Gas collection device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gas collection device, and provides a gas collection device that can provide an optimized gas concentration to an analysis device by controlling the space into which gas is diffused during the process of collecting gas generated in a battery.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0094123, filed on July 28, 2022, and all contents disclosed in the documents of this Korean Patent Application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a gas collection device, and more particularly to a gas collection device that can provide an optimized gas concentration to an analyzer by controlling the space into which the gas diffuses during the process of collecting the gas generated in a battery. [Background technology]

[0003] Generally, secondary batteries are batteries that can be used repeatedly through a discharging process, which converts chemical energy into electrical energy, and a charging process, which is the reverse of the discharging process. Types of secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries, nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries, lithium metal batteries, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, and lithium-ion polymer batteries. Among these secondary batteries, lithium secondary batteries, which have high energy density and voltage, a long cycle life, and a low self-discharge rate, have been commercialized and are widely used.

[0004] The reaction in the lithium secondary battery produces hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and C n H 2n-2 (n=2-5), C n H 2n (n=2-5), C n H 2n+2 A variety of gases are generated, including hydrocarbons (n=1-5) and other organic gases.

[0005] In addition, lithium secondary batteries degrade as a large amount of gas is generated due to electrolyte decomposition as a result of repeated charging and discharging, and this process varies depending on the battery design and usage. Therefore, analyzing the gas generated inside the battery and inferring the degradation mechanism of the battery is essential in the battery development process.

[0006] Therefore, it is very important to capture and accurately analyze the gases generated inside secondary batteries. Various gases are generated during the operation of lithium-ion batteries, and information on the composition and content of the generated gases can be useful for developing battery materials, optimizing battery manufacturing processes, and identifying the causes of battery failure. To achieve this, it is important to develop technology to capture the gases generated inside secondary batteries.

[0007] As a method for collecting the gas generated in the secondary battery, the secondary battery was placed in a sealed diffusion space, and after vacuum decompression, holes were drilled in the secondary battery to diffuse the generated gas into the diffusion space containing the secondary battery, and then a sample was collected.

[0008] Specifically, a gas collection container or a gas analyzer with a vacuum formed in the diffusion space was connected, and the gas diffused in the diffusion space was transferred to the gas collection container or the gas analyzer. Therefore, the final gas concentration varied depending on the size of the diffusion space or the battery specifications (size).

[0009] The concentration of the collected gas not only affects the detection sensitivity of the analyzer, but is also an important variable for calculating quantitative data, so a method is needed to precisely control it. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The present invention relates to a gas collection device, and aims to provide a gas collection device that can provide an optimized gas concentration to an analytical device by controlling the space into which the gas diffuses during the process of collecting the gas generated in a battery.

[0011] The technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The gas collection device of the present invention includes a gas diffusion chamber having a gas diffusion space therein, a variable dilution tank connected to the gas diffusion chamber and having a dilution space therein, a volume control unit that adjusts the volume of the dilution space of the variable dilution tank, a punching unit that forms a perforation hole in a battery case housed in the gas diffusion space of the gas diffusion chamber, and a gas transmission flow path that is connected to the gas diffusion chamber and receives the gas diffused in the gas diffusion space and transmits it to a gas collection container or a gas analyzer. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The gas collection device of the present invention is capable of collecting gas at a constant concentration in the gas collection container by providing a controllable variable space as a gas diffusion space.

[0014] The gas collection device of the present invention can provide an optimized gas concentration to an analyzer by controlling the space into which the gas diffuses during the process of collecting the gas generated in the battery. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a gas collection device of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the gas diffusion chamber in an open state. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the variable dilution tank and the volume control unit. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the AA' cross section of FIG. [Figure 4B] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the dilution space is expanded. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a punching unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The gas collection device of the present invention includes a gas diffusion chamber having a gas diffusion space therein, a variable dilution tank connected to the gas diffusion chamber and having a dilution space therein, a volume control unit that adjusts the volume of the dilution space of the variable dilution tank, a punching unit that forms a perforation hole in a battery case housed in the gas diffusion space of the gas diffusion chamber, and a gas transmission flow path that is connected to the gas diffusion chamber and receives the gas diffused in the gas diffusion space and transmits it to a gas collection container or a gas analyzer.

[0017] In the gas collection device of the present invention, the volume control unit includes a moving part located inside the variable dilution tank and moving in an up and down direction, a shaft connected to the upper surface of the moving part with its lower end inserted into the inside of the variable dilution tank through a through hole provided on the upper surface of the variable dilution tank and moving in an up and down direction, and a first drive part that rotates the shaft around a rotation axis extending in an up and down direction.

[0018] In the gas collection device of the present invention, the gas diffusion chamber includes a lower jig having a battery accommodating groove formed on its upper surface as the gas diffusion space, and an upper jig covering the battery accommodating groove and coupled to the upper surface of the lower jig, a first hole formed on the upper surface of the upper jig, and a lower end of the variable dilution tank covering the first hole and coupled to the upper surface of the upper jig, and gas in the gas diffusion space and gas in the dilution space are ventilated to each other through the first hole.

[0019] In the gas collecting apparatus of the present invention, the volume control unit further includes a support part that fixes the relative distance between the first driving part and the upper jig.

[0020] In the gas collecting device of the present invention, the volume control unit further includes a measuring section that measures the vertical movement distance of the moving section.

[0021] In the gas collection device of the present invention, the measurement unit includes a movable member that moves up and down together with the shaft, a fixed member that is attached to the upper surface of the upper jig, and an indicator member that indicates the displacement between the movable member and the fixed member.

[0022] In the gas collection device of the present invention, the internal space of the variable dilution tank is formed in a columnar shape extending in the vertical direction, the side of the moving part is tightly attached to the inner surface of the variable dilution tank, and the dilution space is the space within the internal space of the variable dilution tank located below the moving part.

[0023] In the gas collection device of the present invention, a sealing cover that surrounds the shaft is provided above the moving part in the internal space of the variable dilution tank, and the sealing cover contracts or expands in the vertical direction.

[0024] In the gas collection device of the present invention, the upper end of the sealing cover is connected to the ceiling surface of the variable dilution tank in the internal space of the variable dilution tank, and the lower end of the sealing cover is connected to the upper surface of the moving part.

[0025] In the gas collection device of the present invention, a second hole is formed on the upper surface of the upper jig to allow a punching needle to be inserted into the gas diffusion space, and the punching unit includes a punching needle housing whose lower end covers the second hole and is connected to the upper surface of the upper jig and houses the punching needle therein, a rod whose lower end is connected to the punching needle inside the punching needle housing, a second driving part connected to the upper end of the rod and moving the rod in a vertical direction, and a fixing part that fixes the position between the punching needle housing and the second driving part.

[0026] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this description, the size and shape of components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience. Furthermore, terms specifically defined in consideration of the configuration and operation of the present invention may vary depending on the intentions or practices of users and operators. Definitions of such terms should be based on the overall content of this specification.

[0027] In describing the present invention, it should be noted that the orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," "outer," "one side," and "other side" are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings or the orientations or positional relationships in which the product of the present invention is normally arranged when in use, and are merely for the purpose of explaining and simplifying the present invention. They do not present or imply that the displayed devices or elements must necessarily be configured or operated in a specific orientation, and should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0028] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a gas collection device of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a gas diffusion chamber 100 in an open state. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a variable dilution tank 200 and a volume control unit 300. Fig. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing the A-A' cross section of Fig. 3. Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the dilution space 230 is expanded. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a punching unit 400.

[0029] The gas collecting device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, the gas collection device of the present invention includes a gas diffusion chamber 100 having a gas diffusion space 130 therein, a variable dilution tank 200 connected to the gas diffusion chamber 100 and having a dilution space 230 therein, a volume control unit 300 for adjusting the volume of the dilution space 230 of the variable dilution tank 200, a punching unit 400 for forming a hole in a battery case accommodated in the gas diffusion space 130 of the gas diffusion chamber 100, and a gas transmission channel 122 connected to the gas diffusion chamber 100 for receiving the gas diffused in the gas diffusion space 130 and transmitting it to a gas collection container or a gas analyzer.

[0031] Gas collection using the gas collection device of the present invention can be performed as follows. First, a battery is placed in the gas diffusion space 130 provided inside the gas diffusion chamber 100. With the battery placed in the gas diffusion space 130, a punching unit 400 is used to form a hole in the battery case. Gas generated from the battery is discharged to the outside of the battery through the hole, and the gas generated from the battery is diffused into the gas diffusion space 130 of the gas diffusion chamber 100. The pressure in the gas diffusion space 130 is measured, and if the pressure is higher than a set pressure, the volume control unit 300 is operated to expand the dilution space 230 of the variable dilution tank 200. If the pressure in the gas diffusion space 130 falls below the set pressure, a gas collection container or a gas analyzer can be connected to the gas transmission channel 122 to collect the gas generated from the battery.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gas diffusion chamber 100 may include a lower jig 120 having a battery receiving groove 121 formed on its upper surface as the gas diffusion space 130, and an upper jig 110 that covers the battery receiving groove 121 and is coupled to the upper surface of the lower jig 120.

[0033] The upper jig 110 has a plate shape and may be coupled to the lower jig 120 such that its bottom surface contacts the upper end of the lower jig 120. The variable dilution tank 200, the volume control unit 300, and the punching unit 400 are fixed to the upper surface of the upper jig 110. The upper jig 110 may have a first hole 111 and a second hole (not shown). The variable dilution tank 200 is fixed to the upper surface of the upper jig 110 while covering the first hole 111, and the punching unit 400 is fixed to the upper surface of the upper jig 110 while covering the second hole. The first hole 111 is a passage for transferring gas from the gas diffusion space 130 to the dilution space 230, and the second hole is a passage for the punching unit 400 to insert a punching needle into the gas diffusion space 130.

[0034] That is, a first hole 111 is formed on the upper surface of the upper jig 110, and the lower end of the variable dilution tank 200 is connected to the upper surface of the upper jig 110, covering the first hole 111, so that the gas in the gas diffusion space 130 and the gas in the dilution space 230 are in communication with each other through the first hole 111. In this case, the volume of the dilution space 230 is changed by a volume control unit 300, and the concentration of the gas diffused into the gas diffusion space 130 is controlled by controlling the volume of the dilution space 230.

[0035] A battery receiving groove 121 formed with a gas diffusion space 130 may be provided on the upper surface of the lower jig 120. A sealing member insertion groove 123 may be provided on the upper surface of the lower jig 120, and a sealing member may be inserted into the sealing member insertion groove 123 when the upper jig 110 and the lower jig 120 are combined to enhance the airtightness of the gas diffusion space 130. The sealing member and the sealing member insertion groove 123 are formed in a closed loop, and the battery insertion groove may be located inside the sealing member insertion groove 123. For example, the sealing member may be an O-ring.

[0036] 2, the upper jig 110 is slid in the y-axis direction to be coupled to or separated from the lower jig 120. The upper jig 110 is linearly moved in the y-axis direction by a pneumatic cylinder (not shown).

[0037] The gas transmission channel 122 is a chemically resistant pipe. An on-off valve may be provided in the gas transmission channel 122 to exhaust or block the gas in the gas diffusion space 130. A manifold is connected to the gas transmission channel 122, and a pressure sensor is connected to the manifold to measure the pressure in the gas diffusion space 130.

[0038] As shown in Figures 3 and 4A, the volume control unit 300 includes a moving part 310 located inside the variable dilution tank 200 and moving in an up and down direction, a shaft 320 connected to the upper surface of the moving part 310 with its lower end inserted into the inside of the variable dilution tank 200 through a through hole 210 provided on the upper surface of the variable dilution tank 200 and moving in an up and down direction, and a first driving part 330 that rotates the shaft 320 around a rotation axis extending in an up and down direction.

[0039] The moving part 310 can adjust the volume of the dilution space 230 by moving within the internal space of the variable dilution tank 200 while the internal space of the variable dilution tank 200 is separated into two spaces.

[0040] Specifically, the internal space of the variable dilution tank 200 is formed in a columnar shape extending in the vertical direction, the side of the moving part 310 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the variable dilution tank 200 in the internal space of the variable dilution tank 200, and the dilution space 230 is a space located below the moving part 310 in the internal space of the variable dilution tank 200. For example, the dilution space 230 and the moving part 310 of the variable dilution tank 200 are formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, and the outer peripheral surface of the moving part 310 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the variable dilution tank 200.

[0041] 4B, when the moving part 310 is raised by the volume control unit 300, the dilution space 230 of the variable dilution tank 200 can be expanded, and the gas concentration in the gas diffusion space 130 can be controlled. The gas collection device of the present invention can precisely control the movement of the moving part 310 by converting the rotational force into a linear driving force to move the moving part 310.

[0042] 4A and 4B, a sealing cover 220 surrounding the shaft 320 is provided above the moving part 310 in the interior space of the variable dilution tank 200, and the sealing cover 220 is capable of contracting or expanding in the vertical direction. The upper end of the sealing cover 220 is coupled to the ceiling surface of the variable dilution tank 200 in the interior space of the variable dilution tank 200, and the lower end of the sealing cover 220 is coupled to the upper surface of the moving part 310. The sealing cover 220 not only prevents gas leaking from the side of the moving part 310 from being discharged to the outside through the through-hole 210, but also prevents gas from diffusing into the interior space of the variable dilution tank 200 except for the dilution space 230. For example, the outer circumferential surface of the sealing cover 220 is formed to be as close as possible to the inner circumferential surface of the variable dilution tank 200 so that even if gas below the moving part 310 leaks upward, the volume in which the gas is substantially diffused inside the variable dilution tank 200 is approximately the volume of the dilution space 230. The upper and lower ends of the sealing cover 220 may be joined to the ceiling surface of the variable dilution tank 200 and the upper surface of the moving part 310 by welding, respectively.

[0043] The shaft 320 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, and has a screw thread formed on its outer circumferential surface. The shaft 320 may be threadedly engaged with the variable dilution tank 200 or a structure whose position relative to the variable dilution tank 200 is fixed. Therefore, the shaft 320 moves up and down relative to the variable dilution tank 200 when it rotates. For example, a screw thread is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the through-hole 210, and when the shaft 320 rotates with the screw thread of the through-hole 210 and the screw thread of the shaft 320 engaged, the shaft 320 moves up and down relative to the variable dilution tank 200. The lower end of the shaft 320 is idly coupled to the moving part 310, thereby preventing the moving part 310 from rotating together with the rotation of the shaft 320.

[0044] The first driving unit 330 rotates the shaft 320 around a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction. The first driving unit 330 is an electric motor.

[0045] The volume control unit 300 further includes a support part 340 for fixing the relative distance between the first driving part 330 and the upper jig 110 .

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3, the support portion 340 may include a support plate 342 located above the variable dilution tank 200 and spaced apart from the upper end of the variable dilution tank 200, and a pillar member 341 whose upper end is connected to the bottom surface of the support plate 342 and whose lower end is connected to the upper surface of the upper jig 110.

[0047] The first driving unit 330 is fixed to the upper surface of the support plate 342, and a hole is formed in the support plate 342 so that the shaft 320 can pass through the support plate 342. The shaft 320 may be screwed into the support plate 342. In this case, the through hole 210 does not have a screw thread.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, the volume control unit 300 further includes a measuring unit 350 for measuring the moving distance of the moving unit 310 in the vertical direction.

[0049] The measuring unit 350 includes a movable member 351 that moves up and down together with the shaft 320, a fixed member 352 that is attached to the upper surface of the upper jig 110, and a display member 353 that indicates the displacement between the movable member 351 and the fixed member 352.

[0050] The moving member 351 is coupled to the shaft 320 so as to be rotatable therewith, and moves up and down together with the shaft 320. For example, the shaft 320 is provided with a stopper (not shown), and the moving member 351 moves up and down together with the shaft 320.

[0051] Specifically, the movable member 351 may include a first movable member 351a rotatably connected to the shaft 320, a second movable member 351b protruding from the side of the first movable member 351a, and a third movable member 351c having an upper end connected to the second movable member 351b and a lower end inserted into the fixed member 352.

[0052] For example, the third moving member 351c and the fixed member 352 are formed in a cylindrical shape, and the third moving member 351c is inserted into the fixed member 352. The display member 353 has a scale displayed thereon, making it possible to measure the distance moved by the moving member 351.

[0053] As described above, a second hole is formed on the upper surface of the upper jig 110 to insert the punching needle into the gas diffusion space 130. As shown in FIG. 5, the punching unit 400 includes a punching needle housing 410 whose lower end covers the second hole and is coupled to the upper surface of the upper jig 110 to accommodate the punching needle therein; a rod 420 whose lower end is coupled to the punching needle inside the punching needle housing 410; a second driving unit 430 coupled to the upper end of the rod 420 to move the rod 420 vertically; and a fixing unit 440 which fixes the position between the punching needle housing 410 and the second driving unit 430.

[0054] The fixing portion 440 includes a first fixing plate 441 to whose upper surface the lower end portion of the second driving portion 430 is connected, a second fixing plate 442 to whose bottom surface the punching needle housing 410 is connected, and a fixing pillar 443 that fixes the first fixing plate 441 and the second fixing plate 442 so that the distance between the first fixing plate 441 and the second fixing plate 442 is maintained constant.

[0055] The first and second fixing plates 441 and 442 may have holes formed therein through which the rods 420 pass.

[0056] While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, they are merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical scope of the present invention should be determined by the following claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0057] The gas collection device of the present invention is capable of collecting gas at a constant concentration in the gas collection container by providing a controllable variable space as a gas diffusion space.

[0058] The gas collection device of the present invention can provide an optimized gas concentration to an analyzer by controlling the space into which the gas diffuses during the process of collecting the gas generated in the battery. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 100: Gas diffusion chamber 110: Upper jig 111: 1st hole 120: Lower jig 121: Battery housing groove 122: Gas transmission channel 130: Gas diffusion space 200: Variable dilution tank 210:Through hole 220: Ceiling cover 230: Dilution space 300: Volume control unit 310: Mobile unit 320: Shaft 330: First drive unit 340: Support part 341: Pillar member 342: Support plate 350: Measuring part 351: Moving parts 351a: First moving member 351b: second moving member 351c: Third moving member 352: Fixing member 353: Display components 400: Punching unit 410: Punching needle housing 420: Rod 430: Second drive unit 440: Fixed part 441: First fixing plate 442: Second fixing plate 443: Fixed pillar

Claims

1. a gas diffusion chamber having a gas diffusion space therein; a variable dilution tank connected to the gas diffusion chamber and having a dilution space therein; a volume control unit for adjusting the volume of the dilution space of the variable dilution tank; a punching unit for forming a perforation hole in a case of a battery accommodated in the gas diffusion space of the gas diffusion chamber; a gas transmission channel connected to the gas diffusion chamber for receiving the gas diffused into the gas diffusion space and transmitting the gas to a gas collection container or a gas analyzer; Including, The volume control unit a moving unit located inside the variable dilution tank and moving in an up and down direction; a shaft whose lower end is inserted into the variable dilution tank through a through-hole formed on the upper surface of the variable dilution tank and coupled to the upper surface of the moving part, and which moves up and down; Including, The internal space of the variable dilution tank is formed in a columnar shape extending in the vertical direction, The side surface of the moving part is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the variable dilution tank, the dilution space is a space located below the moving part within the internal space of the variable dilution tank, A sealing cover surrounding the shaft is provided above the moving part in the internal space of the variable dilution tank, The gas collecting device, wherein the sealing cover contracts or expands in the vertical direction, and the outer peripheral surface of the sealing cover is formed to be adjacent to the inner peripheral surface of the variable dilution tank.

2. The volume control unit The gas collecting device according to claim 1 , further comprising a first driving unit that rotates the shaft about a rotation axis that extends in the vertical direction.

3. The gas diffusion chamber comprises: a lower jig having a battery accommodating groove formed on an upper surface thereof as the gas diffusion space; an upper jig that covers the battery receiving groove and is coupled to an upper surface of the lower jig; A first hole is formed in the upper surface of the upper jig, a lower end of the variable dilution tank covers the first hole and is coupled to an upper surface of the upper jig; The gas collecting device according to claim 2 , wherein the gas in the gas diffusion space and the gas in the dilution space communicate with each other through the first hole.

4. The gas collecting apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the volume control unit further includes a support that fixes a relative distance between the first driving unit and the upper jig.

5. The gas collecting device according to claim 3 , wherein the volume control unit further includes a measuring section that measures the vertical movement distance of the moving section.

6. The measurement unit a moving member that moves up and down together with the shaft; a fixing member coupled to an upper surface of the upper jig; The gas collecting device according to claim 5 , further comprising an indicator member that indicates the displacement between the movable member and the fixed member.

7. an upper end of the sealing cover is coupled to a ceiling surface of the variable dilution tank in the internal space of the variable dilution tank; The gas collecting device according to claim 1 , wherein a lower end of the sealing cover is coupled to an upper surface of the moving part.

8. a second hole for inserting a punching needle into the gas diffusion space is formed on the upper surface of the upper jig; The punching unit comprises: a punching needle housing having a lower end covering the second hole and coupled to an upper surface of the upper jig, the punching needle being accommodated therein; a rod whose lower end is coupled to the punching needle inside the punching needle housing; a second driving unit coupled to an upper end of the rod and configured to move the rod in a vertical direction; The gas collecting device according to claim 3 , further comprising: a fixing portion that fixes a position between the punching needle housing and the second driving portion.

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