An apparatus for testing the acid injection speed of an AGM separator by simulating the acid injection process of a lead-acid battery

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of equipment for simulating lead-acid battery acid injection process test AGM separator acid injection speed, its effective solution traditional equipment in environment simulation, pressure condition and the deficiency of diffusion mechanism, significantly improve laboratory test data and the matching precision of actual acid injection process.It is characterized in that, it includes: vertical support;Liquid separation funnel;Acid injection kettle;Simulation battery unit, it includes simulation battery unit transparent shell, simulation battery unit lid, simulation polar plate, acid injection hole is provided on simulation battery unit lid, exhaust hole;Pressure testing device, it includes pressure sensor sheet, pressure display;Anti-suckback device;Vacuum pumping device;AGM separator to be tested, AGM separator to be tested is cut into the sample piece suitable for simulation battery unit transparent shell cavity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of lead-acid battery acid injection process testing, specifically a device for simulating the acid injection process of lead-acid batteries and testing the acid injection speed of AGM separators. Background Technology

[0002] Lead-acid batteries, with their significant advantages of low cost and high safety, are widely used in several key areas such as automotive start-stop systems, backup power for communication base stations, and renewable energy storage. As a core component of valve-regulated sealed lead-acid batteries, the AGM separator, with its unique porous structure and excellent liquid absorption and retention properties, successfully achieves a starved-liquid sealing design, which not only greatly improves battery safety but also significantly extends its service life. However, if the acid injection rate of the AGM separator is too slow, it will severely disrupt the acid injection process, leading to a significant reduction in the production efficiency of lead-acid batteries and causing irreversible negative impacts on the initial performance and cycle life of the batteries. Therefore, in-depth research into the impact of the AGM separator acid injection rate on the acid injection process is of vital importance for optimizing production processes, improving product quality, and increasing production efficiency.

[0003] Currently, the equipment used to test the acid injection rate of AGM separators is based on the national standard GB / T 28535-2018 7.1.9.2, employing simple devices such as beakers, stopwatches, and clamps. It roughly assesses the acid injection rate by testing the acid absorption rate of the AGM separator. However, this existing testing equipment has significant technical shortcomings: 1. Lack of environmental simulation: Actual acid injection processes are usually carried out in a vacuum environment, but existing equipment cannot simulate real non-vacuum working conditions, resulting in a disconnect between test conditions and actual application scenarios; 2. Incompatible pressure conditions: During the actual acid injection process, the AGM battery separator is in a tightly assembled state, and the normal pressure is about 50 kPa. However, the existing equipment does not meet this critical pressure condition, which affects the accuracy of the test results. 3. Differences in diffusion mechanisms: In actual acid injection processes, sulfuric acid diffuses from the periphery to the center. Only the speed at which sulfuric acid reaches the center can truly reflect the performance of the acid injection speed. However, existing equipment cannot simulate this diffusion process and cannot accurately evaluate the true performance of the acid injection speed. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a device for simulating the acid injection process of lead-acid batteries and testing the acid injection speed of AGM separators. It effectively solves the shortcomings of traditional equipment in terms of environmental simulation, pressure conditions, and diffusion mechanisms, and significantly improves the matching accuracy between laboratory test data and actual acid injection processes.

[0005] A device for simulating the acid injection process of lead-acid batteries and testing the acid injection rate of AGM separators, characterized in that it comprises: Vertical support frame; Separating funnel; Acid-pouring pot; A simulated battery unit includes a transparent shell, a cover, and simulated plates. The cover has an acid injection hole and a vent hole. A pressure testing device, comprising a pressure sensor and a pressure display. Anti-backflow device; Vacuum pumping device; The AGM separator to be tested is cut into a sample that fits the transparent housing cavity of the simulated battery cell. A liquid-dispensing funnel is fixed at the upper part of the vertical support. The liquid-dispensing funnel is connected to the acid injection vessel through an acid injection rubber tube. The output end of the acid injection vessel is connected to the acid injection hole. The vent hole is connected to the inlet of the anti-backflow device through a gas guide rubber tube. The outlet of the anti-backflow device is connected to a vacuum device through an external pipeline. Several AGM separator samples to be tested cover the simulated electrode plates to form small units. Several small units are stacked from front to back to form a simulated cluster. The simulated cluster is placed in the inner cavity of the transparent shell of the simulated battery unit. A pressure sensor is provided on the inner surface of the front end plate of the transparent shell of the simulated battery unit. The pressure sensor is connected to an external pressure display through a circuit. The AGM separator sample of the frontmost small unit is arranged close to the pressure sensor.

[0006] Its further features are: The simulated electrode plate is a plastic plate with thickness. The assembly pressure required for testing can be achieved by increasing or decreasing the number and thickness of the simulated electrode plates. The vacuuming device includes a vacuum gauge, a three-way valve, a ball valve, and a vacuum pump. The outlet of the anti-backflow device is connected to one end of the first three-way valve through a first pipeline. The other end of the first three-way valve is connected to one end of the second three-way valve through a second pipeline. The third end of the first three-way valve is connected to the vacuum gauge through a fourth pipeline. The second end of the second three-way valve is connected to the vacuum pump through a third pipeline. The third end of the second three-way valve is connected to the ball valve through a fifth pipeline. The vacuum gauge displays whether the simulated battery cell has reached the required vacuum level. The vacuum level of the simulated battery cell can be adjusted to the required value by adjusting the ball valve. The vacuum pump can extract the gas from the entire instrument to match the vacuum level. The simulated battery cell cover and the upper recess of the simulated battery cell transparent shell are fitted together and further sealed with tape; The vertical support is a laboratory iron stand with an iron ring. The separatory funnel is placed inside the iron ring, and the height of the separatory funnel is higher than the top inlet of the acid injection vessel.

[0007] After adopting the solution of this utility model, the AGM separator to be tested is cut into sample pieces. Then, the cut sample pieces are folded in half along the center to wrap a simulated electrode plate. The mesh surface or the blanket surface is adjusted to be on the outside according to the actual wrapping situation of the client. This forms a small unit of the simulated battery cluster. After cleaning the inside of the transparent shell of the simulated battery unit and the surface of the pressure sensor, the pressure display is turned on and zeroed. The stacked small units are stacked together to form a simulated cluster of lead-acid batteries. The simulated cluster is inserted into the cavity of the transparent shell of the simulated battery unit. The assembly pressure of the simulated cluster at that time is read through the pressure display. The assembly pressure required for the test is achieved by increasing or decreasing the number and thickness of the simulated electrode plates. Finally, the simulated battery unit cover is installed on the simulated battery. The upper part of the transparent shell of the cell unit forms a complete simulated battery unit. The acid injection vessel is connected to the simulated battery unit, and the acid injection vessel is connected to the separatory funnel. The vent is connected to the anti-backflow device, and the anti-backflow device is connected to the vacuum device. After the instrument is set up, the prepared sulfuric acid is added to the separatory funnel, and the lid of the separatory funnel is opened. The vacuum device is used to make the cavity reach the set value. After acid injection, the time it takes for the sulfuric acid to reach the center point of the AGM separator inside the simulated battery unit is observed and recorded. The acid injection speed of different AGM separators under the same acid injection process conditions is compared by the speed of time. It effectively solves the shortcomings of traditional equipment in terms of environmental simulation, pressure conditions and diffusion mechanisms, and significantly improves the matching accuracy between laboratory test data and actual acid injection process. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a simplified structural diagram of the present invention; The names corresponding to the serial numbers in the diagram are as follows: Laboratory iron stand 1, separatory funnel 2, acid injection rubber tube 3, acid injection pot 4, acid injection hole 5, vent hole 6, simulated battery cell cover 7, simulated battery cell transparent shell 8, AGM separator 9, simulated electrode plate 10, pressure sensor 11, pressure display 12, gas guide rubber tube 13, anti-backflow device 14, vacuum gauge 15, first three-way valve 16, ball valve 17, vacuum pump 18, second three-way valve 19. Detailed Implementation

[0009] A device for simulating the lead-acid battery acid injection process and testing the acid injection speed of AGM separators, see [link to device]. Figure 1 It includes: a vertical support, a separating funnel 2, an acid injection vessel 4, a simulated battery unit, and a pressure testing device, which includes a pressure sensor 11, a pressure display 12, an anti-backflow device 14, a vacuum device, and an AGM separator 9 to be tested. The simulated battery unit includes a transparent shell 8, a cover 7, and simulated plates 10. The cover 7 is provided with an acid injection hole 5 and a vent hole 6. The pressure testing device includes a pressure sensor 11 and a pressure display 12; The AGM separator 9 to be tested was cut into a sample to fit the transparent housing 8 cavity of the simulated battery cell; A liquid-dispensing funnel 2 is fixed at the upper part of the vertical support. The liquid-dispensing funnel 2 is connected to the acid injection pot 4 through the acid injection rubber tube 3. The output end of the acid injection pot 4 is connected to the acid injection hole 5. The exhaust hole 6 is connected to the inlet of the anti-backflow device 14 through the air guide rubber tube 13. The outlet of the anti-backflow device 14 is connected to the vacuum device through the external pipeline. Several AGM separator 9 samples to be tested cover the simulated electrode 10 plate to form a small unit. Several small units are stacked from front to back to form a simulated cluster. The simulated cluster is placed in the inner cavity of the transparent shell 8 of the simulated battery unit. A pressure sensor 11 is provided on the inner surface of the front plate of the transparent shell of the simulated battery unit. The pressure sensor 11 is connected to the external pressure display 12 through the line. The AGM separator 9 sample of the small unit at the front end is arranged close to the pressure sensor 11.

[0010] In practice, the simulated electrode plate 10 is a plastic plate with thickness. The assembly pressure required for testing can be achieved by increasing or decreasing the number and thickness of the simulated electrode plates 10. The vacuum pumping device includes a vacuum gauge 15, a first three-way valve 16, a second three-way valve 19, a ball valve 17, and a vacuum pump 18. The outlet of the anti-backflow device 14 is connected to one end of the first three-way valve 16 through a first pipeline. The other end of the first three-way valve 16 is connected to one end of the second three-way valve 19 through a second pipeline. The third end of the first three-way valve 16 is connected to the vacuum gauge 15 through a fourth pipeline. The second end of the second three-way valve 19 is connected to the vacuum pump 18 through a third pipeline. The third end of the second three-way valve 19 is connected to the ball valve 17 through a fifth pipeline. The vacuum gauge 15 displays whether the simulated battery cell has reached the required vacuum level. The vacuum level of the simulated battery cell can be adjusted to the required value by adjusting the ball valve 17. The vacuum pump 18 can extract the gas from the entire instrument to match the vacuum level. The upper recesses of the simulated battery cell cover 7 and the simulated battery cell transparent housing 8 are fitted together and further sealed with tape.

[0011] In a specific embodiment, the vertical support is a laboratory iron stand 1 with an iron ring, the separatory funnel 2 is placed inside the iron ring, and the height of the separatory funnel 2 is higher than the top inlet of the acid injection vessel 4. Separating funnel 2 is a 250ml separating funnel; acid injection vessel 4 is a 200ml acid injection vessel.

[0012] Its workflow is as follows: S1 cuts the AGM separator 9 to be tested into a sample of 160mm x 425mm. The cut AGM separator is folded in half along the center and wrapped with a simulated electrode plate 10 (i.e., a plastic plate). The mesh surface or the blanket surface is adjusted to be on the outside according to the actual wrapping situation of the client. In this way, a small unit of the simulated battery cluster is formed. After cleaning the inside of the transparent shell of the simulated battery cell and the surface of the pressure sensor plate in step S2, turn on the pressure display and reset it to zero. Stack the small units stacked in step S1 together to form a simulated cluster of lead-acid batteries. Insert the simulated cluster into the transparent shell 8 of the simulated battery cell. At the same time, ensure that the AGM separator 9 in the small unit stacked in step S1 faces the observer. The assembly pressure of the simulated cluster can be read through the pressure display 12. The assembly pressure required for the test can be achieved by increasing or decreasing the number and thickness of the simulated plates 10. S3 When the assembly pressure reaches the test requirements, the simulated battery cell cover 7 is inserted into the upper groove of the simulated battery cell transparent shell 8, and then it is further sealed with tape, thus forming a complete simulated battery cell. S4 connects the 200mL acid injection bottle 4 to the simulated battery unit made in step S3 through the acid injection hole 5 on the simulated battery unit cover 7. The top of the acid injection bottle 4 is connected to the 250mL separatory funnel 2 placed on the iron ring of the laboratory iron stand 1 through the 10mm acid injection tube 3. The air vent 6 on the cover 7 of the S5 simulated battery unit is connected to the anti-backflow device 14 through the air vent rubber tube 13. The right side of the anti-backflow device 14 is connected to the first three-way valve 16 through the air vent tube. One side of the first three-way valve 16 is connected to the vacuum gauge 15. The vacuum gauge 15 displays whether the simulated battery unit has reached the required vacuum level. The other side of the first three-way valve 16 is connected to the second three-way valve 19, which is connected to the ball valve 17. By adjusting the ball valve 17, the vacuum level of the simulated battery cell can be adjusted to the required value. The gas in the entire instrument can be extracted by the vacuum pump 18.

[0013] After setting up the instrument (S7), add the prepared sulfuric acid to the separatory funnel and open the lid (keep the lid open, as closing it may cause pressure differential problems). Turn on the vacuum pump 18 and the first three-way valve and the second three-way valve 19 to bring the entire device into a vacuum state. At this time, observe the reading on the vacuum gauge 15 and adjust the ball valve 17 to bring the reading on the vacuum gauge 15 to the set value. S8 can adjust the vacuuming time by adjusting the opening and closing of the first three-way valve 16 and the second three-way valve 19. Strictly follow the "vacuuming-acid injection-vacuuming" process of the client's acid injection process. Opening the first three-way valve 16 and the second three-way valve 19 can maintain the vacuuming state. When the first three-way valve 16 and the second three-way valve 19 are open, the vacuum pump cannot be used to draw a vacuum. Opening them again can continue vacuuming. The specific requirements can be flexibly set according to the adjustment of the client's acid injection process.

[0014] After acid injection into S9, the time it takes for sulfuric acid to reach the center point of the AGM separator 9 inside the simulated battery cell is observed and recorded. The speed of acid injection is compared between different AGM separators under the same acid injection process conditions by measuring the time.

[0015] By precisely simulating the vacuum environment in the acid injection process, dynamically adjusting the assembly pressure of the AGM separator, and recording the entire process of sulfuric acid seeping from the edge to the center of the separator in real time, the test conditions closely match the actual production process, significantly improving the accuracy and reliability of the test data and providing a credible basis for optimizing production parameters. Its innovative simulated single-cell battery technology enables the repeated recycling of core components, greatly reducing consumable consumption and significantly lowering long-term experimental costs. The use of plastic plates instead of lead plates used in traditional testing reduces lead-containing waste generation at the source, lowering the risk of environmental pollution and aligning with the concept of green production. The equipment has a simplified structural design, convenient assembly process, and clear operating steps, effectively reducing human error rates and improving testing efficiency. No toxic or harmful substances are generated or leaked during the entire testing process, completely avoiding safety hazards such as lead exposure in traditional testing and meeting laboratory safety regulations.

[0016] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that it can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered illustrative and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, it is intended that all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims be included within this invention. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

[0017] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A device for simulating the acid injection process of lead-acid batteries and testing the acid injection speed of AGM separators, characterized in that, It includes: Vertical support frame; Separating funnel; Acid-pouring pot; A simulated battery unit includes a transparent shell, a cover, and simulated plates. The cover has an acid injection hole and a vent hole. A pressure testing device, comprising a pressure sensor and a pressure display. Anti-backflow device; Vacuum pumping device; The AGM separator to be tested is cut into a sample that fits the transparent housing cavity of the simulated battery cell. A liquid-dispensing funnel is fixed at the upper part of the vertical support. The liquid-dispensing funnel is connected to the acid injection vessel through an acid injection rubber tube. The output end of the acid injection vessel is connected to the acid injection hole. The vent hole is connected to the inlet of the anti-backflow device through a gas guide rubber tube. The outlet of the anti-backflow device is connected to a vacuum device through an external pipeline. Several AGM separator samples to be tested cover the simulated electrode plates to form small units. Several small units are stacked from front to back to form a simulated cluster. The simulated cluster is placed in the inner cavity of the transparent shell of the simulated battery unit. A pressure sensor is provided on the inner surface of the front end plate of the transparent shell of the simulated battery unit. The pressure sensor is connected to an external pressure display through a circuit. The AGM separator sample of the frontmost small unit is arranged close to the pressure sensor.

2. The device for testing the acid injection rate of AGM separators in a simulated lead-acid battery acid injection process according to claim 1, characterized in that: The simulated electrode plate is a plastic plate with thickness. The assembly pressure required for testing can be achieved by increasing or decreasing the number and thickness of the simulated electrode plates.

3. The device for testing the acid injection rate of AGM separators in a simulated lead-acid battery acid injection process according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vacuuming device includes a vacuum gauge, a three-way valve, a ball valve, and a vacuum pump. The outlet of the anti-backflow device is connected to one end of the first three-way valve through a first pipeline. The other end of the first three-way valve is connected to one end of the second three-way valve through a second pipeline. The third end of the first three-way valve is connected to the vacuum gauge through a fourth pipeline. The second end of the second three-way valve is connected to the vacuum pump through a third pipeline. The third end of the second three-way valve is connected to the ball valve through a fifth pipeline.

4. The device for testing the acid injection rate of AGM separators in a simulated lead-acid battery acid injection process according to claim 3, characterized in that: The vacuum gauge displays whether the simulated battery cell has reached the required vacuum level. The vacuum level of the simulated battery cell can be adjusted to the required value by adjusting the ball valve. The vacuum pump can extract the gas from the entire instrument to achieve the required vacuum level.

5. The device for testing the acid injection rate of AGM separators in a simulated lead-acid battery acid injection process according to claim 1, characterized in that: The simulated battery cell cover and the upper recess of the simulated battery cell transparent shell are fitted together and further sealed with tape.

6. The device for testing the acid injection rate of AGM separators in a simulated lead-acid battery acid injection process according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vertical support is a laboratory iron stand with an iron ring. The separatory funnel is placed inside the iron ring, and the height of the separatory funnel is higher than the top inlet of the acid injection vessel.

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