Valved Electrolyte Container for Battery Cell Filling Without Dry Rooms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for filling battery cells with electrolyte are time-consuming, costly, and require a dry room atmosphere to prevent undesirable reactions, leading to high operational complexity and space requirements.

Innovation Solution

A container system with valved openings and a heating element, allowing electrolyte filling under controlled pressure and temperature conditions, decoupling the process from the filling station location and eliminating the need for a dry room atmosphere, while using inert gas to enhance the pressure gradient for faster filling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a pressure gradient is used to increase electrolyte flow speed into the battery cell, then filling time is reduced, but the process complexity and space requirements increase due to vacuum pumps and pressure control systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling timeVSAvoidfilling process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pressure parameter by introducing inert gas to create a pressure gradient between the container and battery cell, enabling faster electrolyte transfer without complex vacuum systems. The pressure difference drives electrolyte flow from the container into the battery cell, reducing filling time while simplifying the overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses pneumatic pressure from inert gas to drive the electrolyte transfer process. By applying gas pressure to the electrolyte in the container, the system creates a controlled flow of electrolyte into the battery cell, achieving faster filling without requiring vacuum pumps or complex mechanical systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Reliability

If filling is performed in a dry room atmosphere to prevent electrolyte reaction with water, then electrolyte protection is ensured, but the operational complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrolyte protectionVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an inert gas atmosphere within the container to prevent unwanted reactions between the electrolyte and moisture. The inert gas creates a protective environment that eliminates the need for costly and complex dry room facilities, while still ensuring electrolyte protection and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the electrolyte filling process from the constrained dry room environment by using a portable container with inert gas atmosphere. This allows the filling operation to be performed anywhere without requiring fixed dry room infrastructure, reducing operational complexity and space requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If heating is applied to increase electrolyte temperature and improve distribution, then wetting speed increases, but energy consumption and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewetting speedVSAvoidheating energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the heating function with the pressure gradient approach. By heating the electrolyte in the container while simultaneously applying inert gas pressure, the system achieves both improved electrolyte flow (from heating) and driven transfer (from pressure), resulting in faster wetting speed without requiring separate heating equipment or excessive energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Significantly reduces filling time, simplifies the process, and reduces the space and cost requirements by enabling simultaneous heating and pressurization, allowing for efficient electrolyte distribution without damaging the battery cells.

Implementation Method 1

A container (10) for filling a battery cell (20) with electrolyte... a heating element (18) for introducing thermal energy into the container (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

filling the container (10) with electrolyte... filling inert gas via the second inlet opening (14) to increase a pressure within the container (10)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4303943B1Container, system, method and apparatus for filling an electrolyte into a battery cell
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 POWERCO SE
  • EP4303943B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4303943B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4303943B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a container, a system, a method, and a device for filling a battery cell with electrolyte. It is provided that electrolyte located in the container is filled into a battery cell via an outlet opening. The interior of the container is sealed from the environment by means of valves in the openings of the container, thereby enabling the battery cell to be filled with electrolyte in a non-dry atmosphere.