Description

The Dry Room where the cell prototyping line is installed, provides an ultra-dry environment required to handle some novel materials and technologies allowing the processing and assemblying of energy storage devices close to the industrial processes. Dry room provides a safe environment that allows to work with alkaline metals such as lithium or sodium metal and any other moisture sensitive material which are called to lead the coming future of the energy storage. It gives the chance to face and understand the processability problems and therefore provides information for further tuning of the materials improving their performance, developing the technology and reducing technological risks providing competitiveness of the companies.

The platform has the capability to scale up materials from gr to kg per batch, slurry formulation up to 5 liters, double side electrode coating in a roll to roll system in continuous or pattern coatings up to 225mm wide, solid electrolyte membrane extrusion and monolayer or multilayer pouch cell assembly both for liquid and solid electrolyte.

The main characteristics of the platform are:

• Area: 55m2
• Controlled Dew point: - 60 C degrees
• Controlled Temperature: 21 °C degrees ± 1 °C
• 7 class ISO clean room
• Overpressure: 30 Pa
• Conductive floor

Every parameter is monitored with a SCADA system, from the air generation system, air flow, recirculation, room parameters, ensuring a safe and comfortable environment to the researches.

CIC Energigune usually works with a pouch cell with 41x60 mm geometry although tools could be changed in order to manufacture bigger cells under request. Monolayer pouch cell can be prototyped for preliminary data and for bigger capacities, multiple layer pouch cell with a maximum thickness of 5mm.

The open platform concept, allows the cooperation with universities, other centers or private companies while retaining the confidentiality.

Instrumentation

• 

  Planetary Mixer

  Brand: PRIMIX [JAPAN]

  Model: HIVIS DISPER MIX Model 3D-5

  Use: Electrode slurry preparation (anode and cathode). Wide variety of uses from mixing of dry powder particle materials to kneading of high viscosity material

  Main Characteristics:

  • Maximum capacity: 5 liters. ≈ 3 liters slurry
  • Twisted double planetary blade rotating on its axis while orbiting the vessel.
  • Disperser at high speed during kneading
  • Vacuum up to10mbar
  • Stainless Steel interchangeable tank.
  • Optional upgrade for chiller option to cold down.
  • Display and register :Tª, speed, vacuum, time, etc
  • Dust cover sealed with inspection window.
• 

  Coating Machine

  Use: Slurry deposition on current collector and solvents drying.

  Characteristics:

  • Comma Reverse
  • Foil thickness Al ≈ 16μ~40μ  Cu ≈ 10 ~20μ
  • Foil width: up to 250mm
  • Coating wide: up to 225 mm
  • Winding/ Unwinding control
  • Thickness control up to 300 μ. Accuracy TIR=2μ
  • Single side continuous or pattern and double side continuous in double pass
  • Reels: I.D.: 3" (76,2mm) X 250 mm (L); 30 Kg
  • Organic or water based slurries compatible.
  • Slurry capacity : up to 5 liters
  • Speed: 0,1 m/ min up to 3 m/ min +±0.1 m/min
  • Alignment control
  • 2 drying zones: 1.220 mm. with MERV 14 filters ≈ HEPA 11
  • Tª adjustable: up to 180ºC insulated with 50 mm ceramic wool.
  • Solvent Exhaust
• 

  Calender

  Use: calender the coated electrodes

  Main Characteristics:

  • Manual sheet feeding
  • Substrate web adjustable: 50 mm-200 mm
  • Thickness: 10μm -300 μm manual adjustment with screws and digital display
  • Accuracy: ±1 μm
  • Line speed: 0,1-1 m/min
  • Roll surface: 0,01 μm [hard–chrome plating + surface mirror polished]
  • Capacity: 45 Ton
  • Heating: Rt- 150 ºC ±1ºC
• 

  Notching

  Use: Electrode cutting to the final geometry

  Main Characteristics:

  • Independent die for anode and cathode
  • size: 100 mm x 100 m Thickness: adjustable up to 400 μm
  • Accuracy in total geometry: ±0,1 mm
  • Max burr: 15 μm
• 

  Electrode Stacking Machine

  Use: Anodes and cathodes stacking in the desired number of layers interposing a separator in a zig-zag way.

  Characteristics:

  • Electrodes mechanic alignment.
    • Precision: ±0,4 mm. Artificial vision ≈ 0,1 mm
  • Vacuum automatic Pick & Place of the electrodes.
  • Separator thickness: 10~ 40 µm
  • Electrodes from 50 µm to 300 µm
  • Separator reel tension control
  • Separator Edge Position Control
  • Servo actuators
• 

  Ultrasonic Welding

  Use: Contact welding to the electrodes by ultrasonic

  Characteristics:

  • Ultrasonic frequency up to 20 KHz
  • Amplitude and power adjustable: 0 ~4.000 W
  • Time pulse control: 0~ 10 seg
  • Net fluctuation compensation + 10%
  • Micrometer adjusting stopper
  • Tab width: 6 - 30 mm
  • Trim cutting before welding
• 

  Equipment: 3 Side Sealing

  Use: Side sealing and tab sealing

  Characteristics:

  • Pressure up to 10 kg/cm²
  • Temperature: 230 ºC ±1ºC Air cylinder heating
  • Thermocouple control
  • Time pulse control: 0~ 20 seg
  • Sealing thickness 250 µm ~ 400 µm
  • Micrometer adjusting stopper
  • Dedicated profile bars
  • Manual cutting of the extra aluminum
• 

  Electrolyte filling and Bag Sealing

  Use: fill the pouch with electrolyte and seal

  Characteristics:

  • Capacity up to 170ml per shoot
  • Volumetric control µl [0,5% accuracy] Hibar pump
  • Automatic Pouch opening pads
  • Vacuum up to 5 mbar ±1 mbar
  • Hoses and tank compatible with organic carbonates( PC, EC, DEC) salts (LiPF6, LiClO4) and easily interchangeable to avoid contamination.
  • Exhaust: dry type. up to 35 m3/h
  • Sealing unit:
    • Tª :50- 220 ºC ±1ºC IMPULSE HEAT SEALER
    • up to 10 kg/ cm2

Team

• 

  AITOR VILLAVERDE OREJON

  GROUP LEADER