Vacuum Hopper Precharging for Faster Battery Degassing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum hopper prechargers take a long time to generate and release a vacuum, which inefficiencies in gas removal and electrolyte management lead to battery defects and reduced lifespan in secondary batteries.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum hopper precharger design that includes a base frame with a gas removal part and charging parts, where the electrolytes and gas are discharged and then re-supplied, utilizing a vacuum hopper with cylindrical nozzles to store and re-inject electrolytes, allowing simultaneous electrolyte supply and charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional vacuum hopper precharger is used to remove gas from secondary batteries, then gas removal function is provided, but the process takes a long time to generate and release vacuum which reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum chamber is divided into multiple independent vacuum spaces, each equipped with its own vacuum pump. This segmentation allows different batteries to undergo gas removal simultaneously in separate chambers, and enables independent control of vacuum generation and release timing, thereby reducing overall processing time while maintaining effective gas removal in each chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum pump is pre-connected to the vacuum chamber through a communication path that is opened only when needed. The controller opens the communication path between the vacuum pump and vacuum chamber in advance before gas removal is needed, allowing the vacuum pump to be ready and reduce the time required to generate vacuum when the actual gas removal process begins.
2Reliability
If gas removal is performed using conventional vacuum chamber methods, then gas can be removed from batteries, but the process requires separate steps for vacuum generation, gas removal, and vacuum release which increases processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The gas removal function and electrolyte injection function are merged into a single integrated process. The vacuum chamber serves dual purposes: removing gas from batteries and simultaneously receiving and injecting electrolyte through the same vacuum communication path. This eliminates the need for separate vacuum generation and release steps, reducing total processing time while ensuring complete gas removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum chamber is designed to perform multiple functions: gas removal, electrolyte storage, and electrolyte injection. The same vacuum communication path is used for both vacuum generation during gas removal and for electrolyte injection afterward. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate operations needed, decreasing overall processing time while maintaining effective gas removal.
3Ease of manufacture
If electrolyte is not re-injected after gas removal, then gas removal is simple, but battery performance deteriorates due to electrolyte loss and reduced lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the electrolyte after gas removal, the system recovers and re-injects the same electrolyte back into the battery. The vacuum chamber collects the electrolyte that remains after gas removal, then the controller opens the communication path to allow the vacuum pump to inject the recovered electrolyte back into the battery, ensuring battery performance and lifespan are maintained while keeping the overall process simple and integrated.
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 enables efficient gas removal and electrolyte management, reducing battery defects and increasing the lifespan of secondary batteries by allowing simultaneous electrolyte supply and charging.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum chamber 200 coupled with the chamber cover 100 in response to the sliding of the chamber cover 100 in the horizontal direction and adapted to accommodate the battery cell in a vacuum atmosphere
Implementation Method 2
an elastic member 865 formed under the stop protrusions 862 of the body 863
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum hopper precharger includes: a base frame (20) having a lower plate (21), an upper plate (23), and an intermediate plate (24); a tray (30) located on a top of the intermediate plate (24), and adapted such that a plurality of secondary batteries (100) are seated therein; a gas removal part (40) installed on a bottom of the upper plate (23) of the base frame (20), and intended to remove gas inside the secondary batteries (100); charging parts (50) each installed over the lower plate (21) of the base frame (20), and intended to charge the secondary batteries (100); moving parts (60) fixed to the intermediate plate (24), and intended to move the gas removal part (40) and the charging parts (50) vertically; and a control unit (70) intended to control the gas removal part (40), the charging parts (50), and the moving parts (60).