detection result of metal particles in the battery slurry based on the voltage signal of the flow path.

[0006] The slurry detection device provided in this embodiment is used to detect metal particles in battery slurry within a container. Since one end of the first pipe is immersed in the battery slurry, and an opening is provided on the side wall of the first pipe, the power pump can draw the battery slurry into and out of the first pipe through the opening, thus forming a flow path for the battery slurry at the opening. The opening restricts the flow rate, thereby creating a controllable and continuous flow path for the battery slurry in the container. A first conductor is embedded in the side wall of the first pipe, and at least a portion of the first conductor is exposed on the side wall of the first pipe to form a first electrode. Therefore, a separate first electrode is unnecessary, reducing the number of components in the slurry detection device and lowering costs. The first electrode is positioned close to the opening, and the flow path of the battery slurry formed at the opening flows through the first electrode. The first electrode is part of the first conduit; therefore, the relative position of the first electrode and the opening is fixed to avoid inaccurate detection results due to inaccurate installation position when the first electrode is an independent component. The second electrode is immersed in the flow path of the battery slurry. Since metal particles in the flow path affect the resistance of the battery slurry flow path, and the change in resistance is reflected in the voltage of the battery slurry flow path, the voltage acquisition device can collect the voltage signal of the flow path through the first and second electrodes. The processor can determine the detection result of metal particles in the battery slurry based on the voltage signal of the flow path. Compared with manual sampling and detection, this greatly improves the detection efficiency and accuracy. Moreover, because the detection results are fed back in a timely manner, production personnel can shut down the coating machine in time when they see that the metal particle detection result is unqualified, thereby avoiding the occurrence of batch defects in the electrode sheets.

[0007] In one embodiment, the first electrode is located inside the first pipe, and the second electrode is located outside the first pipe and disposed at the opening.

[0008] In this embodiment, the second electrode is located at the inlet of the battery slurry flow path formed at the opening, and the first electrode is located at the outlet of the battery slurry flow path formed at the opening. The detection area is more accurate and can capture the instantaneous voltage change when metal particles enter the flow path, thus improving the real-time detection performance.

[0009] In one embodiment, the first pipe is made of an insulating material, a second conductor is embedded in the sidewall of the first pipe, and at least a portion of the second conductor is exposed on the sidewall of the first pipe to form the second electrode.

[0010] In this embodiment, both the first electrode and the second electrode are part of the first channel. The relative positions of the first electrode and the second electrode on the first channel are fixed to avoid inaccurate detection results due to inaccurate positioning of the second electrode.

[0011] In one embodiment, the first pipe is connected to the power pump via a liquid extraction pipe, thus eliminating the need for an additional pipe to connect to the power pump, further reducing the number of components in the slurry detection device and lowering costs.

[0012] Alternatively, the other end of the first pipe can be connected to the power pump. In this way, multiple first pipes with different opening diameters can be provided. By replacing the first pipe connected to the liquid extraction pipe, the detection of metal particles of different sizes can be achieved, improving the versatility of the detection device.

[0013] In one embodiment, the slurry testing device further includes a return pipe, the inlet of which is connected to the outlet of a power pump, and the outlet of the return pipe is connected to a container; the power pump is also used to send the battery slurry extracted from the first pipe into the return pipe, and then back into the container from the return pipe. In this embodiment, the addition of the return pipe allows the power pump to send the battery slurry extracted from the first pipe back to the container holding the battery slurry via the return pipe, achieving closed-loop flow of the battery slurry and avoiding sample waste.

[0014] In one embodiment, the device further includes: a recovery pipeline, a controller, a first control valve, and a second control valve; the inlet of the recovery pipeline is connected to the outlet of the power pump through the first control valve, and the inlet of the return pipeline is connected through the second control valve; the first control valve is a normally closed valve, and the second control valve is a normally open valve; the controller is connected to the processor and is also connected to the first and second control valves, and is used to control the second control valve to close and the first control valve to open when the processor determines that the metal particles in the battery slurry are not qualified.

[0015] In this embodiment, if the metal particles in the battery slurry fail the test, the power pump will draw the battery slurry from the first pipe into the recovery pipe through the first control valve, and recover the battery slurry containing the unqualified metal particles. This will prevent the unqualified metal particles from contaminating the battery slurry in the container again, thereby reducing downtime losses.

[0016] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, this application also proposes a battery production equipment, which includes: a container for storing battery slurry, the outlet of the container being connected to a coating machine, and a slurry detection device disposed in the container as described in any of the above embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the flow path of battery slurry in the battery production system of this application;

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the first structure of the slurry detection device of this application;

[0021] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the second structure of the slurry detection device of this application;

[0022] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the third structure of the slurry detection device of this application;

[0023] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the fourth structure of the slurry detection device of this application;

[0024] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the fifth structure of the slurry detection device of this application;

[0025] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the sixth structure of the slurry detection device of this application;

[0026] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the seventh structure of the slurry detection device of this application;

[0027] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the eighth structure of the slurry testing device of this application;

[0028] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the ninth structure of the slurry testing device of this application;

[0029] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the tenth structure of the slurry detection device of this application;

[0030] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the eleventh type of slurry testing device of this application;

[0031] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the twelfth structure of the slurry testing device of this application.

[0032] The purpose, features, and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The embodiments of the technical solution of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application and are therefore merely examples, and should not be used to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0034] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and foregoing description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0035] In the description of the embodiments of this application, technical terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0036] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0037] In the description of the embodiments in this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0038] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "multiple" refers to two or more (including two), similarly, "multiple sets" refers to two or more (including two sets), and "multiple pieces" refers to two or more (including two pieces).

[0039] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0040] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, technical terms such as "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0041] The battery coating process is a crucial step in battery (such as lithium battery) production. Its main purpose is to uniformly coat the positive and negative electrode sheets with a slurry to form the desired electrode structure. The coating process typically includes the following steps: unwinding, joining, feeding into the coating apparatus, coating, drying, shaping, and rewinding. The main objective of the coating process is to uniformly coat one or more layers of liquid slurry onto the substrate to form a film layer with specific functions. Specifically, the coating process involves the uniform application of positive and negative electrode slurries to ensure battery performance and stability. The battery slurry that meets the process requirements is particularly important.

[0042] Battery slurry is a fluid mixture formed by combining positive or negative electrode active materials, conductive agents, binders, etc. Due to factors such as incoming materials, wear and tear from equipment, environment, and human operation, battery slurry may contain metal particles (such as elemental Fe, Ni, Zn, Cr, and Cu, as well as some alloys and oxides).

[0043] When these metal particles are large, they may puncture the separator, leading to a short circuit between the positive and negative electrodes. When there are many of these metal particles, the battery voltage often drops rapidly, resulting in a shorter lifespan. It can be seen that the presence of metal particles in the battery slurry can cause serious quality and safety problems as the battery is used, such as: short circuits: the separator's main function is to prevent direct contact between the positive and negative electrodes. Once punctured, a pathway may form between the positive and negative electrodes, leading to an internal short circuit. A short circuit rapidly consumes battery energy and generates a large amount of heat; overheating: during a short circuit, the internal chemical reaction of the battery accelerates, generating a large amount of heat that cannot be dissipated in time, potentially causing the battery to overheat and affecting its performance; battery performance degradation: due to short circuits and overheating, the battery's discharge performance and charging efficiency may significantly decrease, shortening its lifespan; safety risks: severe short circuits may cause a sharp increase in internal battery pressure, leading to battery expansion, rupture, and even fire or explosion, posing a safety threat to users and the surrounding environment; equipment damage: in electronic devices, battery short circuits may damage other components, causing the device to malfunction. Therefore, the detection of metal particles in battery slurry is particularly important.

[0044] Currently, the detection method for metal particles in battery slurry typically involves manual sampling followed by a series of pretreatments, and then observation under a microscope. This method is inefficient due to the long testing time (up to 12 hours), and the subjective nature of manual microscopic observation leads to inaccurate results. More importantly, to avoid production delays, the coating machine continues operating while the battery slurry sample is being tested. If the metal particle detection in the battery slurry sample fails, it indicates that the battery slurry used by the coating machine may also contain substandard metal particles, potentially leading to a batch of defective electrodes.

[0045] Therefore, improving the detection efficiency and accuracy of metal particles in battery slurry and avoiding batch defects in electrode sheets are urgent technical problems that need to be solved.

[0046] To address this, this application proposes a slurry detection device and a battery production equipment. The slurry detection device is used to detect metal particles in battery slurry within a container and includes: a first pipe, with a first conductor embedded in the sidewall of the first pipe and at least a portion of the first conductor exposed on the sidewall of the first pipe to form a first electrode; an opening on the sidewall of the first pipe; the first electrode positioned close to the opening; and one end of the first pipe with the opening immersed in the battery slurry; a power pump, with its inlet connected to the other end of the first pipe, used to pump the battery slurry into and out of the first pipe through the opening, forming a flow path for the battery slurry at the opening, which restricts the flow rate of the flow path; a second electrode, spaced apart from the first electrode and immersed in the flow path of the battery slurry; a voltage acquisition device connected between the first and second electrodes, used to acquire the voltage signal of the flow path when the first and second electrodes are powered on; and a processor connected to the voltage acquisition device, used to determine the detection result of metal particles in the battery slurry based on the voltage signal of the flow path.

[0047] The slurry detection device in this embodiment is used to detect metal particles in the battery slurry in a container. Since one end of the first pipe with an opening is immersed in the battery slurry, the power pump can draw the battery slurry into and out of the first pipe through the opening, thus forming a flow path for the battery slurry at the opening. The opening can limit the flow rate of the flow path, thereby forming a controllable and continuous flow path for the battery slurry in the container. A first conductor is embedded in the side wall of the first pipe, and at least a portion of the first conductor is exposed on the side wall of the first pipe to form a first electrode. Therefore, there is no need to set a separate first electrode, reducing the number of components in the slurry detection device and lowering the cost. The first electrode is located close to the opening, and the flow path of the battery slurry formed at the opening will flow through the first electrode. Since the first electrode is the first... As part of a pipeline, the relative position of the first electrode and the opening is fixed to avoid inaccurate detection results due to inaccurate installation position when the first electrode is an independent component. The second electrode is immersed in the flow path of the battery slurry. Since the metal particles in the flow path affect the resistance of the battery slurry flow path, and the change in resistance is reflected in the voltage of the battery slurry flow path, the voltage acquisition device can collect the voltage signal of the flow path through the first and second electrodes. The processor can determine the detection result of metal particles in the battery slurry based on the voltage signal of the flow path. Compared with manual sampling and detection, the detection efficiency and accuracy are greatly improved. Moreover, because the detection results are fed back in time, production personnel can shut down the coating machine in time when they see that the metal particle detection result is unqualified, thereby avoiding the occurrence of batch defects in the electrode sheets.

[0048] Before introducing the structure of the slurry testing device, the flow path of the battery slurry in the battery production system will be explained to illustrate the placement of the slurry testing device. As shown in Figure 1, generally, the battery slurry is stored in the slurry tank 1. To transport the battery slurry to the coating machines 4 on different production lines, buffer tanks 3 are set near the coating machines 4 to buffer the battery slurry. The number of buffer tanks 3 is set according to the number and distance of the coating machines 4. For example, for production lines that are close together, the coating machines 4 are close to each other and can share buffer tanks 3; for production lines that are far apart, the coating machines 4 are far apart and can be equipped with buffer tanks 3 separately; if the production line has multiple coating machines 4, more buffer tanks 3 can be set up as needed. If the distance between the slurry tank 1 and the buffer tank 3 is relatively short, the slurry tank 1 can provide battery slurry to the buffer tank 3; if the distance between the slurry tank 1 and the buffer tank 3 is relatively long, one or more transfer tanks 2 can be set between the slurry tank 1 and the buffer tank 3, with one transfer tank 2 connecting multiple buffer tanks 3 to provide battery slurry to multiple buffer tanks 3.

[0049] The slurry detection device 5 in this application is used to detect metal particles in the battery slurry inside the container. In the battery production system, this container can be either a buffer tank 3 or a transfer tank 2. However, the transfer tank 2 is connected to more coating machines 4. If the slurry detection device 5 is located in the transfer tank 2, once unqualified metal particles are detected, all coating machines 4 connected to the transfer tank 2 need to be shut down, which seriously reduces production efficiency. On the other hand, the buffer tank 3 is connected to fewer coating machines 4, generally one buffer tank 3 is connected to one coating machine 4. If the slurry detection device 5 is located in the buffer tank 3, it will not affect the shutdown of too many coating machines 4, thus avoiding a reduction in production efficiency. Therefore, the slurry detection device 5 is preferably located on the buffer tank 3.

[0050] The structure of the slurry detection device is described in detail below. The slurry detection device includes a first pipeline, a power pump, a second electrode, a voltage acquisition unit, and a processor.

[0051] The first conductor is embedded in the side wall of the first pipe, and at least part of the first conductor is exposed on the side wall of the first pipe to form a first electrode. In this way, there is no need to set a separate first electrode, which reduces the number of components in the slurry detection device and lowers the cost.

[0052] An opening is provided on the side wall of the first conduit, and the first electrode is positioned close to the opening. The end of the first conduit with the opening is immersed in the battery slurry. Since the first electrode is part of the first conduit and the relative position of the first electrode and the opening is fixed, inaccurate test results are avoided due to inaccurate installation position when the first electrode is an independent component.

[0053] The other end of the first pipe is connected to the inlet of a power pump, which can be a centrifugal pump or a vacuum pump, generating suction force through mechanical power. When the power pump is operating, it draws the battery slurry into the first pipe through the opening and then extracts it from the pipe, thus forming a flow path for the battery slurry at the opening. Because the opening restricts the flow rate, a controllable and continuous flow path for the battery slurry can be formed within the container. By changing the size of the opening, flow paths with different flow rates of battery slurry can be created. In practical applications, the size of the opening can be selected according to the needs.

[0054] The first electrode is positioned close to the opening, so the flow path of the battery slurry formed at the opening passes through the first electrode, while the second electrode is also immersed in the flow path of the battery slurry. Since metal particles in the flow path affect the resistance of the battery slurry flow path, an electric field is established in the flow path by applying an external power supply to the first and second electrodes. When metal particles pass through, the change in resistance is reflected in the voltage of the battery slurry flow path. Therefore, by detecting the voltage signal between the first and second electrodes, the detection result of metal particles in the battery slurry can be determined.

[0055] Because the first and second electrodes are located in a stable flow path with controllable flow and unidirectional flow, rather than within the battery slurry throughout the container, the detection results from the first and second electrodes are more accurate. Furthermore, since the first electrode is part of the first conduit, its relative position to the opening is fixed, avoiding the inaccurate detection results caused by inaccurate installation position when the first electrode is an independent component, thus further improving detection accuracy.

[0056] The voltage acquisition unit can be a high-precision voltage measurement module. Its input terminals are connected to the first and second electrodes, respectively. Specifically, the voltage acquisition unit connects to the first electrode via a first conductor on the first pipe. When a slurry containing metal particles flows through the area between the two electrodes, the metal particles, due to their higher conductivity than the slurry matrix (such as solvents or binders), cause sudden changes in local current density, resulting in voltage signal fluctuations. The voltage acquisition unit captures these transient voltage signal fluctuations and converts them into digital signals.

[0057] The output of the voltage acquisition unit is connected to the processor, transmitting digital signals to it. The processor has built-in algorithm modules (such as Fourier transform and threshold comparison) that receive the digital signals and analyze the quantity, size, or distribution characteristics of the metal particles to obtain the detection results of metal particles in the battery slurry flowing through the first and second electrodes.

[0058] This is achievable; the processor can determine the characteristics of metal particles through the following logic.

[0059] When metal particles suspended in the battery slurry flow through the openings, they replace a corresponding volume of battery slurry, causing a momentary change in the resistance between the first and second electrodes connected to the constant current power supply, thus generating a voltage pulse.

[0060] Based on the fundamental principle of the electrical sensing zone, due to the difference in conductivity between metal particles and slurry, the generated voltage pulse signal has unique characteristics. The voltage pulse signal for non-metallic particles is positive, while the voltage pulse signal for metal particles is negative. Therefore, the presence of metal particles in the detection areas of the first and second electrodes can be determined based on the sign of the voltage pulse signal.

[0061] Furthermore, the number of times metal particles pass through can be inferred from the number of voltage pulses, thus inferring the number of metal particles in the battery slurry; the density of metal particles in the battery slurry can also be inferred from the number of times metal particles pass through.

[0062] Furthermore, the size of metal particles can be inferred from the amplitude of the voltage pulse. The specific reasons are as follows:

[0063] The formula for the voltage change when the metal particle passes between the first and second electrodes is shown in equation (1) below:

[0064] (1)

[0065] Where ΔV is the voltage change, I is the current through the opening, d is the size of the metal particle 100, ρ is the resistivity of the battery slurry (including the metal particle 100), and D is the diameter of the opening.

[0066] According to the formula, the diameter D of the opening and the magnitude I of the current passing through the opening are fixed values, and the resistivity ρ of the battery slurry does not change much. Therefore, the larger the size d of the metal particle, the larger the voltage change ΔV. That is, the voltage pulse amplitude is positively correlated with the size of the metal particle. Therefore, the size of the metal particle 100 can be inferred from the pulse amplitude.

[0067] Compared with manual sampling and testing, this embodiment greatly improves the testing efficiency and accuracy. Furthermore, because the test results are fed back in a timely manner, production personnel can shut down the coating machine in time when they see that the metal particle test results are unqualified, thereby avoiding the occurrence of batch defects in electrode sheets.

[0068] In this embodiment, the diameter of the metal particles to be detected is between 1 mm and 10 mm. Therefore, the size of the opening is generally set at the millimeter level to avoid too many metal particles entering the flow path of the battery slurry at one time, making it difficult to distinguish the size and number of metal particles based on the voltage pulse signal.

[0069] Furthermore, the diameter of the aperture should be designed to ensure that only one metal particle passes through at a time, so as to analyze the size and number of metal particles based on the voltage pulse signal. For example, the aperture size can be between 3 mm and 100 mm. If the viscosity of the battery slurry is low, the aperture can be set smaller to prevent the flow rate from being too fast and causing incomplete capture of the electrode signal; if the viscosity of the battery slurry is high, the aperture can be set larger to ensure the detection throughput.

[0070] To ensure detection effectiveness, the diameter of the aperture can be 3 to 5 times the diameter of the metal particle, such as between 3 mm and 50 mm, or more specifically, between 3 mm and 30 mm. If the aperture diameter is set to 3 times the diameter of the metal particle, when the largest metal particle in the battery slurry is approximately 10 mm, the aperture diameter can be set to approximately 30 mm; when the largest metal particle is approximately 1 mm, the aperture diameter can be set to approximately 3 mm. The aperture diameter is directly proportional to the size of the largest metal particle in the battery slurry. The larger the size of the largest metal particle, the larger the aperture diameter can be. This ensures that the metal particles in the battery slurry pass through the aperture sequentially, preventing too many metal particles from entering the slurry flow path at once, which would make it difficult to distinguish the size and number of metal particles based on the voltage pulse signal, thus ensuring detection effectiveness.

[0071] The various implementation methods of the slurry detection device will be described below. First, it should be emphasized that in this embodiment, if the first electrode is positive, then the second electrode is negative; if the first electrode is negative, then the second electrode is positive.

[0072] (1) In one implementation, the first electrode is part of the first channel, and the second electrode can be set independently of the first channel. In this way, the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode can be flexibly adjusted by moving the position of the second electrode to meet the detection of metal particles of different sizes.

[0073] The specific implementation methods include the following:

[0074] (1.1) The first electrode is located outside the first pipe, and the second electrode is located outside the first pipe and is located at the opening.

[0075] As shown in Figure 2, the first pipe 51 has an opening 510 at one end which is immersed in the battery slurry. When the power pump 52 is working, it can draw the battery slurry into the first pipe 51 through the opening 510 and then draw it out of the first pipe 51, thereby forming a flow path for the battery slurry at the opening 510. Since the opening 510 can limit the flow rate of the flow path, a flow path for the battery slurry with controllable flow rate and continuous flow can be formed in the container.

[0076] A first conductor (not shown in the figure) is embedded in the side wall of the first pipe 51. At least part of the first conductor is exposed on the outer wall of the first pipe 51 to form a first electrode 53. The first electrode 53 is located near the opening 510. That is, the first electrode 53 is part of the first pipe 51 and is located near the opening 510 outside the first pipe 51. The second electrode 54 is set independently of the first pipe 51. The second electrode 54 is set outside the first pipe 51 and is located at the opening 510.

[0077] Since both the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 are located outside the first pipe 51, they detect voltage changes in the flow path before the battery slurry flows into the opening 510. The input of the voltage acquisition device 55 is connected to the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54, respectively, and the output is connected to the processor 57. Therefore, the voltage acquisition device 55 transmits the collected voltage changes in the flow path to the processor 57. The processor 57 determines the detection result of metal particles in the battery slurry based on the voltage changes in the flow path before the battery slurry flows into the opening 510. Furthermore, since the first electrode 53 is exposed on the outer wall of the first pipe 51, the preparation method is relatively simple.

[0078] (1.2) The first electrode is located inside the first pipe, and the second electrode is located outside the first pipe and is located at the opening.

[0079] (1.21) The first electrode is located inside the first pipe and near the opening, and the second electrode is located outside the first pipe and at the opening.

[0080] As shown in Figure 3, one end of the first pipe 51 with an opening 510 is immersed in the battery slurry. When the power pump 52 is working, it can draw the battery slurry into the first pipe 51 through the opening 510 and then draw it out of the first pipe 51, thereby forming a flow path for the battery slurry at the opening 510. Since the opening 510 can limit the flow rate of the flow path, a flow path for the battery slurry with controllable flow rate and continuous flow can be formed in the container.

[0081] The first conductor is embedded in the side wall of the first pipe 51, and at least part of the first conductor is exposed on the inner wall of the first pipe 51 to form the first electrode 53. The first electrode 53 is located near the opening 510. That is, the first electrode 53 is part of the first pipe 51 and is located near the opening 510 inside the first pipe 51. The second electrode 54 is set independently of the first pipe 51. The second electrode 54 is set outside the first pipe 51 and is located at the opening 510.

[0082] Since the first electrode 53 is exposed on the inner wall of the first pipe 51 and is located near the opening 510 on the inner side of the first pipe 51, and the second electrode 54 is located on the outer side of the first pipe 51 and at the opening 510, the second electrode 54 is located at the inlet of the battery slurry flow path formed at the opening 510, and the first electrode 53 is located at the outlet of the battery slurry flow path formed at the opening 510. The detection area is more accurate, and the instantaneous voltage change when metal particles enter the flow path can be captured, thus improving the real-time detection performance.

[0083] The first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 detect the voltage change of the battery slurry flow path from entering the opening 510 to exiting the opening 510. This avoids interference from the flow of battery slurry outside the first pipe 51 on the detection results of the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54, thus improving detection accuracy. The input terminal of the voltage acquisition unit 55 is connected to the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 respectively, and the output terminal is connected to the processor 57. Therefore, the voltage acquisition unit 55 transmits the collected voltage change of the flow path to the processor 57. The processor 57 determines the detection result of metal particles in the battery slurry based on the voltage change of the battery slurry flow path from entering the opening 510 to exiting the opening 510.

[0084] (1.22) The first electrode is located inside the first pipe and is opposite to the opening, and the second electrode is located outside the first pipe and at the opening, and the positions of the first electrode, the opening and the second electrode are on the same straight line.

[0085] As shown in Figure 4, one end of the first pipe 51 with an opening 510 is immersed in the battery slurry. When the power pump 52 is working, it can draw the battery slurry into the first pipe 51 through the opening 510 and then draw it out of the first pipe 51, thereby forming a flow path for the battery slurry at the opening 510. Since the opening 510 can limit the flow rate of the flow path, a flow path for the battery slurry with controllable flow rate and continuous flow can be formed in the container.

[0086] The first conductor is embedded in the side wall of the first pipe 51, and at least part of the first conductor is exposed on the inner wall of the first pipe 51 to form a first electrode 53. The first electrode 53 is located near the opening 510. That is, the first electrode 53 is part of the first pipe 51 and is located inside the first pipe 51 opposite to the opening 510. The second electrode 54 is set independently of the first pipe 51 and is located outside the first pipe 51 and at the opening 510.

[0087] Since the first electrode 53 is exposed on the inner wall of the first pipe 51 and is positioned opposite the opening 510, and the second electrode 54 is positioned outside the first pipe 51 and at the opening 510, the positions of the first electrode 53, the opening 510, and the second electrode 54 are on the same straight line. This allows the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 to be accurately positioned on the flow path of the battery slurry formed by the opening 510, which has a controllable flow rate and is continuous, thereby further improving the accuracy of the detection results. Moreover, it can capture the instantaneous voltage change when metal particles enter the flow path, thereby improving the real-time performance of the detection.

[0088] The input terminals of the voltage acquisition unit 55 are connected to the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54, respectively, and the output terminal is connected to the processor 57. Therefore, the voltage acquisition unit 55 transmits the collected voltage changes in the flow path to the processor 57. The processor 57 determines the detection result of metal particles in the battery slurry based on the voltage changes in the battery slurry flow path.

[0089] It should be noted that in the slurry detection device implemented as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the other end of the first pipe 51 is directly connected to the power pump 52. In this way, there is no need to set up an additional pipe to connect the power pump 52, which further reduces the number of components in the slurry detection device and lowers the cost.

[0090] However, it should be noted that the slurry detection device structures shown in Figures 2 to 4 are merely illustrative examples. In practical applications, as shown in Figure 5, the first pipe 51 can be connected to the power pump 52 via the extraction pipe 56. In this way, multiple first pipes 51 with different opening diameters 510 can be provided. By replacing the first pipe 51 connected to the extraction pipe 56, the detection of metal particles of different sizes can be satisfied, thus improving the versatility of the detection device.

[0091] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of the slurry detection device with an added extraction pipe 56 as an example of the embodiment shown in Figure 4. Figure 5 is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting. In practical applications, the slurry detection devices shown in Figures 2 and 3 can also be modified by adding an extraction pipe 56 to form new implementations. To avoid redundancy, this embodiment will not elaborate further.

[0092] In one feasible implementation, as shown in Figures 2 to 4, the slurry detection device 5 further includes a display 58, which is connected to the processor 57 and is used to display the voltage signal of the flow path and the detection results.

[0093] In this embodiment, the operator can directly observe the voltage fluctuation curve and test results through the display 58, which facilitates quick judgment of the battery slurry quality.

[0094] It is possible to store historical test data and results of battery slurry in processor 57, support the retrieval and comparison of historical data, and provide a visual basis for optimizing process parameters (such as stirring time and raw material ratio).

[0095] In this embodiment, the display 58 and the processor 57 can be integrated into the same device; for example, the display 58 and the processor 57 can be implemented using an industrial control computer. In practical applications, the display 58 and the processor 57 can also be implemented using different devices, and this embodiment does not impose any restrictions.

[0096] In one feasible implementation, as shown in FIG6, the slurry detection device 5 further includes: a return pipe 59, the inlet of which is connected to the outlet of the power pump 52, and the outlet of the return pipe 59 is connected to the container; the power pump 52 is also used to send the battery slurry extracted from the container into the return pipe 59 and return it from the return pipe 59 to the container.

[0097] In this embodiment, a return pipe 59 is added. The power pump 52 will send the battery slurry extracted from the first pipe 51 back to the container holding the battery slurry through the return pipe 59, so as to realize the closed-loop flow of the battery slurry and avoid sampling waste.

[0098] It is feasible to place the inlet of the return pipe 59 at the top of the container. The battery slurry in the return pipe 59 may contain a large number of air bubbles. In order to avoid the battery slurry being introduced into the container through air bubbles, the inlet of the return pipe 59 is placed at the top of the container, so that the returned battery slurry flows back into the container from the top of the container, thereby avoiding the introduction of a large number of air bubbles.

[0099] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of the slurry detection device with the addition of a return pipe 59 as an example of the embodiment shown in Figure 4. Figure 6 is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting. In practical applications, a return pipe 59 can also be added to the slurry detection devices shown in Figures 2 and 3 to form new implementations. To avoid redundancy, this embodiment will not elaborate further.

[0100] In one feasible implementation, as shown in FIG7, the slurry detection device 5 further includes: a recovery pipe 60, a controller, a first control valve 61, and a second control valve 62; the inlet of the recovery pipe 60 is connected to the outlet of the power pump 52 through the first control valve 61, and the inlet of the return pipe 59 is connected through the second control valve 62; the first control valve 61 is a normally closed valve, and the second control valve 62 is a normally open valve; the controller is connected to the processor 57 and is also connected to the first control valve 61 and the second control valve 62, and is used to control the second control valve 62 to close and the first control valve 61 to open when the processor 57 determines that the metal particles 100 in the battery slurry are unqualified.

[0101] In this embodiment, a recycling pipe 60, a controller (not shown in the figure), a first control valve 61 and a second control valve 62 are added to control the diversion of unqualified slurry in conjunction with the processor 57.

[0102] The first control valve 61 and the second control valve 62 can be implemented using a three-way valve. One end of the three-way valve is connected to the outlet of the power pump 52, and the other two ends are connected to the inlet of the return pipe 59 and the inlet of the recovery pipe 60.

[0103] The controller can be directly integrated into the three-way valve, or the controller can be divided into a first controller and a second controller, which are integrated into the first control valve 61 and the second control valve 62 respectively.

[0104] The processor 57 and the controller can be connected wirelessly or via a wired connection. The first control valve 61 is a normally closed valve, and the second control valve 62 is a normally open valve. Under normal circumstances, the power pump 52 draws the battery slurry from the first pipe 51 and flows it back into the return pipe 59 via the second control valve 62, returning it to the container. However, if the processor 57 determines that the battery slurry contains substandard metal particles, it sends an open signal to the first control valve 61 and a close signal to the second control valve 62. The controller then controls the first control valve 61 to open and the second control valve 62 to close. Thus, when the battery slurry fails the metal particle detection test, the power pump 52 draws the battery slurry from the first pipe 51 and flows it back into the recovery pipe 60 via the first control valve 61, recovering the battery slurry containing substandard metal particles. This prevents the substandard metal particles from re-contaminating the battery slurry in the container, thereby reducing downtime losses.

[0105] It is feasible to install a recycling container 63 at the outlet of the recycling pipe 60 for recycling battery slurry containing unqualified metal particles. The battery slurry in the recycling container 63 can still be recycled after the metal particles are removed, thus avoiding waste of battery slurry.

[0106] This embodiment realizes closed-loop control of the entire process from online sampling and high-precision detection of battery slurry to automatic sorting, solving the problems of reliability, efficiency and cost of online detection of metal particles in battery slurry.

[0107] Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of the slurry detection device, which is an example of the embodiment shown in Figure 4, with the addition of a return pipe 59, a recovery pipe 60, a controller, and other components. Figure 7 is only an example and is not intended to be limiting. In practical applications, the slurry detection devices shown in Figures 2 and 3 can also be modified by adding a return pipe 59, a recovery pipe 60, a controller, and other components to form new implementations. To avoid redundancy, these will not be described in this embodiment.

[0108] Based on the above implementation methods, it is possible to achieve a distance between the second electrode 54 and the opening 510 when the second electrode 54 is located outside the first pipe 51 and at the opening 510, with the distance between the second electrode 54 and the opening 510 being between 10 mm and 12 mm. This is because if the second electrode 54 is too close to the opening 510, it is easily affected by the impact of slurry flow, while if it is too far away, the electric field strength will be insufficient. This range balances the detection sensitivity and anti-interference ability. Furthermore, the electric field between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 covers the area near the opening 510, ensuring that metal particles are detected immediately after entering the flow path.

[0109] It is worth noting that the distance between the second electrode 54 and the opening 510 of the first pipe 51 is adapted to an opening diameter of about 30 mm. If the opening diameter is small, the distance between the second electrode 54 and the opening 510 of the first pipe 51 can be reduced accordingly; if the opening diameter is large, the distance between the second electrode 54 and the opening 510 of the first pipe 51 can be increased accordingly.

[0110] In this embodiment, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 should not be too small, as this could easily lead to short circuits and make it difficult to capture the voltage pulse signal due to the short signal duration when the metal particles pass through. Conversely, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 should not be too large, as this could result in too many metal particles in the electric field formed between them, making voltage signal analysis difficult. Therefore, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 can be set between 30 mm and 40 mm to ensure the signal duration when particles pass through while facilitating voltage signal analysis by the processor 57.

[0111] To accommodate an opening 510 with a diameter of approximately 30 mm, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 is approximately 35 mm. If the diameter of the opening 510 is small, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 can be reduced accordingly. If the diameter of the opening 510 is large, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 can be increased accordingly.

[0112] It should be noted that after determining the distance between the second electrode 54 and the opening 510, the position of the first electrode 53 in the first pipe 51 and the diameter of the first pipe 51 can be set according to the distance requirement between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 to meet the distance requirement between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54.

[0113] It is worth noting that the detection requirements of metal particles of different sizes can be adapted by adjusting the diameter of the opening 510, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54, and the distance between the second electrode 54 and the opening 510 of the first pipe 51.

[0114] (2) In another implementation, the first pipe is made of insulating material, and a first conductor and a second conductor are embedded in the side wall of the first pipe. At least a portion of the first conductor is exposed on the side wall of the first pipe to form a first electrode, and at least a portion of the second conductor is exposed on the side wall of the first pipe to form a second electrode. The first conductor and the second conductor are arranged alternately, and the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged alternately. That is to say, the first electrode and the second electrode are both part of the first pipe. In this way, there is no need to set separate first electrode and second electrode, which further reduces the components of the slurry detection device and reduces the cost. Moreover, the relative positions of the first electrode and the second electrode on the first pipe are fixed, which avoids the situation where the detection result is inaccurate due to the inaccurate setting position of the second electrode. Furthermore, the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged alternately to avoid short circuit between the first electrode and the second electrode.

[0115] The specific implementation methods include the following:

[0116] (2.1) The first electrode is located inside the first pipe, and the second electrode is located outside the first pipe.

[0117] (2.11) In one implementation, the first electrode is located inside the first pipe, the second electrode is located outside the first pipe, and both the first electrode and the second electrode are located near the opening.

[0118] As shown in Figure 8, one end of the first pipe 51 with an opening 510 is immersed in the battery slurry. When the power pump 52 is working, it can draw the battery slurry into the first pipe 51 through the opening 510 and then draw it out of the first pipe 51, thereby forming a flow path for the battery slurry at the opening 510. Since the opening 510 can limit the flow rate of the flow path, a flow path for the battery slurry with controllable flow rate and continuous flow can be formed in the container.

[0119] The first pipe 51 is made of insulating material. A first conductor and a second conductor (not shown in the figure) are embedded in the side wall of the first pipe 51. At least part of the first conductor is exposed on the inner wall of the first pipe 51 to form a first electrode 53, and at least part of the second conductor is exposed on the outer wall of the first pipe 51 to form a second electrode 54. The first conductor and the second conductor are arranged alternately, and the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 are arranged alternately. The first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 are located near the opening 510.

[0120] Since the first electrode 53 is located inside the first pipe 51 and the second electrode 54 is located outside the first pipe 51, and both the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 are located near the opening 510, the first electrode 53 is located at the outlet of the flow path formed by the opening 510, and the second electrode 54 is located at the inlet of the flow path formed by the opening 510. The first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 can capture the instantaneous voltage change when metal particles enter the flow path in a timely manner, improving the real-time detection performance.

[0121] The input terminals of the voltage acquisition unit 55 are connected to the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54, respectively, and the output terminal is connected to the processor 57. Therefore, the voltage acquisition unit 55 transmits the collected voltage changes in the flow path to the processor 57. The processor 57 determines the detection result of metal particles in the battery slurry based on the voltage changes in the battery slurry flow path.

[0122] (2.12) In another implementation, the first electrode is located inside the first pipe and the second electrode is located outside the first pipe. The first electrode is positioned opposite to the opening and the second electrode is positioned near the opening.

[0123] As shown in Figure 9, one end of the first pipe 51 with an opening 510 is immersed in the battery slurry. When the power pump 52 is working, it can draw the battery slurry into the first pipe 51 through the opening 510 and then draw it out of the first pipe 51, thereby forming a flow path for the battery slurry at the opening 510. Since the opening 510 can limit the flow rate of the flow path, a flow path for the battery slurry with controllable flow rate and continuous flow can be formed in the container.

[0124] The first pipe 51 is made of insulating material. A first conductor and a second conductor are embedded in the side wall of the first pipe 51. At least a portion of the first conductor is exposed on the inner wall of the first pipe 51 to form a first electrode 53, and at least a portion of the second conductor is exposed on the outer wall of the first pipe 51 to form a second electrode 54. The first conductor and the second conductor are arranged alternately, and the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 are arranged alternately. The first electrode 53 is arranged opposite to the opening 510, and the second electrode 54 is arranged near the opening 510.

[0125] Since the first electrode 53 is located inside the first pipe 51 and the second electrode 54 is located outside the first pipe 51, with the first electrode 53 positioned opposite the opening 510 and the second electrode 54 positioned near the opening 510, the second electrode 54 is located at the inlet of the flow path formed by the opening 510. The first electrode 53 is spaced a certain distance from the opening 510. This results in a longer flow path between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54, avoiding the situation where the flow path is too short and the instantaneous voltage change is too rapid to accurately capture, thus improving detection accuracy.

[0126] The input terminals of the voltage acquisition unit 55 are connected to the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54, respectively, and the output terminal is connected to the processor 57. Therefore, the voltage acquisition unit 55 transmits the collected voltage changes in the flow path to the processor 57. The processor 57 determines the detection result of metal particles in the battery slurry based on the voltage changes in the battery slurry flow path.

[0127] (2.2) Both the first electrode and the second electrode are located inside the first pipe.

[0128] As shown in Figure 10, one end of the first pipe 51 with an opening 510 is immersed in the battery slurry. When the power pump 52 is working, it can draw the battery slurry into the first pipe 51 through the opening 510 and then draw it out of the first pipe 51, thereby forming a flow path for the battery slurry at the opening 510. Since the opening 510 can limit the flow rate of the flow path, a flow path for the battery slurry with controllable flow rate and continuous flow can be formed in the container.

[0129] The first conduit 51 is made of insulating material. A first conductor and a second conductor are embedded in the side wall of the first conduit 51. At least a portion of the first conductor is exposed on the inner wall of the first conduit 51 to form a first electrode 53, and at least a portion of the second conductor is exposed on the inner wall of the first conduit 51 to form a second electrode 54. The first conductor and the second conductor are spaced apart, and the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 are spaced apart. Both the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 are located inside the first conduit. The second electrode 54 is located at the outlet of the flow path formed by the opening 510. The first electrode 53 is positioned opposite to the opening 510. In this way, the length of the flow path between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 is relatively long, avoiding the situation where the flow path is too short and the instantaneous voltage change is too fast to be accurately captured, thus improving the detection accuracy.

[0130] The input terminals of the voltage acquisition unit 55 are connected to the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54, respectively, and the output terminal is connected to the processor 57. Therefore, the voltage acquisition unit 55 transmits the collected voltage changes in the flow path to the processor 57. The processor 57 determines the detection result of metal particles in the battery slurry based on the voltage changes in the battery slurry flow path.

[0131] It should be noted that in the slurry detection device implemented as shown in Figures 8 to 10, the other end of the first pipe 51 is directly connected to the power pump 52. In this way, there is no need to set up an additional pipe to connect the power pump 52, which further reduces the number of components in the slurry detection device and lowers the cost.

[0132] However, it should be noted that the slurry detection device structures shown in Figures 8 to 10 are merely illustrative examples. In practical applications, as shown in Figure 11, the first pipe 51 can be connected to the power pump 52 via the extraction pipe 56. In this way, multiple first pipes 51 with different opening diameters 510 can be provided. By replacing the first pipe 51 connected to the extraction pipe 56, the detection of metal particles of different sizes can be satisfied, thus improving the versatility of the detection device.

[0133] Figure 11 shows a schematic diagram of the slurry detection device with an added extraction pipe 56 as an example of the embodiment shown in Figure 9. Figure 11 is only for illustrative purposes and is not intended to be limiting. In practical applications, the slurry detection device shown in Figures 8 and 10 can also be supplemented with an extraction pipe 56 to form a new implementation. To avoid redundancy, this embodiment will not elaborate further.

[0134] In one feasible implementation, as shown in Figures 8 to 10, the slurry detection device 5 further includes a display 58, which is connected to the processor 57 and is used to display the voltage signal of the flow path and the detection results.

[0135] In this embodiment, the operator can directly observe the voltage fluctuation curve and test results through the display 58, which facilitates quick judgment of the battery slurry quality.

[0136] It is possible to store historical test data and results of battery slurry in processor 57, support the retrieval and comparison of historical data, and provide a visual basis for optimizing process parameters (such as stirring time and raw material ratio).

[0137] In this embodiment, the display 58 and the processor 57 can be integrated into the same device; for example, the display 58 and the processor 57 can be implemented using an industrial control computer. In practical applications, the display 58 and the processor 57 can also be implemented using different devices, and this embodiment does not impose any restrictions.

[0138] In one feasible implementation, as shown in FIG12, the slurry detection device 5 further includes: a return pipe 59, the inlet of which is connected to the outlet of the power pump 52, and the outlet of the return pipe 59 is connected to the container; the power pump 52 is also used to send the battery slurry extracted from the container into the return pipe 59 and return it from the return pipe 59 to the container.

[0139] In this embodiment, a return pipe 59 is added. The power pump 52 will send the battery slurry extracted from the first pipe 51 back to the container holding the battery slurry through the return pipe 59, so as to realize the closed-loop flow of the battery slurry and avoid sampling waste.

[0140] It is feasible to place the inlet of the return pipe 59 at the top of the container. The battery slurry in the return pipe 59 may contain a large number of air bubbles. In order to avoid the battery slurry being introduced into the container through air bubbles, the inlet of the return pipe 59 is placed at the top of the container, so that the returned battery slurry flows back into the container from the top of the container, thereby avoiding the introduction of a large number of air bubbles.

[0141] Figure 12 shows a schematic diagram of the slurry detection device with the addition of a return pipe 59 as an example of the embodiment shown in Figure 9. Figure 12 is only an example and is not intended to be limiting. In practical applications, a return pipe 59 can also be added to the slurry detection devices shown in Figures 8 and 10 to form new implementations. To avoid redundancy, this embodiment will not elaborate further.

[0142] In one feasible implementation, as shown in FIG13, the slurry detection device 5 further includes: a recovery pipe 60, a controller, a first control valve 61, and a second control valve 62; the inlet of the recovery pipe 60 is connected to the outlet of the power pump 52 through the first control valve 61, and the inlet of the return pipe 59 is connected through the second control valve 62; the first control valve 61 is a normally closed valve, and the second control valve 62 is a normally open valve; the controller is connected to the processor 57 and is also connected to the first control valve 61 and the second control valve 62, and is used to control the second control valve 62 to close and the first control valve 61 to open when the processor 57 determines that the metal particles 100 in the battery slurry are unqualified.

[0143] In this embodiment, a recycling pipe 60, a controller (not shown in the figure), a first control valve 61 and a second control valve 62 are added to control the diversion of unqualified slurry in conjunction with the processor 57.

[0144] The first control valve 61 and the second control valve 62 can be implemented using a three-way valve. One end of the three-way valve is connected to the outlet of the power pump 52, and the other two ends are connected to the inlet of the return pipe 59 and the inlet of the recovery pipe 60.

[0145] The controller can be directly integrated into the three-way valve, or the controller can be divided into a first controller and a second controller, which are integrated into the first control valve 61 and the second control valve 62 respectively.

[0146] The processor 57 and the controller can be connected wirelessly or via a wired connection. The first control valve 61 is a normally closed valve, and the second control valve 62 is a normally open valve. Under normal circumstances, the power pump 52 draws the battery slurry from the first pipe 51 and flows it back into the return pipe 59 via the second control valve 62, returning it to the container. However, if the processor 57 determines that the battery slurry contains substandard metal particles, it sends an open signal to the first control valve 61 and a close signal to the second control valve 62. The controller then controls the first control valve 61 to open and the second control valve 62 to close. Thus, when the battery slurry fails the metal particle detection test, the power pump 52 draws the battery slurry from the first pipe 51 and flows it back into the recovery pipe 60 via the first control valve 61, recovering the battery slurry containing substandard metal particles. This prevents the substandard metal particles from re-contaminating the battery slurry in the container, thereby reducing downtime losses.

[0147] It is feasible to install a recycling container 63 at the outlet of the recycling pipe 60 for recycling battery slurry containing unqualified metal particles. The battery slurry in the recycling container 63 can still be recycled after the metal particles are removed, thus avoiding waste of battery slurry.

[0148] This embodiment realizes closed-loop control of the entire process from online sampling and high-precision detection of battery slurry to automatic sorting, solving the problems of reliability, efficiency and cost of online detection of metal particles in battery slurry.

[0149] Figure 13 shows a schematic diagram of the slurry detection device, which is an example of the embodiment shown in Figure 9, with the addition of a return pipe 59, a recovery pipe 60, a controller, and other components. Figure 13 is only an example and is not intended to be limiting. In practical applications, the slurry detection devices shown in Figures 8 and 10 can also be modified by adding a return pipe 59, a recovery pipe 60, a controller, and other components to form new implementations. To avoid redundancy, these will not be described in this embodiment.

[0150] Based on the above implementation methods, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 should not be too small, as this could easily lead to short circuits and make it difficult to capture the voltage pulse signal due to the short signal duration when the metal particles pass through. Conversely, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 should not be too large, as this could result in too many metal particles within the electric field formed between them, making voltage signal analysis difficult. Therefore, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 can be set between 30 mm and 40 mm to ensure the signal duration when particles pass through while facilitating voltage signal analysis by the processor 57.

[0151] It is worth noting that, in the structure shown in Figure 8, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 is the sidewall thickness of the first pipe 51; in the structure shown in Figure 9, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 is the inner diameter of the first pipe 51 plus the sidewall thickness; and in the structure shown in Figure 10, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 is the inner diameter of the first pipe 51. Therefore, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 can be changed by adjusting the inner diameter or the sidewall thickness of the first pipe 51. Thus, the diameter of the first pipe 51 can be between 30 mm and 40 mm to meet the distance requirements between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54.

[0152] To accommodate an opening 510 with a diameter of approximately 30 mm, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 is approximately 35 mm. If the diameter of the opening 510 is small, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 can be reduced accordingly. If the diameter of the opening 510 is large, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54 can be increased accordingly.

[0153] It is worth noting that the detection requirements of metal particles of different sizes can be adapted by adjusting the diameter of the opening 510, the distance between the first electrode 53 and the second electrode 54, and the distance between the second electrode 54 and the opening 510 of the first pipe 51.

[0154] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the slurry testing device of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

[0155] This application also provides a battery production apparatus, which includes: a container for storing battery slurry, the container's outlet being connected to a coating machine, and a slurry detection device as described in any of the above embodiments disposed on the container. The container for storing the battery slurry may be a buffer tank.

[0156] In one feasible implementation, the slurry detection device is connected to the coating machine. If the slurry detection device detects that the metal particles do not meet the detection requirements, it sends a stop signal to the coating machine.

[0157] Specifically, if the slurry detection device is not equipped with a recycling pipe, the processor of the slurry detection device can be connected to the coating machine. When the processor detects that the metal particles are not qualified according to the voltage pulse signal, in order to prevent the unqualified metal particles that have entered the first pipe from flowing back into the container, a stop signal needs to be sent to the coating machine and the unqualified metal particles in the first pipe need to be manually handled.

[0158] The above description is only a part of the embodiments of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. All equivalent structural transformations made under the technical concept of this application and using the contents of the specification and drawings of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included in the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A slurry testing device, characterized in that, The device for detecting metal particles in battery slurry within a container includes: a first pipe, a first conductor embedded in the sidewall of the first pipe, with at least a portion of the first conductor exposed on the sidewall of the first pipe to form a first electrode, an opening on the sidewall of the first pipe, the first electrode positioned close to the opening, and one end of the first pipe with the opening immersed in the battery slurry; a power pump, the inlet of which is connected to the other end of the first pipe, for drawing the battery slurry from the opening into and out of the first pipe, forming a flow path for the battery slurry at the opening, the opening being used to limit the flow rate of the flow path; a second electrode, spaced apart from the first electrode and immersed in the flow path of the battery slurry; a voltage acquisition unit connected between the first electrode and the second electrode, for acquiring the voltage signal of the flow path when the first electrode and the second electrode are powered on; and a processor connected to the voltage acquisition unit, for determining the detection result of metal particles in the battery slurry based on the voltage signal of the flow path.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The first electrode is located inside the first pipe, and the second electrode is located outside the first pipe and is disposed at the opening.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first electrode is disposed opposite to the opening, and the positions of the first electrode, the opening and the second electrode are located on the same straight line.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The distance between the second electrode and the opening is between 10 mm and 12 mm.

5. The apparatus as described in any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is between 30 mm and 40 mm.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The first pipe is made of an insulating material, and a second conductor is embedded in the side wall of the first pipe. At least a portion of the second conductor is exposed on the side wall of the first pipe to form the second electrode.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that, The first electrode is disposed opposite to the opening, and the second electrode is disposed near the opening.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The diameter of the first pipe is between 30 mm and 40 mm.

9. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The diameter of the opening is between 3 mm and 30 mm.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The first pipe is connected to the power pump via a liquid extraction pipe, or the other end of the first pipe is connected to the power pump.

11. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The device further includes: a return pipe, the inlet of which is connected to the outlet of the power pump, and the outlet of which is connected to the container; the power pump is also used to send the battery slurry extracted from the first pipe into the return pipe and return it from the return pipe to the container.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that, The device further includes: a recovery pipeline, a controller, a first control valve, and a second control valve; the inlet of the recovery pipeline is connected to the outlet of the power pump through the first control valve, and the inlet of the return pipeline is connected through the second control valve; the first control valve is a normally closed valve, and the second control valve is a normally open valve; the controller is connected to the processor and also to the first control valve and the second control valve, and is used to control the second control valve to close and the first control valve to open when the processor determines that the metal particles in the battery slurry are unqualified.

13. A battery manufacturing apparatus, characterized in that, The battery production equipment includes: a container for storing battery slurry, the outlet of the container being connected to a coating machine, and a slurry detection device disposed in the container as described in any one of claims 1-12.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that, The slurry detection device is connected to the coating machine. If the slurry detection device detects that the metal particles in the battery slurry are not up to standard, it sends a stop signal to the coating machine.

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