Over-Heated Steam Drying for Battery Electrode Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for drying electrode plates in secondary batteries are not energy efficient and pose safety risks due to the use of hot air, which can lead to explosions when volatile solvents are present.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus utilizing over-heated steam as a heat source for drying electrode plates, with a circulation system to recycle steam and maintain an inert gas atmosphere within the drying furnace, reducing the risk of explosions and enhancing energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hot air is used as a drying heat source, then drying efficiency is improved, but safety deteriorates due to explosion risks from volatile solvents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hot air with over-heated steam to create an inert atmosphere in the drying furnace. The steam concentration is controlled to exceed 38.5% of the mixed gas, which suppresses combustion of volatile solvents while maintaining effective drying through heat transfer and mass transfer mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Over-heated steam serves as an intermediary substance that transfers heat to the electrode plate for drying while simultaneously acting as a safety medium by displacing oxygen and preventing explosion. The steam circulation system mediates between heat source and product, enabling both efficient drying and safety.
2Device complexity
If conventional hot air drying is used, then the drying process is simple, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous steam circulation system where over-heated steam is generated, supplied to the drying furnace, and then recycled back to the steam generator after condensation. This continuous circulation maximizes energy utilization by repeatedly using the same steam for drying multiple electrode plates, significantly improving energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers energy from exhaust steam by condensing it in the heat exchanger and recycling the condensed water back to the steam generator. This recovery process prevents energy waste and maintains high energy efficiency in the drying process.
3Use of energy by moving object
If over-heated steam is used as drying heat source, then safety and energy efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The over-heated steam serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a drying heat source, creates an inert atmosphere for safety, and enables energy recycling through condensation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single integrated approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to generate its own over-heated steam and recycle it through condensation and reheating. The exhaust steam from the drying furnace automatically feeds back into the steam generation system, creating a self-sustaining cycle that minimizes external energy input and reduces operational complexity.
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 use of over-heated steam as a drying medium increases safety and energy efficiency by preventing explosions and reducing energy consumption, allowing for faster and more efficient drying of electrode plates.
Implementation Method 1
The process of forming the electrode assembly includes coating a slurry on a metal current collector and drying the coated slurry to form an active material layer. In general, the drying of the slurry is performed by supplying a heat transfer medium to the slurry to evaporate a solvent from the slurry.
Implementation Method 2
an over-heated steam supplier configured to supply the drying furnace with over-heated steam as a drying heat source
Implementation Method 3
a circulation fan configured to inhale at least some of the over-heated steam discharged from the drying furnace and to introduce the inhaled over-heated steam back into the drying furnace
Implementation Method 4
a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat of the exhaust gas supplied from the exhaust fan
Implementation Method 5
The heat exchanger may be configured to liquefy the over-heated steam and the solvent gas to be exhausted to outside of the heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 6
The heater may be configured to heat the over-heated steam supplied from the over-heated steam supplier and the circulation fan.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for drying an electrode plate includes a drying furnace configure to dry an electrode plate having a slurry coated thereon, an over-heated steam supplier configured to supply the drying furnace with over-heated steam as a drying heat source, a circulation fan configured to inhale at least some of the over-heated steam discharged from the drying furnace and to introduce the inhaled over-heated steam back into the drying furnace, an exhaust fan configured to inhale at least some of the gas exhausted from the drying furnace, and a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat of the exhaust gas supplied from the exhaust fan.