Battery Electrode Coating Airflow Control for Uniform Slurry Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
The uneven distribution of slurry during the manufacturing of secondary battery electrode plates leads to decreased coating quality and reliability, as the coating rate increases, resulting in non-uniform thickness and reduced energy density.
Innovation Solution
A secondary battery manufacturing apparatus with a coating device and air blowers is used to apply slurry to a substrate, where a controller adjusts the temperature and speed of air from multiple blowers based on the coating layer's width, thickness, and properties to ensure uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the coating rate of the slurry increases to improve productivity, then the manufacturing efficiency is improved, but the coating quality deteriorates due to uneven distribution and non-uniform thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The air blower is divided into multiple blowing units arranged in parallel, each responsible for a specific region of the coating layer. This segmentation allows independent control of air flow to different areas, enabling uniform drying even at high coating rates where the slurry is applied more thickly and unevenly.
Solution Approach 2:
Each blowing unit provides localized air flow control tailored to the specific characteristics of its corresponding region on the coating layer. The air flow rate and direction can be independently adjusted for each unit, addressing local variations in slurry distribution and thickness that occur at higher coating rates.
2Productivity
If the slurry is applied at a higher coating rate to increase production speed, then the manufacturing efficiency is improved, but the reliability of the secondary battery decreases due to decreased coating quality
Solution Approach 1:
The air blower comprises multiple blowing units that can be independently controlled, allowing each unit to address specific regions of the coating layer. This segmentation ensures that even when slurry is applied at high rates causing non-uniform thickness, each region receives appropriate air flow for uniform drying, maintaining battery reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors the coating layer characteristics and adjusts the air flow from each blowing unit accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that variations in slurry application at high coating rates are compensated for, maintaining consistent drying quality and battery reliability.
3Device complexity
If a single air blower is used to simplify the device structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inability to uniformly dry the entire coating layer
Solution Approach 1:
The air blower is segmented into multiple blowing units arranged in parallel, with each unit responsible for a specific region of the coating layer. This segmentation enables uniform drying across the entire coating surface, achieving high manufacturing precision while keeping each individual blowing unit relatively simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Each blowing unit serves multiple functions: it provides air flow for drying, controls local temperature distribution, and can be independently adjusted to compensate for variations in slurry application. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve high precision without requiring overly complex individual components.
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 apparatus improves the uniformity of the coating layer, enhancing the energy density and reliability of the secondary battery by correcting non-uniform edge portions and maintaining consistent thickness across the coating surface.
Implementation Method 1
an air blower configured to blow air toward the coating layer
Implementation Method 2
The controller is configured to adjust temperature of the air from the first air blower and a temperature of the air from the second air blower
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery. The apparatus includes a coating device configured to form a coating layer by applying a slurry to a substrate being transported in a transport direction, an air blower configured to blow air toward the coating layer, and a controller configured to control the coating device and the air blower. The air blower includes a first air blower disposed above the coating layer and configured to blow air toward a top surface of the coating layer and a second air blower disposed adjacent to opposite sides of the coating layer and configured to blow air toward opposite side surfaces of the coating layer. The controller is configured to adjust a temperature of the blown air based on at least one of a width of the coating layer or a thickness of the coating layer.