Battery Electrode Assembly Drying Through the Electrolyte Fill Hole

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Solution Overview

Problem

Energy storage devices, such as lithium ion secondary batteries, face challenges in improving productivity to reduce costs.

Innovation Solution

A method for producing energy storage devices involves storing the electrode assembly in an outer case, drying it through an electrolyte solution filling hole, and filling the electrolyte solution into the case while the assembly is inside, utilizing a gas absorbing material in the negative electrode to absorb gases generated during charge-discharge cycles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the positive electrode plate and negative electrode plate are individually dried before assembly, then the water in the active material layer can be completely removed, but the productivity is reduced due to multiple separate drying steps and assembly operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying completenessVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the drying of the positive electrode plate and negative electrode plate into a single drying step performed after assembly. Instead of drying each plate separately before assembly, the assembled electrode structure is dried together in one operation, reducing the number of drying cycles and improving productivity while maintaining complete water removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs the assembly operation before the final drying step, preparing the complete electrode structure in advance. This preliminary assembly allows the subsequent drying step to treat the entire structure uniformly, ensuring complete water removal from all active material layers without requiring separate drying operations for each plate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple separate drying steps are performed for positive and negative electrodes, then water removal is effective, but the production process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater removal effectivenessVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate drying steps into a single drying operation performed on the assembled electrode structure. This consolidation reduces process complexity by eliminating intermediate handling and setup operations while maintaining effective water removal from all active material layers through the unified drying process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If individual drying of electrodes is performed, then complete water removal is achieved, but the production time increases due to sequential processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater content controlVSAvoidproduction cycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs assembly before the final drying step, preparing the complete electrode structure in advance. This preliminary action allows the subsequent drying step to operate on the entire structure simultaneously, reducing total production cycle time while ensuring complete water removal from all active material layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the drying operations for multiple electrodes into a single time-bound process. By performing one drying step rather than multiple sequential drying steps, the production cycle time is reduced while maintaining effective water content control through the unified drying process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This approach enhances productivity by reducing the number of steps and the need for dry room work, while ensuring effective gas absorption, preventing swelling, and maintaining component integrity.

Implementation Method 1

a gas absorbing material contained in the negative electrode is fully dried before electrolyte solution filling. Therefore, the gas absorbing material can fully exhibit a function of absorbing gas generated in the outer case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

When water is contained in the active material layer, the internal resistance of the energy storage device increases, so that the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate are fully dried so that the water in the active material layer can be completely removed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP4645491A1Method for producing power storage element and power storage element
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 GS YUASA INT LTD
  • EP4645491A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4645491A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4645491A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for producing an energy storage device 1 including an electrode assembly having a positive electrode containing an active material, a separator, and a negative electrode containing an active material, an electrolyte solution, and an outer case 11, includes a step of storing the electrode assembly in the outer case 11, a step of drying the electrode assembly through an electrolyte solution filling hole 21 formed in the outer case 11 by arranging the energy storage device 1 in a space for drying, and a step of filling the electrolyte solution into the outer case 11 through the electrolyte solution filling hole 21.