DE102021125515A1 - Machine and production line for the energy cell manufacturing industry - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine (12) for the energy cell producing industry comprises at least one machine section (13, 14) and a module housing (15; 15A, 15B) locally surrounding the at least one machine section (13, 14). The machine (12) has an air conditioning device (16; 16A, 16B) for generating a local process climate limited to a process space (17; 17A, 17B) within the module housing (15; 15A, 15B).

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for the energy cell producing industry, comprising at least one machine section and a module housing locally surrounding the at least one machine section. The invention also relates to a production plant comprising at least one such machine.

Energy cells or energy storage cells, such as battery cells, are used for galvanic accumulators, for example in motor vehicles, other land vehicles, ships and airplanes, in which a considerable amount of energy has to be stored so that it can be called up over longer periods of time. For this purpose, such energy cells have a structure made up of a large number of segments stacked to form a stack. These segments are each alternating anode sheets and cathode sheets, also referred to as electrodes, separated from one another by separator sheets, also made as segments.

Devices for the production of battery cells are, for example, from WO 2020/292845 A1 , WO 2016/041713 A1 , DE 10 2017 216 138 A1 and DE 10 2017 216 213 A1 known.

Battery cell materials react with water, affecting product quality. In addition, particle contamination of the material surfaces can lead to damage and impairment of the battery cells.

Conventionally, a required production climate is provided in a production hall that encompasses the entire production line, which leads to increased costs and energy consumption, high investment costs due to the structural design of the production hall including locks, walls, sealing, etc., as well as a potentially stressful working environment for the employees due to protective suits and a maximum dwell time . In addition, a fault in the air conditioning affects the entire production hall.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine and a production plant that work energy-efficiently and cost-effectively, cause reduced investment costs and are less stressful for employees.

The invention solves this problem with the features of the independent claims.

According to the invention, the machine has an air conditioning device for generating a local process climate limited to a process space within the module housing. Due to the invention, the desired process climate is purposefully generated only in the process room, instead of in the entire production hall. The volume to be air-conditioned to the process climate is therefore many times smaller than in the prior art. This leads to a significant reduction in operating costs and energy requirements, as well as lower investment costs due to lower structural requirements. Personnel can move around the production hall without protective clothing, as it does not have to be air-conditioned to match the process climate, but rather has to meet lower climatic requirements. A potentially stressful working environment for employees occurs at best in the short term when there is an intervention in the process. A fault in the air conditioning does not affect the entire production hall, but only the module housing and can therefore be rectified faster and with less effort. Since the air conditioning device can be provided by the machine manufacturer, the machine manufacturer can act as a one-stop shop for the machine arrangement. The invention also provides a defined and uniform system boundary through the at least one module housing. The production facility can be integrated into a conventional production hall because no special requirements need to be placed on the primary air conditioning.

The air conditioning device is advantageously set up to generate a conditioned air flow from the environment through an opening in the module housing into the interior of the module housing. The in particular electrically operated air conditioning device preferably comprises an air conditioning system which is set up to generate a conditioned air flow from the surroundings of the module housing into the interior of the module housing. Alternatively or additionally, the air conditioning device can have an air dryer arranged in the interior of the module housing, in particular a sorption dryer, which is set up for the adsorption and/or absorption of water molecules or water droplets on a surface that is, for example, electrically cooled and, if necessary, for discharging condensed water into the environment .

The machine preferably has a plurality of machine sections, each of which is assigned a local module housing and an air conditioning device for generating a section-wise adapted process climate in a respective process space within the respective module housing. Since different machine sections may require different process climates, the process climate can be adapted to the respective requirements of the respective machine section in this way.

Each machine section usually has a protection, ie an associated protective housing. The module housing, or in the case of a plurality of one, several or all module housings, can be formed by a housing surrounding the protection, by the protection itself and/or within the protection.

A module housing is preferably assigned to one or more of the following machine sections: feed section for feeding in separator webs and electrode webs; Cutting section for cutting electrode sheets into individual electrode sheets; merging section for merging and superimposing separator sheets and electrode sheets; Connecting section for connecting the superimposed separator sheets and electrode sheets into a composite separator-electrode sheet; cutting section for cutting separator-electrode composite sheet into individual separator-electrode composite units; Stacking section for stacking separator-electrode composite units to form cell stacks; conductor section for electrically connecting the electrodes of a cell stack to one another; Covering section for covering the cell stacks with a cover; Filling section for filling an envelope with electrolyte. In this way, the process climate for the different process steps of the energy cell production can be tailored to the respective requirements in sections.

The air conditioning device is preferably set up to generate air that is dry relative to the environment of the module housing. In particular, the dew point of the process supply air generated by the air conditioning device is advantageously lower than -20° C., preferably lower than -30° C., is more preferably -40° C. or less and is, for example, in the range from -40° C. to -60° C Due to the dry process air, damage or impairment of the materials for the energy cells through reaction with water is avoided.

Furthermore, the air conditioning device is preferably set up to generate a clean room climate in the process room. The clean room climate is advantageously class 5 according to ISO 14644 or cleaner, preferably class 6 according to ISO 14644 or cleaner, more preferably class 7 according to ISO 14644 or cleaner. The clean room environment helps prevent particle contamination from damaging or degrading the power cell materials.

Accordingly, the air conditioning device provides secondary air conditioning with a low dew point of, for example, −40° C., relative to the dew point of the input air of the air conditioning device or the environment of the module housing. The process temperature is 20±2 °C, for example.

A primary, less dry basic air conditioning with a higher dew point, preferably higher than -20 °C, for example 0 °C, is preferably used as the input variable or input air for the secondary air conditioning, i.e. for the air conditioning device. The ambient temperature can be similar or the same as the process air temperature and can be 20±2 °C, for example.

The input air for the secondary air conditioning or for the air conditioning device can advantageously be the air in the production hall. A production plant with at least one machine described above therefore preferably includes a primary air conditioning device for generating a higher-level primary climate, with the primary climate serving as an input variable for each air conditioning device. The primary climate is therefore advantageously generated by conventional air conditioning in the production hall and is used to condition the air as an input variable for the secondary process climate or the air conditioning device.

The secondary or microclimate generated by the air conditioning device in the machine or process room is used to condition the process steps for energy cell production and is separate from the primary climate in the production hall. The secondary air conditioning is advantageously integrated into the production cell and/or module housing or into the machine. The secondary process climate is shielded from the primary basic climate by the module housing and/or the housing of the production cell and/or the protection of the machine. The air supplied by the air conditioning device is processed according to the clean room class and, if necessary, discharged locally separately.

The module housing preferably has a lock for transferring material or personnel in and/or out, so that the production climate is disturbed as little as possible. The module housing is preferably designed so that it can be walked on in order to facilitate service work. The module housing is preferably at least partially transparent in order to enable the process space to be inspected without entering it. The machine is preferably operated via a control terminal which is arranged outside the module housing or module housings.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one partial process space is provided within the machine or within the or a module housing, the partial process space having an encapsulation for delimiting from a surrounding process space. This allows an even more specific adaptation of the process climate to the respective process steps. An air extraction device is preferably provided in the case of a partial process space with considerable particle emissions or heat generation, in particular during cutting or welding. An additional air supply device is preferably provided in the case of a sub-process space with increased requirements for air purity, in particular during stacking or during pouch filling. More preferably, a material passage opening for introducing and removing material into or out of the encapsulation is provided in the or each encapsulation.

In the embodiment described, the process space can be broken down into sub-processes with different requirements. The partial process spaces can be separated from each other and from the surrounding process space by encapsulation. Depending on whether the process sub-chamber causes higher particle emissions or places increased demands on the atmosphere, the encapsulated process sub-chamber can be extracted and/or supplied with air separately. In this case, the material flow is preferably guided through small open cross sections of the encapsulations. These cause a minimal exchange of air between the areas. The resulting different pressure conditions result in a directed flow of air from clean areas towards dirtier areas, so that contamination of the process space can be avoided.

The machine preferably has an air extraction device for extracting polluted air from the module housing and discharging it into the surroundings of the module housing. An air processing device is preferably provided for processing the air discharged from the air suction device.

According to a further advantageous aspect, an air-conditioning arrangement for a machine in the energy cell-producing industry is provided, which has an air-conditioning device for generating a production climate with a dew point below -20 °C, preferably below -30 °C, more preferably -40 ° C or lower, for example in the range between -40 °C and -60 °C in a process room. Due to the very dry process climate that is provided in this way, damage to and impairment of the materials by water molecules and water droplets can be avoided.

The air conditioning device is preferably set up to generate a clean room climate in the process room. In this way, damage and impairment of the materials caused by particle contamination can be avoided. The clean room climate is preferably class 5 according to ISO 14644 or cleaner, more preferably class 6 according to ISO 14644 or cleaner, for example class 7 according to ISO 14644.

The air conditioning arrangement preferably has a filter device for filtering the air in or for the process space. The separating device can advantageously comprise at least one air suction device. In addition or as an alternative, the separating device can advantageously comprise a particle sorption device.

The air conditioning arrangement preferably has at least one separate cooling device which is connected to a heat source. The cooling device can work in particular by means of water cooling. In this way, there is the possibility of minimizing the heat input into the process climate, in that the heat from particularly powerful consumers is led out of the system boundary of the process climate by means of the cooling device and dissipated separately. This can be particularly useful for large heat sources, as these can locally make it difficult to maintain the process temperatures. Through the targeted removal of the heat from large sources by means of the cooling device, the heat input into the process space can be homogenized and more easily compensated for by one of the air conditioning devices

The air conditioning arrangement preferably has a device for generating an overpressure within the process space. The air conditioning arrangement preferably has at least one air supply device for supplying conditioned air into the process space. These features can advantageously contribute to the creation of a dry and clean process climate.

In an advantageous embodiment, the air conditioning arrangement has a measuring and/or control device for measuring and/or controlling one or more of the following variables: air temperature, air humidity, air pressure and/or air purity in the processing room or one or more zones of the processing room; Air temperature, humidity, air pressure and/or air purity on an input side of the air conditioning device. If the measured values deviate too much from the stored target values, suitable measures measures can be initiated, for example an emergency stop of the machine.

The invention also provides a machine of the energy cell producing industry with an air conditioning arrangement as described above.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer klimatisierten Produktionsanlage;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung einer klimatisierten Produktionsanlage in einer anderen Ausführungsform; und
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung einer klimatisierten Produktionsanlage in einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

The invention is explained below on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. while showing

• 1 a schematic representation of an air-conditioned production plant;
• 2 a schematic representation of an air-conditioned production plant in another embodiment; and
• 3 a schematic representation of an air-conditioned production plant in a further embodiment.

In the 1 The production plant 10 shown for the production of energy cells has a production hall 11, at least one machine 12 arranged in the production hall 11 and an air-conditioning arrangement 35 for the machine 12. Materials for the production of battery cells run through the machine 12 . The materials are conveyed, processed, processed and/or stored in the machine 12 . The machine 12 has at least one machine section, in the present example two machine sections 13, 14. The machine section 13 can be, for example, a logistics device for conveying and/or storing materials for battery cell production. The machine section 14 can be a production machine, for example. The number of machine sections in the machine 12 can also be greater than two.

The air conditioning arrangement 35 preferably has a higher-level air conditioning device 20 which is set up to generate a primary or basic climate in the production hall 11 . The air conditioning device 20 is preferably set up for drying and/or for tempering the air in the interior 19 of the production hall 11 . The air conditioning device 16 is preferably set up to generate a basic climate in the process chamber 17 with a dew point in the range between +10° C. and -20° C., more preferably in the range between +5° C. and -10° C., for example 0° C . The air temperature in the interior 19 of the production hall 11 is preferably in the range between 15° C. and 25° C. and is 20±2° C., for example. The in particular electrically operated air conditioning device 20 preferably comprises an air conditioning system which is set up to generate a conditioned, in particular dried and/or temperature-controlled air flow 21 from the surroundings 22 of the production hall 11 into the interior 19 of the production hall 11 . In this embodiment, the air conditioning device 20 is advantageously arranged in the area of an opening 24 in the production hall 11 for the air flow 21 .

The machine 12 has a module housing 15 which locally surrounds at least one machine section, in this example the machine sections 13, 14. "Local" means that the module housing 15 surrounds only a portion of the interior of the production hall 11 . The interior volume 17 of the module housing 15 is thus considerably smaller than the interior volume 19 of the production hall 11, for example at most half as large. "Local" also means that further components can be or are arranged in the production hall 11 that are not arranged in the module housing, for example further machine sections, higher-level supply facilities, display and/or operating devices, machine control, etc.

The air conditioning arrangement 35 has an air conditioning device 16 which is set up to generate a local process climate limited to the interior 17 of the module housing 15 . The air conditioning device 16 is preferably set up for drying and/or for tempering the air in the interior 17 of the module housing 15 . A main function of the air conditioning device 16 is the drying of the air in the interior 17 of the module housing. The process climate in the interior 17 of the module housing 15 is also present in the machine sections 13 and 14 enclosed by the module housing 15 . The process climate in the interior 17 is significantly drier in relation to the environment 19 of the module housing 15, which is formed here by the interior of the production hall 11. Preferably, the air conditioning device 16 for generating a process climate in the process space 17 with a dew point of less than -20 ° C, more preferably less than -30 ° C, even more preferably -40 ° C or less, for example in the range between -40 ° C and -60 °C set up. The air temperature in the process space 17 is preferably the same as the air temperature in the surroundings 19 of the module housing 15. The air temperature in the process space 17 is preferably in the range between 15° C. and 25° C. and is 20±2° C., for example.

The in particular electrically operated air conditioning device 16 preferably comprises an air conditioning system which is set up to generate a conditioned, in particular dried air flow 18 from the surroundings 19 of the module housing 15 into the interior 17 of the module housing 15 . The air conditioning device 16 is advantageous in this embodiment in the area of a pub tion 23 in the module housing 15 for the air flow 18 is arranged. Alternatively or additionally, the air conditioning device 16 can have an air dryer, in particular a sorption dryer, arranged in the interior 17 of the module housing, which is used for the adsorption and/or absorption of water molecules or water droplets on a surface that is, for example, electrically cooled and, if necessary, for discharging condensed water into the environment 19 is set up. Tempering, ie temperature regulation or control, in particular cooling of the air flow 18 by the air conditioning device 16 can, but does not have to, take place.

The air conditioning device 16 is preferably set up to generate a clean room climate in the process room 17, for example the clean room climate class 7 according to ISO 14644.

Accordingly, the dry primary climate generated by the air conditioning device 20 prevails in the production hall 11 and is used as an input variable for the air conditioning device 16 to generate an even much drier process climate in the module housing. Since the volume of the module housing 15, in which one or more machine sections 13, 14 are arranged, is significantly smaller than the volume of the production hall 11, considerable energy savings and other advantages already described can be achieved.

An alternative embodiment is shown schematically in 2 shown. In this embodiment, each machine section 13, 14 has its own separate module housing 15A, 15B. The module housing 15A surrounds the machine section 13 and the module housing 15B surrounds the machine section 14. The number of module housings 15A, 15B, ... surrounding each machine section 13, 14, ... can be greater than two.

Each module housing 15A, 15B has its own air conditioning device 16A, 16B, which is set up to generate a process climate in the respective interior space 17A, 17B of the respective module housing 15A, 15B. The process climates in the interior 17A, 17B can be the same or different. In this way, an individual adaptation of the process climate to the respective machine section 13, 14 is possible. Each air conditioning device 16A, 16B can have one, several or all properties of the air conditioning device 16 according to 1 exhibit.

The embodiments according to 1 and 2 can be combined with each other as desired. A production plant 10 can have one or more module housings 15A, 15B, . . . each with one machine section or functional section of the machine 12 and/or one or more module housings 15 .

One, several or all of the module housings 15, 15A, 15B can each have an air extraction device 31, see FIG 3 , which is set up to suck air out of the process space 17 and discharge it into an area outside the module housing 15 . One or more such air suction devices 31 may also be present in the other figures. The air extraction device 31 can, for example, open into an air processing device 30 which is arranged outside of the module housing 15 and is set up for processing, for example cleaning and/or filtering, the extracted air.

• - Zuführabschnitt zum Zuführen von Separatorbahnen und Elektrodenbahnen;
• - Schneidabschnitt zum Schneiden von Elektrodenbahnen in einzelne Elektrodenblätter;
• - Zusammenführabschnitt zum Zusammenführen und Übereinanderlegen von Separatorbahnen und Elektrodenblätter;
• - Verbindungsabschnitt zum Verbinden der übereinandergelegten Separatorbahnen und Elektrodenblätter zu einer Separator-Elektroden-Verbundbahn;
• - Schneidabschnitt zum Schneiden von Separator-Elektroden-Verbundbahn in einzelne Separator-Elektroden-Verbundeinheiten;
• - Stapelabschnitt zum Stapeln von Separator-Elektroden-Verbundeinheiten zur Bildung von Zellstapeln;
• - Ableiterabschnitt zum elektrischen Verbinden der Elektroden eines Zellstapels miteinander;
• - Hüllabschnitt zum Umhüllen der Zellstapel mit einer Hülle;
• - Befüllabschnitt zum Befüllen einer Hülle mit Elektrolyt.

In a practical embodiment of a machine for manufacturing battery cells, a separate module housing can be provided for the following machine sections:

• - Feeding section for feeding separator sheets and electrode sheets;
• - cutting section for cutting electrode tracks into individual electrode sheets;
• - merging section for merging and superimposing separator webs and electrode sheets;
• - Connecting section for connecting the superimposed separator sheets and electrode sheets to form a separator-electrode composite sheet;
• - Cutting section for cutting separator-electrode composite sheet into individual separator-electrode composite units;
• - Stacking section for stacking separator-electrode composite units to form cell stacks;
• - Conductor section for electrically connecting the electrodes of a cell stack to one another;
• - Covering section for covering the cell stack with a cover;
• - Filling section for filling a shell with electrolyte.

In alternative embodiments, a module housing can be provided for several consecutive machine sections of the above enumeration. For example, a module case may be provided for an electrode cutting, merging, and connecting section.

Another embodiment of a machine 12 for producing energy cells industry is in 3 shown schematically. A module housing 15 defining a process space 17 and surrounding a machine section 13 is shown here. The machine section 13 is divided here into a plurality of, for example, two sub-process rooms 25, 26. The partial process rooms 25, 26 can have different requirements with regard to the process climate. Each sub-process space 25, 26 is advantageously separated from the other sub-process spaces and the surrounding process space 17 by its own encapsulation 27, 28.

One or more encapsulations 27 can have an air extraction device 29 that is separate from the air extraction device 31 and is set up to extract air from the encapsulation 27 and discharge it into an area outside of the module housing 15 . The air extraction device 29 can, for example, open into the air treatment device 30 . A separate air extraction device 29 is particularly advantageous for those partial process spaces 25 that cause above-average particle emissions or heat, for example when cutting or welding materials.

One or more encapsulations 28 can have an air supply device 32 that is separate from the air flow 18 and is set up to supply air to the encapsulation 28 . The air to be supplied can be branched off from the air conditioning device 16, for example. A separate air supply device 32 is particularly advantageous for those partial process spaces 26 that place increased demands on air purity, for example when stacking or when filling pouches.

In 3 the material flow 33 through the machine 12 is also shown schematically. The material to be processed, for example in strip form, enters and exits the encapsulations 27, 28 through openings 34. The openings 34 have the smallest possible open cross-section in order to bring about the least possible exchange of air between the encapsulated partial process chambers 25, 26 and the surrounding process chamber 17 and thus impair the effect of the encapsulations 27, 28 as little as possible. Such material passage openings 34 can generally also be provided in the module housing 15, 15A, 15B.

How out 3 As can be seen, the resulting different pressure conditions result in a directed flow of air 29, 32 from clean areas in the direction of dirtier areas, so that contamination of the process space 17 can be avoided.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• WO 2020292845 A1 [0003]
• WO 2016041713 A1 [0003]
• DE 102017216138 A1 [0003]
• DE 102017216213 A1 [0003]

Claims (15)

Machine (12) for the energy cell producing industry, comprising at least one machine section (13, 14) and a module housing (15; 15A, 15B) locally surrounding the at least one machine section (13, 14), characterized in that the machine (12) an air conditioning device (16; 16A, 16B) for generating a local process climate limited to a process space (17; 17A, 17B) within the module housing (15; 15A, 15B). machine (12) after claim 1 , characterized in that the machine (12) comprises a plurality of machine sections (13, 14) and a plurality of module housings (15A, 15B), each module housing (15A, 15B) locally surrounding at least one machine section (13, 14) and the air conditioning device (16) is set up to generate a section-by-section adapted process climate in a respective process space (17A, 17B) within the respective module housing. Machine according to one of the preceding claims with at least one cover, characterized in that the or at least one module housing (15; 15A, 15B) is formed by a housing surrounding the cover, by the cover itself and/or within the cover. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a module housing is assigned to one or more of the following machine sections (13, 14): - feed section for feeding in separator webs and electrode webs; - cutting section for cutting electrode tracks into individual electrode sheets; - merging section for merging and superimposing separator webs and electrode sheets; - Connecting section for connecting the superimposed separator sheets and electrode sheets to form a separator-electrode composite sheet; - Cutting section for cutting separator-electrode composite sheet into individual separator-electrode composite units; - Stacking section for stacking separator-electrode composite units to form cell stacks; - Conductor section for electrically connecting the electrodes of a cell stack to one another; - Covering section for covering the cell stack with a cover; - Filling section for filling a shell with electrolyte. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air-conditioning device (16) is set up for generating process air which is dry relative to the area surrounding the module housing (15; 15A, 15B). Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air conditioning device (16) for generating a conditioned air flow (18) from the surroundings (19) of the module housing (15) through an opening (23) into the interior (17) of the module housing ( 15) is set up. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air conditioning device (16) is set up to generate a clean room climate in the process space (17; 17A, 17B). Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one process sub-chamber (25, 26) is provided within the machine (12) or within the or a module housing (15; 15A, 15B), the process sub-chamber (25, 26) having a Encapsulation (27, 28) for delimiting a surrounding process space (17). machine after claim 8 , characterized in that an air extraction device (29) is provided in a partial process space (25) with considerable particle emissions or heat generation, in particular during cutting or welding. machine after claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that an additional air supply device (32) is provided in a sub-process space (26) with increased requirements for air purity, in particular during stacking or during pouch filling. machine after one of Claims 8 until 10 , characterized in that in the encapsulation (27, 28) a material passage opening (34) for introducing and removing material (33) into or out of the encapsulation (27, 28) is provided. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an air extraction device (31) is provided for extracting air (18) from the module housing (15) and discharging it into the surroundings (19) of the module housing (15). machine after claim 12 , characterized in that the one air treatment device (30) for processing of the air suction device (31) derived air is provided. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module housing (15; 15A, 15B) has a lock for transferring material (33) or personnel in and/or out and/or is accessible and/or at least partially transparent. Production plant (10) for the industry that produces the energy cells, comprising at least one machine (12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an air conditioning device (20) is provided for generating a higher-level primary climate, the primary climate being the input variable for the or each Air conditioning device (16; 16A, 16B) is used.

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