Electrode Sheet Drying Layout for Uniform Heat and Solvent Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oven drying apparatuses for electrode sheets in lithium-ion batteries suffer from non-uniform heating, leading to issues such as non-uniform dehydration, lithium plating, and potential cracking of the active material layer, which affect the electrical and safety performance of the batteries.
Innovation Solution
The oven drying apparatus incorporates air return portions between adjacent air inlet portions to discharge excess heat, coupled with adjustable walls and drive units to maintain uniform heating, and includes separate air inlet and return chambers for efficient heat distribution and recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a coating is applied to a substrate and then dried, then the coating forms a solid layer, but bubbles or pinholes may form due to trapped solvent
Solution Approach 1:
The drying apparatus dynamically adjusts the relative positions of the substrate and coating head during the drying process. The substrate table moves in the X-direction while the coating head moves in the Y-direction, creating a scanning motion that prevents localized solvent trapping and promotes uniform solvent evaporation, thereby preventing bubble and pinhole formation
Solution Approach 2:
The coating head serves multiple functions: it applies the coating material to the substrate and then continues to move over the coated surface during drying to facilitate uniform solvent removal. This multi-functional approach ensures both proper coating application and effective drying without requiring separate processing steps
2Productivity
If the substrate is heated to accelerate solvent evaporation, then drying speed increases, but the substrate temperature may become too high causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process uses periodic scanning motion where the substrate table moves forward in the X-direction and the coating head scans back in the Y-direction. This periodic action distributes heating more evenly across the substrate surface over time, preventing localized overheating while maintaining overall drying efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The moving coating head acts as an intermediary that distributes the drying function across the entire coating area. By continuously moving over the substrate, it ensures uniform heat distribution and prevents any single location from experiencing excessive temperature buildup
3Manufacturing precision
If the substrate table moves in the X-direction during drying, then uniform drying across the width is achieved, but the drying time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process operates continuously without interruption. While the substrate table moves in the X-direction for uniform drying, the coating head simultaneously scans in the Y-direction, ensuring that the useful drying action continues throughout the entire process rather than requiring separate passes or stopping
4Device complexity
If the coating head remains stationary during drying, then the drying process is simple, but bubbles or pinholes form due to trapped solvent
Solution Approach 1:
The coating head transitions from a stationary position to a dynamic scanning motion during drying. This dynamic movement creates continuous air circulation under the coating head and prevents localized solvent accumulation, effectively eliminating bubble and pinhole formation while adding only moderate complexity to the system
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 design enhances heating uniformity, reduces energy consumption, and improves the quality of electrode sheet drying, ensuring consistent dehydration and preventing material damage, thereby enhancing battery performance.
Implementation Method 1
a blowing unit configured to blow air to a back surface of the substrate
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present application provides an oven drying apparatus and a coating device, which relate to the technical field of batteries. An oven drying apparatus comprises an oven drying chamber and a heating assembly. The oven drying chamber is used for accommodating a to-be-oven-dried member, the oven drying chamber having a first oven drying side facing the to-be-oven-dried member, with the first oven drying side having a plurality of first air inlet portions for fluid medium to enter the oven drying chamber. The heating assembly is disposed on the first oven drying side, and the heating assembly is configured to oven-dry the to-be-oven-dried member. The first oven drying side is further provided with an air return portion, at least one air return portion being provided between two adjacent first air inlet portions, and the air return portion being configured for fluid medium in the oven drying chamber to be discharged from the oven drying chamber. The arrangement of an air return portion between two first air inlet portions can discharge fluid medium between the two first air inlet portions and take away the heat, thus avoiding accumulation of heat between the two first air inlet portions and improving the heating uniformity of the to-be-oven-dried member.