WO2023013924A1

WO2023013924A1 - Dehydration equipment for positive electrode active material

Info

Publication number: WO2023013924A1
Application number: PCT/KR2022/010498
Authority: WO
Inventors: 전세정
Original assignee: (주)한국워터테크놀로지
Priority date: 2021-08-05
Filing date: 2022-07-19
Publication date: 2023-02-09
Also published as: KR102428778B1

Abstract

The present invention provides dehydration equipment for a positive electrode active material, comprising: a housing module, which limits the interior space for housing a positive electrode active material having undergone a washing process, has an outlet for discharging a washing liquid, and discharges, through the outlet, residual washing liquid in the positive electrode active material housed in the interior space, which has been removed mechanically by the pressure exerted by the positive electrode active material additionally injected into the interior space that is already provided with the positive electrode active material; a first electrode, which is arranged in the housing module, has openings that allow the washing liquid to pass through, and forms a first potential; and a second electrode, which forms a second potential, wherein the residual washing liquid in the positive electrode active material is removed by electro-osmosis when power is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode. Therefore, provided is the benefit of dehydrating both by mechanical force and electro-osmosis in one apparatus.

Description

Cathode active material dehydration equipment

The present invention relates to a dehydration device for a cathode active material and a dehydration facility including the dehydration device, and more particularly, to a device for dehydrating a cathode active material capable of performing mechanical dehydration and dehydration using an electroosmosis method in one device and dehydration device for the same It relates to a dehydration facility comprising a device.

A cathode active material is a material that participates in an anode reaction in a secondary battery such as an electric vehicle battery, and is a key material that accounts for more than 40% of the cost of a secondary battery. Among these secondary batteries, lithium secondary batteries having high energy density and voltage, long cycle life, and low self-discharge rate have been commercialized and widely used. In this regard, lithium cobalt composite metal oxide is mainly used as a cathode active material of a lithium secondary battery. However, when such a lithium cobalt composite metal oxide is used as a cathode active material, it is insufficient to be used as a large-capacity power source. Therefore, lithium manganese composite metal oxide is used to replace it. Among them, research and development on lithium-nickel composite metal oxides having high reversible capacity are being actively conducted.

However, when such a lithium-nickel composite metal oxide is used as a cathode active material, when the content of nickel is increased, the ionic radius of Ni2+ is similar to that of Li+, so cation mixing in which Ni is located in the Li layer easily occurs. Due to this cation mixing, Li, which cannot enter the Li layer, reacts with oxygen and water present in the air during the firing process to make LiCO3 or LiOH material called residual lithium. These materials are thickly formed on the surface of the anode and act as a resistance layer. When melted in a solvent during the process of manufacturing an electrode for cell production, the solvent becomes basic and mixed with the binder to gelate the slurry, making it impossible to manufacture the electrode. It reacts with the electrolyte to generate gas. Removal of residual lithium is very important because these gases easily inflate the battery and increase the risk of explosion.

The easiest way to remove this residual lithium is by washing with water. Although residual lithium is easily removed with water, if the water remaining on the surface of the active material is not quickly removed after the residual lithium is removed, Li in the structure will continuously come out. In addition, there is a problem in that the escaped Li reacts again with water and carbon dioxide present in the surroundings during the additional heat treatment process to generate residual lithium or to reduce performance due to Li reduction in the structure. Therefore, it is necessary to quickly remove such residual lithium, but there is a problem in that such residual lithium cannot be quickly removed by a conventional mechanical dehydration method.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dehydration device including a dehydration device for a cathode active material capable of performing mechanical dehydration and dehydration using an electroosmosis method in one device and a dehydration facility including the dehydration device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention defines an inner space in which the cathode active material that has undergone the cleaning process is accommodated, at least one outlet through which the cleaning liquid can be discharged is formed, and the cathode active material is disposed in the inner space. In this state, a cathode active material that has undergone a cleaning process is additionally injected into the inner space, and the cleaning liquid remaining in the cathode active material disposed in the inner space is mechanically dehydrated by the pressure of the additionally injected cathode active material, so that the at least one discharge port A housing module discharging to one of a housing module, disposed in the housing module, having openings sized to allow the cleaning liquid to pass through, a first portion adjacent to the at least one outlet in the housing module, and a first portion in the housing. A first electrode for forming a first electric potential in a second portion that is spaced apart from each other and disposed to face the first portion and the second portion within the housing module, wherein the first portion and the second portion and a second electrode that forms a second potential between the first electrode and the second electrode, and when power is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, the cleaning liquid remaining in the positive electrode active material is dehydrated by an electroosmotic method to one of the at least one discharge port. Provided is a cathode active material dehydration device that allows discharge.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention defines an inner space in which the cathode active material that has undergone the cleaning process is accommodated, at least one outlet through which the cleaning liquid can be discharged is formed, and the cathode active material is disposed in the inner space. a housing module for mechanically dehydrating the cleaning liquid remaining in the positive electrode active material by injecting air into the inner space and discharging it through one of the at least one outlet by air pressure; A first potential is formed in a first portion adjacent to the at least one discharge port and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion in the housing module and facing the first portion in the housing module. a first electrode and a second electrode disposed to face the first part and the second part in the housing module and forming a second potential between the first part and the second part; When power is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, the cathode active material dehydration device dehydrates the cleaning solution remaining in the cathode active material by an electro-osmosis method and discharges it through one of the at least one discharge port.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention defines an inner space in which the cathode active material that has undergone the cleaning process is accommodated, and at least one outlet through which the cleaning liquid can be discharged is formed on one side, and the volume of the inner space is A housing module for mechanically dehydrating the cleaning liquid remaining in the positive electrode active material and discharging it through one of the at least one outlet, disposed in the housing module, the positive electrode active material does not pass, but the cleaning liquid can pass A first electrode having openings of the same size and forming a first potential in a first portion adjacent to the outlet in the housing module, and forming a second potential in a second portion facing the first portion in the housing A cathode active material dehydration device including a second electrode, wherein when power is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, the cleaning solution remaining in the cathode active material is dehydrated by an electroosmosis method and discharged to one of the at least one outlet. provides

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention defines an inner space in which the cathode active material that has undergone the cleaning process is accommodated, and at least one outlet through which the cleaning liquid can be discharged is formed, and the cathode active material is disposed in the inner space. A housing module configured to inject air into the inner space to mechanically dehydrate the cleaning liquid remaining in the cathode active material with air pressure and discharge it through one of the at least one outlet, disposed in the housing module, has openings sized to pass through, and forms a first potential in a first portion adjacent to the at least one outlet in the housing module and in a second portion spaced apart from and facing the first portion in the housing. A first electrode, a second electrode disposed to face the first part and the second part in the housing module and forming a second potential between the first part and the second part, and the cathode active material An electric heater installed on an inner or outer surface of the housing module to heat and dry the cathode active material in order to transfer radiant heat toward the inner space of the housing module while remaining in the inner space; When power is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, a cathode active material dehydration facility is provided that dehydrates the cleaning solution remaining in the cathode active material by an electroosmotic method and discharges the cleaning solution to one of the at least one discharge port.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention defines an inner space in which the cathode active material that has undergone the cleaning process is accommodated, and at least one outlet through which the cleaning liquid can be discharged is formed, and the cathode active material is disposed in the inner space. In the arranged state, a cathode active material is additionally injected into the inner space, and the cleaning solution remaining in the cathode active material disposed in the inner space is mechanically dehydrated by the pressure of the additionally injected cathode active material and discharged through one of the at least one outlet. A housing module disposed in the housing module, having openings sized to allow the cleaning liquid to pass through, a first portion adjacent to the at least one outlet in the housing module and spaced apart from the first portion in the housing. a first electrode for forming a first electric potential in an opposing second part, disposed to face the first part and the second part in the housing module, and between the first part and the second part, a first electrode In a state where the second electrode and the cathode active material, which form a second potential, are maintained in the inner space, it is installed on the inner or outer surface of the housing module to transfer radiant heat toward the inner space of the housing module, And an electric heater for heating and drying, and when power is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, the cleaning solution remaining in the cathode active material is dehydrated by an electroosmotic method and discharged to one of the at least one outlet. , a cathode active material dehydration facility is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention defines an inner space in which the cathode active material that has undergone the cleaning process is accommodated, at least one outlet through which the cleaning liquid can be discharged is formed on one side, and the volume of the inner space is small. A housing module that mechanically dehydrates the cleaning solution remaining in the cathode active material and discharges it through one of the at least one outlet, disposed in the housing module, and having a size that does not allow the cathode active material to pass through but allows the cleaning solution to pass through A first electrode having openings of, forming a first potential in a first portion adjacent to the outlet in the housing module, forming a second potential in a second portion facing the first portion in the housing module While the second electrode and the cathode active material are maintained in the inner space, it is installed on the inner or outer surface of the housing module to heat and dry the cathode active material in order to transfer radiant heat toward the inner space of the housing module. A cathode active material dehydration facility including an electric heater to dehydrate the cleaning solution remaining in the cathode active material by an electroosmosis method when power is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode and discharge it to one of the at least one outlet. to provide.

A cathode active material dehydration device and a dehydration facility including the dehydration device according to the present invention have the following effects.

First, there is an advantage in that both dehydration by mechanical force and dehydration by electro-osmosis can be performed in one device.

Second, moisture remaining in the cathode active material after mechanical dehydration inside the device may be additionally removed using an electroosmotic method.

Third, since the remaining washing liquid is discharged downward by gravity, there is an advantage in that energy consumption can be reduced because a separate power device for discharging the washing liquid is not required.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a cathode active material dehydration device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an electrode and an insulating member of the cathode active material dehydration device according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view of the cathode active material dehydration device according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an outlet of the cathode active material dehydration device according to FIG. 1 and a suction member included in a housing module.

5 is a schematic view showing a piston or a hydraulic member included in a housing module of the cathode active material dehydration device according to FIG. 1 .

6 is a schematic view showing a first electrode of the cathode active material dehydration device according to FIG. 1 .

7 is a cross-sectional view of a cathode active material dehydration device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by describing preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 6 , a cathode active material dehydration device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes

housing modules

1100, 1100a, 1100b, and 1100c, an electrode 1200, and an insulating member 1300. . The

housing modules

1100, 1100a, 1100b, and 1100c include the housing 1100 and

devices

1100a, 1100b, and 1100c for adjusting the volume of the inner space of the housing 1100 to be reduced. In FIG. 1, for convenience, the

devices

1100a, 1100b, and 1100c for adjusting the volume of the inner space of the housing 1100 to be small and the power supply unit 1400 connected to the electrode 1200 to supply power are also omitted. Similar to a filter press, the cathode active material dehydration device 1000 according to the present embodiment mechanically dehydrates the cathode active material inside the

housing modules

1100, 1100a, 1100b, and 1100c. Since the cathode active material dehydration device 1000 according to the present embodiment can perform both mechanical dehydration and electroosmotic dehydration, mechanical dehydration is not necessarily required. However, mechanical dehydration may be primarily performed prior to dehydration by the cathode active material dehydration device 1000 according to the present embodiment.

The housing 1100 defines an internal (accommodating) space in which the positive electrode active material that has undergone the cleaning process is accommodated. In addition, a discharge port 1110a through which cleaning liquid can be discharged is formed on one side of the housing 1100 . In this embodiment, it is exemplified that only one outlet 1110a is formed, but a plurality of outlets 1110a may be formed. In this case, the outlet 1110a is formed to be spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the housing 1100 or in a width direction crossing the longitudinal direction. Also, in this embodiment, the washing liquid is water as an example, but the type of the washing liquid may be freely changed.

Specifically, in this embodiment, the housing 1100 takes a rectangular parallelepiped shape as an example. At this time, the housing 1100 includes a first unit 1110 having a first groove formed therein and a second unit 1120 having a second groove formed therein. That is, the housing 1100 is formed so that the first unit 1110 formed in the shape of '???' and the second unit 1120 formed in the shape of '??' come into close contact with each other. At this time, the first groove of the first unit 1110 and the second groove of the second unit 1120 are combined to form the inner space of the housing 1100 .

In this embodiment, the first unit 1110 is formed of a flexible material. The first unit 1110 is formed of a first unit upper horizontal portion 1111, a first unit vertical portion 1112, and a first unit lower horizontal portion 1113. One side of the upper horizontal portion 1111 of the first unit is in close contact with the second unit 1120 at the upper center of the housing 1100, and one end of the housing 1100 at the upper center of the housing 1100. It is the part that extends horizontally in the direction. The first unit vertical portion 1112 is integrally formed with the first unit upper horizontal portion 1111, and one side is connected to the other end of the first unit upper horizontal portion 1111. The first unit vertical portion 1112 is a portion extending downward from the other end of the first unit upper horizontal portion 1111 . And the first unit lower horizontal part 1113 is formed integrally with the first unit vertical part 1112, one side is connected to the first unit vertical part 1112, and the other end of the housing 1100 It is the part that extends horizontally in the direction. At this time, the other side of the lower horizontal portion 1111 of the first unit is in close contact with the second unit 1120. A first unit upper protrusion extending upward is formed at one end of the upper horizontal portion 1111 of the first unit, and a first unit extending downward at the other end of the lower horizontal portion 1113 of the first unit. A lower protrusion is formed. In this case, grooves may be formed in the upper protruding portion of the first unit and the lower protruding portion of the first unit so that the first electrode 1210, the insulating member 1300, and the second electrode 1220 may be easily inserted. .

And in this embodiment, the discharge port 1110a is formed in a horizontal direction parallel to the first unit horizontal portion at a portion where the first unit vertical portion 1112 and the first unit lower horizontal portion 1113 come into contact. . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the outlet 1110a is parallel to the first unit vertical portion 1112 at a portion where the first unit vertical portion 1112 and the first unit lower horizontal portion 1113 come into contact. It may also be formed in a vertical direction.

A first unit protrusion extending upward at one end of the first unit upper horizontal portion 1111

In this embodiment, it is exemplified that the second unit 1120 is formed of a flexible material. The second unit 1120 has the same shape as the first unit 1110, but has a shape in which the first unit 1110 is symmetrical about an axis in the vertical direction. Specifically, the second unit 1120 is formed of a second unit upper horizontal portion 1121, a second unit vertical portion 1122, and a second unit lower horizontal portion 1123. One side of the second unit upper horizontal portion 1121 is in close contact with one side of the first unit upper horizontal portion 1111 at the upper center of the housing 1100, and at the upper center of the housing 1100, the housing ( 1100) extending horizontally toward the other end. The second unit vertical portion 1122 is integrally formed with the second unit upper horizontal portion 1121, and one side is connected to the other end of the second unit upper horizontal portion 1121. The second unit vertical portion 1122 is a portion extending downward from the other end of the second unit upper horizontal portion 1121 . And the second unit lower horizontal part 1123 is integrally formed with the second unit vertical part 1122, one side is connected to the second unit vertical part 1122, and one end of the housing 1100 It is the part that extends horizontally in the direction. At this time, the other side of the lower horizontal portion 1121 of the second unit is in close contact with the lower horizontal portion 1113 of the first unit. Grooves may be formed in the second unit 1120 to facilitate insertion of the first electrode 1210, the insulating member 1300, and the second electrode 1220, as in the first unit 1110. there is. The grooves of the first unit 1110 and the grooves of the second unit 1120 may form holes therein while contacting each other.

The electrode 1200 includes a first electrode 1210 generating a first potential in a first portion adjacent to the outlet 1110a and a second electrode 1210 in a second portion opposite to the first portion in the housing 1100. It includes a second electrode 1220 generating a potential. In this embodiment, the first electrode 1210 is an example of a negative electrode, and the second electrode 1220 is an example of a positive electrode. The first electrode 1210 and the second electrode 1220 are disposed symmetrically within the housing 1100 with the cathode active material interposed therebetween. When power is applied, the first electrode 1210 and the second electrode 1220 dehydrate the cleaning solution remaining in the cathode active material by an electroosmosis method and discharge it through one of the outlets 1110a. Although not shown in the drawing, the first electrode 1210 and the second electrode 1220 are respectively connected to a power supply unit.

The first electrode 1210 is disposed within the housing 1100 and has openings that do not allow the cathode active material to pass through but allow the cleaning liquid to pass through. That is, in the present embodiment, the first electrode 1210 is formed in a mesh structure, and only the cleaning liquid can pass through the mesh structure, but the cathode active material does not pass through the mesh structure, thereby preventing the cathode active material from flowing out during the dehydration process. prevent. In FIG. 6 , the openings through which water may pass are enlarged for convenience of illustration, but in reality, the mesh structure is densely formed so that the cathode active material cannot pass through.

In this embodiment, the first electrode 1210 is formed of a plate-shaped and flexible material as an example, but the material of the first electrode 1210 can be variously changed. Therefore, the first electrode 1210 extends into the inside of the housing 1100 through the upper part of the housing 1100, extends along the inner surface of one side of the housing 1100, and then extends into the housing 1100. It extends out of the housing 1100 through the lower part. Specifically, the first electrode 1210 is along the inner side of the first unit upper horizontal portion 1111, the first unit vertical portion 1112, and the first unit lower horizontal portion 1113, respectively. It can be placed while bending. That is, although the first electrode 1210 has a rectangular plate shape as shown in FIG. 6, it can be bent to the inner surface of the first unit 1110 and adhered to the inner surface of the first unit 1110. there is. In this embodiment, it is exemplified that the first electrode 1210 is disposed to cover the top, side, and bottom surfaces of the first unit 1110, but the first electrode 1210 is the first unit 1110 It can also be arranged to cover the front and rear surfaces of. Also, for convenience of illustration, the first electrode 1210 protrudes from the top and bottom of the housing 1100 in a line form, but the first electrode 1210 is the top and bottom of the housing 1100. It may protrude downward in the form of a face.

In this embodiment, it is exemplified that the second electrode 1220, like the first electrode 1210, is formed of a plate-shaped and flexible material. Therefore, the second electrode 1220 extends into the inside of the housing 1100 through the upper portion of the housing 1100, extends along the inner surface of the other side of the housing 1100, and then extends into the housing 1100. It extends out of the housing 1100 through the lower part. Specifically, the second electrode 1220 is along the inner side of the second unit upper horizontal portion 1121, the second unit vertical portion 1122, and the second unit lower horizontal portion 1123, respectively. It can be placed while bending. That is, the second electrode 1220 has a rectangular plate shape, but may adhere to the inner surface of the second unit 1120 while being bent according to the shape of the inner surface of the second unit 1120 . In this embodiment, the second electrode 1220 has a surface structure in which the second unit upper horizontal portion 1121 and the second unit lower horizontal portion 1123 are integrally formed. However, the second unit vertical portion 1122 has a plurality of stripes having one side connected to the upper horizontal portion 1121 of the second unit and the other side connected to the lower horizontal portion 1123 of the second unit. It is exemplified that they are arranged to be spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the unit vertical portion 1122 . This is to reduce the area of the second unit vertical portion 1122 when pressure is applied from the other side of the second unit vertical portion 1122 so that the second unit vertical portion 1122 is better bent. Of course, in this case, the cathode active material does not leak through the stripe structure. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the second unit vertical portion 1122 may be formed in a surface structure integrally formed such as the second unit upper horizontal portion 1121 and the second unit lower horizontal portion 1123. can

In this embodiment, it is exemplified that the second electrode 1220 is disposed to cover the upper, side, and lower surfaces of the second unit 1120, but the second electrode 1220 is the second unit 1120 It can also be arranged to cover the front and rear surfaces of. Also, for convenience of illustration, portions where the second electrode 1220 protrudes from the top and bottom of the housing 1100 are shown in line form, but the second electrode 1220 is the top and bottom of the housing 1100. It may protrude downward in the form of a face. And, in this embodiment, the second electrode 1120 is insoluble DAS (Dimensional stable anodes).

The insulating member 1300 is disposed between the first electrode 1210 and the second electrode 1220 to prevent contact between the first electrode 1210 and the second electrode 1220 . In this embodiment, the insulating member 1300 is also formed of a flexible material like the first electrode 1210 and the second electrode 1220 . Therefore, the insulating member 1300 extends into the housing 1100 through the upper part of the housing 1100 and passes through the lower part of the housing 1100 along the inside of one side of the housing 1100 to the housing ( 1100) extends outward. At this time, in this embodiment, the insulating member 1300 enters the inner space of the housing 1100 from the outside of the housing 1100 (from the top to the bottom of one end of the upper horizontal portion 1111 of the first unit) Until) is formed in a structure surrounding the first electrode 1210 as an example. Of course, the portion where the insulating member 1300 exits from the inner space of the housing 1100 to the outer space of the housing 1100 (from the top to the bottom of the other end of the lower horizontal portion 1113 of the first unit) is also described above. It is formed in a structure surrounding the first electrode 1210 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the insulating member 1300 may be coated on the first electrode 1210 or sandwiched between the first electrode 1210 and the second electrode 1220. there is.

In this embodiment, it is exemplified that the insulating member 1300 extends along the inside of the first unit 1110 and is disposed inside the first electrode 1210 . That is, the first electrode 1210 adheres to the inside of the first unit 1110 and the insulating member 1300 adheres to the inside of the first electrode 1210 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the insulating member 1300 may extend along the inside of the second unit 1120 and be disposed inside the second electrode 1220 . And, in this embodiment, the insulating member 1300 has a structure through which the washing liquid can pass.

4 and 5, examples of

devices

1100a, 1100b, and 1100c for adjusting the volume of the inner space of the housing 1100 to be reduced are shown. In (a) of FIG. 4 , a suction member 1100c disposed to communicate with the outlet 1100a and sucking in air in the inner space of the housing 1100 is shown. That is, when the suction member 1100c sucks air in the inner space of the housing 1100, the housing 1100 contracts and mechanically dehydrates the cathode active material therein. In (b), the outlet 1100a' is formed in the direction of the horizontal portion 1113 under the first unit. For convenience of illustration, the suction member 1100c is omitted, but a suction member similar to (a) may be coupled to the outlet 1100a′.

5 shows

compression members

1100a and 1100b that compress the second unit 1120 toward the first unit 1110 so that the volume of the internal space of the housing 1100 is reduced. The

compression members

1100a and 1100b may be a piston member 1100a that presses and compresses the other side of the second unit 1120 toward the first unit 1110 . Of course, the

compression members

1100a and 1100b supply liquid to a flexible pipe arranged to be in close contact with the other side of the second unit 1120, and compress the other side of the second unit 1120 toward the first unit. It may also be a hydraulic member (1100b) to do. At this time, when liquid is supplied into the pipe, the pipe expands and compresses the other side of the second unit 1120.

The cathode active material is disposed in the inner space of the housing 1100 . In this embodiment, the cathode active material is a lithium composite transition metal oxide as an example. The lithium composite transition metal oxide may be prepared by mixing a transition metal precursor and a lithium source material and then firing them. The transition metal precursor may be a hydroxide, oxyhydroxide, carbonate, or organic complex including Ni, Co, and Mn. Specifically, the transition metal precursor may be nickel-cobalt hydroxide, nickel-cobalt oxyhydroxide, nickel-cobalt-manganese hydroxide, or nickel-cobalt-manganese oxyhydroxide, or the hydroxide or oxyhydroxide may be doped with M, It is not limited to this. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the type and manufacturing method of the cathode active material may be changed as much as possible.

Briefly explaining the operation using the electroosmotic method in the cathode active material dehydration device 1000 according to the present embodiment, first, the cathode active material 1130 washed with water is applied to the first electrode 1210 and the second electrode 1220. ) placed between them. In this embodiment, it is exemplified that the cathode active material is disposed so as to come into close contact with the first electrode 1210 and the second electrode 1220, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cathode active material may be disposed to be spaced apart from each of the first electrode 1210 and the second electrode 1220 .

Next, power is applied to the first electrode 1210 and the second electrode 1220 . When power is applied, osmotic pressure is generated in which water contained in the cathode active material flows toward the first electrode 1210 . This is because positive ions distributed in water move toward the negative electrode by electric force, while dragging water molecules along with them (water molecules are bonded to positive ions by ion-dipole attraction, so when positive ions move under the electric force, some of them move along. do). At this time, lithium ions remaining on the surface of the cathode active material between them also have an additional effect of moving toward the first electrode 1210 .

Even if moisture is removed through pressure dehydration (mechanical dehydration) of the cathode active material that has undergone a washing process using the cathode active material dehydration device 1000 according to the present embodiment, the remaining moisture is an electrical force acting between ions and particles within the moisture ( Since the particle surface has a surface charge due to the interfacial phenomenon between solid and liquid), dehydration due to pressurization is no longer possible. Therefore, there is a limit to sufficiently removing moisture contained in the positive electrode active material only by pressurized dehydration. In this case, if the electroosmosis method is used, the remaining moisture can be easily removed using the electroosmosis phenomenon.

Although not shown in the drawings, the cathode active material dehydration device 1000 may be used as a cathode active material dehydration facility. That is, an electric heater may be installed to transfer radiant heat toward the inner space of the housing module, specifically toward the inner space of the housing 1100 . The electric heater may be installed on an inner surface of the housing 1100 or an outer surface of the housing 1100, and heats the cathode active material to perform drying. Dehydration of the cleaning solution using the cathode active material dehydration device 1000 and drying using the electric heater may be performed simultaneously, or the drying may be performed after dehydration of the cleaning solution.

Referring to FIG. 7 , a cathode active material dehydration device 2000 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes

housing modules

2110 and 2120,

electrodes

2210 and 2220, a suction member 2200c, and a filter cloth 2500. . In FIG. 7 , for convenience, a power supply unit connected to the

electrodes

2210 and 2220 to supply power is also omitted. The

housing modules

2110 and 2120 include a first unit 2110 and a second unit 2120. And the

electrodes

2210 and 2220 include a first electrode 2210 and a second electrode 2220 . And the filter cloth 2500 includes a first filter cloth 2510 and a second filter cloth 2520.

The first unit 2110 and the second unit 2120 have structures similar to those of the first unit 1110 and the second unit 1120 according to FIG. 1 . However, the first unit 2110 and the second unit 2120 according to the present embodiment may have a hole (not shown) through which the first electrode 2210 may pass. This is because the first electrode 2210 according to the present embodiment does not extend to the outside of the

housing modules

2110 and 2120 through a contact portion between the first unit 2110 and the second unit 2120. .

And, in this embodiment, one air inlet 2130 and one cathode active material inlet 2140 are formed on the upper portions of the first unit 2110 and the second unit 2120, respectively. Of course, the formation position and number of the air inlet 2130 and the cathode active material inlet 2140 can be changed as much as possible. At this time, the cathode active material dehydration device 2000 injects air through the air inlet 2130 to control the volume of the cathode active material disposed inside the

housing modules

2110 and 2120 with air pressure so that the volume of the cathode active material is reduced. The cleaning solution remaining in the active material can be mechanically dehydrated.

In addition, in the cathode active material dehydration device 2000 according to the present embodiment, the cathode active material is disposed in the inner space of the

housing modules

2110 and 2120, and the

housing modules

2110 and 2120 pass through the cathode active material inlet 2140. ) The cathode active material disposed in the inner space may be dehydrated by additionally injecting the cathode active material into the inner space. That is, by controlling the volume of the positive electrode active material disposed in the internal space to be reduced by the pressure of the additionally injected positive electrode active material, the cleaning liquid remaining in the positive electrode active material disposed in the internal space may be mechanically dehydrated.

At this time, the dehydration using the air pressure and the dehydration by supplying the additional cathode active material may be performed in parallel with the electrical dehydration by the

electrodes

2110 and 2120 . That is, the mechanical dehydration using the air pressure and the mechanical dehydration by supplying the additional cathode active material may be performed simultaneously with the electrical dehydration or may be performed beforehand.

Similarly to FIG. 4 , an outlet through which the washing liquid can be discharged is formed on one side of the

housings

2210 and 2220 . In this embodiment, it is exemplified that the first unit 2210 and the second unit 2220 each have outlets through which the washing liquid can be discharged. Of course, the outlet may be formed on only one of the first unit 2210 and the second unit 2220 .

Although not shown in the drawings, an air (gas) supply device (not shown) capable of supplying air is communicated with the air inlet 2130 . A cathode active material supply device (not shown) capable of additionally supplying the cathode active material is communicated with the cathode active material inlet 2140 .

The first electrode 2210 is disposed inside the

housing modules

2110 and 2120 . Specifically, the first electrode 2210 is disposed on the side of the first part adjacent to the outlet formed on the side of the first unit 2110 and the side of the second unit 2120 in the

housing modules

2110 and 2120, It is spaced apart from the first part and disposed in the opposite second part. The first electrode 2210 forms a first potential.

The second electrode 2220 is disposed to face the first part and the second part in the

housing modules

2110 and 2120, and is disposed between the first part and the second part. That is, the second electrodes 2220 are vertically disposed at the center of the inner space of the

housing modules

2110 and 2120 . Therefore, the second electrode 2220 is disposed at a set distance from the first electrode 2210 disposed in the first part in the center direction of the

housing modules

2110 and 2120, and is disposed in the second part It is spaced apart from the first electrode 2210 in the center direction of the

housing modules

2110 and 2120 by a set distance. That is, the second electrode 2220 divides the inner space of the

housing modules

2110 and 2120 into two equal parts. Therefore, in the cathode active material dehydration device 2000 according to the present embodiment, the first electrode 2210 disposed in the first portion and the second electrode 2220 disposed in the first portion and between the first electrode 2220 disposed in the second portion Electrical dehydration is performed between 2210 and the second electrode 2220, respectively. Also, the first electrode 2210 has openings large enough to allow the cleaning solution to pass through.

The filter fabric 2500 includes a first filter fabric 2510 and a second filter fabric 2520. The first filter cloth 2510 is in close contact with the first electrode 2210 disposed inside the first unit 2110. The second filter cloth 2520 is in close contact with the second electrode 2210 disposed inside the second unit 2120 . At this time, the filter cloth 2500 has an opening of a size through which only water (washing liquid) can pass through without passing the cathode active material. Also, the first electrode 2210 has an opening of a size through which the water can pass.

Also, in this embodiment, unlike in FIG. 4 , one suction member 2100c may be installed on the first unit 2110 side and the second unit 2120 side, respectively. This is because water can be discharged in the direction of the first unit 2110 and the direction of the second unit 2120 in the case of the cathode active material dehydration device 2000 according to the present embodiment. In the case of the cathode active material dehydration device 2000 according to the present embodiment, the negative electrode, which is the first electrode 2110, is spaced apart from the inside of the first unit 2110 and the second unit 2120 and is disposed to face each other. This is because the anode, which is the second electrode 2120, is disposed in a space separated from the first electrode 2110 so that water can be dehydrated in the direction of each first electrode 2110.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is only exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

Since the present invention enables both mechanical dehydration and electrical dehydration in one device, it is possible to provide a cathode active material dehydration device capable of efficiently and conveniently dehydrating the cathode active material compared to conventional cathode active material dehydration devices.

Claims

An inner space in which the cathode active material that has undergone the cleaning process is accommodated is defined, at least one outlet through which the cleaning liquid can be discharged is formed, and the cathode active material is disposed in the inner space and passed the cleaning process into the inner space. a housing module that additionally injects a cathode active material, mechanically dehydrates the cleaning solution remaining in the cathode active material disposed in the inner space by the pressure of the additionally injected cathode active material, and discharges the cleaning solution through one of the at least one discharge port;

It is disposed in the housing module, has openings of a size through which the cleaning liquid can pass, and a first portion adjacent to the at least one outlet in the housing module and a second portion spaced apart from and facing the first portion in the housing. a first electrode for forming a first potential in two parts; and

A second electrode disposed to face the first part and the second part in the housing module and forming a second potential between the first part and the second part,

When power is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, the cleaning solution remaining in the cathode active material is dehydrated by an electroosmosis method and discharged to one of the at least one outlet.

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 1,

An electric heater installed on the inner or outer surface of the housing module to heat and dry the cathode active material in order to transfer radiant heat toward the inner space of the housing module while maintaining the cathode active material in the inner space. more inclusive,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 1,

The first electrode is

It extends into the housing module through an upper portion of the housing module and is disposed to closely adhere along an inner surface of one side of the housing,

The second electrode is

Extending into the housing module through the top of the housing module and facing the first electrode at a distance from the first electrode,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 1,

The housing module,

a first unit having a first groove formed therein;

A housing including a second unit having a second groove formed therein and being in close contact while facing the first unit so that the first groove and the second groove form an inner space of the housing module ,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 4,

The first unit,

one side of the upper horizontal portion of the first unit that is in close contact with the second unit at the upper center of the housing and horizontally extends from the upper center of the housing toward one end of the housing;

a first unit vertical portion integrally formed with the upper horizontal portion of the first unit, one side connected to the other end of the upper horizontal portion of the first unit, and extending downward from the other end of the upper horizontal portion of the first unit;

A lower horizontal portion of the first unit formed integrally with the first unit vertical portion, one side of which is connected to the other side of the first unit vertical portion, extends horizontally toward the other end of the housing, and is in close contact with the second unit. doing,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 5,

The second unit,

a second unit upper horizontal portion having one side in close contact with the upper horizontal portion of the first unit at the upper center of the housing and extending horizontally from the upper center of the housing toward the other side of the housing;

a second unit vertical portion integrally formed with the upper horizontal portion of the second unit, one side connected to the other end of the upper horizontal portion of the second unit, and extending downward from the other end of the upper horizontal portion of the second unit;

It is integrally formed with the second unit vertical part, one side is connected to the other side of the second unit vertical part, extends horizontally in one direction of the housing, and is in close contact with the lower horizontal part of the first unit. including wealth,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment
The method of claim 5,

The outlet is

Formed in a horizontal direction parallel to the first unit horizontal portion or formed in a vertical direction parallel to the first unit vertical portion at a portion in contact with the first unit vertical portion and the lower horizontal portion of the first unit,

The first electrode is

Formed in a mesh structure,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 1,

The first electrode is disposed between the inside of the housing module, but is disposed so as to be in close contact with the first electrode, and includes a filter cloth having an opening sized to pass only the cleaning liquid without passing the positive electrode active material. doing,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
An inner space in which the cathode active material that has undergone the cleaning process is accommodated is defined, at least one outlet through which the cleaning liquid can be discharged is formed, and air is injected into the inner space while the cathode active material is disposed in the inner space. a housing module for mechanically dehydrating the cleaning liquid remaining in the cathode active material with air pressure and discharging it through one of the at least one outlet;

It is disposed in the housing module, has openings of a size through which the cleaning liquid can pass, and a first portion adjacent to the at least one discharge port in the housing module and a second portion facing the first portion spaced apart from each other in the housing module. a first electrode for forming a first potential in two parts; and

A second electrode disposed to face the first part and the second part in the housing module and forming a second potential between the first part and the second part,

When power is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, the cleaning solution remaining in the cathode active material is dehydrated by an electroosmosis method and discharged to one of the at least one outlet.

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 9,

An electric heater installed on the inner or outer surface of the housing module to heat and dry the cathode active material in order to transfer radiant heat toward the inner space of the housing module while maintaining the cathode active material in the inner space. more inclusive,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 9,

The first electrode is disposed between the inside of the housing module, but is disposed so as to be in close contact with the first electrode, and includes a filter cloth having an opening sized to pass only the cleaning liquid without passing the positive electrode active material. doing,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
An inner space in which the cathode active material that has undergone the cleaning process is accommodated is defined, and at least one outlet through which the cleaning solution can be discharged is formed on one side, and the cleaning solution remaining in the cathode active material is adjusted to reduce the volume of the inner space. a housing module for mechanically dewatering the water and discharging it through one of the at least one outlet;

a first electrode disposed in the housing module, having openings that do not pass the cathode active material but allow the cleaning liquid to pass therethrough, and forms a first potential in a first portion adjacent to the discharge port in the housing module; and

A second electrode forming a second potential in a second portion facing the first portion in the housing,

When power is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, the cleaning solution remaining in the cathode active material is dehydrated by an electroosmosis method and discharged to one of the at least one outlet.

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 12,

An electric heater installed on the inner or outer surface of the housing module to heat and dry the cathode active material in order to transfer radiant heat toward the inner space of the housing module while maintaining the cathode active material in the inner space. more inclusive,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 12,

The first electrode is

It extends into the housing module through an upper portion of the housing module, extends along an inner surface of one side of the housing, and extends to the outside of the housing module through a lower portion of the housing module,

The second electrode is

To face the first electrode, extends into the housing module through the top of the housing module, extends along the inside of the other side of the housing module, and extends to the outside of the housing module through the bottom of the housing module,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 14,

It is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode to insulate the first electrode and the second electrode, and extends into the housing module through the top of the housing module, and covers the inside of one side of the housing module. An insulating member extending to be disposed inside the first electrode, or extending to be disposed inside the second electrode along the inside of the other side of the housing module, and extending to the outside of the housing module through a lower part of the housing module. Including more,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 12,

The housing module,

a first unit having a first groove formed therein;

A housing including a second unit having a second groove formed therein and being in close contact while facing the first unit so that the first groove and the second groove form an inner space of the housing module ,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 16

The housing module,

A compression member configured to compress the second unit in the direction of the first unit so that the volume of the inner space of the housing is reduced,

The compression member,

A piston member that presses and compresses the other side of the second unit in the direction of the first unit, or supplies liquid to a flexible pipe arranged to be in close contact with the other side of the second unit to move the other side of the second unit to the first unit. A hydraulic member that presses and compresses in the direction,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 16

The housing module,

Further comprising a suction member arranged to communicate with the at least one outlet and sucking air in the housing internal space so that the volume of the housing internal space is reduced.

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 12,

The washing liquid dehydration and the drying are performed at the same time, or the drying is performed after the washing liquid dehydration is performed.

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.
The method of claim 12,

The first electrode is disposed between the inside of the housing module, but is disposed so as to be in close contact with the first electrode, and includes a filter cloth having an opening sized to pass only the cleaning liquid without passing the positive electrode active material. doing,

Cathode active material dehydration equipment.