Electrode slurry suppling apparatus, coating apparatus and die coator

Abstract

This specification relates to an electrode slurry supply device, a coating device, and a die coater.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] This specification relates to an electrode slurry supply device, a coating device, and a die coater. Background Technology

[0002] Recently, the demand for eco-friendly alternative energy sources has been increasing due to rising energy prices caused by the depletion of fossil fuels and growing concerns about environmental pollution. Accordingly, research on various power generation technologies, such as nuclear, solar, wind, and tidal power, is continuing, and there is also significant interest in power storage devices to utilize this generated energy more efficiently.

[0003] In particular, as technological development and demand for mobile devices increase, the demand for batteries as an energy source is rapidly rising. Much research is being conducted on batteries capable of meeting this demand.

[0004] In terms of battery shape, there is high demand for prismatic and pouch-type rechargeable batteries, which feature thin profiles and can be applied to products such as mobile phones. In terms of materials, there is high demand for lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries and lithium-ion polymer batteries, which possess advantages including high energy density, discharge voltage, and output stability.

[0005] Generally, a secondary battery has a structure comprising an electrode assembly having a stacked structure of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator located between the positive and negative electrodes. The positive and negative electrodes are manufactured by coating an electrode slurry containing an active material onto a current collector.

[0006] For the coating of the electrode slurry, the electrode slurry is provided from a tank where the electrode slurry is stored and branched into multiple lines, and coating is carried out for each line.

[0007] At this time, research is needed to supply a uniform flow rate to each line. The problem to be solved

[0008] The present specification aims to provide an electrode slurry supply device, a coating device, and a die coater. means of solving the problem

[0009] One embodiment of the present specification provides an electrode slurry supply device comprising: a tank for receiving an electrode slurry; a main pipe connected at one end to the tank; and two or more branch pipes configured to discharge the electrode slurry introduced from the main pipe, wherein the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected is located further from the tank, the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected is gradually lowered.

[0010] Another embodiment of the present specification includes two or more pumps each located at the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected.

[0011] Another embodiment of the present specification is, on a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity, a distance (A) between one end of the main pipe connected to the tank and the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected, and

[0012] In the direction of gravity, the ratio of the height difference (B) between one end of the main pipe connected to the tank and the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected is 2:1 to 3:1.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present specification, the main pipe includes a connecting pipe connected to the tank, and a straight pipe coupled to the connecting pipe and connected to the two or more branch pipes.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present specification, the angle formed by the plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity and the central axis of the straight tube is 5 degrees or more and 25 degrees or less.

[0015] Another embodiment of the present specification provides a coating device or die coater that discharges an electrode slurry received from the electrode slurry supply device described above. Effects of the invention

[0016] The electrode slurry supply device according to the present specification can supply a uniform flow rate from one electrode slurry tank to multiple lines of branch pipes regardless of the physical properties of the electrode slurry.

[0017] The electrode slurry supply device according to the present specification can increase the number of branch pipes per tank. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0018] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional electrode slurry supply device. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode slurry providing device according to the present specification. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an electrode slurry providing device according to the present specification. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0019] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the drawings are intended to illustrate the invention, and the scope of the invention is not limited by the drawings.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode slurry supply device (1) according to the present specification, and FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an electrode slurry supply device (1) according to the present specification. The electrode slurry supply device (1) includes a tank (10), a main pipe (20), and a branch pipe (30).

[0023] During the electrode slurry coating process, the tank (10) supplying the electrode slurry to the coating device discharges the electrode slurry through a single main pipe (20), and the main pipe (20) supplies the electrode slurry discharged from the tank (10) to the coating device (not shown) through a plurality of branch pipes (30) individually connected to a pump (not shown). At this time, the type of the coating device is not specifically limited as long as it is a device capable of coating the electrode slurry, and may be, for example, a comma coater, a spin coater, a slot die coater, etc.

[0024] Here, the electrode slurry supply device (1) can have the tank (10), main pipe (20), and branch pipe (30) each formed of a metal material having a certain rigidity, and any material capable of withstanding pressure from the supply of electrode slurry is acceptable.

[0026] The tank (10) is not limited in shape as long as it can store electrode slurry and can be configured in a cylindrical shape. The bottom surface of the tank (10) has a convex shape so as to efficiently use the electrode slurry stored in the tank, and the electrode slurry stored in the tank can be discharged into the main pipe (20) through a discharge port provided at the lowest position of the convex shape.

[0028] In a conventional electrode slurry supply device (1) as shown in FIG. 1, the main pipe (20) connected to the tank (10) is positioned horizontally with respect to the ground, and consequently, the heights of the branch pipes are formed equally, resulting in a problem where the flow rates of the electrode slurry discharged through each branch pipe differ. Specifically, the branch pipe located closer to the tank has a larger flow rate of the electrode slurry, while the branch pipe located relatively farther from the tank has a lower flow rate of the electrode slurry. Furthermore, if the viscosity of the electrode slurry is too low or too high, the electrode slurry may not even be discharged to the branch pipe located far from the tank. This phenomenon is exacerbated as the amount of electrode slurry in the tank decreases.

[0030] On the other hand, the electrode slurry supply device (1) according to the present specification is arranged diagonally such that one end of the main pipe (20) connected to the tank (10) is positioned higher than the other end, as shown in FIG. 2. The flow rate of the electrode slurry can be uniformized so that the electrode slurry is discharged uniformly by each branch pipe (30).

[0031] The slope of the main pipe (20) may be inclined diagonally at an acute angle to the horizontal plane, and the slope may be changed considering the type and viscosity of the electrode slurry. For example, the slope may be adjusted to be 5 degrees or more and 25 degrees or less, preferably 10 degrees or more and 20 degrees or less.

[0032] The main pipe (20) may include a connecting pipe (21) connected to the tank (10), and a straight pipe (23) coupled to the connecting pipe (21) and connected to the two or more branch pipes (30). At this time, the angle formed by the plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity and the central axis of the straight pipe (23) can be adjusted to be 5 degrees or more and 25 degrees or less, preferably 10 degrees or more and 20 degrees or less.

[0034] One end of the main pipe (20) is connected to the tank (10), and the side portion is connected to at least one branch pipe (30). The electrode slurry discharged from the tank (10) is moved to the branch pipe (30), that is, the electrode slurry discharged from the tank (10) is moved solely by the force of the electrode slurry head, i.e., the pressure according to height, to a pump (not shown) individually equipped in the branch pipe (30). By arranging the main pipe (20) diagonally, the electrode slurry discharged from the tank can be delivered to each individual branch pipe (30) with a more uniform flow rate solely by the force of the electrode slurry head, i.e., the pressure according to height, to a pump (not shown) individually equipped in the branch pipe (30).

[0035] A step difference is formed in the height of the pumps (not shown) located at the connection point between each branch pipe (30) and the main pipe (20), so that the same flow rate can be discharged from each branch pipe (30) regardless of the physical properties of the electrode slurry.

[0036] The force of pressure according to the height, i.e., the head of the electrode slurry, is applied solely to the electrode slurry discharged from the tank to the pump (not shown) individually equipped in the branch pipe (30).

[0037] On a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity, the distance (A) between one end of the main pipe connected to the tank and the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected, and

[0038] In the direction of gravity, it can be controlled through the ratio of the height difference (B) between one end of the main pipe connected to the tank and the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected.

[0039] First, looking at the conventional electrode slurry supply device in Fig. 1, if we check the ratio of A:B, since the height of all branch pipes is the same, B is constant, A1:B is 4:1, A2:B is 5:1, A3:B is 6:1, and A4:B is 7:1.

[0040] On the other hand, the electrode slurry providing device (1) according to the present specification is,

[0041] On a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity, the distance (A) between one end of the main pipe connected to the tank and the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected, and

[0042] In the direction of gravity, the ratio of the height difference (B) between one end of the main pipe connected to the tank and the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected is adjusted to 2:1 to 3:1.

[0043] In the electrode slurry providing device (1) according to the present specification illustrated in FIG. 2, when checking the ratio of A:B, A1:B1, A2:B2, A3:B3, and A4:B4 are each 2:1 to 3:1.

[0044] The above A1:B1 is the ratio of the distance (A1) between the end of the main pipe (20) connected to the tank (10) and the point where the first branch pipe (30') and the main pipe (20) are connected in a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and the height difference (B1) between the end of the main pipe (20) connected to the tank (10) and the point where the first branch pipe (30') and the main pipe (20) are connected in the direction of gravity.

[0045] The above A2:B2 is the ratio of the distance (A2) between the end of the main pipe (20) connected to the tank (10) and the point where the second branch pipe (30”) and the main pipe (20) are connected in a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and the height difference (B2) between the end of the main pipe (20) connected to the tank (10) and the point where the second branch pipe (30”) and the main pipe (20) are connected in the direction of gravity.

[0046] The above A3:B3 is the ratio of the distance (A3) between the end of the main pipe (20) connected to the tank (10) and the point where the third branch pipe (30”') and the main pipe (20) are connected in a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and the height difference (B3) between the end of the main pipe (20) connected to the tank (10) and the point where the third branch pipe (30”') and the main pipe (20) are connected in the direction of gravity.

[0047] The above A4:B4 is the ratio of the distance (A4) between the end of the main pipe (20) connected to the tank (10) and the point where the fourth branch pipe (30””) and the main pipe (20) are connected in a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and the height difference (B4) between the end of the main pipe (20) connected to the tank (10) and the point where the fourth branch pipe (30””) and the main pipe (20) are connected in the direction of gravity.

[0049] At least one branch pipe (30) can be connected to the side of the main pipe (20). Specifically, the branch pipe (30) can be provided in two or more, three or more, or between two and ten. Since a uniform flow rate can be supplied regardless of the physical properties of the liquid compared to conventional methods, the number of branch pipes capable of supplying a uniform flow rate from a single tank increases compared to conventional methods.

[0051] Another embodiment of the present specification provides a coating device that discharges an electrode slurry provided by the electrode slurry providing device described above. As long as the electrode slurry provided by the electrode slurry providing device described above can be discharged and coated onto a substrate, the type and form of the coating device are not particularly limited. For example, it may be a comma coater, a spin coater, a slot die coater, etc.

[0052] At this time, the coating device may be connected to one coating device per branch pipe of one of the electrode slurry supply devices, and the coating devices connected to each branch pipe may be different or identical to each other.

[0054] Another embodiment of the present specification provides a die coater that discharges an electrode slurry received from the electrode slurry supply device described above. The die coater comprises two or more dies and a shim provided between the dies to allow the electrode slurry to be discharged.

[0056] A person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention may be implemented in other specific forms without altering its technical concept or essential features. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims rather than by the detailed description above, and various embodiments derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and equivalent concepts should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0057] 1: Electrode slurry supply device 10: Tank 20: Main pipe 21: Connector 23: Straight pipe 30: Divided pipe 30': 1st division pipe 30”: 2nd division pipe 30”': 3rd division pipe 30””: 4th division pipe

Claims

Claim 1 An electrode slurry supply device comprising: a tank for receiving an electrode slurry; a main pipe connected at one end to the tank; and two or more branch pipes configured to discharge the electrode slurry introduced from the main pipe, wherein the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected is gradually lowered as the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected is located further from the tank, and comprising two or more pumps each located at the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 An electrode slurry providing device according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the distance (A) between one end of the main pipe connected to the tank and the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected in a plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity, and the height difference (B) between the one end of the main pipe connected to the tank and the point where the branch pipe and the main pipe are connected in the direction of gravity, is 2:1 to 3:

1. Claim 4 An electrode slurry providing device according to claim 1, wherein the main pipe comprises a connecting pipe connected to the tank, and a straight pipe coupled to the connecting pipe and connected to the two or more branch pipes. Claim 5 An electrode slurry providing device according to claim 4, wherein the angle formed by the plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity and the central axis of the straight tube is 5 degrees or more and 25 degrees or less. Claim 6 A coating device for discharging an electrode slurry received from an electrode slurry providing device of any one of claims 1 and 3 to 5. Claim 7 A die coater that discharges an electrode slurry received from an electrode slurry providing device of any one of claims 1 and 3 to 5.

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