Electrode Plate Drying Heat Control via Ultrasonic Status Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining the drying status of electrode plates in secondary battery manufacturing are inadequate, leading to inefficiencies and losses due to the lack of real-time monitoring, which results in non-dry or over-dried products and increased process time.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a drying control system with ultrasonic sensors in various sections of the drying furnace to monitor the drying status of electrode plates, using ultrasonic transmission and reflection signals to adjust drying heat amounts in real-time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If an X-ray type density meter is installed at the rear of the drying furnace to measure electrode plate density, then the drying status can be determined, but the electrode plate drying status cannot be monitored in real-time and many electrode plates are lost during optimization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying status detection accuracyVSAvoidtime delay in drying status detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The ultrasonic sensor is installed inside the drying furnace to perform preliminary monitoring of the electrode plate drying status during the drying process, rather than waiting until the plate reaches the density meter at the rear. This allows early detection and real-time adjustment of drying conditions, preventing loss of electrode plates while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the drying furnace operates without real-time monitoring, then the system is simpler, but electrode plate losses increase due to non-dry or over-dried products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying control system complexityVSAvoidelectrode plate loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The drying control system uses ultrasonic sensors to continuously monitor the drying status of electrode plates and provides real-time feedback to adjust drying conditions. This feedback mechanism enables precise control of the drying process, preventing both non-dry and over-dried products, thereby reducing electrode plate losses while maintaining manageable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If multiple ultrasonic sensors are installed in different drying areas, then real-time monitoring coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying status monitoring reliabilityVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drying furnace is divided into multiple drying areas, and ultrasonic sensors are strategically installed in each section to monitor specific drying stages. This segmentation approach ensures comprehensive coverage and reliable monitoring of the entire drying process while keeping the sensor system complexity manageable through targeted placement rather than uniform distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables real-time monitoring and adjustment of drying conditions, reducing electrode plate losses and optimizing the drying process, thereby improving efficiency and productivity.

Implementation Method 1

an ultrasonic transmission signal transmitted by an ultrasonic transmitter provided for each drying furnace area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic transmission: Ultrasound

Implementation Method 2

an ultrasonic reflection signal received from the at least one ultrasonic sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP4624845A1Drying control system, drying furnace and method based on electrode plate drying status monitoring
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP4624845A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4624845A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4624845A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Aspects disclosed herein include a control system that determines a control condition for electrode plate drying by monitoring a drying status of an electrode plate for a secondary battery, a drying furnace comprising the control system and an operation method thereof. Examples embodiments include a drying control system comprising at least one ultrasonic sensor (310, 320) suitable for being located in a heated drying area of a secondary battery electrode plate drying furnace; and a drying furnace controller (600) configured to monitor a drying state of an electrode plate using an ultrasonic transmission signal and/or an ultrasonic reflection signal received from the at least one ultrasonic sensor (310, 320), and configured to generate and transmit a drying heat amount control signal according to a result of the monitoring.