Flexible Air Damper Control for Battery Electrode Overdrying
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary battery electrode plates are prone to overdrying and subsequent defects during the initial stages of the drying process due to constant temperature and air volume conditions, leading to cracks, breaks, and increased electrode resistance, which existing methods to address these issues pose safety risks or result in suboptimal production quality.
Innovation Solution
A flexible air supply damper system that controls the flow rate of hot air into the drying furnace using a damper unit, reintroduces circulated fluid to stabilize solvent saturation, and measures flow rates to prevent overdrying, employing a stepwise increase in fluid flow to maintain consistent temperature and solvent saturation levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If constant temperature and air volume are maintained during drying, then drying efficiency is improved, but electrode plate overdrying occurs causing cracks and breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the air supply system adjustable rather than fixed. The air supply damper can dynamically change the volume of drying air based on the drying stage, allowing the system to adapt between high-efficiency constant conditions and controlled variable conditions to prevent overdrying
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of air volume during the drying process. By adjusting the air supply damper, the system varies the volume of drying air supplied to the electrode plate according to the drying stage, transitioning from high air volume for efficiency to controlled air volume for quality prevention
2Temperature
If external fluid is introduced to resolve overheating, then temperature control is improved, but flammable gas release causes safety accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful function of opening the furnace door to the external environment. Instead of introducing external fluid that may carry flammable gases outside, the system uses internal circulation and controlled air supply adjustment to manage temperature, separating the temperature control function from the harmful gas release pathway
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control mechanism (air supply damper) between the heat source and the electrode plate. This intermediary allows precise control of air volume and temperature without requiring direct external fluid introduction, acting as a buffer that prevents harmful gas release while maintaining temperature control
3Quantity of substance
If water is sprayed to increase solvent saturation, then solvent saturation amount is improved, but NMP gas concentration increases rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuity by maintaining steady-state operation without intermittent water spraying. The air supply damper provides continuous, controlled adjustment of air volume throughout the drying process, eliminating the need for periodic water injection that causes sudden NMP concentration spikes
4Temperature
If temperature is lowered initially and adjusted to target temperature, then overheating is prevented, but production time increases due to non-constant stabilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-adjusting the air supply damper to optimal positions before starting the drying process. This preliminary configuration allows the system to maintain target temperature from the beginning without requiring time-consuming temperature adjustments during production
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control where the air supply damper is adjusted based on real-time temperature and drying stage information. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically maintain optimal temperature conditions, reducing the time needed for temperature stabilization while preventing overheating
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively prevents overdrying by controlling the air supply, stabilizing the solvent saturation, and reducing energy consumption, thereby enhancing the quality and safety of the drying process while minimizing temperature fluctuations and production time.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit 200 heating the fluid supplied through the fluid supply unit 100
Implementation Method 2
a drying unit 300 drying an electrode plate while receiving the fluid heated through the heating unit 200
Implementation Method 3
a damper unit 400 splitting the fluid passing through the heating unit 200 to control an amount of the fluid to be introduced into the drying unit 300
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a flexible air supply damper system for preventing an overdrying-caused defect of a secondary battery electrode plate, the flexible air supply damper system including: a fluid supply unit supplying a fluid; a heating unit heating the fluid supplied through the fluid supply unit; a drying unit drying the electrode plate while receiving the fluid heated through the heating unit; a damper unit splitting the fluid passing through the heating unit to control an amount of the fluid to be introduced into the drying unit; and a discharge unit through which the fluid used in the drying unit and the fluid split out of the damper unit are discharged. By controlling the amount of the fluid to be introduced into the drying unit, the electrode plate is prevented from being overdried.