System and method for filling a battery cell with liquid electrolyte
The filling head assembly with controlled fluid channels and valves addresses the challenge of precise electrolyte filling in battery cells, enhancing reliability and reducing leakage.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- HK62026124622
- Authority / Receiving Office
- HK · HK
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-03-31
- Filing Date
- 2026-06-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently and reliably filling battery cells with liquid electrolyte, particularly in ensuring precise control and minimizing leakage during the process.
A filling head assembly with a first and second fluid channel, connected to a pump and vacuum pump respectively, and a valve to control the connection between them, facilitating precise filling and minimizing leakage.
Enables precise and reliable filling of battery cells with liquid electrolyte, reducing leakage and improving process efficiency.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Abstract This invention relates to a filling head assembly for filling a battery cell with liquid electrolyte. The filling head assembly includes a filling head; wherein the filling head includes a first fluid channel, a second fluid channel, and a valve; wherein the inlet of the first fluid channel is connected to a pump; wherein the inlet of the second fluid channel is connected to a vacuum pump; wherein the outlet of the first fluid channel engages with a filling opening of the battery cell; wherein the valve is used to determine whether the outlet of the first fluid channel is connected to the inlet of the first fluid channel. The invention also relates to an apparatus including the filling head, a production line including the apparatus, and a method for filling a battery cell with liquid electrolyte using the apparatus.
Claims
Claims1. A filling head assembly (100) for filling a battery cell (400) with a liquid electrolyte, the filling head assembly (100) comprising a filling head (200); a. wherein the filling head (200) comprises a first and a second fluid channel (210, 220) and a valve (240); b. wherein each of both fluid channels (210, 220) comprises an inlet and an outlet; c. wherein the inlet of the first fluid channel (210) is adapted to be connected to a pump (510); d. wherein the inlet of the second fluid channel (220) is adapted to be connected to a vacuum pump; e. wherein the outlet of the first fluid channel (210) is adapted to engage with a filling opening (402) of the battery cell (400); f. wherein the outlet of the second fluid channel (220) is on a same side of the filling head (200) as the outlet of the first fluid channel (210); and g. wherein the valve (240) is positioned such that the first fluid channel (210) is blocked when the valve (240) is in a first position and such that the first fluid channel (210) is open when the valve (240) is in a second position.
2. Filling head assembly (100) according to claim 1, the filling head assembly (100) further comprising a casing (300); a. wherein the filling head (200) is movably mounted in the casing (300); b. wherein the casing (300) comprises one or more openings to allow fluid access to the fluid channels (210, 220) of the filling head (200); c. wherein an end face (310) of the casing (300), the casing end face (310) comprising one of the openings, is adapted to engage with an end face (401) of the battery cell (400) , the battery cell end face (401) comprising the filling opening (402); d. wherein the outlet of the first fluid channel (210) is distanced from the filling opening (402) when the filling head (200) is in a first position in the casing (300) and the outlet of the first fluid channel (210) extends through the opening in the casing end face (310) and into the filling opening (402) when the filling head (200) is in a second position in the casing (300).
3. Filling head assembly (100) according to claim 2, the filling head assembly (100) further comprising a first seal (311) mounted on the casing end face (310); a. wherein the inner diameter of the first seal (311) is superior to the diameter of the opening in the casing end face (310); b. wherein the first seal (311) is positioned substantially concentrically with the opening; c. wherein the inner diameter of the first seal (311) is superior to the diameter of the filling opening; d. wherein the first seal (311) is positioned substantially concentrically with the filling opening when the casing end face (310) engages with the battery cell end face; e. wherein the first seal (311) provides a seal between the casing end face (310) and the battery cell end face when the casing end face (310) engages with the battery cell end face.
4. Filling head assembly (100) according to claims 2 or 3, wherein the filling head (200) is slidably mounted in the casing (300) such that it can move from the first position to the second position or the second position to the first position.
5. Filling head assembly (100) according to claim 4, the filling head assembly (100) further comprising a spring (331), wherein the spring (331) is mounted between the filling head (200) and the casing (300).
6. Filling head assembly (100) according to any of claims 2 to 5, the filling head assembly (100) further comprising a second seal (251) mounted on a filling head end face: a. wherein the inner diameter of the first seal (311) is superior to the outer diameter of the second seal (251); b. wherein the second seal (251) is positioned substantially concentrically with the first seal (311); c. wherein the inner diameter of the second seal (251) is superior to the diameter of the outlet of the first fluid channel (210); d. wherein the second seal (251) is positioned substantially concentrically with the outlet of the first fluid channel (210) ; e. wherein the inner diameter of the second seal (251) is superior to the diameter of the filling opening (402);f. wherein the second seal (251) is positioned substantially concentrically with the filling opening (402) when the filling head end face engages with the battery cell end face; g. wherein the second seal (251) provides a seal between the filling head end face and the battery cell end face (401) when the filling head end face engages with the battery cell end face (401).
7. An operational battery filling unit comprising a filling head assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1-6 and said battery cell (400).
8. The operational battery filling unit according to claim 7 , wherein said battery cell (400) is a fully assembled cell having a filling opening (402) with a diameter in the range of 2 to 10 mm, preferably in the range of 3 to 8 mm.
9. An apparatus for filling a battery cell (400) with a liquid electrolyte, the apparatus comprising: a. a filling head assembly (100) according to any of claims 1 to 3; b. an electrolyte reservoir, configured to hold the liquid electrolyte; c. a pump, wherein an outlet of the pump is fluidly connected to the inlet of the first fluid channel (210) of the filling head (200), wherein an inlet of the pump is fluidly connected to the electrolyte reservoir and wherein the pump is adapted to pump the liquid electrolyte; d. a vacuum pump, wherein an outlet of the vacuum pump is fluidly connected to the inlet of the second fluid channel (220) of the filling head (200), and wherein the vacuum pump is adapted to reduce the pressure in the second fluid channel (220), the first fluid channel (210) and the battery cell (400) below a predetermined pressure threshold; e. means for fixing the battery cell (400) in a position wherein the outlet of the first fluid channel (210) can engage with a filling opening (402) of the battery cell (400) and / or wherein the casing end face (310) can engage with the battery cell end face (401) and / or wherein the filling head end face can engage with the battery cell end face (401).
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, the apparatus further comprising one or more actuators for changing the position of the filling head (200) in the casing (300) from a first position to a second position and / or from a second position to a first position and / or for changing the position of thebattery cell (400) from a first position to a second position and / or from a second position to a first position.
11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, the apparatus further comprising: a. means for measuring a quantity of liquid electrolyte with which the battery cell (400) has been filled; b. means for controlling the pump (510).
12. Apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the pump (510) is a positive displacement pump.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the pump (510) is a progressing cavity pump.
14. Apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 13, the apparatus further comprising a second valve between the outlet of the vacuum pump and the inlet of the second fluid channel (220).
15. A production line for filling battery cells (400) with liquid electrolyte, the production line comprising an apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 14 and an automated actuator; a. wherein the automated actuator is configured to pick up a battery cell (400) that is not filled with electrolyte and place it in the apparatus; b. wherein the apparatus is configured to fill the battery cell (400) with liquid electrolyte; c. wherein the automated actuator is configured to remove the battery cell (400) from the apparatus once it has been filled.
16. A method for filling a battery cell (400) with a liquid electrolyte using an apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 14, the method comprising the steps of: a. positioning the battery cell (400); b. engaging the outlet of the first fluid channel (210) with the filling opening (402) of the battery cell (400) or engaging the casing end face with the battery end face (401); c. optionally, operating the pump (510) in reverse direction to suck back any electrolyte that might have remained in the first fluid channel (210); d. placing the valve (240) in the first position, thereby blocking the first fluid channel (210);e. operating the vacuum pump (510) to reduce the pressure in the second fluid channel (220), the first fluid channel (210) and the battery cell (400) to below a predetermined pressure threshold; f. optionally, if in step (b) the casing end face has engaged with the battery end face (401), bringing the filling head (200) in the second position in the casing (300), thereby extending the outlet of the first fluid channel (210) into the filling opening (402) of the battery cell (400); g. placing the valve (240) in the second position; h. operating the pump (510) to fill the battery cell (400) with the liquid electrolyte; i. equalizing the pressure in the first fluid channel (210), the second fluid channel (220) and the battery cell (400) with an environmental pressure; j. optionally, if in step (e) the filling head (200) has been brought in the second position in the casing (300), bringing the filling head (200) in the first position in the casing (300); k. disengaging the outlet of the first fluid (210) channel with the filling opening (402) of the battery cell (400) or disengaging the casing end face with the battery end face (401); l. removing the battery cell (400).
17. Method according to claim 16, the method further comprising the step of reversing the pump (510) after filling the battery cell (400) with the liquid electrolyte.