Semi-elliptical Pressing Jig for Battery Cell Air Bubble Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing pouch-type lithium secondary batteries face challenges in efficiently and quickly removing air bubbles formed on the inner surface, leading to performance degradation and reduced service life, as conventional devices either fail to uniformly distribute pressure or increase manufacturing lead time.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing semi-elliptical pressing jigs with flexible, heat-conductive materials to apply pressure and heat, ensuring effective discharge of air bubbles through electrolyte or gas paths, with the jigs being larger than the battery cell to cover its entire surface and apply sequential pressure from the center to the edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a separate electrolyte filling device with an air bubble path is provided, then air bubbles can be discharged, but when a large amount of electrolyte is filled to speed up manufacturing, the generated air bubbles may not be discharged through the air bubble path
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing jig uses a semi-elliptical pressing part instead of a flat plate shape. This curved surface design allows pressure to be applied more effectively to dislodge and discharge air bubbles from the battery cell during the pressing process, ensuring reliable air bubble removal even when large amounts of electrolyte are filled quickly.
2Reliability
If a small amount of electrolyte is filled to prevent air bubbles, then air bubble discharge is improved, but the lead time for manufacturing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing operation is performed as a preliminary action during the electrolyte filling process to proactively discharge air bubbles before they can cause problems. This allows a larger amount of electrolyte to be filled without compromising air bubble removal, as the pressing step ensures bubbles are discharged regardless of the filling volume or speed.
3Device complexity
If a general pressing device with a flat-plate shape is used, then the structure is simple, but pressing force is not uniformly distributed so remaining air bubbles may occur when a large amount of air bubbles are present
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing jig employs a semi-elliptical pressing part that provides better contact and more uniform pressure distribution across the battery cell surface compared to a flat-plate design. This curved geometry allows the pressing force to be distributed more effectively, ensuring air bubbles are discharged uniformly across the entire cell area.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing jig uses a flexible material for the pressing part, allowing the rigidity or flexibility parameter to be adjusted. This enables the pressing surface to adapt to the battery cell shape and distribute pressure more uniformly, improving air bubble removal effectiveness while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.
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 efficiently removes air bubbles, enhances battery performance, and reduces manufacturing time by ensuring uniform pressure distribution and effective heat transfer, thereby extending the battery's service life.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of pressing jigs each having a semi-elliptical pressing part formed on a contact surface contacting the battery cell and configured to apply a pressure to upper and lower portions of the battery cell
Implementation Method 2
pressing with a pair of pressing jigs so that the air bubbles formed by the electrolyte filling are discharged to the outside
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a battery cell, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a battery cell, wherein a pressing jig provided with a semi-elliptical pressing part presses the battery cell to remove air bubbles from the battery cell.