An electrolyte pretreatment system

Abstract

This application discloses an electrolyte pretreatment system, comprising: a pretreatment unit including a first container for pretreating the electrolyte; and a cleaning unit including a second container for storing cleaning solution. The first container includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. The first inlet is used to inject electrolyte into the first container. The second container is connected to the second inlet and is used to output cleaning solution to the first container when cleaning is required. The outlet is used to output the electrolyte and / or cleaning solution from the first container. This application eliminates the need to disassemble the first container and its upstream and downstream pipelines when the pretreatment unit requires cleaning; instead, the cleaning unit is activated for online cleaning of the pretreatment unit. This reduces equipment footprint and minimizes production line downtime.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery manufacturing technology, and in particular to an electrolyte pretreatment system. Background Technology

[0002] Electrolyte is an important component of power batteries and consumer batteries. Electrolyte filling is an important step in the battery production line. During the synthesis, storage, transportation and transfer of raw materials, impurities such as microparticles, metal ions or colloids are inevitably introduced, and solvent dissolution gases or process gases are carried in to form bubbles. These impurities and bubbles will affect the purity of the electrolyte and the consistency of the electrolyte filling, which will have an adverse effect on the battery yield and cycle performance.

[0003] Therefore, before entering the electrolyte injection process, the electrolyte supplied directly from the factory usually needs to undergo pretreatment to remove particles and dissolved gases, and stabilize the electrolyte quality. A typical pretreatment process includes a filter tank, a defoaming tank, and a storage tank arranged in sequence: the electrolyte first passes through the filter tank to remove suspended particles and some colloidal impurities; then it enters the defoaming tank, where dissolved gases are released and removed through methods such as depressurization, inert gas scavenging, or stirring and settling; finally, it is introduced into the storage tank for transitional storage and pressure stabilization, from which the electrolyte is stably supplied to the injection station.

[0004] However, after a period of operation, electrolyte pretreatment equipment often accumulates a film or precipitates on the inner wall of the tank, requiring regular cleaning and maintenance. Regular disassembly and offline cleaning are cumbersome and time-consuming processes, and repeated assembly can lead to sealing risks and secondary contamination, which is detrimental to the requirements of fast-paced and high-cleanliness production. Utility Model Content

[0005] One objective of this application is to provide an electrolyte pretreatment system that addresses the technical problem in the prior art where pretreatment devices require offline cleaning and have high disassembly and assembly costs.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a solution: an electrolyte pretreatment system, comprising: a pretreatment unit including a first container for pretreating the electrolyte; and a cleaning unit including a second container for storing cleaning fluid, wherein the first container includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, the first inlet being used to inject electrolyte into the first container, the second container being connected to the second inlet and used to output cleaning fluid to the first container when the first container needs to be cleaned, and the outlet being used to output electrolyte and / or cleaning fluid from the first container.

[0007] In this application, the first container includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. When the electrolyte pretreatment system pretreats the electrolyte, the electrolyte raw material flows in through the first inlet and flows out through the outlet after treatment. The pretreatment unit performs a similar function to existing electrolyte pretreatment systems, performing pretreatment such as degassing on the electrolyte. When the pretreatment unit needs to be cleaned due to the accumulation of by-products from the electrolyte pretreatment operation, the cleaning unit injects cleaning fluid into the first container. The cleaning fluid cleans the by-products accumulated on the inner wall of the first container and then flows out through the outlet.

[0008] Compared with existing technologies, this application eliminates the need to disassemble the first container and its upstream and downstream pipelines when the pretreatment unit requires cleaning. Instead, it simply requires activating the cleaning unit for online cleaning of the pretreatment unit. This reduces equipment footprint and minimizes production line downtime. Furthermore, the technical solution of this application requires minimal modification to the pretreatment unit, only adding a second liquid inlet to the first container. This allows for rapid deployment on existing production lines, offering good compatibility and low adjustment costs whether producing new first containers with a second liquid inlet or modifying existing first containers.

[0009] According to one embodiment of this application, the cleaning unit further includes a first pipe and a control valve disposed on the first pipe, and a second container is connected to a second liquid inlet through the first pipe. The first pipe is used to inject cleaning fluid into the first container when the control valve is opened.

[0010] According to one embodiment of this application, the cleaning unit further includes a one-way valve disposed in the first pipe, the one-way valve being used to control the cleaning fluid to flow unidirectionally from the second container to the first container.

[0011] Considering that residual liquid may remain in the first container at the start of cleaning, the one-way valve prevents residual liquid from flowing into the second container and contaminating the cleaning solution. Furthermore, the one-way valve design simplifies the start-up requirements of the cleaning unit, eliminating the need to empty the first container and making operation easier.

[0012] According to one embodiment of this application, the first container further includes a stirring mechanism disposed inside the first container for stirring the liquid inside the first container.

[0013] According to one embodiment of this application, the inner wall of the first container is a rotating body; the stirring mechanism includes a driving member and a stirring rod, the axis of the rotating body passes through the driving member, the stirring rod is connected to the driving member, and the driving member is used to drive the stirring rod to rotate around the axis of the rotating body.

[0014] According to one embodiment of this application, the cleaning unit further includes a spray head, which is disposed at one end of the first tube near the second liquid inlet and at least partially located inside the first container, for spraying cleaning liquid from the first tube into the first container.

[0015] According to one embodiment of this application, the pretreatment unit further includes a filter connected to the first inlet for filtering the electrolyte before injecting it into the first container.

[0016] According to one embodiment of this application, the pretreatment unit further includes a third container connected to the liquid outlet for storing liquid from the first container.

[0017] According to one embodiment of this application, the third container is provided with a waste liquid outlet for discharging liquid from the third container when it is opened; the cleaning unit also includes a fourth container for storing the liquid discharged from the third container by the waste liquid outlet.

[0018] According to one embodiment of this application, the height of the first container does not exceed the height of the second container, and the height of the third container is less than the height of the first container.

[0019] Other advantages, objectives and features of this application will be partly apparent from the description below, and partly understood by those skilled in the art through study and practice of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0020] 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, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the electrolyte pretreatment system provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a front view of the electrolyte pretreatment system provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 3 This is a rear view of the electrolyte pretreatment system provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A magnified view of a portion of region A in the middle.

[0022] Explanation of icon numbers: 10. First container; 20. Second container; 30. Third container; 31. Waste liquid outlet; 40. Fourth container; 50. Filter; 60. First pipe; 61. First pressure valve; 70. Second pipe; 71. Second pressure valve; 80. Third pipe; 81. Third pressure valve; 90. Injection pump. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0024] In existing technologies, a pretreatment stage is typically performed on the electrolyte before it enters the cell filling process to improve material cleanliness and supply stability. A typical pretreatment device includes a filter tank, a degassing tank, and a storage tank arranged in sequence: the electrolyte first passes through the filter unit to remove suspended particles and some colloidal impurities; then it enters the degassing unit, where dissolved gases and bubbles are released and carried away through processes such as depressurization, inert gas scavenging, or stirring and settling; finally, it is introduced into the storage tank for transitional storage and pressure stabilization supply, from which the electrolyte is continuously supplied to the filling station.

[0025] However, with long-term operation of the equipment, the inner wall of the tank and related components are prone to forming a film or producing precipitates, requiring regular cleaning and maintenance. Existing solutions mostly rely on disassembling components after shutdown for offline cleaning or replacement of consumables, involving steps such as disconnecting pipelines, opening the tank, and disposing of residual liquid. This involves numerous procedures, is time-consuming, and repeated assembly may introduce sealing problems and secondary contamination risks, affecting production line continuity and cleanliness control. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a pretreatment solution that enables online cleaning and switching with minimal or no downtime, to reduce maintenance costs, shorten recovery time, and improve the stability of the liquid supply process.

[0026] To address the aforementioned technical issues, a pretreatment solution is provided that enables online cleaning and switching with minimal or no downtime, thereby reducing maintenance costs, shortening recovery time, and improving the stability of the liquid supply process. Please refer to [reference needed]. Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this application discloses an electrolyte pretreatment system, comprising: The pretreatment unit includes a first container 10 for pretreating the electrolyte; The cleaning unit includes a second container 20 for storing cleaning fluid; The first container 10 includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. The first inlet is used to inject electrolyte into the first container 10. The second container 20 is connected to the second inlet and is used to output cleaning fluid to the first container 10 when the first container 10 needs to be cleaned. The outlet is used to output the electrolyte and / or cleaning fluid in the first container 10.

[0027] In this application, the first container 10 includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. When the electrolyte pretreatment system pretreats the electrolyte, the electrolyte raw material flows in through the first inlet and flows out through the outlet after treatment. The pretreatment unit plays a similar role to existing electrolyte pretreatment systems, performing pretreatment such as degassing on the electrolyte. When the pretreatment unit needs to clean due to the accumulation of by-products from the electrolyte pretreatment operation, the cleaning unit injects cleaning liquid into the first container 10. The cleaning liquid cleans the by-products accumulated on the inner wall of the first container 10 and then flows out through the outlet.

[0028] Compared with existing technologies, this application eliminates the need to disassemble the first container 10 and its upstream and downstream pipelines when the pretreatment unit requires cleaning. Instead, it simplifies the process by activating the cleaning unit for online cleaning, resulting in less equipment usage and reduced production line downtime. Furthermore, the technical solution requires minimal modification to the pretreatment unit, only adding a second liquid inlet to the first container 10. This allows for rapid deployment on existing production lines, offering good compatibility and low adjustment costs whether producing new first containers 10 with a second liquid inlet or modifying existing ones.

[0029] For example, the electrolyte injected through the first inlet is the raw material from the factory, and the cleaning solution is a softener such as dimethyl carbonate, which achieves a better cleaning effect by softening the deposits on the inner wall of the first container 10.

[0030] It should be understood that the first container 10 is not limited to its specific function and structure. Although the structure and function of the first container 10 may be refined to some extent in subsequent embodiments, in the technical solution of this embodiment, the first container 10 is only used as the site for electrolyte pretreatment. The specific pretreatment process can be any pretreatment process such as filtration, degassing, and precipitation. As long as the cleaning liquid can achieve a certain degree of cleaning effect when injected into the first container 10 through the second inlet, it meets the definition of the relevant structure in this application. The scope of protection of this application shall not be limited based on the specific function of the first container 10.

[0031] The first and second liquid inlets should also be understood as two inlets for injecting liquid into the first container 10, and do not specifically refer to two through holes opened on the wall of the first container 10. In the field of energy storage processing, for ease of assembly, a common configuration is to extend an external liquid injection pipe out of the tank body of the first container 10. In this case, the first container 10 should be understood as the tank body and the liquid injection pipe as a whole, and the different pipe interfaces on the liquid injection pipe are regarded as the first and second liquid inlets of this application.

[0032] According to one embodiment of this application, the cleaning unit further includes a first pipe 60 and a control valve disposed on the first pipe 60. The second container 20 is connected to a second liquid inlet through the first pipe 60. The first pipe 60 is used to inject cleaning fluid into the first container 10 when the control valve is opened.

[0033] In this embodiment, the first pipe 60 is configured to inject cleaning fluid into the first container 10 when the control valve is opened. This allows the cleaning unit to control the timing of cleaning fluid injection, and the second container 20 can store cleaning fluid normally even when not in a cleaning state without affecting the operation of the pretreatment unit. That is, the operator can store the cleaning fluid required for multiple cleaning operations in the second container 20 at once. Each time a cleaning operation is needed, the control valve opens, briefly injects cleaning fluid into the first container 10, and then closes, thereby reducing the frequency of cleaning fluid addition and further reducing the operator's workload. The control valve can be a pneumatic valve.

[0034] According to one embodiment of this application, the cleaning unit further includes a one-way valve disposed in the first pipe 60, the one-way valve being used to control the cleaning fluid to flow unidirectionally from the second container 20 to the first container 10.

[0035] Considering that there may be residual liquid in the first container 10 when cleaning begins, the one-way valve can prevent residual liquid from flowing into the second container 20 and thus avoid contaminating the cleaning solution. Moreover, with the one-way valve, the preconditions for starting the cleaning unit are simpler, eliminating the requirement to empty the first container 10, making operation easier.

[0036] It should be understood that, depending on the mechanism of the cleaning fluid, different cleaning fluids react with different residual liquids and the deposits on the first container 10 to produce different products. Therefore, the possibility of flocculants forming between the cleaning fluid and the residual liquid cannot be ruled out. If the cleaning fluid and the residual liquid mix in the first container 10, the mixed liquid will be quickly discharged through the outlet during the cleaning operation, resulting in a short reaction time. Even if a small amount of flocculants are generated, they lack the conditions to adhere to the inner wall of the first container 10. If the residual liquid flows back into the second container 20, the cleaning fluid and the residual liquid mix in the second container 20. Since the control valve only opens when the system needs cleaning, the mixed cleaning fluid and residual liquid have the conditions for long-term static coexistence. Both the amount of flocculants generated and the conditions for adhesion to the inner wall of the second container 20 are far more harmful than the case where the cleaning fluid and the residual liquid mix in the first container 10. The one-way valve in this embodiment is precisely to avoid the above-mentioned hazards.

[0037] Furthermore, while check valves are generally called valves, they typically do not have the function of controlling on / off states. However, some modified composite valves may possess both unidirectional flow guidance and on / off control functions. In such cases, the check valve and the control valve can be reused. Specifically, the control valve of the cleaning unit also has a unidirectional flow guidance function, and the control valve is used to control the unidirectional flow of the cleaning fluid from the second container 20 to the first container 10.

[0038] According to one embodiment of this application, the first container 10 further includes a stirring mechanism disposed inside the first container 10 for stirring the liquid inside the first container 10.

[0039] When the system performs pretreatment of the electrolyte, the stirring mechanism can agitate the electrolyte, which helps to remove air bubbles from the electrolyte and enhances the degassing effect of the pretreatment unit. When the system performs cleaning, the stirring mechanism agitates the cleaning liquid or a mixture containing the cleaning liquid, so that the effective components in the cleaning liquid can fully contact the deposits on the inner wall of the first container 10, thereby enhancing the cleaning effect.

[0040] According to one embodiment of this application, the inner wall of the first container 10 is a rotating body; the stirring mechanism includes a driving member and a stirring rod, the axis of the rotating body passes through the driving member, the stirring rod is connected to the driving member, and the driving member is used to drive the stirring rod to rotate around the axis of the rotating body.

[0041] In this embodiment, the driving component drives the stirring rod to rotate. Since the inner wall of the first container 10 is a rotating body and its axis passes through the driving component, the scanning path of the far end of the stirring rod can be adapted to the inner wall of the first container 10 as much as possible. This allows the end of the stirring rod away from the driving component to sweep against the inner wall of the first container 10 or the distance from the inner wall of the first container 10 to be the same, thereby achieving a larger range and more uniform scanning effect.

[0042] According to one embodiment of this application, the cleaning unit further includes a spray head, which is disposed at one end of the first pipe 60 near the second liquid inlet and at least partially located inside the first container 10, for spraying cleaning liquid from the first pipe 60 into the first container 10.

[0043] The spray head design allows the cleaning fluid to cover a larger initial area when it is introduced into the first container 10, resulting in a more uniform and dispersed initial distribution of the cleaning fluid, which further enhances the cleaning fluid's effective range and cleaning effect.

[0044] According to one embodiment of this application, the pretreatment unit further includes a filter 50, which is connected to the first liquid inlet and is used to filter the electrolyte before injecting it into the first container 10.

[0045] When electrolyte pretreatment is required, the electrolyte is first injected into filter 50. After filtration, the electrolyte flows into the first container 10 for further processing, which can filter out fine particles such as iron filings that may be present in the electrolyte.

[0046] Moreover, since the cleaning of filter 50 relies on replacing the filter element, this application places filter 50 upstream of the first container 10. The cleaning liquid will not flow into filter 50 after passing through the first container 10, thus avoiding the secondary adhesion of free substances mixed in the waste liquid to the filter element.

[0047] According to one embodiment of this application, the pretreatment unit further includes a third container 30, which is connected to the liquid outlet and is used to store liquid from the first container 10.

[0048] The third container 30 is located downstream of the first container 10 and can temporarily store the pretreated electrolyte for later use, such as when it is used with the injection pump 90 to inject electrolyte into the battery cells. Unlike the relatively dynamic first container 10, the electrolyte in the third container 30 is not stirred or vibrated. The third container 30 provides the system with a stable source of static electrolyte.

[0049] According to one embodiment of this application, the third container 30 is provided with a waste liquid outlet 31, which is used to discharge the liquid in the third container 30 when it is opened; the cleaning unit also includes a fourth container 40, which is used to store the liquid discharged from the third container 30 by the waste liquid outlet 31.

[0050] The waste liquid outlet 31 facilitates the rapid discharge of rinsing waste liquid from the third container 30, avoiding pollution caused by the discharge of rinsing waste liquid from the conventional outlet of the third container 30, such as the injection pump 90.

[0051] According to one embodiment of this application, the height of the first container 10 does not exceed the height of the second container 20, and the height of the third container 30 is less than the height of the first container 10.

[0052] The height of the first container 10 does not exceed the height of the second container 20, which is conducive to the input of cleaning fluid from the second container 20 into the first container 10. The height of the third container 30 is less than the height of the first container 10, which is conducive to the flow of liquid in the first container 10 into the third container 30.

[0053] The preferred technical solution of this application is illustrated below with a complete embodiment.

[0054] The electrolyte pretreatment system includes: The first container 10 is used to defoam the electrolyte. The first container 10 can be configured as a defoaming tank. The first container 10 includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. The second container 20 is used to store cleaning fluid. The second container 20 is connected to the second inlet through the first pipe 60. The first pipe 60 is equipped with a first pressure valve 61 to control the conduction of the first pipe 60. The filter 50 is equipped with a filter element for filtering the electrolyte. The filter 50 is connected to the first inlet through the second pipe 70. The second pipe 70 is equipped with a second pressure valve 71 to control the conduction of the second pipe 70. The third container 30 is used to store the pretreated electrolyte. The third container 30 is connected to the outlet through the third pipe 80. The third pipe 80 is equipped with a third pressure valve 81 to control the conduction of the third pipe 80. The third container 30 can be configured as a liquid storage tank. In practical applications, multiple liquid storage tanks can also be set in series or in parallel. The fourth container 40 is used to receive waste liquid from the third container 30. The fourth container 40 can be a liquid receiving basin located below the third container 30. The third container 30 has a waste liquid outlet 31 on the side facing the fourth container 40. It should be understood that the electrolyte pretreatment system also includes an injection pump 90 connected to the third container 30 for discharging electrolyte, a frame for supporting various structures, etc., which will not be described in detail here.

[0055] When the system is operating normally, the first pressure valve 61 is closed, the second pressure valve 71 and the third pressure valve 81 are open, the waste liquid outlet 31 is closed, and the electrolyte flows sequentially through the filter 50 and the defoaming tank, and is then stored in the storage tank. It is then injected into the battery cells by the injection pump 90 as needed to complete the injection process. When the system needs cleaning, the liquid in the defoaming tank and the storage tank is first emptied, the second pressure valve 71 is closed, the first pressure valve 61 and the third pressure valve 81 are opened, and the waste liquid outlet 31 is opened. The cleaning fluid flows from the second container 20 through the defoaming tank and the storage tank, cleaning the impurities adhering to the tank walls. The mixture of adhering substances and residual liquid is then discharged into the receiving basin.

[0056] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0057] It should also be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or may be connected to an intermediary component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or indirectly connected to the other component through an intermediary component.

[0058] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this application is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0059] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the design concept of this application and the contents of the specification and drawings of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An electrolyte pre-treatment system, characterized by, include: The pretreatment unit includes a first container for pretreating the electrolyte; The cleaning unit includes a second container for storing cleaning fluid; The first container includes a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. The first inlet is used to inject electrolyte into the first container. The second container is connected to the second inlet and is used to output the cleaning solution to the first container when the first container needs to be cleaned. The outlet is used to output the electrolyte and / or the cleaning solution in the first container.

2. The electrolyte pretreatment system of claim 1, wherein The cleaning unit further includes a first pipe and a control valve disposed on the first pipe. The second container is connected to the second liquid inlet through the first pipe. The first pipe is used to inject the cleaning fluid into the first container when the control valve is opened.

3. The electrolyte pretreatment system of claim 2, wherein, The cleaning unit further includes a one-way valve disposed on the first pipe, the one-way valve being used to control the cleaning fluid to flow unidirectionally from the second container to the first container.

4. The electrolyte pretreatment system of claim 1, wherein The first container also includes a stirring mechanism disposed inside the first container for stirring the liquid inside the first container.

5. The electrolyte pretreatment system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The inner wall of the first container is a rotating body; The stirring mechanism includes a driving component and a stirring rod. The axis of the rotating body passes through the driving component, and the stirring rod is connected to the driving component. The driving component is used to drive the stirring rod to rotate around the axis of the rotating body.

6. The electrolyte pretreatment system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cleaning unit further includes a spray head, which is disposed at one end of the first tube near the second liquid inlet and at least partially located inside the first container, for spraying the cleaning liquid from the first tube into the first container.

7. The electrolyte pretreatment system according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The pretreatment unit further includes a filter connected to the first inlet for filtering the electrolyte before injecting it into the first container.

8. The electrolyte pretreatment system according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The pretreatment unit further includes a third container connected to the outlet for storing liquid from the first container.

9. The electrolyte pretreatment system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The third container is provided with a waste liquid outlet, which is used to discharge the liquid in the third container when it is opened; The cleaning unit further includes a fourth container for storing the liquid discharged from the third container by the waste liquid outlet.

10. The electrolyte pretreatment system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The height of the first container does not exceed the height of the second container, and the height of the third container is less than the height of the first container.

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