Innovative technology ensures improved electrochemical cell properties in small-scale series production
According to experts, the share of electrically powered vehicles will continue to rise over the next five years – including in Europe[1]. A key component behind the success of e-mobility is the lithium-ion battery. A core constituent of every lithium-ion battery is slurry. Until now, producing and handling this battery mixture has been technically extremely demanding – powdered active material, conductive carbon black and binder must be dispersed and homogenized. The electrodes are then coated with the slurry. ViscoTreat-I Battery Slurry (Fig. 1) is an innovative preparation and feeding system for battery slurries that improves slurry handling and, in turn, the production of lithium-ion batteries.
The electrochemical properties of a cell are closely linked to the quality of the coating process. To date, battery manufacturers have used a range of different technologies for this fundamental production step. ViscoTreat-I Slurry changes that: the technology now enables material buffering, material conditioning and, optionally, recirculation and inline material degassing. Serving as an intermediate buffer both after mixing in the extruder and for supplying the coater via a feed pump, ViscoTreat-I Slurry is therefore the ideal technology for small-scale series production. The coating system is supplied precisely and without pulsation via the integrated feed pump – optimal parameters for a cell’s electrochemical properties. A 1K dispenser, vipro-PUMP 500, and the corresponding controller, vipro-DRIVE, are mounted on the housing.
In addition, ViscoTreat-I Slurry is designed to provide maximum relief for operators in cell production: the container is lowered, making it easier for the user to access. The remaining components of ViscoTreat-I Slurry are easy to clean, as disassembly is carried out exclusively using star knobs. The material is resistant to aggressive solutions. Maintenance and cleaning tasks are simplified by various storage options, drip protection, or a suspension for the drive after disassembly.
The frame is fitted with wheels, allowing ViscoTreat-I Slurry to be used as a mobile unit within a production environment. A lifting function locks the wheels and secures the system in place. A sight glass provides an overview of the slurry quantity in the container. An LED light ring ensures good visibility even under suboptimal lighting conditions.
With ViscoTreat-I Slurry, the developers at ViscoTec have created an overall technical concept that takes potential rheological changes in the material into account throughout the entire coating process and makes slurry handling significantly easier for users.
[1] https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/1113147/umfrage/verteilung-der-produktionskapazitaeten-von-e-autobatterien-nach-regionen-weltweit/
