Dissolution Mixer Anchor with Spouting Holes for CMC Agglomeration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing dissolution processes for powders in battery manufacturing, such as carboxylmethyl cellulose (CMC), face issues with particle agglomeration leading to undissolved materials, contamination risks, and inefficient input processes, which hinder productivity and material quality.

Innovation Solution

A dissolution mixer design featuring a dissolution bath, a powder input unit, a rotatable impeller, and an anchor with powder spouting holes, allowing controlled powder input and dispersion within the mixer, minimizing agglomeration and contamination risks while automating the input process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If CMC powder is input into a dissolution bath in a lump, then the input process is simple, but undissolved material is excessively generated due to particle agglomeration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepowder input processVSAvoiddissolution quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor structure is divided into multiple segments with numerous powder spouting holes distributed across its surface. These holes break the powder input into multiple small streams, preventing particle agglomeration while maintaining simple operation. The segmentation of the anchor into upper and lower frames with connection frames creates a structured distribution system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor acts as an intermediary device between the powder input unit and the dissolution bath. It receives powder from the input unit and distributes it through spouting holes, mediating the transition from lump input to dispersed dissolution, thereby improving both ease of operation and dissolution quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If a worker directly inputs CMC powder in a divided manner, then dissolution quality improves, but the risk of contamination and safety hazards increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedissolution qualityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automated powder input through the powder input unit connected to the anchor. The mixer can operate autonomously to divide and distribute powder without worker intervention, eliminating contamination risks from direct handling while maintaining dissolved quality through the structured spouting hole distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the mixer is opened for powder input, then powder can be added, but material contamination risk and worker safety risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepowder input capabilityVSAvoidmaterial purity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor with its passage and spouting holes serves as an intermediary mechanism that allows powder input without opening the mixer. Powder is fed through the passage in the anchor structure, which distributes it internally, eliminating the need to open the mixer and thus preventing contamination while maintaining operational capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The powder input passage is nested within the anchor structure, which itself is nested inside the dissolution bath. This nested arrangement allows powder input functionality to be integrated within the closed mixer system, enabling addition without opening and protecting material purity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Adaptability or versatility

If manual powder input is used, then process flexibility is maintained, but productivity is reduced due to repeated opening and contamination risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess flexibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated powder input system with the powder input unit and anchor structure enables the mixer to perform powder addition autonomously without repeated manual intervention. This self-service capability maintains process flexibility while dramatically improving productivity by eliminating repeated opening/closing cycles and associated contamination risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 mixer effectively reduces undissolved material generation, enhances material quality, and automates the powder input, improving productivity and safety by ensuring efficient mixing and dispersion of powders.

Implementation Method 1

an impeller installed to be rotatable inside the dissolution bath

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMixing: Stirring

Implementation Method 2

an anchor located inside the dissolution bath and having a passage of the powder inputted by the powder input unit and a powder spouting hole connected to the passage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMixing: Stirring

Data Source

PatentUS11033865B2Dissolution mixer

Publication Date: 2021.06.15 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a dissolution mixer, which includes: a dissolution bath configured to accommodate a powder and a solvent for dissolving the powder; a powder input unit located at an outer side of the dissolution bath; an impeller installed to be rotatable inside the dissolution bath; and an anchor located inside the dissolution bath and having a passage of the powder inputted by the powder input unit and a powder spouting hole connected to the passage.