Battery Electrode Coating Control Using Real-Time Porosity Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing lithium-ion battery electrodes struggle with irregular coatings, leading to defective cells and high reject rates due to undetected defects during the production process, which are often identified only after prolonged use.

Innovation Solution

A method and manufacturing plant that utilize spatially and temporally resolved porosity measurements of the electrode layer, combined with machine learning and correction models, to adjust system parameters in real-time, ensuring adherence to target values and reducing defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional coating methods are used without real-time monitoring, then production speed is maintained, but coating quality deteriorates with irregular thickness and undetected defects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating qualityVSAvoidproduction speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements real-time feedback control by continuously measuring coating thickness and porosity during the coating process, comparing measurements to target values, and automatically adjusting process parameters (extrusion pressure, transport speed, nozzle geometry) to maintain coating quality within specifications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of coating defects and thickness variations immediately after coating application, allowing corrective actions to be taken before the coating process is complete, preventing defective coatings from progressing to later production stages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If real-time monitoring and correction systems are implemented, then coating quality improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating uniformityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement and adjustment systems with non-contact optical measurement techniques (laser scanning, optical sensors) for thickness measurement and automated control algorithms for parameter adjustment, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates self-diagnostic and self-correction capabilities where the coating process automatically detects its own deviations from specifications and adjusts process parameters without external intervention, reducing the need for complex external monitoring and manual adjustment systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If comprehensive defect detection is performed during production, then defect detection capability improves, but production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefect detection capabilityVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous real-time monitoring of coating thickness and porosity throughout the entire coating process without interrupting production, eliminating the need for separate inspection stages and maintaining continuous production flow while detecting all defects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4356455B1Manufacturing method and apparatus for battery storage
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 SIEMENS AG
  • EP4356455B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing an electrode layer of a battery store and to a production system for producing an electrode layer of a battery store which allow quick and direct intervention in the production process and thus reduce the reject rate in the battery production. The method and the production system achieve this by means of the following steps: - acquiring system parameters of at least one system which are associated with the production of the electrode layer, - acquiring one or more measurement values of a measurement variable of the electrode layer paste and/or of the electrode layer, - calculating/determining a correction value from a comparison of the acquired measurement value of the electrode layer with a defined target value range, and - setting the system parameters in accordance with the calculated correction value.