This patent application claims the priority and benefits of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0150266 filed on Nov. 2, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a gas injection nozzle used to dry an electrode plate and a drying apparatus for the electrode plate including the same. The gas injection nozzle and the electrode plate manufactured by the drying apparatus for the electrode plate including the same in the present disclosure may be widely applied in the field of secondary battery technology, such as pouch-type secondary batteries and square-shaped secondary batteries.
Unlike primary batteries, a secondary battery cell is capable of being charged and discharged, and may be applied to devices within various fields such as a digital camera, a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, and an energy storage device, and the like.
A secondary battery is classified into a pouch-type secondary battery and a can-type secondary battery, and has a structure in which an electrode assembly and an electrolyte are accommodated inside a case. The electrode assembly has a structure in which electrode plates and separators are alternately stacked. The electrode plate may include a cathode plate and an anode plate. Generally, the electrode plate includes a sheet or film-shaped current collector, and a cathode active material or an anode active material applied to the current collector. For example, the anode plate may be formed by applying the anode active material to a copper sheet, and the cathode plate may be formed by applying a cathode active material to an aluminum sheet. An electrode plate is manufactured through a coating process of coating an active material on the current collector and a drying process of drying the active material. The coating process and the drying process have a significant impact on the quality of secondary batteries.
In the drying process, drying gas such as hot air is injected onto a sheet of the current collector coated with the active material to dry the active material. In the drying process, when a deviation in a flow rate and/or flow velocity of the drying gas varies greatly depending on the position of the electrode plate, there may be an issue in that the quality of the electrode plate may not be uniform because a degree of drying and drying efficiency vary, depending on the position of the electrode plate.
Additionally, when a deviation in the flow rate and/or flow velocity of the drying gas is large, cracks, bending, and the like, may occur in the electrode plate depending on the position of the electrode plate, which may deteriorate the quality of the electrode plate.
A distance between side parts of an electrode plate is short, and accordingly, a flow rate and/or flow velocity difference between a central part of the electrode plate and both side parts thereof may not be large. However, when a width of the electrode plate is wide, a large deviation in the flow rate and/or flow velocity may occur between the center portion and both side parts of the electrode plate along (based on) a width direction of the electrode plate. In this case, a drying deviation in the width direction of the electrode plate may increase and the quality of the electrode plate may deteriorate.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a gas injection nozzle for drying an electrode plate and a drying apparatus for the electrode plate including the same, which may reduce a deviation in a flow rate and/or flow velocity depending on the position of the electrode plate.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a gas injection nozzle for drying an electrode plate and a drying apparatus for the electrode plate including the same, which may reduce a deviation in drying efficiency and drying quality depending on the position of the electrode plate.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a gas injection nozzle for drying an electrode plate and a drying apparatus for the electrode plate including the same, which may improve the quality of electrode plate even for a wide electrode plate.
An electrode plate manufactured by a gas injection nozzle for drying an electrode plate and a drying apparatus for the electrode plate including the same, and a battery cell including the same may be widely applied to devices within green technology fields such as an electric vehicle, a battery charging station, and solar and wind power generation using other batteries. Additionally, the electrode plate manufactured according to the present disclosure and the battery cell including the same may be used in an eco-friendly electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and the like, which prevents climate change by suppressing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
A gas injection nozzle for drying electrode plate according to the present disclosure may include a nozzle body having a flow space through which drying gas flows, the flow space being formed between a first plate and a second plate spaced apart from the first plate in a first direction; at least one inlet hole formed in the first plate and configured to allow the drying gas to flow into the flow space from the outside of the nozzle body; and a plurality of injection holes formed in the second plate and configured to inject the drying gas from inside of the flow space to the outside, and the at least one inlet hole may have a slit shape crossing the first plate in a second direction.
In an embodiment, the gas injection nozzle for drying an electrode plate may include a deflector disposed between the first plate and the second plate and configured to change a flow direction of the drying gas introduced through the at least one inlet hole.
In an embodiment, the second direction is a longitudinal direction of the nozzle body, and the deflector may have a shape crossing the nozzle body in the second direction and may be disposed in a position facing the at least one inlet hole along (based on) the first direction.
In an embodiment, a first height between the deflector and the first plate may have a value equal to or less than a second height between the deflector and the second plate.
In an embodiment, a first height between the deflector and the first plate may have a value of ½ or less of the second height between the deflector and the second plate.
In an embodiment, a width of the deflector may have a value of 10% or more and 90% or less of a width of the first plate.
In an embodiment, the plurality of injection holes may have a circular shape.
A drying apparatus for an electrode plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a chamber having a gas supply space through which drying gas for drying the electrode plate flows; and a plurality of gas injection nozzles coupled to the chamber to communicate with the gas supply space of the chamber, wherein the plurality of gas injection nozzles may include a nozzle body having a flow space through which drying gas flows, between a first plate and a second plate spaced apart from the first plate in a first direction; at least one inlet hole formed in the first plate and configured to allow the drying gas to flow into the flow space from the outside of the nozzle body; and a plurality of injection holes formed in the second plate and configured to inject the drying gas into the flow space to the outside, and the at least one inlet hole may have a slit shape crossing the first plate in a second direction, a longitudinal direction of the nozzle body.
In an embodiment, the plurality of gas injection nozzles may further include a deflector disposed between the first plate and the second plate and configured to change a flow direction of the drying gas introduced through the at least one inlet hole.
In an embodiment, the plurality of gas injection nozzles may have a shape extending in a second direction, a width direction of the electrode plate, and may be spaced apart from each other in a third direction, a transport direction of the electrode plate, and the first direction, the second direction and the third direction may be perpendicular to each other.
In an embodiment, the chamber may include an inlet port configured to supply the drying gas to the gas supply space from the outside of the chamber, and a dispersion plate disposed between the inlet port and the first plate, and the dispersion plate may include a plurality of dispersion holes configured to communicate with the drying gas between the inlet port and the inlet hole.
In an embodiment, the inlet port may be configured to supply the drying gas in the second direction, and the plurality of dispersion holes may have a slit shape crossing the dispersion plate in the third direction.
In an embodiment, the inlet port may be configured to supply the drying gas in the second direction, and the plurality of dispersion holes may have a slit shape crossing the dispersion plate in the second direction.
In an embodiment, the chamber may include a first chamber in which drying gas injected onto a first surface of the electrode plate flows, and a second chamber in which drying gas injected onto a second surface of the electrode plate flows, and the plurality of gas injection nozzles may be installed in at least one of the first chamber or the second chamber.
A drying apparatus for an electrode plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a chamber having a gas supply space and a plurality of gas injection nozzles in fluid communication with the gas supply space of the chamber through which drying gas for drying the electrode plate flows. Each of the plurality of gas injection nozzles may include a nozzle body having a first plate and a second plate spaced apart from the first plate in a first direction; at least one inlet hole formed in the first plate and configured to allow the drying gas to flow into a flow space of the nozzle body from the gas supply space; a plurality of injection holes formed in the second plate and configured to inject the drying gas that is inside the flow space to an outside of the nozzle body; and a deflector disposed between the first plate and the second plate configured to change a flow direction of the drying gas entering the flow space through the at least one inlet hole before the drying gas is injected to the outside through the plurality of injection holes.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it may be possible to reduce a deviation in a flow rate and/or flow velocity depending on a position of an electrode plate.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it may be possible to reduce a deviation in drying efficiency and drying quality depending on a position of an electrode plate.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an occurrence of defects such as cracks and bending on both side parts of an electrode plate, even for wide electrode plates, may be reduced, and the quality of the electrode plate may be improved even for wide electrode plates.
Certain aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure are illustrated by the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The same reference numeral or symbol written in each accompanying drawing of the specification refers to parts or components that perform substantially the same function. The present inventive concept is described using the same reference numeral or symbol even in different embodiments for easy description and appreciation. In this aspect, although all components having the same reference numeral are illustrated in a plurality of drawings, the plurality of drawings do not necessarily refer to a single embodiment.
Hereinafter, the singular also includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise in the phrase. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
In addition, it should be noted in advance that the expressions such as “above,” “upper,” “below”, “beneath,” “lower,” “side,” “front,” and “rear” are based on the direction illustrated in the drawings, and may be expressed differently if the direction of the object is changed.
In addition, in the present specification and claims, terms including ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” may be used to distinguish between components. These ordinal numbers are used to distinguish the same or similar components from each other, and the meaning of the terms should not be construed as limited by the use of these ordinal numbers. For example, the components combined with these ordinal numbers should not be construed as limiting the order of use or arrangement of the components. If necessary, the ordinal numbers may be used interchangeably.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, this is merely illustrative and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described by way of example.
Referring to
An electrode plate ES may include a cathode plate and an anode plate. The electrode plate ES may include a current collector in the form of a sheet or a film, and a cathode active material or an anode active material applied to the current collector. For example, the anode plate may be formed by applying the anode active material to a copper sheet, and the cathode plate may be formed by applying the cathode active material to an aluminum sheet. The electrode plate ES may be manufactured through a coating process of coating the active material and a drying process of drying the active material. The drying apparatus 200 for an electrode plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to the drying process of the electrode plate ES. The drying apparatus 200 for an electrode plate according to an embodiment may be applied to the drying process of the anode plate, but may be also applicable to the drying process of the cathode plate.
A gas supply space in which drying gas for drying the electrode plate ES flows may be formed in the chamber. The gas supply space may include a first gas supply space 215 formed in the first chamber 210 and a second gas supply space 235 formed in the second chamber 230.
The drying gas may include hot air having a predetermined temperature. The temperature, composition, and physical properties of the drying gas may be variously changed. The first chamber 210 and the second chamber 230 may be disposed on the two opposite surfaces of the electrode plate ES to be dried, respectively. For example, the first chamber 210 may be configured to allow drying gas injected onto a first surface of the electrode plate ES to flow, and the second chamber 230 may be configured to allow drying gas injected onto a second surface of the electrode plate ES to flow. The first surface and the second surface of the electrode plate ES may correspond to an upper (e.g., top) surface and a lower (e.g., bottom) surface of the electrode plate ES, respectively. The first chamber 210 and the second chamber 230 may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval, and the electrode plate ES may be disposed and/or move between the first chamber 210 and the second chamber 230 in a transport direction SS. The transport direction SS of the electrode plate ES may correspond to a third direction (X-direction).
Each of the first chamber 210 and the second chamber 230 may include an inlet port for supplying the drying gas to the gas supply space from the outside of the chamber. For example, the first chamber 210 may include a first inlet port 211 configured to supply the drying gas to the first gas supply space 215 from the outside of the first chamber 210, and the second chamber 230 may include a second inlet port 231 configured to supply the drying gas to the second gas supply space 235 from the outside of the second chamber 230. Each of the first inlet port 211 and the second inlet port 231 may be disposed on one side of the first chamber 210 and one side of the second chamber 230, respectively, and may be configured to supply the drying gas in a longitudinal direction (or second direction) (Y-direction) of the gas injection nozzle. A supply direction of the drying gas may correspond to a direction, perpendicular to the transport direction SS of the electrode plate ES, that is, a width direction of the electrode plate ES.
The first and second chambers 210 and 230 may be disposed in a main chamber 250. The main chamber 250 may include an exhaust port for discharging the drying gas injected onto the electrode plate ES through the gas injection nozzle 100 to the outside of the main chamber 250. The exhaust port may include a first exhaust port 251 disposed at the first chamber 210 and a second exhaust port 252 disposed at the second chamber 230. Guide vanes may be disposed in the first exhaust port 251 and the second exhaust port 252 to guide and stabilize a gas flow. For example, the guide vanes installed in the first exhaust port 251 and the second exhaust port 252 may include a shape divided into a plurality of zones, like a guide vane 22 illustrated in
The plurality of gas injection nozzles may be coupled to the first chamber 210 and/or the second chamber 230 to communicate with the first gas supply space 215 of the first chamber 210 and/or the second gas supply space 235 of the second chamber 230. The gas injection nozzle may include a plurality of first injection nozzles 100 disposed in the first chamber 210 and a plurality of second injection nozzles 240 disposed in the second chamber 230. The first injection nozzles 100 and the second injection nozzles 240 may have the same number and may be disposed in pairs in positions corresponding to each other to inject the drying gas from an upper side and a lower side of the electrode plate ES. However, the arrangement position and the number of the first and second injection nozzles 100 and 240 are not limited thereto.
The first injection nozzle 100 may be installed on a base plate 212 of the first chamber 210. The base plate 212 may be configured as a surface of the first chamber 210 opposing the electrode plate ES. The second injection nozzle 240 may also be installed on a surface of the second chamber 230 opposing the electrode plate ES.
The first injection nozzle 100 and the second injection nozzle 240 may each have a shape extending in a width direction (Y-direction) of the electrode plate ES, a direction perpendicular to the transport direction SS (i.e., the third direction) of the electrode plate ES. That is, a longitudinal direction (Y-direction) of the first injection nozzle 100 and the second injection nozzle 240 may correspond to the width direction of the electrode plate ES. The plurality of first injection nozzles 100 may be spaced apart from each other in the third direction (X-direction), the transport direction SS of the electrode plate ES. The plurality of second injection nozzles 240 may be spaced apart from each other in the third direction (X-direction), the transport direction SS of the electrode plate ES.
When a width of the electrode plate ES is large, i.e., when the electrode plate is wide, a length of each of the first and second injection nozzles 100 and 240 also become longer. When the length of the first and second injection nozzles 100 and 240 increases, in the longitudinal direction (second direction) (Y-direction) of the injection nozzle, a deviation in a flow rate and/or flow velocity between a central portion and both side parts, or a deviation in a flow rate and/or flow velocity between both side parts may increase. In this case, a drying deviation may increase depending on a width directional (Y-direction) position of the electrode plate ES, and the quality of the electrode plate ES may deteriorate. The drying apparatus 200 for an electrode plate of the present disclosure may reduce the deviation in the flow rate and/or flow velocity by improving the gas injection nozzle 100, thereby improving the quality of the electrode plate ES not only when a width WS of the electrode plate ES is narrow, but also when the width WS of the electrode plate ES is wide. The drying apparatus 200 for an electrode plate of the present disclosure may be applied to an electrode plate ES having a wide width, such as an electrode plate ES having the width WS of 700 mm or more, 1000 mm or more, 1200 mm or more, or 1500 mm or more. However, the width WS of the electrode plate ES applied to the drying apparatus 200 for an electrode plate of the present disclosure may have a value of 700 mm or less.
The first inlet port 211 and the second inlet port 231 may be configured to supply the drying gas in the second direction (Y-direction), the longitudinal direction of the gas injection nozzle. After the drying gas flows into the first chamber 210 and the second chamber 230 in the second direction (Y-direction) and then flows and disperses in the first gas supply space 215 and the second gas supply space 235, the drying gas may flow into the gas injection nozzle and may be injected in a first direction (Z-direction). That is, the first direction (Z-direction), an injection direction of the drying gas injected through the gas injection nozzle 100, may be different from the second direction (Y-direction) in which the drying gas flows into the first chamber 210 and the second chamber 230. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it may be possible to reduce the influence of the pressure and/or flow velocity of gas flowing into the first chamber 210 and the second chamber 230 on the flow rate and/or flow velocity of gas injected through the gas injection nozzle 100. That is, since the drying gas is injected through the gas injection nozzle 100 after changing a direction thereof, it may be possible to reduce the deviation in the flow rate and/or flow velocity depending on the width directional (Y-direction) position of the electrode plate ES.
The first injection nozzle 100 and the second injection nozzle 240 may have different configurations. The first injection nozzle 100 and the second injection nozzle 240 may have the same configuration. For example, the first injection nozzle 100 may have a shape including a circular perforated hole (corresponding to an injection hole 125 described below), and the second injection nozzle 240 may have a shape including a Coanda nozzle i.e., a nozzle having a shape that takes advantage of the Coanda effect. Alternatively, both the first injection nozzle 100 and the second injection nozzle 240 may have a shape including a circular perforated hole.
A plurality of gas injection nozzles of the present disclosure may be installed in at least one of the first chamber 210 and/or the second chamber 230. However, for convenience of description in the present disclosure below, a case in which a gas injection nozzle is the first injection nozzle 100 installed in the first chamber 210 will be described, but the gas injection nozzle of the present disclosure may also be applied to the second injection nozzle 240 installed in the second chamber 230. Hereinafter, reference numeral ‘100’ of the first injection nozzle 100 will be used for the gas injection nozzle.
Referring to
The gas injection nozzle 100 according to an embodiment may include a nozzle body 110. The nozzle body 110 may form a flow space 120 in which drying gas introduced from the outside of the nozzle body 110 flows.
The nozzle body 110 may include a first plate 111 and a second plate 112. The nozzle body 110 may include a plurality of side plates 113 connecting edges of the first plate 111 with corresponding edges of the second plate 112. The nozzle body 110 may have a shape formed by the first plate 111, the second plate 112, and the plurality of side plates 113.
As an example, the nozzle body 110 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a height “H” in the first direction (Z-direction), a length “W” in the second direction (Y-direction), and a width “L” in a third direction (X-direction). When the nozzle body 110 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, the first plate 111 and the second plate 112 may form an upper (or top) surface and a lower (or bottom) surface of the nozzle body 110, and the four side plates 113 may form a side surface of the nozzle body 110. The width L of the nozzle body 110 may correspond to the transport direction SS of the electrode plate ES, and the length W of the nozzle body 110 may correspond to a width direction (Y-direction) of the electrode plate ES.
The first plate 111 may have a flat plate shape. The first plate may have a square plate shape. The second plate 112 may be spaced apart from the first plate 111 in the first direction (Z-direction). The second plate 112 may have a flat plate shape. The second plate 112 may have a square plate shape.
The side plate 113 may connect the edge of the first plate 111 with the edge of the second plate 112. The side plate 113 may extend from the edge of the first plate 111 in the first direction (Z-direction). An end of the first plate 111 and an end of the second plate 112 may be connected by the plurality of side plates 113. When the first plate 111 and the second plate 112 have a square plate shape, the first plate 111 and the second plate 112 may be connected by four side plates 113.
A flow space 120 in which the drying gas introduced from the first chamber 210 flows may be formed between the first plate 111 and the second plate 112. The flow space 120 may be surrounded by the first plate 111, the second plate 112, and the plurality of side plates 113.
The nozzle body 110 may be coupled to a chamber (e.g., the first chamber 210). The nozzle body 110 may be coupled to an opening 213 formed in the base plate 212 in the outside of the chamber. The first plate 111 may form the same plane as that of the base plate 212. That is, the first plate 111 and the base plate 212 may be disposed at the same height. However, the arrangement position of the first plate 111 is not limited thereto, and the first plate 111 may be disposed to protrude into the first gas supply space 215 of the first chamber 210.
The nozzle body 110 may include at least one inlet hole 130 formed in the first plate 111 and a plurality of injection holes 140 formed in the second plate 112.
At least one inlet hole 130 formed in the first plate 111 may be configured to allow the drying gas to flow into the flow space 120 from the outside of the nozzle body 110. The at least one inlet hole 130 may have a slit shape crossing the first plate 111 in the second direction (Y-direction), a longitudinal direction of the nozzle body 110.
The plurality of injection holes 140 formed in the second plate 112 may be configured to inject the drying gas in the flow space 120 to the outside. The plurality of injection holes 140 may be formed of a plurality of perforated holes perforated in the second plate 112. The plurality of injection holes 140 may have a circular shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The shape of the plurality of injection holes 140 may be changed in various manners, and may, for example, have an oval or square shape. The number and arrangement of the plurality of injection holes 140 are not limited to those illustrated in
A total cross-sectional area of the plurality of injection holes 140 may have a value larger than a value of a total cross-sectional area of the at least one inlet hole 130. Accordingly, the drying gas may pass through the injection holes 140 and may be simultaneously injected onto the electrode plate ES at a reduced flow rate for drying the electrode plate ES.
As described above, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the drying gas may pass through the at least one inlet hole 130 including a slit-shaped hole, and the drying gas introduced into the flow space 120 through the slit-shaped inlet hole 130 may be dispersed and uniformized (become more uniform or uniform) in the flow space 120 before it is injected through the injection holes 140. Accordingly, the drying gas may be injected onto the electrode plate ES with little deviation in the flow rate and/or flow velocity in the longitudinal direction (Y-direction) of the gas injection nozzle 100, that is, the width direction of the electrode plate ES. According to an embodiment, even for wide electrode plates ES, the occurrence of defects such as cracks and bending on both side parts of the electrode plate ES may be reduced, and even for wide electrode plates ES, the quality of the electrode plate ES may be improved.
Similarly to the gas injection nozzle 100 illustrated in
The deflector 150 may be disposed between the first plate 111 and the second plate 112 so that a flow direction of the drying gas illustrated through the at least one inlet hole 130 may be changed. That is, the deflector 150 may prevent the drying gas passing through the inlet hole 130 from flowing in the first direction (Z-direction), and thus, a phenomenon in which the drying gas passing through the inlet hole 130 is directly injected through the injection hole 140 may be limited.
The deflector 150 may have a shape crossing between the first plate 111 and the second plate 112 in the second direction (Y-direction), the width direction of the electrode plate. The first plate 111 and the deflector 150 may be spaced apart from each other in the first direction (Z-direction). The deflector 150 and the second plate 112 may also be spaced apart from each other in the first direction (Z-direction). The first plate 111 and the deflector 150 may be spaced apart from each other by a first height H1. The deflector 150 and the second plate 112 may be spaced apart from each other by a second height H2.
The deflector 150 may be disposed in a position facing the at least one inlet hole 130 along (based on) the first direction (Z-direction). That is, the at least inlet hole 130 and the deflector 150 may be disposed in positions corresponding to each other in the third direction (X-direction). Accordingly, the drying gas passing through the at least inlet hole 130 may hit the deflector 150 to change a direction thereof, so that the drying gas may flow to both sides of the deflector 150. After the flow of the drying gas is dispersed to both sides of the deflector 150, the drying gas may move to a lower side of the deflector 150 and then pass through the injection holes 140.
The deflector 150 may be positioned closer to the upper plate 111 as illustrated in
A width Li of the deflector 150 may have a value of 10% or more and 90% or less of a width L of the first plate 111. For example, the width Li of the deflector 150 may have a value of 10% or more, 20% or more, 30% or more, 40% or more, or 50% or more of the width L of the first plate 111. Additionally, the width Li of the deflector 150 may have a value of 90% or less, 80% or less, 70% or less, 60% or less, and 50% or less of the width L of the first plate 111. When the width Li of the deflector 150 is less than 10% of the width L of the first plate 111, the effect of changing a flow direction of the drying gas through the deflector 150 may be reduced. Conversely, when the width Li of the deflector 150 is more than 90% of the width L of the first plate 111, after the drying gas hits the deflector 150, the drying gas flows over a long distance in the space between the deflector 150 and the first plate 111. Therefore, flow resistance may be increased to reduce the effect of changing the flow direction thereof.
As described above, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, after the drying gas hits the deflector 150 to change the direction thereof, the drying gas may move to the lower side of the deflector 150, so that the flow or flow velocity of the drying gas is sufficiently dispersed and/or uniformized in the flow space 120, and the drying gas may then be injected through the injection hole 140.
As compared to the drying apparatus 200 for an electrode plate illustrated in
Referring to
The dispersion plate 220 may include a plurality of dispersion holes 221 configured to communicate with the drying gas between the inlet port 211 of the chamber 210 and the at least one inlet hole 130 formed in the first plate 111. Accordingly, the drying gas introduced into the gas supply space 215 through the inlet port 211 may be dispersed through the plurality of dispersion holes 221 and may then flow toward the at least one inlet hole 130.
The inlet port 211 may be configured to supply the drying gas in the second direction (Y-direction), the width direction of the electrode plate ES, and the plurality of dispersion holes 221 may each have a slit shape crossing the dispersion plate 220 in the third direction (X-direction), the transport direction SS of the electrode plate ES. That is, a direction in which the drying gas flows through the inlet port 211 and a direction in which the dispersion hole 221 extends may intersect each other.
As illustrated in
The plurality of injection holes 140 formed in the second plate 112 may be circular perforated holes. Since the configuration of the plurality of injection holes 140 is the same as the configuration of the injection holes 140 illustrated in
As described above, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the drying gas introduced into the gas supply space 215 through the inlet port 211 may be dispersed and uniformized while passing through the dispersion holes 221 of the dispersion plate 220, and then the drying gas may be introduced into the gas injection nozzle 100. Additionally, the drying gas introduced into the flow space 120 through the slit-shaped inlet holes 130 may be dispersed and uniformized in the flow space 120 and may then be injected through the injection holes 140.
Compared to the drying apparatus 200 for an electrode plate illustrated in
As illustrated in
As compared to the gas injection nozzle 100 illustrated in
The deflector 150 may be disposed between the first plate 111 and the second plate 112 and may change the flow direction of the drying gas introduced through at least one inlet hole 130. Accordingly, after the drying gas passing through the inlet hole 130 hits the deflector 150 to change the direction thereof, the drying gas may flow to both sides of the deflector 150. The flow of the drying gas may be dispersed to both sides of the deflector 150 and may then move to a lower side of the deflector 150 and pass through the injection hole 140.
The deflector 150 may also be applied to the gas injection nozzle 100 illustrated in
In this manner, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the drying gas introduced into the gas supply space 215 through the inlet port 211 may be dispersed and uniformized while passing through the dispersion holes 221 of the dispersion plate 220, and then the drying gas may be introduced into the gas injection nozzle 100. Additionally, after the drying gas introduced into the flow space 120 through the slit-shaped inlet holes 130 hits the deflector 150 to change the direction thereof, the drying gas may move to a lower side of the deflector 150. Accordingly, the drying gas may be injected through the injection holes 140 after the flow or flow velocity of the drying gas is sufficiently dispersed and/or uniformized in the flow space 120.
Referring to
The drying apparatus 20 for an electrode plate according to the first comparative example accommodates a first chamber 21 and a second chamber 23 in a main chamber 25. An electrode plate ES to be dried may be disposed between the first chamber 21 and the second chamber 23.
The first chamber 21 has a first inlet port 21a through which drying gas flows, and the drying gas introduced through the first inlet port 21a may be accommodated in a first gas supply space 21c. The first chamber 21 may have the guide vane 22 installed in a portion of the first gas supply space 21c adjacent to the first inlet port 21a. The guide vane 22 may have a shape divided into a plurality of zones in order to disperse the gas introduced into the first inlet port 21a.
The second chamber 23 may have a second inlet port 23a through which the drying gas flows, and the drying gas introduced through the second inlet port 23a may be accommodated in a second gas supply space 23c. A guide vane may also be installed in the second chamber 23 in a portion of the second gas supply space 23c adjacent to the second inlet port 23a.
The gas injection nozzle may include a first injection nozzle 10 installed in the first chamber 21 and a second injection nozzle 24 installed in the second chamber 23. The first injection nozzle 10 may be coupled to a base plate 21b of the first chamber 21. The drying gas injected from the gas injection nozzle may dry the electrode plate ES and may then be discharged to the outside of the main chamber 25 through first and second exhaust ports 25a and 25b. In the comparative example, reference numeral ‘10’ of the first injection nozzle 10 will be used for the gas injection nozzle.
Referring to
The nozzle body 11 may include a first plate 11a on which at least one inlet hole 13 is formed and a second plate 11b on which at least one injection hole 14 is formed. The inlet hole 13 may include a plurality of perforated holes perforated in the first plate 11a. The injection hole 14 may include a plurality of perforated holes perforated in the second plate 11b. The inlet hole 13 and the injection hole 14 may each be formed as circular holes.
As compared to the first comparative example illustrated in
In the drying apparatus 20 for an electrode plate according to the second comparative example illustrated in
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be further described with reference to specific experimental examples. Inventive examples and comparative examples included in the experimental examples are merely illustrative of the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the appended patent claims, and it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various deviations and modifications to the embodiments are possible in the scope and spirit of the present disclosure, and that such deviations and modifications fall within the scope of the attached patent claims.
The inventive examples of
In the examples of
In the second inventive example in
In the gas injection nozzle 100 of the first inventive example, the inlet hole 130 included one slit-shaped hole. A width of the slit of the inlet hole 130 was 4 mm, and a total cross-sectional area of the inlet hole 130 was approximately 5,950 mm2. Diameters of each injection hole 140 was 10 mm, and a total cross-sectional area of the plurality of injection holes 140 was 53,780 mm2 (square millimeter).
In the gas injection nozzle 100 of the second and third inventive examples, the inlet hole 130 included two slit-shaped holes. Widths of the slits of each inlet hole 130 was 4 mm, and a total cross-sectional area of the inlet hole 130 was approximately 11,900 mm2. Diameters of each injection hole 140 was 10 mm, and a total cross-sectional area of the plurality of injection holes 140 was 53,780 mm2 (square millimeter).
In the first comparative example of
In the case of the first and second comparative examples illustrated in
On the other hand, in the case of the first to third inventive examples illustrated in
That is, in the case of the first to third inventive examples, it was confirmed that as compared to the first and second comparative examples, the velocity deviation of the widthwise side parts DS and OS and the widthwise central portion CT of the electrode plate tended to decrease as a whole.
Table 1 below illustrates average flow velocity and deviation for the first to third inventive examples and the first and second comparative examples. Table 1 illustrates results of quantifying the average flow velocity in the width direction of the electrode plate in an upper side 5 mm away from a surface of the electrode plate.
As may be seen in Table 1, in the case of the first to third inventive examples, it was confirmed that the flow velocity deviation in the width direction of the electrode plate was greatly reduced as compared to the first and second comparative examples, and the flow rate deviation was also reduced accordingly.
As described above, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the drying gas may be injected onto the electrode plate with little deviation in the flow rate and/or flow velocity in the width direction of the electrode plate. Accordingly, even for wide electrode plates, the occurrence of defects such as cracks and bending on both side parts of the electrode plate may be reduced, and even for wide electrode plates, the quality of the electrode plate may be improved.
As in the embodiment illustrated in
The embodiments described above are merely examples of applying the principles of the present disclosure, and other components may be further included in the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, the above-described embodiments may be implemented by deleting some components, and each embodiment may be implemented in combination with each other. Furthermore, the embodiments may be combined to form additional embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2023-0150266 | Nov 2023 | KR | national |