Warehouse for at least partially conditioning electrochemical cells and method for at least partially conditioning electrochemical cells

Abstract

A warehouse (10) for at least partially conditioning electrochemical cells (100), comprises a containment structure (12) having an inner volume (14) where they are housed: a plurality of conditioning stations (15) and at least one test station (21). Each conditioning station (15) is configured to receive at least one cell tray (11) containing electrochemical cells (100) and to partially condition the electrochemical cells (100). Electronic test devices (23) configured to measure at least one electrical property of electrochemical cells are housed in the test station (21). A transport system (18) configured to transfer each cell tray (11) between a conditioning station (15) and the test station (21) and between the test station (21) and the conditioning station (15) is housed in the inner volume (14) of the containment structure (12).

Description

[0001] Warehouse for at least partially conditioning electrochemical cells and method for at least partially conditioning electrochemical cells DESCRIPTION

[0002] The present invention refers to a warehouse for at least partially conditioning electrochemical cells and a method for at least partially conditioning electrochemical cells.

[0003] The present invention is particularly suitable to the production of secondary batteries, preferably rechargeable lithium batteries. Although in 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.

[0004] In the production of lithium electrochemical cells, after mechanical assembly operations of the electrochemical cells, the electrochemical cells must be subjected to conditioning operations (otherwise known as finishing) to make them electrically active and stable.

[0005] A first of these conditioning operations involves subjecting the electrochemical cells to electrical processes that determine electrochemical phenomena internal to the electrochemical cells such that the anodes are covered by the so-called "Solid Electrolyte Interphase" (SEI). This process is known in the technical field by the term of "formation" of electrochemical cells.

[0006] The electrochemical cell formation processes typically involve a succession of charging / discharging cycles of the electrochemical cells by applying currents of 0.1 -0.2 C for predetermined times (on 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 charging / discharging times and the number of repetitions of the various charging / discharging 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 charging capacity and uniformity of charging / discharging cycles.

[0007] Subsequently to the formation process, the conditioning operations continue by subjecting the formed electrochemical cells to electrically passive aging processes, carried out in special resting stations (aging stations) for times of the order of tens or hundreds of hours, in which the cells are allowed to "rest" to allow them to stabilize at specially controlled temperatures.

[0008] In the Applicant's experience, the formation of the electrochemical cells is performed in a formation plant in which cell trays, each containing a plurality of electrochemical cells arranged in a matrix pattern, are positioned in respective formation chambers.

[0009] In the Applicant's experience, in the formation plants the formation chambers are arranged in cabinets, known by the term "rack". Inside each formation chamber a contacting group is placed, configured to enter into electrical contact with each electrochemical cell of the cell tray. A plurality of contacting groups, typically the contacting groups of the formation chambers of a shelf of the rack, is connected via a plurality of electrical cables to the electrical and electronic components necessary to provide electrical power to the contacting group to implement the charging / discharging cycles of the electrochemical cells.

[0010] 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.

[0011] 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.

[0012] In the Applicant's experience, at the end of the formation process, the cell trays are taken from the formation racks and brought into the aging racks.

[0013] Before being sealed inside battery housings, i.e. before being used as an element of a battery, each battery cell is subjected to a plurality of tests that have the purpose of evaluating the actual charging and discharging capacity of the electrochemical cell, the stability of the electrochemical cell and other characteristics useful in determining whether and to what extent the conditioning operations have actually been effective. Some of these tests are carried out during or at the end of the formation process and some of these tests are carried out during or at the end of the aging process.

[0014] In the Applicant's experience, the tests on the electrochemical cells are performed by taking the electrochemical cells from the formation racks and / or the aging racks and transferring them to appropriate test stations placed in the battery cell production plant.

[0015] Modern battery cell production plants, by virtue of the ever-increasing demand for secondary batteries, have reached very high 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.

[0016] In the Applicant's experience, improvements in the logistics of transferring electrochemical cells to such production plants may have a favourable impact in reducing the complexity and therefore the costs of operating the plants.

[0017] The Applicant has noted that the transfer of the electrochemical cells between the formation racks, the aging racks and the test stations requires careful planning of both the transfer timing and of the quantities of electrochemical cells that can be transferred.

[0018] In fact, it is necessary, for example, to ensure that the electrochemical cells that finish the formation operations can reach the aging racks without hindering the electrochemical cells that must be transferred from the aging racks or from the formation racks to the test stations. If, for example, a group of electrochemical cells from a first aging rack must be transferred to a test position while a further group of electrochemical cells from a formation rack must reach the same aging rack, it is necessary to accurately manage the movement times of the two groups of electrochemical cells. If, for example, a group of electrochemical cells that has completed the formation or aging operations must reach a test station but at that time the receptive capacity of the test station is not sufficient to receive this group of electrochemical cells, it is necessary to accurately manage the amount of electrochemical cells that can be transferred to the test stations.

[0019] The Applicant has therefore felt the need to make available a conditioning warehouse that allows easy and inexpensive logistics. The Applicant has also felt the need to simplify, in logistical terms, the execution of tests on electrochemical cells.

[0020] The Applicant has perceived that if each rack was made a unit functionally and structurally substantially independent of the rest of the plant and if the electrochemical cells were made movable within each rack, it would be possible to move the electrochemical cells substantially only within each rack to at least partially condition the electrochemical cells, thus avoiding managing potentially very complicated transport logistics.

[0021] The Applicant has also perceived that each rack was made a unit functionally and structurally substantially independent of the rest of the plant and if the electrochemical cells on which tests are to be carried out were made movable within each rack, it would be possible to provide each rack with its own test station where tests on the electrochemical cells can be carried out without the need to take and reinsert the electrochemical cells into the racks, thus avoiding managing potentially very complicated transport logistics.

[0022] The Applicant has therefore found that by providing a warehouse within which a plurality of conditioning stations and a test station configured to be able to perform tests on electrochemical cells are arranged and by providing the warehouse with its own transport system to transfer the electrochemical cells between the conditioning stations and the test station and between the test station and the conditioning stations, it would be possible to make each rack a unit functionally and structurally substantially independent of the rest of the plant.

[0023] The present invention therefore concerns, in a first aspect thereof, a warehouse for at least partially conditioning electrochemical cells.

[0024] Preferably, the warehouse comprises a containment structure having an inner volume.

[0025] Preferably, a plurality of conditioning stations are housed in the inner volume.

[0026] Preferably, at least one test station is housed in the inner volume.

[0027] Preferably, said at least one test station is physically distinct from said conditioning stations.

[0028] Preferably, each conditioning station is configured to receive at least one cell tray containing electrochemical cells and to subject said electrochemical cells to at least a partial formation process or to at least a partial aging process.

[0029] Preferably, electronic test devices configured to measure at least one electrical property of electrochemical cells are housed in the test station.

[0030] Preferably, a transport system configured to transfer each cell tray between a conditioning station and said test station and between said test station and said conditioning station is housed in said inner volume of said containment structure.

[0031] The Applicant has verified that the provision of a transport system placed completely in the inner volume of the warehouse allows each cell tray to be moved within the inner volume of the warehouse, therefore without having to employ logistics and a transport system outside the warehouse. Furthermore, by providing such a transport system in such a way that it can operate between each conditioning station and the test station, it is possible to bring the cell trays and the electrochemical cells contained therein from the conditioning stations to the test station and, if necessary, from the test station back to the conditioning stations.

[0032] The present invention concerns, in a second aspect thereof, a method for at least partially conditioning electrochemical cells.

[0033] Preferably, it is provided a warehouse in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

[0034] Preferably, it is provided to bring a cell tray containing electrochemical cells to one of said conditioning stations.

[0035] Preferably, it is provided to implement a partial formation process or an at least partial aging process on the electrochemical cells.

[0036] Preferably, it is provided to move said cell tray from the conditioning station to the test station.

[0037] Preferably, it is provided to perform at least one test on the electrochemical cells contained in the cell tray.

[0038] Preferably, when the test operations are completed, it is provided to move the cell tray from the test station to the conditioning station or to extract the cell tray from the warehouse. An "electrochemical cell" is defined as an assembly consisting of at least one anode, one cathode, a possible dielectric material separator interposed between the anode and cathode, and an electrolyte. A battery comprises at least one electrochemical cell.

[0039] "Conditioning" of an electrochemical cell means a process of formation of the electrochemical cell followed by a process of aging of an electrochemical cell. "Partial conditioning" of an electrochemical cell means an at least partial process of formation of the electrochemical cell or an at least partial process of aging of an electrochemical cell.

[0040] By "formation" is meant a process in which an electrochemical cell is subjected to charging / discharging / recharging cycles. The currents applied during charging / discharging / recharging 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 1 Ah, the maximum currents applied are about 0.1 - 0.2 amperes. The charging / discharging / recharging 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%.

[0041] "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.

[0042] "OCV test" (open circuit voltage) means a test that measures the voltage of a battery cell when it is not connected to any electrical load.

[0043] "Hipot test" means a test that measures the dielectric strength of an electrochemical cell.

[0044] "ACIR test" means a test that measures the impedance of an electrochemical cell.

[0045] "Drawer" means any supporting structure capable of supporting a body and inserted into a housing compartment, not necessarily closed on the sides and not necessarily slidable on guides or the like to be extracted from a housing compartment. Therefore, a drawer inserted in a station of the warehouse is understood as a supporting structure (configured to support for example a formation module or part of a formation module or a cell tray) inserted in a station of the warehouse.

[0046] To "thermally condition" a physical entity (such as a tray, an electrochemical cell, a liquid) is to subject that physical entity to a thermal heating or cooling action.

[0047] 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.

[0048] The conditioning stations are preferably positions within the warehouse occupied by the cell trays during at least partial conditioning of the electrochemical cells.

[0049] Inside each conditioning station there are preferably placed electrical equipment and electronic devices configured to implement the at least partial conditioning process.

[0050] For example, in the case where a conditioning station is a formation station, at least one contacting group configured to electrically couple to electrochemical cells contained in a cell tray is placed in the formation station. The contacting group is electrically connected to a respective formation module configured to supply electrical energy to the electrochemical cells and perform a formation "recipe".

[0051] For example, in the case where a conditioning station is an aging station, at least one drawer is placed in the aging station on which the cell trays containing the electrochemical cells to be subjected to the aging process are inserted.

[0052] Preferably, said conditioning stations are arranged one on top of the other in at least one column of conditioning stations.

[0053] Preferably, said test station is placed below said conditioning stations.

[0054] Preferably, a plurality of columns of conditioning stations are present.

[0055] Preferably, the test station is completely contained within the inner volume of the support structure. Preferably, said transport system is completely contained within the inner volume of the supporting structure.

[0056] Preferably, said transport system comprises a lift configured to receive and transport at least one cell tray in the inner volume of the containment structure.

[0057] Preferably, said transport system comprises vertical guides to which the lift is slidably connected.

[0058] Preferably, said vertical guides extend vertically inside the containment structure in such a way that the lift can reach all the conditioning stations and the test station.

[0059] Preferably, said transport system comprises a horizontal guide.

[0060] Preferably, the lift is horizontally movable along the horizontal guide.

[0061] When a cell tray is to be placed in the test station to start a test process, the lift is positioned at the conditioning station and picks up the cell tray from the conditioning station.

[0062] The lift, possibly moving along the horizontal guide, is then lowered along the vertical guides to reach the level of the test station. The lift, possibly moving along the horizontal guide, inserts the cell tray into the test station.

[0063] When the test process has been completed, the lift is brought back to the test station and picks up the cell tray by removing it from the test station. The lift, possibly moving along the horizontal guide, is then lifted along the vertical guides to reach the level of the conditioning station in the event that the electrochemical cells must complete an at least partial conditioning process. The lift, possibly moving along the horizontal guide, inserts the cell tray into the conditioning station.

[0064] In the event that subsequently to the test process the electrochemical cells do not have to complete the at least partial conditioning process, the cell tray is extracted from the warehouse.

[0065] In this regard, preferably at least one transfer station configured to interface between said inner volume of said containment structure and an environment external to said inner volume of said containment structure is placed in said inner volume of said containment structure. Preferably, the transfer station is configured to receive cell trays from said external environment or in combination to deliver cell trays from said inner volume to said external environment.

[0066] Preferably, the transfer station is physically distinct from the test station and the conditioning stations.

[0067] Preferably, a plurality of transfer stations may be provided, wherein some transfer stations are configured to receive cell trays from the external environment and other transfer stations are configured to extract cell trays from the warehouse.

[0068] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a single transfer station is used both to receive cell trays and to extract cell trays from the warehouse.

[0069] Preferably, the transfer station is placed below said conditioning stations.

[0070] The test station can be placed above or at the same level as the transfer station.

[0071] Preferably, a transport system is configured to transfer each cell tray between the transfer station and each conditioning station and between each conditioning station and said transfer station.

[0072] Preferably, the transport system configured to transfer each cell tray between the transfer station and each conditioning station and between each conditioning station and said transfer station coincides with said transport system configured to transfer each cell tray between a conditioning station and said test station and between said test station and said conditioning station.

[0073] Preferably, said transport system is further configured to transfer each cell tray between the test station and the transfer station.

[0074] When a cell tray is placed at the conditioning station to start an at least partial conditioning process, the lift is positioned at the transfer station and the cell tray is positioned thereon.

[0075] The lift, possibly moving along the horizontal guide, is then lifted along the vertical guides to reach the level of the assigned conditioning station. The lift, possibly moving along the horizontal guide, inserts the cell tray into the conditioning station.

[0076] When the partial conditioning process has been completed and in the event that the electrochemical cells do not have to be subjected to a test process (because it is not necessary or because it has already been performed), the lift is brought back to the conditioning station and picks up the cell tray. The lift, possibly moving along the horizontal guide, is then lowered along the vertical guides to reach the level of the transfer station to allow the cell tray to be extracted from the warehouse.

[0077] In the event that subsequently to the test process the electrochemical cells do not have to complete the at least partial conditioning process, the lift is brought back to the test station and picks up the cell tray. The lift, possibly moving along the horizontal guide, is then moved along the vertical guides to reach the transfer station to allow the cell tray to be extracted from the warehouse.

[0078] The vertical guides, the horizontal guide and the lift of the transport system can be chosen as a function of the required movement and positioning precision.

[0079] Preferably, the test station comprises a plurality of test stations.

[0080] Preferably, each test station is configured to perform a test on only one cell tray at a time.

[0081] Preferably, each test station is configured to perform only one of an OCV test, an ACIR test, a Hipot test.

[0082] Preferably, each test station of the test station comprises respective electronic test devices.

[0083] Preferably, said electronic test devices are configured to perform at least one of an OCV test, an ACIR test, a Hipot test.

[0084] Preferably, a plurality of test stations are placed in said inner volume of said containment structure.

[0085] Preferably, said conditioning stations comprise aging stations.

[0086] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said conditioning stations comprise only aging stations.

[0087] The Applicant has noted that in aging plants, the temperature at which the electrochemical cells must be placed can vary with time.

[0088] 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.

[0089] The Applicant has perceived that the warehouse for the at least partial conditioning could be used as an incubator for the electrochemical cells.

[0090] The Applicant has therefore found that the warehouse could be equipped with a thermal conditioning system.

[0091] Therefore, preferably the warehouse comprises a thermal conditioning system configured to thermally condition cell trays placed in the conditioning station.

[0092] Preferably, said thermal conditioning system is configured to thermally condition at least at a first conditioning temperature and at least at a second conditioning temperature, different from the first conditioning temperature, the cell trays placed in the conditioning station.

[0093] Preferably, it is provided to thermally condition each cell tray placed in one conditioning station independently of other cell trays placed in a different conditioning station.

[0094] The Applicant has found that in this way the cell trays (and with them the electrochemical cells contained therein) of each conditioning station can be maintained at a temperature not necessarily equal to the temperature at which the cell trays of any other conditioning station are maintained within the warehouse.

[0095] In this regard, it is preferably provided to thermally condition each cell tray placed in a respective conditioning station at a first temperature for a first period of time.

[0096] Preferably, it is provided to thermally condition each cell tray placed in a respective conditioning station at a second temperature different from said first temperature for a second period of time subsequent to said first period of time.

[0097] In this way, it is possible to set conditioning temperatures that vary over time for each cell tray, allowing any conditioning "recipe" to be implemented in terms of temperatures and temperature application times.

[0098] Preferably, thermally conditioning a tray at a first temperature and thermally conditioning a tray at a second temperature is implemented without moving the cell trays from the respective conditioning stations.

[0099] The Applicant has found that in this way it is not necessary to transfer the cell tray between the conditioning stations inside the warehouse to carry out the conditioning process, further simplifying the logistics.

[0100] Preferably, the thermal conditioning system comprises a warehouse thermal conditioning circuit.

[0101] Preferably, the warehouse thermal conditioning circuit is placed in fluid connection with a fluid heater or in combination with a fluid cooler.

[0102] The fluid heater can be inside the warehouse containment structure or outside the warehouse containment structure.

[0103] Similarly, the fluid cooler may be inside the warehouse containment structure or outside the warehouse containment structure.

[0104] Preferably, a conditioning liquid circulates within the warehouse thermal conditioning circuit.

[0105] Preferably, the conditioning liquid is optionally demineralised, osmotised or distilled water.

[0106] Preferably, said thermal conditioning system is configured to thermally and selectively associate said fluid heater and said fluid cooler with said cell trays.

[0107] Preferably, said warehouse thermal conditioning circuit does not act on said transfer station.

[0108] Said warehouse thermal conditioning circuit can act on said transfer station.

[0109] Preferably, when a cell tray is inserted in a respective conditioning station, it is provided to hydraulically connect said warehouse thermal conditioning circuit with a cell tray thermal conditioning circuit.

[0110] Preferably, during the movement of a cell tray operated by the transport system, the cell tray thermal conditioning circuit is not hydraulically connected with said warehouse thermal conditioning circuit.

[0111] 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:

[0112] Figures 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of a warehouse for the process of formation of electrochemical cells in accordance with the present invention;

[0113] Figure 3 is a first schematic representation of the interior of the warehouse of Figure 1 ;

[0114] Figure 4 is a second schematic representation of the interior of the warehouse of Figure 1 ;

[0115] Figure 5 is a representation of a test station present inside the warehouse of Figure 1 ;

[0116] Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a drawer used within the warehouse of Figure 1 ;

[0117] Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a thermal conditioning system, and some of its components, of the warehouse of Figure 1 ; and

[0118] Figure 8 is a schematic representation of a cell tray.

[0119] 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.

[0120] With initial reference to Figure 1 , a warehouse for at least partially conditioning electrochemical cells in accordance with the present invention is indicated with 10.

[0121] The warehouse 10 is arranged to receive cell trays 1 1 containing electrochemical cells 100 (schematized in Figure 8) and to subject the electrochemical cells 100 to an at least partial conditioning process. The electrochemical cells 100 are lithium-ion secondary electrochemical cells.

[0122] Each cell tray 1 1 has a generally box-like shape, and comprises a plurality of housings for containing, preferably separated from each other, a plurality of electrochemical cells 100.

[0123] The warehouse 10 comprises a containment structure 12 having a plurality of walls 13 and a frame. The walls 13 are removably fixed to the frame. The frame has a substantially shelf-like structure. The containment structure 12 is substantially box-like and encloses an inner volume 14 of the warehouse 10. In Figures 1 and 2, parts of the walls 13 placed in the front and rear position have been partially removed to show part of the inner volume 14 of the warehouse 10. In Figure 3 and 4 the walls 13 have not been represented.

[0124] The warehouse 10 is a structurally independent structure placed within a conditioning plant. In other words, the warehouse 10 is a cabinet. A plurality of warehouses 10 may be provided within a conditioning plant.

[0125] The containment structure 12 is arranged to be mounted or rested on a floor of a warehouse or the like of an electrochemical cell conditioning plant.

[0126] The warehouse 10 comprises at least one conditioning station 15. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the warehouse 10 comprises a plurality of conditioning stations 15, schematized in Figures 1 and 2.

[0127] The conditioning stations 15 are physical positions within the warehouse 10 in which the electrochemical cells 100 are subjected to at least partial conditioning processes. In the preferred form of the invention, the conditioning stations 15 are only aging stations. In other embodiments, the conditioning stations 15 may only be formation stations or aging stations and formation stations. In an aging station, the at least partial conditioning process is an at least partial aging process. In a formation station, the at least partial conditioning process is an at least partial formation process. In the following of the present description the conditioning stations 15 are to be interdicted as aging stations. However, the following may also apply to the case where the conditioning stations 15 are formation stations or aging stations and formation stations.

[0128] The warehouse 10 comprises a transfer station 16 to which the cell trays 1 1 containing the electrochemical cells 100 to be subjected to the process of at least partial conditioning, are conferred, preferably one at a time. The transfer station 16 comprises an opening 17 to allow the cell trays 11 to enter the transfer station 16 and exit the transfer station 16. The transfer station 16 is placed in a lower portion of the warehouse 10 at a transport level that is elevated with respect to the floor level (i.e. the level at which the floor of a plant in which the warehouse 10 is mounted is placed). As schematically illustrated in Figure 2, the warehouse 10 comprises a single transfer station 16.

[0129] The warehouse 10 further comprises a transport system 18 configured to transport the cell trays 1 1 within the warehouse 10 between the conditioning stations 15 and the transfer station 16.

[0130] The conditioning stations 15 are placed, inside the warehouse 10, and in particular in the inner volume 14, above the transfer station 16, as schematically illustrated in Figure 2. Each conditioning station 15 is defined by a respective housing space within the warehouse 10. Each conditioning station 15 is closed to the outside of the warehouse by the walls 13. Each conditioning station 15 is open towards the inner volume 14 to allow the cell trays 11 to be inserted and extracted. The conditioning stations 15 are placed one on top of the other along a first column of conditioning stations 15 and a plurality of columns of conditioning stations 15 are preferably provided. As schematically illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a space not occupied by the conditioning stations 15 is provided in the warehouse 10 between the columns of conditioning stations 15. This space can be used to accommodate at least part of the transport system 18.

[0131] In each conditioning station 15 there is arranged a respective drawer 19 configured to receive a plurality of cell trays 11 to be subjected to the conditioning process, as schematically illustrated in Figure 6. Each drawer 19 is basically made of a supporting structure 20 for the cell trays 1 1 . In each conditioning station 15 there is preferably provided only one drawer 19.

[0132] The transport system 18 is configured to allow the cell trays 1 1 to reach the drawers 19 and to insert and extract cell trays 1 1 from the drawers 19.

[0133] As schematically illustrated in Figure 1 , the warehouse 10 comprises at least one test station 21 placed in the inner volume 14 of the containment structure 12. The test station 21 is defined by a respective housing space within the warehouse 10. The test station 21 is preferably closed to the outside of the warehouse by the walls 13. The test station 21 is open towards the inner volume 14 to allow the cell trays 1 1 to be inserted and extracted. The test station 21 is placed at one level below the conditioning stations 15. The test station 21 has the function of performing tests on the electrochemical cells contained in the cell trays 1 1 . In this regard, each cell tray 1 1 is made movable within the warehouse 10 so as to be able to move between a conditioning station 15 and the test station 21. The transport system 18 is configured to transfer each cell tray 1 1 between a conditioning station 15 and the test station 21 and between the test station 21 and the conditioning station 15. The transport system 18 is further configured to transfer each cell tray 1 1 from the test station 21 to the transfer station 16. As schematically illustrated in Figure 1 , the warehouse 10 preferably comprises only one test station 21 .

[0134] As schematically depicted in Figure 5, the test station 21 comprises a plurality of test stations 22 each of which can receive a respective cell tray 1 1 and perform tests on the electrochemical cells 100 contained in the cell tray 1 1 .

[0135] In this regard, the test station 21 comprises electronic test devices 23 configured to measure at least one electrical property of the electrochemical cells. As schematically illustrated in Figure 5, each test station 22 comprises its own electronic test device 23. The electronic test device 23 of one test station 22 is structurally and functionally independent of the electronic test devices 23 of the other test stations 22.

[0136] Each electronic test device 23 comprises an electrical contacting group 24 configured to electrically contact the electrochemical cells 100 contained in a cell tray 1 1 . Each electronic test device 23 further comprises an electrical or electronic test group 25 configured to perform a specific test on the electrochemical cells 100 of a cell tray 1 1 . The electrical or electronic test group 24 is in electrical and signal connection with the respective electrical contacting group 24. Each electrical or electronic test group 25 comprises the appropriate components to perform the specific test to be performed.

[0137] By way of example, OCV tests, ACIR tests and Hipot tests may be performed at the test station 21 .

[0138] In the event that an electrical or electronic test group 25 is configured to perform an OCV test, the components of the electrical or electronic test group 25 may comprise a plurality of DC voltmeters. Each DC voltmeter detects the voltage between the positive and negative electrodes of each electrochemical cell 100 of a cell tray 1 1 .

[0139] In the event that an electrical or electronic test group 25 is configured to perform an ACIR test, the components of the electrical or electronic test group 25 may comprise devices configured to apply an alternating current (lac) to each electrochemical cell 100 of a cell tray 1 1 and to measure the voltage response (Vac) of the cell. The alternating current is preferably about 100 mA and the frequency is about 1000 Hz. The ACIR test is a measure of impedance of the electrochemical cell 100.

[0140] In the event that an electrical or electronic test group 25 is configured to perform a Hipot test, the components of the electrical or electronic test group 25 may comprise devices configured to apply a high voltage to each electrochemical cell 100 of a cell tray 1 1 and to measure the dielectric strength of the electrochemical cell 100. The Hipot test verifies the electrical insulation of the dielectric separator internal to the electrochemical cell 100.

[0141] The transport system 18 comprises a lift 26 schematized in Figures 3 and 4. The lift 26 comprises a platform 27 on which a cell tray 1 1 is supported and retained during its movement within the warehouse 10. The lift 26 is connected to vertical guides 28 that extend vertically inside the warehouse 10 and reach all the conditioning stations 15 in elevation. The platform 27 is slidable in a horizontal direction along the lift 26. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the platform 27 has dimensions substantially equal to the dimensions of a cell tray 11 . The vertical guides 28 reach the test station 21 . The vertical guides 28 reach the transfer station 16. The vertical guides 28 define a vertical transport path for the lift 26 and are placed in the space between the columns of conditioning stations 15, so that the lift 27 transporting a respective cell tray 11 can move within the warehouse 10 without interfering with the conditioning stations 15. In some embodiments where there is a plurality of columns of conditioning stations 15 arranged side by side within the warehouse 10, the lift 26 may slide horizontally along a horizontal guide 29. The horizontal guide 29 extends between the vertical guides 28. In this way, the lift 26 can reach any drawer 19. When placed in the transfer station 16, the lift 26 is directly reachable by an operator through the opening 17 in order to be able to load and unload a cell tray 100 from the lift 26.

[0142] As schematized in Figure 7, the warehouse 10 comprises a thermal conditioning system 30. 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. Such conditioning liquid may for example be demineralised, osmotised or distilled water. The thermal conditioning system 30 has the function of thermally conditioning at least the electrochemical cells 100 during the conditioning process, in such a way as to place the electrochemical cells 100 at predetermined and controlled temperatures.

[0143] The thermal conditioning system 30 comprises a warehouse thermal conditioning circuit 31 . The thermal conditioning system 30 further comprises a fluid heater 32 and a fluid cooler 33.

[0144] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, the fluid heater 32 and fluid cooler 33 are illustrated positioned inside the warehouse 10. In other embodiments, the fluid heater 32 and the fluid cooler 33 may be external to the warehouse 10. The fluid heater 32 and the fluid cooler 33 may be any device capable of heating and cooling the conditioning liquid of the thermal conditioning system 30. The fluid heater 32 and fluid cooler 33 may be a single device or physically separate devices.

[0145] The warehouse thermal conditioning circuit 31 has the function of bringing conditioning liquid to each conditioning station 15 of the warehouse 10. For this purpose, the warehouse thermal conditioning circuit 31 comprises a first set of hydraulic piping 34 and a second set of hydraulic piping 35. The first set of hydraulic piping 34 comprises delivery ducts 36 connecting the fluid heater 32 with each conditioning station 15 and carrying hot conditioning liquid from the fluid heater 32 to the conditioning stations 15. The first set of hydraulic piping 34 further comprises return ducts 37 connecting the fluid heater 32 with each conditioning station 15 and returning conditioning liquid from the conditioning stations 15 to the fluid heater 32. Similarly, the second set of hydraulic piping 35 comprises delivery ducts 38 connecting the fluid cooler 33 with each conditioning station 15 and carrying cold conditioning liquid from the fluid cooler 33 to the conditioning stations 15. The second set of hydraulic piping 35 further comprises return ducts 39 connecting the fluid cooler 33 with each conditioning station 15 and returning conditioning liquid from the conditioning stations 15 to the fluid cooler 33, as schematized in Figure 7.

[0146] The thermal conditioning system 30 may also have the function of thermally conditioning the electrochemical cells 100 during the test process, in such a way as to place the electrochemical cells 100 at predetermined and controlled temperatures. In this case, the warehouse thermal conditioning circuit 31 is connected at the test station 21 in the same manner as described above in relation to the conditioning stations 15. The warehouse thermal conditioning circuit 31 further comprises delivery hydraulic connectors 40 and return hydraulic connectors 41 placed at each conditioning station 15 (and optionally at the test station 21 when the thermal conditioning of the cell trays 1 1 in the test station 21 is provided) to be able to connect with the cell trays 1 1 present in the conditioning stations 15 (and optionally present in the test station 21 when provided). The delivery hydraulic connectors 40 and the return hydraulic connectors 41 are placed on the delivery and return ducts of the first set of hydraulic piping 34 and the second set of hydraulic piping 35. The delivery hydraulic connectors 40 and the return hydraulic connectors 41 are quick-coupling connectors, i.e. hydraulic connectors that can be connected to further hydraulic connectors and disconnected from said further hydraulic connectors without the need to use clamping tools. Note that the transfer station 16 is not served by the thermal conditioning system 30.

[0147] As schematized in Figure 8, each cell tray 1 1 comprises a tray thermal conditioning circuit 42. The tray thermal conditioning circuit 42 is preferably integrated into the cell tray 1 1 . The tray thermal conditioning circuit 42 comprises a delivery hydraulic connector 43 and a return hydraulic connector 44 configured respectively to be hydraulically connected with the delivery hydraulic connectors 40 and the return hydraulic connectors 41 of the warehouse thermal conditioning circuit 31. The delivery hydraulic connectors 43 and the return hydraulic connectors 44 are quick-coupling connectors, i.e. hydraulic connectors that can be connected to the delivery hydraulic connectors 40 and the return hydraulic connectors 41 of the warehouse thermal conditioning circuit 31 without the need to use clamping tools.

[0148] In use, a cell tray 11 reaches the transfer station 16 where it is picked up by the transport system 18. In particular, the cell tray 1 1 is placed on or inserted into the lift 26. The cell tray 11 is brought at a conditioning station 15 and inserted into the respective drawer 19. During this operation, the tray thermal conditioning circuit 42 is hydraulically connected to the warehouse thermal conditioning circuit 31 .

[0149] Depending on the step of the on-going conditioning process, hot conditioning liquid or cold conditioning liquid is sent to the tray thermal conditioning circuit 42. The cell tray 1 1 and the electrochemical cells 100 contained therein are then thermally conditioned to the desired temperature. When the conditioning process is partially implemented or completed, or in any case when it is necessary to perform tests on the electrochemical cells 100, the cell tray 1 1 is extracted from the drawer 19 of the conditioning station 15. During this operation, the tray thermal conditioning circuit 42 is hydraulically disconnected from the warehouse thermal conditioning circuit 31 .

[0150] The transport system 18 then carries the cell tray 11 to the test station 21 . This operation is carried out by the lift 26 which supports and transports the cell tray 11 . When the cell tray 1 1 reaches the test station 21 , the cell tray 1 1 is inserted into the test station 21 . In particular, the cell tray 11 is inserted in the test station 22 corresponding to the test to be performed. The electrical contact unit 24 is coupled to the electrochemical cells 100 of the cell tray 1 1 in order to be able to carry out the test on the electrochemical cells 100. During this operation, if necessary, the tray thermal conditioning circuit 42 is hydraulically connected to the warehouse thermal conditioning circuit 31 .

[0151] When the test process is completed, the cell tray 1 1 is extracted from the test station 21. During this operation, the tray thermal conditioning circuit 42 is hydraulically disconnected from the warehouse thermal conditioning circuit 31 . In the event that it is not necessary to subject the electrochemical cells to a further partial conditioning process, the transport system 18 carries the cell tray 1 1 at the transfer station 16. This operation is carried out by the lift 26 which supports and transports the cell tray 1 1 . When the cell tray 1 1 reaches the transfer station 16, the cell tray 1 1 is extracted from the warehouse 10. In the event that it is necessary to subject the electrochemical cells to a further partial conditioning process, the transport system 18 carries the cell tray 1 1 at the conditioning station 15 and is inserted in the respective drawer 19. During this operation, the tray thermal conditioning circuit 42 is hydraulically connected to the warehouse thermal conditioning circuit 31 .

[0152] If at the end of the process of at least partial conditioning of the electrochemical cells it is not necessary to subject the electrochemical cells to a test, the cell tray 11 is extracted from the drawer 19 of the conditioning station 15. During this operation, the tray thermal conditioning circuit 42 is hydraulically disconnected from the warehouse thermal conditioning circuit 31. The transport system 18 carries the cell tray 1 1 at the transfer station 16. This operation is carried out by the lift 26 which supports and transports the cell tray 1 1 . When the cell tray 1 1 reaches the transfer station 16, the cell tray 1 1 is extracted from the warehouse 10.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Warehouse (10) for at least partially conditioning electrochemical cells (100), comprising a containment structure (12) having an inner volume (14) where they are housed: a plurality of conditioning stations (15) and at least one test station (21 ); wherein said at least one test station is physically distinct from said plurality of conditioning stations; wherein each conditioning station (15) is configured to receive at least one cell tray (1 1 ) containing electrochemical cells (100) and to subject said electrochemical cells (100) to at least a partial formation process or to at least a partial aging process; wherein electronic test devices (23) configured to measure at least one electrical property of electrochemical cells are housed in the test station (21 ); wherein a transport system (18) configured to transfer each cell tray (1 1 ) between a conditioning station (15) and said test station (21 ) and between said test station (21 ) and said conditioning station (15) is housed in said inner volume (14) of said containment structure (12).

2. Warehouse (10) according to claim 1 , wherein said transport system (18) comprises a lift (26) configured to receive and transport at least one cell tray (1 1 ) and vertical guides (28) to which the lift (26) is slidably connected; said vertical guides (28) extending vertically within the containment structure (12) and reaching in height all the conditioning stations (15).

3. Warehouse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said conditioning stations (15) are arranged one on top of the other in at least one column of conditioning stations (15); said test station (21 ) being placed below said conditioning stations (15).

4. Warehouse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one transfer station (16) is placed in said inner volume (14) of said containment structure, configured to interface between said inner volume (14) of said containment structure (12) and an environment external to said inner volume (14) of said containment structure (12) and to receive cell trays (1 1 ) from said external environment or in combination to deliver cell trays (1 1 ) from said inner volume (14) to said external environment.

5. Warehouse (10) according to claim 4, wherein said transport system (18) is further configured to transfer each cell tray (1 1 ) between the transfer station (16) and each conditioning station (15) and between each conditioning station (15) and said transfer station (16).

6. Warehouse (10) according to claim 5, wherein said transport system (18) is further configured to transfer each cell tray (11 ) between the test station (21 ) and the transfer station (16).

7. Warehouse (10) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein said conditioning stations (15) are arranged one on top of the other in at least one column of formation stations (15), said transfer station (16) being placed below said conditioning stations (15).

8. Warehousing (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said conditioning stations (15) comprise aging stations.

9. Warehouse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said electronic test devices (23) are configured to perform at least one of an OCV test, an ACIR test, a Hipot test.

10. Warehouse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said test station (21 ) comprises a plurality of test stations (22) each of which is configured to perform an electrochemical cell test (100) of a cell tray (1 1 ).11 . Warehouse (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a thermal conditioning system (30) configured to thermally condition cell trays (1 1 ) placed in the conditioning station (15).

12. Warehouse (10) according to claim 11 , wherein said thermal conditioning system (30) is configured to thermally condition, at least at a first conditioning temperature and at least at a second conditioning temperature, the cell trays (1 1 ) placed in the conditioning station (15).

13. Method for at least partially conditioning electrochemical cells (100) comprising: providing a warehouse (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 12; bringing a cell tray (11 ) containing electrochemical cells (100) to one of saidconditioning stations (15); implementing a partial formation process or an at least partial aging process on the electrochemical cells (100); moving said cell tray (1 1 ) from the conditioning station (15) to the test station (21 ); performing at least one test on the electrochemical cells (100) contained in the cell tray (1 1 ); when test operations are completed, moving the cell tray (11 ) from the test station (21 ) to the conditioning station (15) or extracting the cell tray (1 1 ) from the warehouse (10).

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