Storage for the process of aging electrochemical cells and method for implementing an aging process on electrochemical cells

Abstract

A warehouse (10) for the process of aging electrochemical cells comprises a containment structure (12) inside which are housed: a plurality of aging stations (17) each of which is configured to receive at least one tray (11) containing electrochemical cells (100); at least one transfer station (16) configured to receive trays (11) containing electrochemical cells (100); and a transport system (18) for transferring trays (11) containing electrochemical cells (100) between the transfer station (16) and each aging station (17) and between each aging station (17) and said transfer station (16). The warehouse further comprises a conditioning system (30) comprising a warehouse conditioning circuit (31) configured to thermally condition the trays (11) independently of each other when placed in the respective aging stations (17). The warehouse conditioning circuit (31) is placed in fluid connection with a fluid heater (32) and with a fluid cooler (33) in which the fluid is a conditioning fluid. The warehouse conditioning circuit (31) comprises a first group of hydraulic pipings (34) comprising delivery ducts (36) connecting the fluid heater (32) with each aging station (17) and a second group of hydraulic pipings (35) comprising delivery ducts (38) connecting the fluid cooler (33) with each aging station (17).

Description

[0001] Storage for the process of aging electrochemical cells and method for implementing an aging process on electrochemical cells

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a warehouse for the process of aging electrochemical cells and a method for implementing an aging process on electrochemical cells.

[0004] The present invention finds particular application in the production of secondary batteries, preferably rechargeable lithium batteries. Although in the course of the present description, reference will be made specifically to lithium electrochemical cells, the teachings of the present invention also apply to the case of other secondary electrochemical cells wherein one of the cell construction processes comprises an aging process.

[0005] In the production of lithium electrochemical cells, after mechanical assembly operations of the electrochemical cells, the electrochemical cells have to undergo electrical operations that lead to electrochemical phenomena within the electrochemical cells such that the anodes are covered by the so-called "Solid Electrolyte Interphase" (SEI). These operations are known in the technical sector by the term "formation" of the electrochemical cells.

[0006] Electrochemical cell formation operations typically involve a succession of charge / discharge cycles of the electrochemical cells applying maximum currents of 0.1 -0.2 C for predetermined times (of the order of 10-24 hours). The magnitude "C" indicates a current value expressed in amperes numerically equal to the cell capacity in Ah (e.g. for a cell capacity of 2 Ah, the magnitude C is 2 A). The currents actually applied, the charge / discharge times and the number of repetitions of the various charge / discharge cycles depend on the type of battery and each battery manufacturer has developed its own "recipe" that allows to best form the electrode surface layer SEI to maximise battery performance. In fact, only if the formation process is performed properly will the electrode surface layer SEI be deposited on the electrodes of the battery, which optimizes the properties of the battery in terms of charge capacity and uniformity of charge / discharge cycles.

[0007] After the formation operations, the formed electrochemical cells are subjected to electrically passive aging operations, carried out in special resting stations (aging stations) for times in the order of tens or hundreds of hours, in which the cells are allowed "to rest" to allow them to stabilise at specially controlled temperatures.

[0008] In the Applicant’s experience, the aging process of electrochemical cells is performed in an aging plant in which trays for electrochemical cells, each containing a plurality of electrochemical cells arranged in a matrix pattern, are placed in respective aging chambers.

[0009] In the Applicant’s experience, in aging plants, the aging chambers are arranged in cabinets, known as “racks”, which may comprise a very large number of levels in which a plurality of aging chambers are arranged side by side on each level. The racks are open at their side walls to allow the trays to be inserted and removed from the aging chambers. The aging racks are also placed in conditioned rooms to ensure that the temperatures at which the electrochemical cells are found are controlled and maintained within predetermined temperature ranges.

[0010] In a modem aging plant, there are dozens of aging racks.

[0011] In fact, by virtue of the ever-increasing demand for secondary batteries, battery production plants have reached very large sizes. Suffice it to say that these plants are commonly called Gigafactories and that their sizes are expressed in GWh to indicate the electricity storage capacity expressed in GWh of the batteries produced there in a year. By way of example, a 1 GWh Gigafactory is able to produce enough batteries capable of powering around 15,000 electric vehicles in a single year. There are 50 GWh operating gigafactories.

[0012] The Applicant has noted that in aging plants, the temperature at which the electrochemical cells must be placed can vary with time.

[0013] In fact, the Applicant has observed that the aging process of an electrochemical cell takes tens and even hundreds of hours and that, during the passage of this time, it is often necessary for the electrochemical cell to remain at different temperatures. For example, a distinction is frequently made between a roomtemperature aging process, RT aging, which is typically carried out at temperatures between 23 and 26 °C for a total duration of more than 10 days, and a high-temperature aging process, HT aging, which is typically carried out at temperatures between 45 and 60 °C for a total duration of about 24 hours.

[0014] In the Applicant's experience, in aging plants, it is provided to arrange thermally separated rooms and to arrange multiple aging racks within each room. Each room is placed and maintained at a certain temperature, so that the aging racks therein and the electrochemical cells placed in such aging racks are found at that temperature. When groups of electrochemical cells need to remain at a different temperature during the aging process, it is provided that such groups of electrochemical cells are transferred to aging racks located in a different environment which is maintained at such a different temperature.

[0015] The Applicant has noted that the logistics of transporting electrochemical cells between aging racks located in different environments can be very complicated. In fact, the Applicant has verified that the transfer of the electrochemical cells must be carefully planned, as it must be ensured, for example, that the electrochemical cells to be transferred will actually find free stations within the aging racks placed in the environment to which the electrochemical cells must be transferred.

[0016] The Applicant has also noted that the transfer of electrochemical cells between aging racks placed in different environments could expose the electrochemical cells to undesirable or otherwise sub-optimal temperatures, albeit only for the time required for the transfer.

[0017] The Applicant therefore felt the need to simplify the logistics of transporting the electrochemical cells within the plant, possibly without exposing the electrochemical cells to sub-optimal temperatures during the various steps of the aging process.

[0018] The Applicant perceived that if aging racks were arranged as devices integrating all the functions necessary to manage the various steps of the aging process, and if such a type of aging rack were arranged as an essentially independent structure which could be interfaced with other parts of the plant, it would be possible to avoid transferring electrochemical cells between aging racks located in different environments, and it would be possible to carry out all or most of the steps of the aging process within the same aging rack.

[0019] The Applicant found that an aging rack could be made by a warehouse having a containment structure inside which a plurality of aging chambers are arranged, wherein such a warehouse comprises a transfer station acting as an interface between the warehouse itself and the rest of the plant for receiving trays with electrochemical cells to be subjected to the aging process and delivering trays with electrochemical cells subjected to the aging process, and a transport system inside the warehouse capable of transporting trays between the transfer station and the aging chambers and between the aging chambers and the transfer station. By providing the warehouse with a conditioning system configured to thermally condition, according to a plurality of different temperatures, each tray containing electrochemical cells, it would be possible to configure the warehouse as a physically and functionally autonomous "entity" capable of carrying out all or most of the steps of the aging process on the electrochemical cells contained therein. In other words, the same aging warehouse could carry out both RT aging and HT aging.

[0020] The present invention therefore concerns, in a first aspect thereof, a warehouse for the process of aging electrochemical cells.

[0021] Preferably, a containment structure is provided.

[0022] Preferably, a plurality of aging stations are housed within the containment structure, each of which is configured to receive at least one tray containing electrochemical cells.

[0023] Preferably, at least one transfer station configured to receive trays containing electrochemical cells is housed within the containment structure.

[0024] Preferably, a transport system is housed within the containment structure to transfer trays containing electrochemical cells between the transfer station and each aging station and between each aging station and said transfer station.

[0025] Preferably, said warehouse further comprises a conditioning system.

[0026] Preferably, the conditioning system comprises a warehouse conditioning circuit configured to thermally condition said trays independently of each other when placed in the respective aging stations.

[0027] Preferably, said warehouse conditioning circuit is placed in fluid connection with a fluid heater and with a fluid cooler.

[0028] Preferably, said fluid is a conditioning fluid.

[0029] Preferably, said warehouse conditioning circuit comprises a first group of hydraulic pipings comprising delivery ducts connecting the fluid heater with each aging station. Preferably, said warehouse conditioning circuit comprises a second group of hydraulic pipings comprising delivery ducts connecting the fluid cooler with each aging station.

[0030] The Applicant has verified that the containment structure defines a structure within which all or most of the devices necessary for carrying out aging processes on electrochemical cells are present. The transfer station within the containment structure acts as an interface with the feeding and pick-up systems at the warehouse of electrochemical cell trays, and the transport system handles the logistics of transporting trays inside the warehouse to place the trays in the aging stations. The conditioning system allows the electrochemical cells located in the aging stations to be thermally conditioned, making the warehouse a physically and functionally autonomous "entity" capable of carrying out all or most of the steps of the aging process on the electrochemical cells contained therein. By thermally conditioning the trays independently of each other, each tray and therewith the electrochemical cells contained therein can be maintained at a temperature not necessarily equal to the temperature at which any other tray undergoing the aging process is maintained within the warehouse. The Applicant also found that by thermally conditioning said trays independently of each other, it is also possible to vary the conditioning temperature of one tray without affecting the conditioning temperature of another tray. Thereby, time-varying conditioning temperatures can be set for each tray, allowing any "recipe" for aging to be implemented in terms of temperature and temperature application times.

[0031] The present invention therefore relates, in a second aspect thereof, to a method for implementing an aging process on electrochemical cells.

[0032] Preferably, it is provided to provide a warehouse according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0033] Preferably, it is provided to thermally condition each tray placed in a respective aging station at a first temperature for a first period of time.

[0034] "Electrochemical cell" means an assembly consisting of at least one anode, one cathode, a possible separator made of dielectric material interposed between the anode and cathode, and an electrolyte. A battery comprises at least one electrochemical cell.

[0035] "Aging" refers to a maturing or consolidation process following an electrochemical cell formation process. In an aging process, electrochemical cells which have already undergone a formation process are kept at relatively high temperatures in order to make the electrochemical cell voltage more stable and precise. The aging process favours the consolidation and reorganisation of the SEI electrode surface layer formed during the formation process. An aging process can last for a period of 8-12 days.

[0036] "Formation" means a process in which an electrochemical cell is subjected to charge / discharge / recharge cycles. The currents applied during charge / discharge / recharge cycles, measured in Amperes, are numerically of a lower order of magnitude than the number expressing the total capacity in Ah of the electrochemical cell. For example, when an electrochemical cell has a capacity of 1Ah, the maximum currents applied are about 0.1 - 0.2 amperes. The charge / discharge / recharge cycles are implemented for such a time (e.g. 12-24 hours) to reach maximum voltage, minimum voltage, and then return the electrochemical cell to a known state of charge, typically 80%.

[0037] To “condition” or “thermally condition” a physical entity (such as a tray, an electrochemical cell, a drawer) is to subject that physical entity to a thermal heating or cooling action.

[0038] To “thermally associate” two physical entities with each other is to place them in direct or indirect contact, and possibly by means of a convection means, in such a way that the physical entity at a higher temperature yields heat to the physical entity at a lower temperature. By way of example, “thermally associating a fluid heater with a tray” means placing the fluid heater in contact with the tray by means of a hot conditioning fluid in such a way that the fluid heater yields heat to the tray.

[0039] The present invention may have at least one of the preferred features described below. Such features may be present individually or in combination with each other, unless expressly stated otherwise, both in the warehouse and in the method which are the subject matter of the present invention.

[0040] Preferably, the warehouse is part of an aging plant comprising a plurality of trays each containing electrochemical cells.

[0041] Preferably, it is provided to thermally condition each tray placed in a respective aging station at a second temperature different from said first temperature for a second period of time subsequent to said first period of time. Preferably, thermally conditioning a tray at a first temperature and thermally conditioning a tray at a second temperature is implemented without moving the trays from the respective aging stations.

[0042] The Applicant has found that it is thereby unnecessary to transfer the tray between aging stations within the warehouse to carry out the aging process, further simplifying the logistics of the aging process.

[0043] In some embodiments, it is provided to thermally condition a tray at a first temperature in a first aging station and thermally condition said tray at a second temperature by moving said tray to a second aging station.

[0044] It is thereby possible, should it be necessary or advantageous in certain applications, to carry out the aging process of electrochemical cells contained in a tray by moving the tray between different aging stations.

[0045] The fluid heater can be inside the warehouse containment structure or outside the warehouse containment structure.

[0046] The Applicant has verified that when there are a plurality of warehouses within an aging plant, it may be preferable to place the fluid heater outside the warehouse containment structure and, preferably, to serve the conditioning circuits of a plurality of warehouses with the same fluid heater.

[0047] Similarly, the fluid cooler may be inside the warehouse containment structure or outside the warehouse containment structure.

[0048] The Applicant has verified that when there are a plurality of warehouses within an aging plant, it may be preferable to place the fluid cooler outside the warehouse containment structure and, preferably, to serve the conditioning circuits of a plurality of warehouses with the same fluid cooler.

[0049] Preferably, the conditioning liquid is water or a mixture of water and glycol.

[0050] Preferably, the first group of hydraulic pipings comprises return ducts connecting the fluid heater with each of the aging stations.

[0051] Preferably, the second group of hydraulic pipings comprises return ducts connecting the fluid cooler with each of the aging stations.

[0052] Preferably, said conditioning system is configured to thermally and selectively associate said fluid heater and said fluid cooler with said trays.

[0053] Preferably, said warehouse conditioning circuit comprises hydraulic station connectors placed at each aging station and configured to hydraulically connect said trays, when placed in the aging stations, with said first group of hydraulic pipings and with said second group of hydraulic pipings.

[0054] Preferably, conditioning liquid from said fluid heater and conditioning liquid from said fluid cooler are to be mixed together within the conditioning system to obtain a mixed conditioning liquid.

[0055] It is thereby possible to obtain mixed conditioning fluid having temperatures comprised anywhere between the temperature of the conditioning liquid in the fluid cooler and the temperature of the conditioning liquid in the fluid heater.

[0056] Preferably, a tray is to be thermally conditioned with said mixed conditioning liquid.

[0057] Preferably, it is provided to thermally condition a tray with a first mixed liquid at a first mixing temperature and thermally condition a second tray with a second mixed liquid at a second mixing temperature other than the first mixing temperature.

[0058] Thereby, each tray can be conditioned at any temperature comprised between the temperature of the conditioning liquid in the fluid cooler and the temperature of the conditioning liquid in the fluid heater.

[0059] Preferably, a plurality of transfer stations can be provided, wherein some transfer stations are configured to receive trays and other transfer stations are configured to take trays out of the warehouse.

[0060] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a single transfer station is used both to receive trays and to take trays out of the warehouse.

[0061] Preferably, said warehouse conditioning circuit does not act on said transfer station.

[0062] Preferably, said transport system comprises a plurality of drawers.

[0063] Preferably, each drawer is configured to accommodate one or more trays and is movable between the transfer station and an aging station and between said aging station and said transfer station.

[0064] Preferably, it is provided to accommodate one or more trays in each drawer.

[0065] The Applicant has verified that the provision of drawers each configured to accommodate one or more trays allows the provision of aging stations wherein each aging station can simultaneously hold a plurality of trays, thus enabling the speeding up of tray insertion operations in the aging stations.

[0066] Furthermore, the Applicant has verified that once a tray is accommodate or otherwise coupled to a corresponding drawer, the operations to thermally condition the tray can be simplified by, for example, entrusting the drawer with the task of connecting the warehouse conditioning circuit to the tray.

[0067] In this regard, preferably said conditioning system comprises a drawer conditioning circuit associated with at least one drawer of said plurality of drawers.

[0068] Preferably, said drawer conditioning circuit is placed in fluid connection with said warehouse conditioning circuit at least when said at least one drawer is inserted into a respective aging station.

[0069] Preferably, said drawer conditioning circuit is only placed in fluid connection with said warehouse conditioning circuit when said at least one drawer is inserted into a respective aging station.

[0070] Preferably, when a drawer is inserted into a respective aging station, it is provided to hydraulically connect said drawer conditioning circuit with said warehouse conditioning circuit.

[0071] Preferably, during the movement of a drawer from the transfer station to an aging station, the drawer conditioning circuit of said drawer is not hydraulically connected to said warehouse conditioning circuit.

[0072] The Applicant is of the opinion that hydraulically connecting the drawer conditioning circuit to the warehouse conditioning circuit only when the drawer is inserted into an aging station gives a high degree of flexibility and ease of use of the warehouse when carrying out the aging operations. In fact, each drawer, and therewith the tray(s) contained therein, can be moved into the warehouse without being hydraulically connected to the warehouse conditioning circuit, thus avoiding the need for complicated and costly hydraulic connections between the warehouse conditioning circuit and the drawer conditioning circuit. Furthermore, each drawer can easily reach any aging station without its movement within the warehouse being hindered by hydraulic connections to the warehouse conditioning circuit.

[0073] Preferably, in said transfer station, one or more trays is accommodated in each drawer.

[0074] In the transfer station, it is provided to mechanically couple one or more trays to a drawer.

[0075] The Applicant has found that in doing so, the drawer and the tray(s) associated therewith in the transfer station become for all intents and purposes a single "entity" which can be moved within the warehouse to carry out electrochemical cell aging operations.

[0076] Preferably, it is provided to place in fluid connection said drawer conditioning circuit with said fluid heater and with said fluid cooler.

[0077] Preferably, a mixed conditioning liquid is implemented in said drawer conditioning circuit.

[0078] Preferably, each drawer conditioning circuit comprises at least one conditioning zone.

[0079] Said at least one conditioning zone is configured to be thermally associated with at least one tray.

[0080] Preferably, thermally conditioning a tray comprises thermally associating said conditioning zone with a tray.

[0081] Thereby, the drawer conditioning circuit acts as an interface between the warehouse conditioning circuit and the tray. The drawer conditioning circuit can be entrusted with the task of thermally conditioning the tray in such a way as to thermally condition the electrochemical cells contained therein.

[0082] Preferably, said drawer conditioning circuit of each drawer comprises a plurality of conditioning zones.

[0083] Preferably, each conditioning zone is thermally independent of the other conditioning zones in the same drawer. Preferably, each conditioning zone of said plurality of conditioning zones of the same drawer conditioning circuit is placed, independently of other conditioning zones of the same drawer conditioning circuit, in fluid connection with said fluid heater and with said fluid cooler.

[0084] Preferably, thermally conditioning each tray comprises thermally associating each conditioning zone of said plurality of conditioning zones with a respective tray.

[0085] The Applicant is of the opinion that this further increases the flexibility of use of the warehouse in carrying out the aging operations. In fact, when several trays are associated with the same drawer, and when the conditioning circuit of each tray comprises a plurality of thermally independent conditioning zones, each tray can be thermally coupled to a respective conditioning zone to be conditioned to a respective temperature. Thereby, aging operations can be carried out at different temperatures on electrochemical cells contained in different trays. Preferably, said conditioning system is configured to hydraulically connect said fluid heater and said fluid cooler with said trays.

[0086] Preferably, thermally conditioning each tray comprises placing in fluid connection said tray conditioning circuit with a tray heat exchanger.

[0087] Preferably, thermally conditioning each tray is implemented by placing each conditioning zone in fluid communication with the tray heat exchanger of a respective tray.

[0088] Preferably, housing one or more trays in each drawer comprises hydraulically connecting said drawer conditioning circuit with the heat exchangers of said one or more trays.

[0089] Preferably, this action is implemented in the transfer station.

[0090] Preferably, during the movement of a drawer from the transfer station to an aging station, the drawer conditioning circuit of said drawer is hydraulically connected to the tray heat exchanger of the tray housed in said drawer.

[0091] Alternatively or in combination with connecting said drawer conditioning circuit with a tray heat exchanger, thermally conditioning each tray may comprise thermally associating a drawer heat exchanger with a tray.

[0092] Preferably, each conditioning zone of a drawer conditioning circuit comprises a drawer heat exchanger.

[0093] Preferably, it is intended to thermally couple said drawer heat exchanger with at least one tray associated with said drawer.

[0094] The Applicant found that by equipping each drawer conditioning circuit with at least one heat exchanger, the drawer can also be thermally conditioned. Furthermore, by thermally coupling the drawer heat exchanger to the tray(s) contained in the drawer, the trays can be thermally conditioned better.

[0095] The Applicant also found that in some embodiments it was possible to avoid equipping the trays with tray heat exchangers and to thermally condition the trays only by means of the drawer heat exchanger. This would allow the conditioning system to be simplified.

[0096] Therefore, in some embodiments it is preferable that the trays do not comprise said tray heat exchanger.

[0097] Preferably, each drawer conditioning circuit comprises a plurality of drawer heat exchangers, each of which is part of a respective conditioning zone.

[0098] Each drawer heat exchanger of a drawer conditioning circuit is preferably thermally coupled to a respective tray.

[0099] Preferably, the containment structure comprises a frame and a plurality of possibly removable walls delimiting an internal volume of the warehouse.

[0100] Preferably, a plurality of transfer stations can be provided, wherein some transfer stations are configured to receive trays and other transfer stations are configured to take trays out of the warehouse.

[0101] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a single transfer station is used both to receive trays and to take trays out of the warehouse.

[0102] Preferably, said drawer and said aging station are configured in such a way that said drawer remains in the aging chamber during electrochemical cell aging operations.

[0103] Preferably, each drawer is configured to remain within a respective aging station during the electrochemical cell aging operation.

[0104] Preferably, said warehouse comprises a maintenance station reached by said transport system, said maintenance station being configured to receive a drawer and allow maintenance operations to be carried out on said drawer.

[0105] Thereby, the transfer station does not need to be engaged during the maintenance of a drawer, and the warehouse can continue to be supplied via the transfer station with new trays containing electrochemical cells to be aged, and can continue to supply trays containing electrochemical cells to the plant via the transfer station.

[0106] Preferably, said transfer station is placed at a transport level and said maintenance station is placed at a maintenance level, wherein said maintenance level is placed at a different height with respect to said transport level.

[0107] Thereby, access to the maintenance station by operators is not hindered by operations at the transport level at the transfer station.

[0108] Preferably, each aging station is configured to receive only one drawer.

[0109] Preferably, said aging stations are arranged one above the other in at least one aging station column; said transfer station being located below said aging stations.

[0110] Preferably, a plurality of columns of aging stations are present.

[0111] Preferably, each transfer station comprises a tray inlet opening to allow a tray to enter the transfer station.

[0112] Preferably, each transfer station comprises a drawer inlet opening to allow a drawer to enter the transfer station.

[0113] Preferably, each transfer station comprises a drawer outlet opening to enable the exit of a drawer transferred to a tray from the transfer station.

[0114] The drawer inlet opening can coincide with the drawer outlet opening.

[0115] Preferably, the drawer inlet opening and the drawer outlet opening face an internal volume defined by the containment structure.

[0116] The tray inlet opening preferably faces the environment outside the warehouse.

[0117] Preferably, the tray inlet opening is placed at said transport level. The exact position and orientation of the tray inlet opening depends on the position from which the trays are fed to the warehouse.

[0118] Preferably, said transport system comprises an elevator configured to retain a drawer.

[0119] Preferably, said transport system comprises at least one elevator movement device.

[0120] Preferably, said transport system comprises vertical guides to which the elevator is smoothly connected.

[0121] The elevator engages a drawer and, by means of the movement device, raises or lowers the drawer along the vertical guides.

[0122] Preferably, the elevator is also horizontally movable, possibly guided along vertical guides.

[0123] Preferably, said vertical guides develop vertically inside the containment structure and reach in height all the aging stations.

[0124] When a drawer is to be placed in the transfer station to receive a tray, the elevator is positioned at the aging station from which a drawer is to be taken that is not associated with any tray of electrochemical cells.

[0125] The elevator engages the drawer, possibly moving along horizontal guides, and is then lowered along the vertical guides to the level of the transfer station. The elevator, possibly moving along horizontal guides, inserts the drawer into the transfer station through the drawer inlet opening, so that the drawer is associated with a tray of electrochemical cells. Next, the elevator with the drawer associated with the tray of electrochemical cells is returned to the vertical guides to be lifted to an empty aging station to insert the drawer associated with the tray of electrochemical cells and allow electrochemical cell aging to be initiated.

[0126] The vertical guides, horizontal guides (if any) and the movement device can be chosen according to the required movement and positioning accuracy.

[0127] By way of example, the vertical and possibly horizontal guides, the elevator and the movement device can be realised by linear motor-driven transport tracks in which the elevator is equipped with a magnet that interacts with current-driven linear stators that form the vertical and possibly horizontal guides in such a way that the elevator can be stopped, raised, lowered and moved horizontally while controlling its position with extreme precision.

[0128] To engage and retain a tray that is delivered to a drawer, each drawer preferably comprises an engagement assembly.

[0129] The engagement assembly can for example be formed by grippers that close on the tray when the tray contacts a gripper actuator.

[0130] Preferably, the engagement assembly is also configured to position the tray relative to the drawer in such a way that the tray is in a predetermined relative position with respect to the drawer when taken from the drawer.

[0131] By way of example, the grippers of the engagement assembly can centre the tray with respect to the drawer when closing onto the tray.

[0132] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings and provided by way of indicative and non-limiting example, in which:

[0133] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a warehouse for the aging process of electrochemical cells in accordance with the present invention;

[0134] Figures 2 and 3 are schematic representations of the warehouse in accordance with the present invention in a side and front view, respectively;

[0135] Figure 5A is a schematic perspective view of a drawer used in the warehouse of Figure 1 ;

[0136] Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a transfer station of the warehouse of Figure 1 ;

[0137] Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a tray containing electrochemical cells;

[0138] Figure 7 is a schematic view of a conditioning system of the warehouse of Figure 1 ; and

[0139] Figures 8 to 11 are schematic representations of a drawer conditioning circuit of the conditioning system of the warehouse of Figure 1 . The representations in the appended figures must not be understood in scale, do not necessarily respect the proportions between the various parts and must be understood as diagrams.

[0140] With initial reference to Figure 1 , 10 indicates as a whole a warehouse for the aging process of electrochemical cells in accordance with the present invention.

[0141] The warehouse 10 is arranged to receive trays 11 containing electrochemical cells 100 (depicted in Figure 6), e.g. from an aging plant upstream, not shown, and to subject the electrochemical cells 100 to an aging process. The electrochemical cells 100 are lithium-ion secondary electrochemical cells.

[0142] Each tray 11 has a generic box-like shape, delimited by a base and side walls.

[0143] The warehouse 10 comprises a containment structure 12 having a plurality of walls 13 removably attached to a frame. The containment structure 12 is substantially box-like and encloses an internal volume 14 of the warehouse 10. In Figure 1 , parts of the walls 13 placed at the front have been removed to highlight the internal volume 14 of the warehouse 10. In Figures 2 and 3, walls 13 have not been depicted.

[0144] The warehouse 10 comprises a plurality of drawers 15 each of which is configured to be coupled to at least one tray 11. A tray 11 is coupled to a respective drawer 15 in a transfer station 16 placed at least partially in the internal volume 14 of the warehouse 10. The warehouse 10 further comprises a plurality of aging stations 17 into which the drawers 15 are transferred via a transport system 18.

[0145] As schematically illustrated in Figure 1 , the warehouse 10 comprises a single transfer station 16 to which a tray 11 is delivered. Figure 5 schematically illustrates the transfer station 16, which comprises a tray inlet opening 19 to allow the tray 11 to enter the transfer station 16. The tray inlet opening 19 has been shown in a lower portion of the transfer station 16, as in the preferred embodiment of the invention the trays 11 are fed to the transfer station 16 by lifting them therein. The tray inlet opening 19 is placed at a transport level which is elevated above floor level (i.e. the level at which the floor of a plant in which the warehouse 10 is mounted is placed). The transfer station 16 further comprises a drawer inlet opening 20 to allow a drawer 15 to enter the transfer station 16 and a drawer outlet opening 21 to allow a drawer 15 to exit the transfer station 16. The drawer inlet opening 20 physically coincides with the drawer outlet opening 21. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawer inlet opening 20 and the drawer outlet opening 21 are placed on a side of the transfer station 16.

[0146] Each drawer 15 comprises an engagement assembly 22 to retain a tray 11. As schematically illustrated in Figure 5, the engagement assembly 22 may comprise one or more grippers 23 that close onto tray 11 . When there are at least two grippers 23, they are placed on opposite sides of the drawer 15 so that when they close to retain the tray 11 they exert a centring action on the tray 11 with respect to the drawer 15. In non-illustrated embodiments in which the tray 11 is fed into the transfer station 16 from above or from the side, the tray 11 can be held in place on the drawer 15. In these embodiments, the engagement assembly 22 may not be present.

[0147] The aging stations 17 are located inside the warehouse 10, and in particular in the internal volume 14, above the transfer station 16, as schematically illustrated in Figures 1 , 2 and 3. Each aging station 17 is defined by a respective housing space within the warehouse 10. Each aging station 17 is closed to the outside of the warehouse by walls 13. Each aging station 17 is open towards the internal volume 14 to allow the insertion and removal of a drawer 15 coupled to a tray 11 . The aging stations 17 are placed one above the other along a first column of aging stations 17 and a plurality of columns of aging stations 17 are preferably provided. As schematically illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, there is a space in the warehouse 10 between the columns of the aging stations 17 not occupied by the aging stations 17. This space can be used to accommodate at least part of the transport system 18.

[0148] Each aging station 17 is configured to accommodate a drawer 15 containing one or more trays 11 during the aging process of the electrochemical cells 100.

[0149] As illustrated schematically in Figure 1 , the warehouse 10 comprises at least one maintenance station 24 located at a maintenance level at a different height from the height at which the transfer station 16 is located. In the example shown, the maintenance station 24 is located below the transfer station 16. The function of the maintenance station 24 is to enable maintenance of the drawers 15. Each drawer 15 can be positioned by the transport system 18 at the maintenance station 24.

[0150] The transport system 18, comprises an elevator 25 depicted in Figures 2 and 3.

[0151] The elevator 25 may comprise two gripping handles 26 that laterally grip a drawer 15. Such gripping handles 26, gripping the drawer 15, align the drawer 15 with an internal reference in the transport system 18, so that the position of the drawer 15 is precisely determined. The elevator 25 is connected to a movement device

[0152] 27 that moves the elevator 25 within the warehouse 10. The transport system 18 also comprises vertical guides 28 and, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, horizontal guides 29. The vertical guides 28 run vertically inside the warehouse 10 and reach upwards to all the aging stations 17. The vertical guides

[0153] 28 extend from the transfer station 16. When the maintenance station 24 is present, the vertical guides 28 also reach the maintenance station 24. The horizontal guides 29 run from the vertical guides 28 at each aging station 17 and reach the aging stations 17. In embodiments in which the horizontal guides 29 are not provided, the elevator 25 can be equipped with extending arms that fit into the aging stations 17. The vertical guides 28 define a vertical transport path for the elevator 25 and are placed in the space between the columns of the aging stations 17, so that the elevator 25 transporting a respective drawer 15 can move within the warehouse 10 without interfering with the aging stations 17. The movement device 27 may be any device capable of moving the elevator 25 along the vertical guides 28 and, when present, along the horizontal guides 29. An embodiment provides that the movement device is a trolley to which the elevator 25 with at least one magnet is connected. In this example, the vertical guides 28 and horizontal guides 29 are formed by current-driven linear stators. The trolley magnet interacts with the linear stators to create a linear motor-driven transport system.

[0154] As depicted in Figure 7, the warehouse 10 also comprises a conditioning system 30.

[0155] The thermal conditioning system 30 is preferably a liquid conditioning system, wherein a conditioning liquid is heated or cooled to act as a heating or cooling agent. This conditioning liquid may for example be water or a mixture of water and glycol. The function of the conditioning system 30 is to thermally condition the electrochemical cells 100 during the aging process, so as to place the electrochemical cells 100 at predetermined and controlled temperatures.

[0156] The conditioning system 30 comprises a warehouse conditioning circuit 31. The conditioning system 30 also comprises a fluid heater 32 and a fluid cooler 33.

[0157] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, the fluid heater 32 and fluid cooler 33 are shown positioned inside the warehouse 10. In other embodiments, the fluid heater 32 and fluid cooler 33 may be external to the warehouse 10, e.g. they may be part of an aging plant. The fluid heater 32 and fluid cooler 33 may be any device capable of heating and cooling the conditioning fluid of the conditioning system 30. The fluid heater 32 and fluid cooler 33 may be a single device or physically separate devices.

[0158] The warehouse conditioning circuit 31 has the function of bringing conditioning liquid to each aging station 17 of the warehouse 10. For this purpose, the warehouse conditioning circuit 31 comprises a first group of hydraulic pipings 34 and a second group of hydraulic pipings 35. The first group of hydraulic pipings 34 comprises delivery ducts 36 connecting the fluid heater 32 with each aging station 17 and carrying hot conditioning liquid from the fluid heater 32 to the aging stations 17. The first group of hydraulic pipings 34 also comprises return ducts 37 that connect the fluid heater 32 with each aging station 17 and return fluid from the aging stations 17 to the fluid heater 32. Likewise, the second group of hydraulic pipings 35 comprises delivery ducts 38 connecting the fluid cooler 33 with each aging station 17 and carrying cold conditioning fluid from the fluid cooler 32 to the aging stations 17. The second group of hydraulic pipings 35 also comprises return ducts 39 connecting the fluid cooler 33 with each aging station 17 and returning conditioning fluid from the aging stations 17 to the fluid cooler 33, as depicted in Figure 7.

[0159] The warehouse conditioning circuit 31 comprises hydraulic station connectors 40 placed at each aging station 17 to hydraulically connect the trays 11 , when placed in the aging stations 17, with the first group of hydraulic pipings 34 and with the second group of hydraulic pipings 35. The station hydraulic connectors 40 are quick-coupling connectors, i.e. hydraulic connectors that can be connected to and disconnected from said further hydraulic connectors without the need for clamping tools. These hydraulic connectors are also of the “zero-drop” type, i.e. they do not allow the passage of fluid when not connected to additional hydraulic connectors. When the station hydraulic connectors 40 are not connected to additional hydraulic connectors, the station hydraulic connectors 40 close a hydraulic circuit, i.e. do not allow fluid to pass through. The station hydraulic connectors 40 comprise hot delivery hydraulic connectors 41 and hot return hydraulic connectors 42. The hot delivery hydraulic connectors 41 are placed on the delivery ducts 36 of the first group of hydraulic pipings 34. The hot return hydraulic connectors 42 are placed on the return ducts 37 of the first group of hydraulic pipings 34. The station hydraulic connectors 40 also comprise cold delivery hydraulic connectors 43 and cold return hydraulic connectors 44. The cold delivery hydraulic connectors 43 are placed on the delivery ducts 38 of the second group of hydraulic pipings 35. The cold return hydraulic connectors 44 are placed on the return ducts 39 of the second group of hydraulic pipings 35. Each aging station 17 preferably comprises a hot delivery hydraulic connector 41 , a hot return hydraulic connector 42, a cold delivery hydraulic connector 43 and a cold return hydraulic connector 44, as shown in Figure 7. Note that the transfer station 16 is not served by the conditioning system 30.

[0160] As depicted in Figure 5, each drawer 15 comprises a drawer conditioning circuit 45. Each drawer conditioning circuit 45 is solidly connected with a respective drawer 15 and preferably integral with a respective drawer 15.

[0161] The drawer conditioning circuit 45 enables the thermal conditioning of one or more trays 11 associated with it in the transfer station 16. The drawer conditioning circuit 45 can perform this task in two different ways, which can be present individually or in combination. According to a first mode, the drawer conditioning circuit 45 supplies the tray 11 with conditioning liquid that heats or cools the tray 11 . According to a second mode, the drawer conditioning circuit 45 directly uses conditioning liquid to heat or cool the drawer 15 which, by thermal conduction, heats or cools the tray 11 .

[0162] In any case, either when the drawer conditioning circuit 45 is configured according to the first mode, or when the drawer conditioning circuit 45 is configured according to the second mode, or when the drawer conditioning circuit 45 is configured according to both the first and second modes, each drawer conditioning circuit 45 comprises at least one conditioning zone Z configured to thermally condition at least one tray 11. Each drawer conditioning circuit 45 further comprises at least one drawer hydraulic connector 46, preferably a plurality of drawer hydraulic connectors 46. The drawer hydraulic connectors 46 are quick-coupling connectors, i.e. hydraulic connectors that can be connected to and disconnected from said further hydraulic connectors without the need for clamping tools. These hydraulic connectors are also of the “zero-drop” type, i.e. they do not allow the passage of fluid when not connected to additional hydraulic connectors. The drawer hydraulic connectors 46 are configured to engage with the station hydraulic connectors 40 when the drawer 15 is inserted into the aging station 17, so that the fluid heater 32 and fluid cooler 33 are fluidly connected with the drawer conditioning circuit 45. When the drawer hydraulic connectors 46 are not connected with the station hydraulic connectors 40, the drawer hydraulic connectors 46 close a hydraulic circuit, i.e. do not allow fluid to pass through.

[0163] The drawer hydraulic connectors 46 comprise a hot delivery hydraulic connector 47 and a hot return hydraulic connector 48, a cold delivery hydraulic connector 49 and a cold return hydraulic connector 50. The hot delivery hydraulic connector 47 is configured to be connected to the hot supply hydraulic connector 41 of any aging station 17, the hot return hydraulic connector 48 is configured to be connected to the hot return hydraulic connector 42 of any aging station 17, the cold supply hydraulic connector 49 is configured to be connected to the cold supply hydraulic connector 43 of any aging station 17 and the cold return hydraulic connector 50 is configured to be connected to the cold return hydraulic connector 44 of any aging station 17. These hydraulic connectors are connected to each other when a drawer 15 is inserted into an aging station 17 and are disconnected from each other when a drawer 15 is removed from an aging station 17.

[0164] Either when the drawer conditioning circuit 45 is configured according to the first mode, or when the drawer conditioning circuit 45 is configured according to the second mode, or when the drawer conditioning circuit 45 is configured according to both the first and second modes, each drawer conditioning circuit 45 comprises a mixer 51. The mixer 51 is in fluid connection with the hot delivery hydraulic connector 47 and the cold delivery hydraulic connector 49 of the drawer hydraulic connectors 46. The mixer 51 has the function of mixing the hot conditioning liquid from the fluid heater 32 with the cold conditioning liquid from the fluid cooler 33 to provide a mixed conditioning liquid at a temperature comprised between the temperature of the hot conditioning liquid and the temperature of the cold conditioning liquid. In some embodiments not illustrated, the mixers 51 could be integrated into the aging stations 17 instead of the drawer conditioning circuits 45. In any case, the drawer conditioning circuit 45 comprises a distributor 52 placed in fluid communication with the mixer 51 . The distributor 52 is also in fluid connection with the hot return hydraulic connector 48 and the cold return hydraulic connector 50 of the drawer hydraulic connectors 46.

[0165] When the drawer conditioning circuit 45 is configured according to the first mode, the drawer hydraulic circuit 45 comprises at least one hydraulic interface connector 53, preferably a plurality of hydraulic interface connectors 53, configured to selectively send conditioning fluid to a tray 11 connected thereto when placed in the aging station 17. The hydraulic interface connectors 53 are hydraulically connected to the distributor 52. The hydraulic interface connectors 53 comprise a delivery connector 54 and a return connector 55. The delivery connector 54 and the return connector 55 are hydraulically connected to the distributor 52. The distributor 52 is configured to open a fluid connection between the mixer 51 and the delivery connector 54 of the hydraulic interface connectors 53 and simultaneously to open a fluid connection between the return connector 55 of the hydraulic interface connectors 53 and the hot return hydraulic connector 48 and the cold return hydraulic connector 50 of the drawer hydraulic connectors 46. The distributor 52, the delivery connector 54 and the return connector 55 define the conditioning zone Z of the drawer conditioning circuit 45.

[0166] When there are multiple trays 11 housed in a single drawer 15, the hydraulic interface connectors 53 may comprise a single delivery connector 54 and a single return connector 55 (as illustrated in Figure 9) connecting the distributor 52 to all the trays 11 simultaneously, or the hydraulic interface connectors 53 may comprise a respective delivery connector 54 and a respective return connector 55 for each tray 11 (as illustrated in Figure 11 ). In the latter case, a plurality of distributors 52 may be provided, each of which is dedicated to a respective delivery connector 54. In the latter case, a plurality of mixers 51 each dedicated to a respective delivery connector 54 can also be provided, so that a respective conditioning liquid mixed at a predetermined temperature can be sent to each tray 11 . Each tray 11 then receives a mixed conditioning liquid at a temperature that may be different from the temperature of the mixed conditioning liquid received from another tray 11 in the same drawer 15. Each distributor 52 with the respective delivery connector 54 and return connector 55 defines a thermally independent conditioning zone Z from the other conditioning zones Z.

[0167] When the drawer conditioning circuit 45 is configured according to the first mode, as depicted in Figure 6, each tray 11 comprises a tray heat exchanger 56 placed in thermal contact relation with the electrochemical cells 100 housed therein. The tray heat exchanger 56 is in fluid connection with a tray hydraulic inlet 57 and a tray hydraulic outlet 58. The tray hydraulic inlet 57 receives liquid from the delivery connector 66 of the interface hydraulic connectors 53 and the tray hydraulic outlet 58 sends liquid circulated in the heat exchanger 56 to the return connector 55 of the interface hydraulic connectors 53 of the drawer conditioning circuit 45.

[0168] The interface hydraulic connectors 53 are also quick-coupling connectors, i.e. hydraulic connectors that can be connected to and disconnected from further hydraulic connectors without the need for clamping tools. These hydraulic connectors are also of the “zero-drop” type, i.e. they do not allow the passage of fluid when not connected to additional hydraulic connectors. Similarly, the tray hydraulic inlet 57 and the tray hydraulic outlet 58 are quick-coupling connectors, i.e. hydraulic connectors that can be connected to and disconnected from said further hydraulic connectors without the need for clamping tools. These hydraulic connectors are also of the “zero-drop” type, i.e. they do not allow the passage of fluid when not connected to additional hydraulic connectors. The hydraulic coupling between the hydraulic interface connectors 53, the tray hydraulic inlet 57 and the tray hydraulic outlet 58 is implemented when the tray 11 is coupled to a drawer 15 in the transfer station 16 and is removed when a tray 11 is uncoupled from a drawer 15.

[0169] When the drawer conditioning circuit 45 is configured according to the second mode, each drawer conditioning circuit 45 comprises a drawer heat exchanger 59, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. Each drawer heat exchanger 59 is part of a respective conditioning zone Z. The distributor 52 is in fluid connection with the drawer heat exchanger 59 to supply thereto conditioned fluid from the mixer 51 . The distributor 52 opens and closes the fluid connection between the mixer 51 and the drawer heat exchanger 59. The drawer heat exchanger 59 is placed in a thermal conduction relationship with a tray 11 , so that the tray 11 is heated or cooled by thermal conduction.

[0170] When there are several trays 11 housed in a single drawer 15, the drawer conditioning circuit 45 may comprise a plurality of drawer heat exchangers 59, as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. In the latter case, a plurality of distributors 52 may be provided, each dedicated to a respective drawer heat exchanger 59. In the latter case, a plurality of mixers 51 may also be provided, each dedicated to a respective drawer heat exchanger 59. Each drawer heat exchanger 59 is placed in a thermal conduction relationship with a respective tray 11 , so that it heats or cools this tray 11 by thermal conduction.

[0171] In use, a tray 11 reaches the transfer station 16 where it is mechanically coupled to a corresponding drawer 15. Several trays 11 can be mechanically coupled to the same drawer 15. When the tray heat exchanger 56 is present in each tray 11 , in the transfer station 16 the drawer conditioning circuit 45 is hydraulically coupled to each tray heat exchanger 56. The drawer 15 with the tray 11 (or trays 11 ) is brought to the aging station 17 by the transport system 18. When the drawer reaches the aging station 17, the drawer conditioning circuit 45 of the drawer 15 is hydraulically connected to the warehouse conditioning circuit 31. Depending on the step of the aging process being carried out, hot conditioning liquid, cold conditioning liquid or both conditioning liquids are sent to the mixer 51 via the delivery ducts 36, 38 of the first group of hydraulic pipings 34 and the second group of hydraulic pipings 35. The mixer 51 mixes a mixed conditioning liquid at the temperature required for the aging step being carried out. The mixed conditioning liquid is sent to either the tray heat exchanger 58 (when present) or the drawer heat exchanger 59 (when present) or both the tray heat exchanger 58 and the drawer heat exchanger 59 (when both present). The tray 11 and the electrochemical cells contained therein are then thermally conditioned to the desired temperature. The conditioning fluid, after circulating in the tray heat exchanger 58 (when present), the drawer heat exchanger 59 (when present) or both the tray heat exchanger 58 and the drawer heat exchanger 59 (when both are present), is sent into the return ducts 37, 39 of the first group of hydraulic pipings 34 and the second group of hydraulic pipings 35 to return to the fluid heater 32 and the fluid cooler 33. When the aging process is finished, the drawer conditioning circuit 45 of the drawer 15 is hydraulically disconnected, automatically, from the warehouse conditioning circuit 31. The drawer 15 is returned to transfer station 16 where it is mechanically (and when necessary hydraulically) decoupled from the tray 11 or trays 11 .

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Warehouse (10) for the process of aging electrochemical cells, comprising a containment structure (12) inside which there are housed: a plurality of aging stations (17) each of which is configured to receive at least one tray (11 ) containing electrochemical cells (100); at least one transfer station (16) configured to receive trays (11 ) containing electrochemical cells (100); a transport system (18) for transferring trays (11 ) containing electrochemical cells (100) between the transfer station (16) and each aging station (17) and between each aging station (17) and said transfer station (16); said warehouse further comprising a conditioning system (30) comprising a warehouse conditioning circuit (31 ) configured to thermally condition said trays (11 ) independently of each other when placed in the respective aging stations (17), wherein said warehouse conditioning circuit (31 ) is placed in fluid connection with a fluid heater (32) and with a fluid cooler (33), wherein said fluid is a conditioning liquid; wherein said warehouse conditioning circuit (31 ) comprises a first group of hydraulic pipings (34) comprising delivery ducts (36) connecting the fluid heater (32) with each aging station (17) and a second group of hydraulic pipings (35) comprising delivery ducts (38) connecting the fluid cooler (33) with each aging station (17).

2. Warehouse (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the first group of hydraulic pipings (34) comprises return ducts (37) connecting the fluid heater (32) with each aging station (17) and wherein the second group of hydraulic pipings (35) comprises return ducts (39) connecting the fluid cooler (33) with each aging station (17).

3. Warehouse according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said warehouse conditioning circuit (31 ) comprises hydraulic station connectors (40) placed at each aging station (17) configured to hydraulically connect said trays (11 ), when placed in the aging stations (17), with said first group of hydraulic pipings (34) and with said second group of hydraulic pipings (35).

4. Warehouse (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said conditioning system (30) is configured to thermally and selectively associate saidfluid heater (32) and said fluid cooler (33) with said trays (11 ).

5. Warehouse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said transport system (18) comprises a plurality of drawers (15), each drawer (15) being configured to house one or more trays (11 ) and being movable between the transfer station (16) and an aging station (17) and between an aging station (17) and said transfer station (16).

6. Warehouse (10) according to claim 5, wherein said conditioning system (30) comprises a drawer conditioning circuit (45) associated with at least one drawer (15) of said plurality of drawers (15); said drawer conditioning circuit (45) being located in fluid connection with said warehouse conditioning circuit (31 ) at least when said at least one drawer (15) is inserted in a respective aging station (17).

7. Warehouse according to claim 6, wherein each drawer conditioning circuit (45) is placed in fluid connection with said fluid heater (32) and with said fluid cooler (33).

8. Warehouse (10) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said drawer conditioning circuit (45) of a respective drawer (15) comprises at least one conditioning zone (Z); said at least one conditioning zone (Z) being thermally associable with a respective tray (11 ).

9. Warehouse (10) according to claim 8, wherein said drawer conditioning circuit (45) of a respective drawer (15) comprises a plurality of conditioning zones (Z); each conditioning zone (Z) of said plurality of conditioning zones (Z) being placed, independently of other conditioning zones (Z) of the same drawer conditioning circuit (45), in fluid connection with said fluid heater (32) and with said fluid cooler (33).

10. Warehouse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said warehouse conditioning circuit (31 ) does not act on said transfer station (16).11 . Warehouse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said aging stations (17) are arranged one above the other in at least one column of aging stations (17); said transfer station (16) being located below said aging stations (17).

12. Warehouse (10) according to claim 5, wherein said transport system comprises an elevator (25) configured to retain a drawer (15), at least one movement device (27) of the elevator (25) and vertical guides (28) to which the elevator (25) is slidably connected.

13. Warehouse (10) according to claim 12, wherein said vertical guides (28) develop vertically inside the containment structure (12) and reach in elevation all the aging stations (17).

14. Warehouse (10) according to claim 5, wherein each transfer station (16) comprises a tray entry opening (19) to allow entry of a tray (11 ) into the transfer station (16), a drawer entry opening (20) to allow entry of a drawer (15) into the transfer station (16) and a drawer exit opening (21 ) to allow exit of a drawer (15) from the transfer station (16).

15. Warehouse (10) according to claim 5, comprising a maintenance station (24) reached by said transport system (18), said maintenance station (24) being configured to receive a drawer (15) and allow maintenance operations to be carried out on said drawer (15).

16. Method for implementing an aging process on electrochemical cells (100) comprising: providing a warehouse (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 15; thermally conditioning each tray (11 ) placed in a respective aging station (17) at a first temperature for a first period of time.

17. Method according to claim 16, comprising thermally conditioning each tray (11 ) placed in a respective aging station (17) at a second temperature different from said first temperature for a second period of time subsequent to said first period of time.

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein thermally conditioning each tray (11 ) at a first temperature and thermally conditioning each tray (11 ) at a second temperature is implemented without shifting the trays (11 ) from the respective aging stations (17).

19. Method according to claim 17 or 18, comprising providing a plurality of drawers (15), each drawer (15) being configured to house a plurality of trays (11 )and being movable between the transfer station (16) and an aging station (17); wherein thermally conditioning each tray (11 ) at a first temperature and thermally conditioning each tray (11 ) at a second temperature is implemented by thermally conditioning independently of each other each tray (11 ) of said plurality of trays (11 ) associated with a drawer (15).

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