Degassing device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a degassing apparatus, and more particularly, to a degassing apparatus used in performing a degassing process for a pouch-type secondary battery. The present invention provides a degassing device for degassing a pouch-type secondary battery having a receiving section in which an electrode assembly is received, comprising: a pressure unit provided to face one side of the receiving section and pressurize the receiving section in a direction toward the electrode assembly; and a fixing unit provided to surround an edge of the receiving section and apply negative pressure to a corner of the receiving section to fix it by suction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0161767 filed on Nov. 22, 2021, and all contents disclosed in the document of the Korean Patent Application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a degassing device, and more particularly, to a degassing device used for performing a degassing process of a pouch-type secondary battery.

Background Art

[0003] Generally, a secondary battery refers to a battery that can be charged and discharged, unlike a primary battery that cannot be charged, and such secondary batteries are widely used in the field of advanced electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptop computers, and camcorders.

[0004] As shown in FIG. 1, such a secondary battery includes an electrode assembly 11 in which electrodes and a separator are alternately stacked, a pouch 12 that houses the electrode assembly 11, and an electrode lead 13 that is electrically connected to the electrode assembly 11 and protrudes from the pouch 12.

[0005] And, a method of manufacturing a secondary battery includes an electrode manufacturing process of manufacturing electrodes, an electrode assembly manufacturing process of alternately stacking electrodes and a separator to manufacture the electrode assembly 11, an electrode lead coupling process of coupling the electrode lead 13 to the electrode assembly 11, a pouch sealing process of housing the electrode assembly 11 in a pouch with the tip of the electrode lead 13 drawn out to the outside and sealing the frame surface of the case to complete the secondary battery, an activation process of charging and discharging the secondary battery, and a degassing process of discharging gas generated in the pouch 12 during charging and discharging of the secondary battery. The degassing process pressurizes a storage unit 12a that stores the electrode assembly 11 of the secondary battery to move the gas generated in the storage unit 12a to a gas collection unit 12b, and makes a hole in the gas collection unit 12b to discharge the gas that has moved to the gas collection unit 12b to the outside.

[0006] On the other hand, when performing the degassing process, there was a problem that the appearance of the pouch was deformed. In particular, in the case of the storage portion 12a formed by forming for storing the electrode assembly 11, a corner (C) where stress is concentrated is formed, and the corner (C) is a portion vulnerable to deformation, and wrinkles (W) are concentratedly generated (see Fig. 2(a)). Then, the wrinkles (W) formed at the corner (C) form a sharp edge and develop into cracks (see Fig. 2(b)). Such cracks are a fatal problem that either the electrolytic solution leaks outside the secondary battery or external moisture flows into the secondary battery, reducing the quality of the secondary battery. Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The present invention was devised to solve the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a degassing device that minimizes damage to a pouch-type secondary battery when performing the degassing process of the pouch-type secondary battery. Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The present invention is a degassing device for degassing a pouch-type secondary battery provided with a storage portion for storing an electrode assembly, comprising: a pressing portion provided to face one surface of the storage portion and pressing the storage portion in the direction of the electrode assembly; and a fixing portion provided to surround an edge portion of the storage portion and applying a negative pressure to the corner of the storage portion to adsorb and fix it.

[0009] The fixing portion can form a vacuum between a region provided to face the corner of the storage portion and the storage portion.

[0010] The fixing part can include a main body part arranged along the edge of the storage part; and an air flow path part provided in at least one area of the main body part for sucking air around the corner of the storage part.

[0011] One surface of the main body part facing the storage part may be formed with a step corresponding to the shape of the storage part.

[0012] The air flow path part may be formed in an area provided to face the corner of the storage part, and may include an air suction part for sucking air around the corner of the storage part; and an air discharge part that communicates with the air suction part to form an air flow path and discharges the air flowing in from the air suction part to the outside.

[0013] The air suction part can include a plurality of air suction holes.

[0014] The diameter of the air suction hole may be from 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

[0015] On the other hand, the degassing device according to the present invention can further include a pad part provided between the pouch-type secondary battery and the fixing part for maintaining airtightness between the pouch-type secondary battery and the fixing part.

[0016] A through hole penetrating the upper and lower surfaces of the pad part may be formed in an area where the pad part is provided to face the corner of the storage part.

[0017] The material of the pad part can include silicon.

[0018] On the other hand, the degassing device according to the present invention may be arranged on at least one of the upper side and the lower side of the pouch-type secondary battery.

Advantages of the Invention

[0019] When performing the degassing process of the pouch-type secondary battery, the degassing device according to the present invention can prevent the formation of wrinkles generated at the corners of the storage part where the electrode assembly is stored, thereby preventing the generation of sharp edges and cracks at the corners and minimizing the quality degradation of the pouch-type secondary battery.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2(a)

Figure 2(b)

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can easily implement it. However, the present invention may be embodied in several different forms and is not limited or restricted by the following embodiments.

[0022] To clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of parts not related to the explanation or related known technologies that may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention are omitted. When adding reference signs to the components of each figure in this specification, the same or similar reference signs are assigned to the same or similar components throughout the specification.

[0023] In addition, the terms and words used in this specification and the claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary and dictionary meanings. In accordance with the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms in order to explain his or her invention in the best way, they must be construed in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention.

[0024] The present invention provides a degassing device 100 for degassing a pouch-type secondary battery 10 provided with a storage portion 12a for storing an electrode assembly 11.

[0025] First, the pouch-type secondary battery 10 has a configuration in which a storage portion 12a for storing an electrode assembly 11 is provided, and various configurations are possible. More specifically, the pouch 12 may include a storage portion 12a for storing an electrode assembly 11 and an electrolyte, and a gas collection portion 12b formed by extending in the circumferential direction of the storage portion 12a for collecting gas generated from the electrode assembly 11.

[0026] Here, as described above, since the storage portion 12a is formed so that the electrode assembly 11 can be stored, a corner (C) can be formed at the corner position of the electrode assembly 11. At this time, the corner (C) can include planes formed parallel to the x, y, and z directions with reference to the drawing.

[0027] On the other hand, the pouch-type secondary battery 10 may be located inside a chamber in which a negative pressure is formed in the internal space to more easily discharge gas, and may be pressurized by a pressurizing portion 110 described later to discharge the gas generated in the activation process.

[0028] Such a pouch-type secondary battery 10 may be degassed by the degassing device 100 according to the present invention, and the degassing device 100 can have various configurations.

[0029] Here, the degassing device 100 may be disposed on at least one of the upper side and the lower side of the pouch 12. For example, the degassing device 100 may be disposed only on the upper side of the pouch-type secondary battery 10, may be disposed only on the lower side of the pouch-type secondary battery 10, or may be disposed on all of the upper side and the lower side of the pouch-type secondary battery 10 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0030] More specifically, the degassing device 100 may include a pressing unit 110 provided to face one surface of the storage unit 12a and pressing the storage unit 12a in the direction of the electrode assembly 11; and a fixing unit 120 provided to surround the edge of the storage unit 12a and applying a negative pressure to the corner (C) of the storage unit 12a to adsorb and fix it.

[0031] Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the pressing unit 110 is configured to face one surface of the storage unit 12a and press the storage unit 12a in the direction of the electrode assembly 11, and various configurations are possible. At this time, the portion indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 4 may be understood as the storage unit 12a and the electrode lead 13 located on the lower side of the degassing device 100.

[0032] More specifically, the pressing unit 110 presses the one surface of the storage unit 12a while moving it in the direction of the electrode assembly 11 in order to discharge the gas remaining in the electrode assembly 11 to the gas collection unit 12b, thereby forcibly discharging the gas remaining inside the electrode assembly 11 in the direction of the gas collection unit 12b.

[0033] And the pressing unit 110 can press the storage unit 12a in various ways. For example, the pressing unit 110 can be provided in a press, and can press one surface of the storage unit 12a by moving up and down toward one surface of the storage unit 12a.

[0034] On the other hand, as described above, the degassing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention further includes a fixing unit 120 that can prevent deformation of the corner (C) of the storage unit 12a and additional damage caused by the deformation of the corner (C) in the degassing process.

[0035] Specifically, the fixing unit 120 is provided so as to surround the edge of the storage unit 12a, and has a configuration in which a negative pressure acts on the corner (C) of the storage unit 12a to adsorb and fix it, and various configurations are possible.

[0036] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the fixing unit 120 is provided so as to surround the edge of the storage unit 12a, and a negative pressure acts on a region corresponding to the corner (C) of the storage unit 12a to adsorb and fix the corner (C) of the storage unit 12a to the fixing unit 120.

[0037] Here, the negative pressure formed by the fixing unit 120 is a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure, and as described above, when the pouch-type secondary battery 10 is located inside the chamber where the negative pressure is formed, it may be a pressure lower than the pressure formed by the chamber. For example, the fixing unit 120 can form a vacuum state at a low pressure of 1 / 1000 mmHg or less in a region corresponding to the corner (C) of the storage unit 12a. (0.1333 N / m 2 ) The following low pressure can be used to form a vacuum state.

[0038] Such a fixing unit 120 can have various structures. For example, the fixing unit 120 can include a main body unit 121 disposed along the edge of the storage unit 12a; and an air flow path unit 122 provided in at least one region of the main body unit 121 to inhale air around the corner (C) of the storage unit 12a.

[0039] Here, the main body 121 is arranged along the edge of the storage part 12a, and various configurations are possible.

[0040] Specifically, the main body 121 can have various shapes. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, in order to more effectively maintain the airtightness between the pressing part 110 and the fixing part 120, the main body 121 can have a shape surrounding the outer periphery of the pressing part 110. At this time, an insertion hole (not shown) into which the pressing part 110 can be inserted may be formed at the center of the main body 121.

[0041] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the main body 121 can have a shape in which one surface provided to face the storage part 12a has a step corresponding to the shape of the storage part 12a so that the air intake part 122a described later can be formed in a region facing each surface forming the corner (C) of the storage part 12a. That is, the main body 121 may be recessed at a corresponding position of the storage part 12a so as to surround the storage part 12a along the circumferential direction.

[0042] And the main body 121 may form an air flow space (S) which is an empty space where the air intake part 122a and the air discharge part 122b described later communicate and air can flow inside.

[0043] Such an air flow space (S) may be provided in various numbers inside the main body 121. For example, the air flow space (S) may be provided in a number corresponding to the number of corners (C) of the storage part 12a.

[0044] Also, the air flow space (S) may be formed at any position as long as the air intake part 122a and the air discharge part 122b can communicate. For example, the air flow space (S) may be formed at a position corresponding to the corner (C) of the storage part 12a.

[0045] On the one hand, the air flow path portion 122 is provided in at least one region of the main body portion 121 and is configured to inhale the air around the corner (C) of the storage portion 12a, and various configurations are possible.

[0046] For example, the air flow path portion 122 may include an air intake portion 122a formed in a region facing the corner (C) of the storage portion 12a to inhale the air around the corner (C) of the storage portion 12a; and an air discharge portion 122b that communicates with the air intake portion 122a to form an air flow path and discharges the air flowing in from the air intake portion 122a to the outside.

[0047] Here, the air intake portion 122a is formed in a region facing the corner (C) of the storage portion 12a and is configured to inhale the air around the corner (C) of the storage portion 12a, and various configurations are possible.

[0048] Specifically, the air intake portion 122a includes at least one or more air intake holes, and as shown in FIG. 6, the air around the peripheral portion of the corner (C) of the storage portion 12a can be inhaled into the air flow space (S).

[0049] At this time, the air intake holes can have various numbers and sizes. For example, the air intake holes may be embodied as a plurality of fine holes. Here, the diameter of the air intake holes may be from 0.1 mm to 1 mm, for example, 0.5 mm.

[0050] And the air intake portion 122a can have a shape corresponding to the corner (C) of the storage portion 12a in order to more effectively inhale the air around the corner (C) of the storage portion 12a. Here, when the air intake portion 122a is embodied by a plurality of air intake holes, the plurality of air intake holes may be arranged to face each surface forming the corner (C) of the storage portion 12a.

[0051] On the one hand, the air discharge part 122b forms an air flow path in communication with the air intake part 122a, and is configured to discharge the air flowing in from the air intake part 122a to the outside, and various configurations are possible.

[0052] For example, the air discharge part 122b can include a valve that communicates the air intake part 122a with an external device that forms a negative pressure to control the air flow. At this time, the valve can control the air discharge amount, the air discharge speed, and the like. Also, the external device may be embodied as a vacuum pump.

[0053] And the air discharge part 122b may be provided in various positions and numbers. For example, the air discharge part 122b may be formed at any position that can communicate with the above-described air flow space (S), and may be provided corresponding to the number of the air flow spaces (S).

[0054] On the other hand, the degassing device 100 according to the present invention may further include a pad part 130 that maintains airtightness between the pouch-type secondary battery 10 and the fixing part 120.

[0055] More specifically, the pad part 130 is provided between the pouch-type secondary battery 10 and the fixing part 120 and can maintain airtightness so that air cannot enter between the pouch-type secondary battery 10 and the fixing part 120.

[0056] Here, the pad part 130 can have various shapes. For example, the pad part 130 can have a plate shape that covers one surface of the degassing device 100.

[0057] At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the pad part 130 may have through holes 130' penetrating the upper and lower surfaces of the pad part 130 formed in a region facing the corner (C) of the storage part 12a so as not to interfere with the above-described air intake part 122a.

[0058] Such a pad portion 130 may be made of any material as long as it can maintain airtightness between the pouch-type secondary battery 10 and the fixing portion 120. For example, the material of the pad portion 130 may include synthetic resins such as silicon, urethane, and rubber.

[0059] As described above, even if the present invention is described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereby, and various implementations are possible within the equivalent scope of the technical idea of the present invention and the claims described below by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0060] 10 Pouch-type secondary battery 11 Electrode assembly 12 Pouch 12a Storage portion 12b Gas collection portion 13 Electrode lead 100 Degassing device 110 Pressurizing portion 120 Fixing portion 121 Main body portion 122 Air flow path portion 122a Air intake portion 122b Air discharge portion 130 Pad portion C Corner S Air flow space

Claims

1. A degassing device for degassing a pouch-type secondary battery having a storage part for storing an electrode assembly body, comprising: a pressing part provided to face one side of the storage part and pressing the storage part in the direction of the electrode assembly body; and a degassing device including a fixing part provided to surround an edge part of the storage part and applying a negative pressure to a corner of the storage part to adsorb and fix it.

2. The degassing device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing part forms a vacuum between a region provided to face the corner of the storage part and the storage part.

3. The fixing part includes a main body part arranged along an edge part of the storage part; and an air flow path part provided in at least one region of the main body part and sucking air around the corner of the storage part, the degassing device according to claim 1.

4. The degassing device according to claim 3, wherein one surface of the main body part facing the storage part is formed to have a step corresponding to the shape of the storage part.

5. The air flow path part includes an air suction part formed in a region provided to face the corner of the storage part and sucking air around the corner of the storage part; and an air discharge part communicating with the air suction part to form an air flow path and discharging the air flowing in from the air suction part to the outside, the degassing device according to claim 3.

6. The degassing device according to claim 5, wherein the air suction part includes a plurality of air suction holes.

7. The degassing device according to claim 6, wherein a diameter of the air suction hole is from 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

8. The degassing device according to claim 1, further including a pad part provided between the pouch-type secondary battery and the fixing part and maintaining airtightness between the pouch-type secondary battery and the fixing part.

9. The pad part is formed with through holes penetrating upper and lower surfaces of the pad part in a region provided to face the corner of the storage part, the degassing device according to claim 8.

10. The degassing device according to claim 8, wherein a material of the pad part includes silicon (Silicon).

11. The degassing device according to claim 1, wherein the degassing device is arranged on at least one of an upper side and a lower side of the pouch-type secondary battery.

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