JP2022060904A - Micro wave drier and processing box therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

To uniformly and rapidly heat and dry a separation film by using microwaves in order to considerably shorten a drying process for the separation film.SOLUTION: A microwave drier has a processing box. The processing box has two fitting opening portions at its outer fitting wall. Two suction partition parts are fitted to the processing box. An inner space of the processing box is divided into a microwave drying space and two suction spaces. The microwave drying space is positioned between the two suction spaces and also connected to the two suction spaces. The microwave drying space has a plurality of channel partition parts fitted thereto, which forms a meandered wave travel channel. Both ends of the wave travel channel are connected to two fitting opening portions, respectively. Two microwave radiating modules are fitted to the outside fitting wall for radiating microwaves toward the two fitting opening portions. A plurality of opening portions are formed in the processing box so that a thin film can pass through the processing box.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a microwave drying device, particularly a continuous thin film microwave drying device suitable for roll-to-roll processing.

Lithium-ion batteries are the mainstream choice for rechargeable electronics. The separation membrane is placed between the anode and cathode of the lithium ion battery. The separation membrane is a porous thin film made of a polymeric material, non-woven fabric or ceramic. The function of the separation membrane is to separate the two electrodes to prevent an electrical short circuit while at the same time absorbing the electrolyte and allowing the transport of ionic charges between the two electrodes. The performance of a lithium-ion battery largely depends on the separation membrane.

In order to ensure the performance of the assembled lithium-ion battery, the separation membrane needs to undergo a drying step before adding the electrolytic solution. However, the conventional drying step of the separation membrane is time consuming. In the conventional drying process, the ceramic or non-ceramic separation membrane needs to be placed in the drying chamber for 3 days. The conventional drying chamber is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The separation membrane then needs to be fired in a vacuum oven for an additional 8 hours to achieve sufficient drying. Therefore, the conventional drying process is very time consuming. Further, since the separation membrane cannot withstand high temperatures, the temperature in the vacuum oven cannot be higher than 100 ° C., and it is difficult to shorten the drying time. Finally, the size of the drying chamber and vacuum oven is very large and occupies too much space.

In order to overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a microwave drying device and a processing box thereof for alleviating or eliminating the above-mentioned problems.

Taiwan Patent No. M567491

A main object of the present invention is to provide a microwave drying device and a processing box thereof that uniformly and rapidly heats and dries the separation membrane so that the drying step of the separation membrane can be significantly shortened by using microwaves. There is something in it.

The microwave drying device has a processing box, at least one suction module, and at least one microwave emission module. The processing box is hollow and has two external transport walls, an external mounting wall, an external sealing wall, at least one suction divider, and a plurality of channel dividers. The two external transport walls are arranged apart from each other along the transport direction. Each of the external transport walls has a box transport opening. The external mounting wall is connected between the two external transport walls and has two mounting openings. The two mounting openings are arranged apart from each other along the transport direction. The external sealing wall is connected between the two external transport walls. The external mounting wall and the external sealing wall face each other in the processing box. At least one suction partition is mounted inside the processing box and divides the internal space of the processing box into a microwave drying space and at least one suction space. The plurality of suction holes are formed so as to penetrate at least one suction partition. The channel partition is attached to the microwave drying space. The channel dividers are arranged apart from each other along the transport direction to form a wave traveling channel that meanders and repeatedly extends back and forth in the microwave drying space. Both ends of the wave traveling channel are connected to two mounting openings, respectively. The suction holes in the at least one suction partition are connected to at least one suction space and wave traveling channel. Each of the channel dividers has a divider transport opening. The partition transport opening of the channel partition and the two box transport openings of the two external transport walls are aligned. At least one suction module is connected to at least one suction space. At least one microwave emission module is mounted on the external mounting wall of the processing box and radiates microwaves towards the wave traveling channel.

When using the present invention, the material to be dried is supplied to the processing box through one of the box transport openings. The material then passes through the heat-dried wave traveling channels through the partition transport openings and finally exits the processing box through the other box transport openings.

The advantages of the present invention are as follows.

First, the material to be dried absorbs microwave energy so that it is heated and dried as it passes through the wave traveling channel. Since microwaves can easily penetrate a substance and heat the outer and inner layers of the substance at the same time, the present invention can significantly reduce the time required for drying the substance. The size of the present invention can also be reduced to save space.

Second, each segment of the wave traveling channel shares its side wall with the adjacent segment. That is, the partition of each channel forms the side wall of the two segments at the same time. Therefore, the wave traveling channel is formed with less material, reducing weight and cost. Further, since the structure becomes more compact, the size of the present invention can be further reduced.

Third, the two mounting openings are located on the same side of the processing box. As a result, even if two microwave radiation modules are mounted in the processing box, the total width of the microwave dryer, which is the dimension perpendicular to the transport direction, is microwave drying in which only one microwave radiation module is mounted. It will be the same as the full width of the device. Therefore, the structure of the present invention can be made more compact when two microwave radiation modules are attached, and can further save space.

Fourth, by forming a suction space through the suction partition, the liquid vapor generated in the drying process can be quickly and uniformly removed from the processing box through the suction hole of the suction partition, and the drying efficiency can be improved. improves.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when interpreted in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a microwave drying device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the microwave drying device of FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the microwave drying device of FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the upper half of the processing box of the microwave drying device. FIG. 5 is a top view of the microwave drying device of FIG. FIG. 6 is a partial top sectional view of the microwave drying device of FIG. FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the microwave drying device of FIG. FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a part of the microwave drying device of FIG. 1 as viewed from another direction.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the microwave drying apparatus according to the present invention includes a processing box 10, two microwave radiation modules 20 and two suction modules 30. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is suitable for drying the separation membrane A in a roll-to-roll process for producing a lithium ion battery. In another preferred embodiment, the invention can be adapted to treat long thin films of any kind. In yet another preferred embodiment, the invention can be adapted to dry non-long, thin films by integrating the conveyor belt.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 7, the processing box 10 is hollow and has two external transport walls 101, an external mounting wall 102, an external sealing wall 103, an upper wall 104, a bottom wall 105, It has two suction dividers 11 and a plurality of channel dividers 12. In a preferred embodiment, the processing box 10 further comprises two microwave side plates 13. The two external transport walls 101 are arranged apart from each other along the transport direction D. Each of the external transport walls 101 preferably has an elongated box transport opening 106.

The external mounting wall 102 is connected between the two external transport walls 101 and is preferably perpendicular to the two external transport walls 101. The external mounting wall 102 has two mounting openings 107. The two mounting openings 107 are arranged apart from each other along the transport direction D and are arranged on the same side of the processing box 10.

The external sealing wall 103 is connected between the two external transport walls 101. The external mounting wall 102 and the external sealing wall 103 are arranged at opposite positions in the processing box 10, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, two substantially symmetrical machined metal blocks are assembled together to form a processing box 10, and thus the processing box is assembled by assembling the two metal blocks. Most of the 10 structures are formed.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 7 and 8, the two suction dividers 11 are mounted within the processing box 10 and are arranged vertically apart from each other to microwave dry the internal space of the processing box 10. It is divided into a space 16 and two suction spaces. The two suction spaces are an upper suction space 14 and a lower suction space 15, respectively. The microwave drying space 16 is formed between the two suction partitions 11 and is located between the two suction spaces.

Specifically, one suction partition 11 is arranged away from the upper wall 104 of the processing box 10 to form an upper suction space 14, and the other suction partition 11 is located from the bottom wall 105 of the processing box 10. They are arranged apart to form the lower suction space 15. The plurality of suction holes 111 are formed so as to penetrate each of the suction partition portions 11. The suction hole 111 is preferably a narrow hole extending along the transport direction D.

One of the two suction modules 30 is connected to the upper suction space 14 so that the liquid vapor in the microwave drying space 16 can be quickly and uniformly removed through the suction hole 111 of the suction partition portion 11. The other of 30 is connected to the lower suction space 15. The suction module 30 is conventional and therefore only the suction tube of the suction module 30 is partially shown in the figure.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 6 and 8, the two microwave side plates 13 are attached to the processing box 10. The two microwave side plates 13 each correspond to two external transport walls 101. Each of the two microwave side plates 13 is disposed away from the corresponding external transport wall 101 to form a microwave suppression space 17. A plurality of microwave suppression elements 171 are attached to the microwave suppression space 17. In each of the microwave suppression spaces 17, the microwave suppression element 171 is arranged in an orderly manner, but is not limited to this.

The microwave drying space 16 is formed between the two microwave side plates 13 and is located between the two microwave suppression spaces 17. Each of the microwave side plates 13 has a microwave transport opening 131 (as shown in FIG. 8) connecting one corresponding microwave suppression space 17 and a microwave drying space 16. That is, the microwave suppression space 17 is formed by attaching the microwave side plate 13 between the microwave drying space 16 and the external transport wall 101. Therefore, the microwave in the microwave drying space 16 inevitably leaks to the microwave suppression space 17 through the microwave transfer opening 131, but due to the combination of the microwave suppression space 17 and the microwave suppression element 171. Further, it is possible to prevent microwaves from leaking to the external environment through the box transport opening 106 of the external transport wall 101.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 6 and 8, the channel partition 12 is attached to the microwave drying space 16. The channel partition portions 12 are arranged apart from each other along the transport direction D to form the wave traveling channel 41. The wave traveling channel 41 meanders in the microwave drying space 16 and repeatedly extends back and forth. The two opposite ends of the wave traveling channel 41 are connected to the two mounting openings 107, respectively.

Specifically, the channel partition portion 12 is an elongated plate perpendicular to the transport direction D. Half of the channel partition 12 is connected to the external mounting wall 102 and is located away from the external sealing wall 103 so that the half of the channel partition 12 projects from the external mounting wall 102 and the external sealing wall 103. Extends towards. The other half of the channel partition 12 is connected to the external sealing wall 103 and is located away from the external mounting wall 102 so that the half of the channel partition 12 projects from the external sealing wall 103 and is externally mounted. It extends towards the wall 102.

The wave traveling channel 41 has, but is not limited to, a plurality of linear segments 411 and a plurality of connection segments 412 defined by the channel partition 12. The linear segments 411 are parallel to each other and are arranged along the transport direction D. Each of the connection segments 412 connects two adjacent straight line segments 411, to be precise, each of the connection segments 412 is one end of two adjacent straight line segments 411 and one end of the other. And connect. In a preferred embodiment, the two suction dividers 11 form the top and bottom surfaces of the wave traveling channel 41, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 7, and 8, each of the channel dividers 12 preferably has an elongated divider transport opening 121. One of the two box transport openings 106, one of the two microwave transport openings 131, the partition transport opening 121, the other of the two microwave transport openings 131, and the other of the two box transport openings 106. It is aligned and arranged for the separation membrane A to pass through. Further, the above-mentioned transport openings 106, 131, 121 are preferably elongated. Further, the suction hole 111 of each suction partition portion 11 communicates with the corresponding suction space and the wave traveling channel 41.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the two microwave emission modules 20 are mounted on the external mounting wall 102 of the processing box 10 and each directed towards the wave traveling channel 41 through the two mounting openings 107. And emits microwaves. The microwave emitted from the microwave radiation module 20 forms a traveling wave in the wave traveling channel 41, and the separation film A can be uniformly dried along the width of the separation film A. In another preferred embodiment that requires less drying capacity, the number of microwave emission modules 20 may be one, the microwave emission modules 20 are micro toward one of the two mounting openings 107. Radiate waves.

Further, based on experimental evidence, if two microwave emission modules 20 are attached to both ends of the wave traveling channel 41 respectively, the microwaves emitted by the two microwave emission modules 20 will easily interfere with each other. As a result, phase synchronization occurs. A standing wave is formed in the wave traveling channel 41 by the phase synchronization, which affects the drying uniformity of the separation membrane A.

In order to relax the phase synchronization and ensure the uniformity of drying, the two microwave emission modules 20 emit microwaves having different frequencies from each other. In a preferred embodiment for achieving better performance, one of the two microwave emission modules 20 emits microwaves with a frequency of 2455 to 2465 MHz (megahertz) and the other of the two microwave emission modules 20 emits microwaves. , Radiates microwaves with a frequency of 2435 to 2445 MHz. In another preferred embodiment where there is only one microwave emission module 20, the microwave frequency is preferably 2420 to 2480 MHz.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the two microwave emission modules 20 has a microwave source 21 and two circulators 22. The two circulators 22 are connected in series between the microwave source 21 and the corresponding mounting opening 107. One circulator 22 of the microwave emission module 20 absorbs microwaves emitted by a microwave source 21 attached to the other end of the wave traveling channel 41. As a result, the circulator 22 insulates the two microwave sources 21 of the two microwave emission modules 20 so that the microwave source 21 is protected and phase synchronization is reduced.

Based on experimental evidence, two when one circulator 22 of the microwave emission module 20 imparts negative (minus) 40 dB or more overall insulation from the corresponding mounting opening 107 to the corresponding microwave source 21. The frequency of the microwave source 21 is appropriately shifted. However, the insulation provided by the standard commercial grade circulator 22 is approximately 23 dB, and therefore each microwave emission module 20 in the preferred embodiment provides an overall negative insulation of more than 40 dB. It has two circulators 22 connected in series.

If a single circulator 22 imparts insulation greater than negative 40 dB, then the microwave emission module 20 requires only one circulator 22. In a preferred embodiment with only one microwave emission module 20, phase synchronization is not an issue.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 8, when the present invention is used, the separation membrane A is inserted into the processing box 10 along the transport direction to properly straighten the separation membrane A. Next, the suction module 30 and the microwave radiation module 20 are operated in order, and finally the transfer of the separation membrane A is started. The microwave emitted by the microwave radiation module 20 evaporates the liquid in the separation membrane A and dries the separation membrane A. The liquid vapor generated during the drying step is removed by the suction module 30 via the suction holes 111 and the suction spaces 14 and 15.

Based on experimental evidence, the drying capacity of the present invention is approximately 10 meters per minute, which significantly improves the drying rate of separation membrane A. The drying rate can be further increased by further adding the linear segment 411 to the wave traveling channel 41. As the linear segment 411 increases, the drying rate increases proportionally.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the two suction partitions 11 are attached to the upper part and the lower part of the microwave drying space 16, respectively, so that the suction force on both sides of the separation membrane A is substantially the same as that of the two suction modules. It is the same. This prevents displacement of the separation membrane A due to the bias of the suction force and rubbing between the separation membrane A and the processing box 10 due to deformation. In another preferred embodiment, the suction partition 11 and the suction space may be one each. The microwave drying space 16 has one suction partition 11 or a plurality of suction partitions 11.

In summary, the present invention significantly increases the drying rate by drying the separation membrane A using microwaves. Further, by forming a meandering wave traveling channel 41 using the channel partition 12 and arranging the two mounting openings 107 on the same side of the processing box 10, the structure of the present invention becomes more compact. Save space, reduce weight and reduce costs.

Although many features and advantages of the invention are described in the above description along with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is merely exemplary. Changes may be made to the details within the principles of the invention, particularly the shape, size, and arrangement of parts, as indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in the appended claims.

The microwave dryer has a processing box, two suction modules, and at least one microwave emission module. The processing box is hollow and has two external transport walls, an external mounting wall, an external sealing wall, two suction dividers, and a plurality of channel dividers. The two external transport walls are arranged apart from each other along the transport direction. Each of the external transport walls has a box transport opening. The external mounting wall is connected between the two external transport walls and has two mounting openings. The two mounting openings are arranged apart from each other along the transport direction. The external sealing wall is connected between the two external transport walls. The external mounting wall and the external sealing wall face each other in the processing box. The two suction dividers are mounted within the processing box and are arranged vertically apart from each other , dividing the internal space of the processing box into a microwave drying space and two suction spaces. The plurality of suction holes are formed so as to penetrate each of the two suction partitions. The channel partition is attached to the microwave drying space. The channel dividers are arranged apart from each other along the transport direction to form a wave traveling channel that meanders and repeatedly extends back and forth in the microwave drying space. Both ends of the wave traveling channel are connected to two mounting openings, respectively. The microwave drying space is formed between the two suction partitions and is located between the two suction spaces. Each suction hole of the two suction dividers is connected to one of the two suction spaces and the wave traveling channel. Each of the channel dividers has a divider transport opening. The partition transport opening of the channel partition and the two box transport openings of the two external transport walls are aligned. The two suction modules are each connected to two suction spaces. At least one microwave emission module is mounted on the external mounting wall of the processing box and radiates microwaves towards the wave traveling channel.

Claims (10)

Equipped with a processing box, at least one suction module and at least one microwave emission module,
The processing box is
Hollow and
Two external transport walls, each spaced apart from each other along the transport direction, each with a box transport opening.
An external mounting wall that is connected between the two external transport walls and has two mounting openings that are spaced apart from each other along the transport direction.
An external sealing wall that is connected between the two external transport walls and faces the external mounting wall in the processing box.
Attached to the processing box, the internal space of the processing box is divided into a microwave drying space and at least one suction space, and at least one suction partition formed through a plurality of suction holes. ,
It has a plurality of channel dividers attached to the microwave drying space, arranged apart from each other along the transport direction, and meandering in the microwave drying space to form a wave traveling channel that repeatedly extends back and forth. ,
Both ends of the wave traveling channel are connected to the two mounting openings, respectively.
The suction hole of the at least one suction partition is connected to the at least one suction space and the wave traveling channel.
Each of the channel dividers has a divider transport opening aligned with the two box transport openings of the two external transport walls.
The at least one suction module is connected to the at least one suction space.
The microwave drying device, wherein the at least one microwave emitting module is attached to the external mounting wall of the processing box and emits microwaves toward the wave traveling channel. In the microwave drying apparatus according to claim 1,
The number of the microwave radiation modules is two.
The two microwave radiation modules are microwave drying devices, each of which emits microwaves toward the two mounting openings. In the microwave drying apparatus according to claim 2,
The two microwave radiation modules are microwave drying devices characterized in that they emit microwaves having different frequencies from each other. In the microwave drying apparatus according to claim 3,
One of the two microwave emitting modules emits microwaves having a frequency of 2455 to 2465 MHz, and the other of the two microwave emitting modules 20 emits microwaves having a frequency of 2435 to 2445 MHz. Microwave drying device. The microwave drying apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4.
The two microwave emission modules are
Microwave source and
It is characterized by having at least one circulator connected in series between the microwave source and the corresponding mounting opening and imparting insulation of more than 40 dB from the mounting opening to the microwave source. Microwave dryer. In the microwave drying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The number of the suction partitions is two.
The number of the suction spaces is two.
The two suction partitions are arranged vertically apart from each other.
The microwave drying space is formed between the two suction partitions and is located between the two suction spaces.
The number of the suction modules is two.
A microwave drying device, wherein each of the two suction modules is connected to the two suction spaces. In the microwave drying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The processing box further comprises two microwave side plates attached to the processing box.
The two microwave side plates correspond to the two external transport walls, respectively, and are arranged apart from the corresponding external transport walls to form a microwave suppression space.
The microwave drying space is formed between the two microwave side plates and is located between the two microwave suppression spaces formed by each of the two microwave side plates.
Each of the microwave side plates has a corresponding microwave suppression space and a microwave transfer opening connecting the microwave drying space.
The two microwave transfer openings of the two microwave side plates, the partition transfer opening of the channel partition, and the two box transfer openings of the two external transfer walls are aligned. Ori,
A microwave drying device characterized in that a plurality of microwave suppression elements are attached to the microwave suppression space. In the microwave drying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The partition transport opening is a microwave drying device characterized by being elongated. In the microwave drying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The wave traveling channel is
A plurality of straight-line segments parallel to each other and arranged along the transport direction,
A microwave drying apparatus comprising a plurality of connecting segments connecting two adjacent linear segments. Hollow and
Two external transport walls, each spaced apart from each other along the transport direction, each with a box transport opening.
An external mounting wall that is connected between the two external transport walls and has two mounting openings that are spaced apart from each other along the transport direction.
An external sealing wall that is connected between the two external transport walls and faces the external mounting wall in the processing box.
Attached to the processing box, the internal space of the processing box is divided into a microwave drying space and at least one suction space, and at least one suction partition formed through a plurality of suction holes. ,
It comprises a plurality of channel dividers attached to the microwave drying space, spaced apart from each other along the transport direction, and meandering in the microwave drying space to form a wave traveling channel that repeatedly extends back and forth.
Both ends of the wave traveling channel are connected to the two mounting openings, respectively.
The suction hole of the at least one suction partition is connected to the at least one suction space and the wave traveling channel.
A processing box of a microwave drying apparatus, wherein each of the channel partitions has a partition transport opening aligned with the two box transport openings of the two external transport walls.

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