Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to a slurry supply device and a slurry supply method, and more specifically, to a slurry supply device and a slurry supply method capable of maintaining a uniform temperature of the slurry.

As technology development and demand for mobile devices increase, demand for secondary batteries as energy sources is rapidly increasing, and these secondary batteries essentially include electrode assemblies, which are power generation elements.

The electrode assembly has a form in which a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode are stacked at least once, and the positive electrode and the negative electrode, that is, the electrode, is prepared by coating a positive electrode active material slurry and a negative electrode active material slurry, that is, a slurry, on a current collector made of aluminum foil and copper foil, respectively, and drying.

In order to make the charge/discharge characteristics of a secondary battery uniform, the slurry should be evenly coated on a current collector, and conventionally, the coating has been performed using a slot die coater.

When the slurry stored in a slurry tank is coated on a current collector using a slot die coater, the temperature of the slurry has a great effect on the quality of electrode coating.

Specifically, when thermal deformation occurs in the slot die coater due to the slurry at a temperature deviating from a preset range, a gap between the slot die coater and the coating roll is changed, resulting in uneven loading during coating of the slurry.

In order to prevent this, the temperature of the slurry should be uniformly stabilized within a preset range, but in the case of the prior art, there is a problem in that the temperature of the slurry is non-uniform and may not be stabilized because of the temperature difference between the slurry remaining in the pipe connected to the slurry tank and the slurry stored in the slurry tank.

Specifically, when the slurry is mixed and then transferred to the slurry tank through the pipe to be stored, not all the slurry is transferred to the slurry tank, and some slurry remains in the pipe without being transferred to the slurry tank.

Here, the slurry transferred to and stored in the slurry tank is maintained at a temperature within a preset range, but the slurry remaining in the pipe has a temperature different from that of the slurry stored in the slurry tank while heat loss occurs due to heat exchange with the outside.

In addition, when the slurry remaining in the pipe flows into the slurry tank in the next transfer, the temperature difference between the slurry remaining in the pipe and the slurry stored in the slurry tank causes unevenness in the temperature of the entire slurry, and the slurry is not stabilized while deviating from a preset temperature, whereby there is a problem that electrode coating defects ultimately occur.

<CIT> discloses an electrode manufacturing apparatus.

The present disclosure is designed to solve the problems of the related art, and therefore the present disclosure is directed to providing a slurry supply device and a slurry supply method capable of maintaining the temperature of the slurry uniformly to be stabilized and accordingly, improving the quality of electrode coating.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slurry supply device including a slurry tank for storing slurry; a temperature controller for supplying hot or cold water to the slurry tank to control the temperature of the slurry; and a double pipe for supplying the slurry to the slurry tank while being connected to the slurry tank and for allowing hot or cold water to move to control the temperature of the slurry.

Also, the double pipe may include an inner pipe disposed inside through which the slurry flows; and an outer pipe disposed outside the inner pipe to surround the inner pipe and provided to allow the hot or cold water to flow.

In addition, the hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller to the slurry tank may pass through the slurry tank and may flow back into the temperature controller through the outer pipe of the double pipe connected to the slurry tank.

Also, the slurry inside the slurry tank and the slurry remaining in the double pipe may be controlled to have a temperature within a preset range by hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller.

In addition, the slurry tank may be provided in two, wherein the first slurry tank may be connected to the first temperature controller and the first double pipe to be controlled so that the temperature of the slurry is within a preset range, and the second slurry tank may be connected to the second temperature controller and the second double pipe, may be connected to the first slurry tank to receive slurry from the first slurry tank, and may be controlled so that the slurry supplied from the first slurry tank has a preset temperature.

Also, the slurry tank may be connected to a third double pipe, and the slurry tank may supply the slurry to the slot die coater through the third double pipe.

In addition, the slurry supply device further includes a double pipe temperature controller connected to the double pipe; a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the slurry remaining in the double pipe and the temperature of the slurry stored in the slurry tank, respectively; and a control unit for controlling the temperature controller or the double pipe temperature controller so that the temperature of the slurry remaining in the double pipe and the temperature of the slurry stored in the slurry tank have a preset range according to the measured value of the temperature sensor.

Also, the temperature controller may be provided to supply hot or cold water to the slurry tank, and the double pipe temperature controller may be provided to supply hot or cold water to the double pipe.

Meanwhile, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slurry supply method including a step of supplying hot or cold water to the slurry tank from the temperature controller to control the temperature of the slurry; a step in which hot or cold water supplied to the slurry tank moves to the double pipe connected to the slurry tank; and a step in which hot or cold water moved to the double pipe flows into the temperature controller.

Also, the slurry supply method includes a step in which the slurry inside the slurry tank and the slurry remaining in the double pipe are controlled to have a temperature within a preset range by the hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller, wherein the method is implemented using the device according to the invention.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, while hot or cold water moves to a double pipe to which the slurry is supplied, the temperature of the slurry is maintained uniformly and stabilized, resulting in the effect of improving the quality of electrode coating.

Therefore, the description proposed herein is just a preferable example for the purpose of illustrations only, not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, so it should be understood that other equivalents and modifications could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In the drawings, the size of each component or a specific portion constituting the component is exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated for convenience and clarity of description. Therefore, the size of each component does not fully reflect the actual size. If it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure, such a description will be omitted.

As used herein, the term 'coupling' or 'connection' refers to not only a case where one member and another member are directly coupled or directly connected, but also a case where one member is indirectly coupled or indirectly connected to another member through a joint member.

<FIG> is schematic diagram of a slurry supply device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a view showing a double pipe in a slurry supply device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a solid arrow indicates a movement direction of slurry, and a dotted arrow indicates a movement direction of hot or cold water, which is also applicable to other drawings in the same way.

Referring to the drawings, the slurry supply device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a slurry tank <NUM>, a temperature controller <NUM>, and a double pipe <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the slurry tank <NUM> is provided to store slurry. That is, the slurry is stored in the slurry tank <NUM>. The slurry is a material applied on a current collector in order to manufacture an electrode of a secondary battery, and various materials such as an active material and a conductive material are mixed and prepared to be flowable.

The slurry tank <NUM> is connected to the double pipe <NUM> and receives the slurry through the double pipe <NUM>. That is, after the slurry is mixed, it is transferred to the slurry tank <NUM> through the double pipe <NUM>.

As described above, when the temperature of the slurry deviates from a preset range, thermal deformation of the slot die coater is caused to change the gap between the slot die coater and the coating roll.

In addition, accordingly, loading unevenness may be caused during coating of the slurry, which may result in electrode coating defects, and thus it is necessary to maintain the temperature of the slurry within a preset range.

Here, in order to maintain the temperature of the slurry within a preset range, the slurry tank <NUM> receives hot or cold water from the temperature controller <NUM>.

Although not shown in the drawings, the slurry tank <NUM> may have a double structure including a first tank and a second tank surrounding the first tank.

The slurry is stored in the first tank of the slurry tank <NUM>, hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller <NUM> may flow inside the second tank surrounding the first tank, and the temperature of the slurry may be maintained within a preset range by heat exchange between the hot or cold water flowing inside the second tank and the slurry.

The temperature controller <NUM> is provided to supply hot or cold water to the slurry tank <NUM> to control the temperature of the slurry.

As described above, when the slurry tank <NUM> is formed in a dual structure having the first tank and the second tank surrounding the first tank, the temperature controller <NUM> is connected to the second tank to send hot or cold water to the second tank. In addition, the temperature of the slurry may be controlled by heat exchange between hot or cold water and the slurry.

Here, the fluid supplied from the temperature controller <NUM> to the slurry tank <NUM> is not limited to hot or cold water and may be various, but hereinafter, for convenience of description, the case where the fluid is hot or cold water will be mainly described.

In addition, the temperature of hot or cold water may be experimentally determined according to various conditions such as the size of the slurry tank <NUM>, the material and size of the slot die coater, and the like.

The double pipe <NUM> is connected to the slurry tank <NUM> to supply slurry to the slurry tank <NUM>, and is also provided to allow hot or cold water to move to control the temperature of the slurry.

Referring to <FIG>, the double pipe <NUM> may be configured to include an inner pipe <NUM> and an outer pipe <NUM>. The inner pipe <NUM> is disposed inside and provided so that the slurry flows. For example, after the slurry is mixed in an external mixer, it is transferred to the slurry tank <NUM> through the inner pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM> and stored therein.

In addition, the outer pipe <NUM> is disposed outside the inner pipe <NUM> to surround the inner pipe <NUM> and provided so that hot or cold water flows. When hot or cold water flows through the outer pipe <NUM>, the hot or cold water contacts the inner pipe <NUM>, and thus heat is exchanged with the slurry flowing through the inner pipe <NUM> by heat conduction, thereby controlling the temperature of the slurry to be maintained within a preset range.

Here, the hot or cold water flowing along the outer pipe <NUM> may be the same hot or cold water as the hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller <NUM>, or the hot or cold water supplied from a separate device other than the temperature controller <NUM>.

In the first embodiment and the second embodiment to be described later, the hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller <NUM> is provided to flow along the outer pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM>. That is, the hot or cold water flowing along the slurry tank <NUM> and the hot or cold water flowing along the outer pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM> have the same supply source.

Also, in the third and fourth embodiments to be described later, the hot or cold water supplied from the double pipe temperature controller <NUM> provided separately from the temperature controller <NUM> is provided to flow along the outer pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM>. That is, the hot or cold water flowing along the slurry tank <NUM> and the hot or cold water flowing along the outer pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM> do not have the same supply source.

Meanwhile, the structure of each double pipe <NUM> of the second to fourth embodiments is common to the structure of the double pipe <NUM> of the first embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller <NUM> to the slurry tank <NUM> may be provided to pass through the slurry tank <NUM> and flow back into the temperature controller <NUM> through the outer pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM> connected to the slurry tank <NUM>.

That is, the hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller <NUM> flows into the second tank of the slurry tank <NUM> to maintain the temperature of the slurry within a preset range, and then moves to the outer pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM> to maintain the temperature of the slurry remaining in the inner pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM> within a preset range.

Here, since the hot or cold water for controlling the temperature of the slurry stored in the slurry tank <NUM> and the hot or cold water for controlling the temperature of the slurry remaining in the inner pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM> are the same, the temperature of the slurry stored in the slurry tank <NUM> and the temperature of the slurry remaining in the inner pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM> may be controlled to be the same or similar.

Of course, the hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller <NUM> flows into the second tank of the slurry tank <NUM> and the temperature of the hot or cold water may change in the process of heat exchange with the slurry stored in the slurry tank <NUM>. However, if the difference between the temperatures of the hot or cold water supplied from the first temperature controller <NUM> and the slurry stored in the slurry tank <NUM> is not large, heat loss will not be large, and thus through such adjustment, the temperature of the slurry stored in the slurry tank <NUM> and the temperature of the slurry remaining in the inner pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM> may be controlled to be the same or similar.

That is, by the hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller <NUM>, the slurry inside the slurry tank <NUM> and the slurry remaining in the double pipe <NUM> may be controlled to have a temperature within a preset range, for example, the same temperature or not completely the same, but a similar temperature within the margin of error.

If the slurry inside the slurry tank <NUM> and the slurry remaining in the double pipe <NUM> have the same or similar temperature in this way, even if the slurry remaining in the double pipe <NUM> flows into the slurry tank <NUM> in the next transfer, the entire slurry temperature may be uniformly maintained, thereby preventing electrode coating defects.

Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the slurry supply device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

Referring to <FIG>, the hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller <NUM> to the slurry tank <NUM> flows into the slurry tank <NUM> to maintain the temperature of the slurry stored in the slurry tank <NUM> within a preset range.

In addition, the hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller <NUM> to the slurry tank <NUM> passes through the slurry tank <NUM> and flows into the outer pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM> to maintain the temperature of the slurry remaining in the inner pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM> within a preset range.

Here, since the hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller <NUM> controls the temperature of not only the slurry stored in the slurry tank <NUM> but also the slurry remaining in the inner pipe <NUM> of the double pipe <NUM>, there is an effect that the slurry inside the slurry tank <NUM> and the slurry remaining in the double pipe <NUM> are controlled to have the same or similar temperature.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a slurry supply device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. However, the description common to the part described in the above-described slurry supply device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is replaced with the above description.

Referring to <FIG>, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment of <FIG> where the slurry tank <NUM> is one in that two slurry tanks <NUM> are provided. However, the number of slurry tanks <NUM> is not limited to two, and more slurry tanks <NUM> may be provided if necessary.

The first slurry tank 100a is connected to the first temperature controller 200a and the first double pipe 300a to be controlled so that the temperature of the slurry is within a preset range.

The second slurry tank 100b is connected to the second temperature controller 200b and the second double pipe 300b, is connected to the first slurry tank 100a to receive slurry from the first slurry tank 100a, and is controlled so that the slurry supplied from the first slurry tank 100a has a preset temperature.

Here, the temperature control of the slurry by the first slurry tank 100a, the first temperature controller 200a and the first double pipe 300a, and the temperature control of the slurry by the second slurry tank 100b, the second temperature controller 200b and the double pipe 300b are common to that of the first embodiment.

As described above, when the slurry tank <NUM> is provided in plurality, there is an effect that the temperature of the slurry may be more precisely controlled. For example, after being controlled to have a temperature similar to the target temperature through the first slurry tank 100a, the first temperature controller 200a and the first double pipe 300a, it may be controlled to have the same temperature as the target temperature through the second slurry tank 100b, the second temperature controller 200b and the second double pipe 300b.

Referring to <FIG>, the second slurry tank 100b may be connected to the third double pipe 300c. The third double pipe 300c connects the second slurry tank 100b and the slot die coater. That is, the second slurry tank 100b may be provided to supply the slurry to the slot die coater through the third double pipe 300c.

Here, since the temperature of the slurry stored in the second slurry tank 100b is uniformly maintained by the third double pipe 300c and supplied to the slot die coater, there is an effect that thermal deformation of the slot die coater may be prevented.

Meanwhile, the third double pipe 300c connecting the slurry tank <NUM> and the slot die coater may be also applied in the first embodiment.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a slurry supply device according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. However, the description common to the part described in the slurry supply device according to the first or second embodiment of the present disclosure is replaced with the above description.

Referring to <FIG>, the double pipe temperature controller <NUM> is connected to the double pipe <NUM>, and the double pipe temperature controller <NUM> is provided to supply hot or cold water to the double pipe <NUM>. In addition, the temperature controller <NUM> is provided to supply hot or cold water to the slurry tank <NUM>.

That is, the hot or cold water for controlling the temperature of the slurry stored in the slurry tank <NUM> and the hot or cold water for controlling the temperature of the slurry remaining in the double pipe <NUM> are different from each other in supply source.

Here, a temperature sensor <NUM> is provided, and the temperature sensor <NUM> measures the temperature of the slurry remaining in the double pipe <NUM> and also measures the temperature of the slurry stored in the slurry tank <NUM>. The temperature sensor <NUM> for measuring the temperature of the slurry remaining in the double pipe <NUM> and the temperature sensor <NUM> for measuring the temperature of the slurry stored in the slurry tank <NUM> may be provided separately.

The control unit <NUM> controls the temperature controller or the double pipe temperature controller <NUM> so that the temperature of the slurry remaining in the double pipe <NUM> and the temperature of the slurry stored in the slurry tank <NUM> have a preset range according to the measured value of the temperature sensor <NUM>. Accordingly, the temperature of the slurry may be maintained uniformly and stabilized.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a slurry supply device according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. However, the description common to the part described in the slurry supply device according to the first to third embodiments of the present disclosure is replaced with the above description.

Referring to <FIG>, the fourth embodiment is different from the third embodiment of <FIG> where the slurry tank <NUM> is one in that two slurry tanks <NUM> are provided. However, the number of slurry tanks <NUM> is not limited to two, and more slurry tanks <NUM> may be provided if necessary.

The first slurry tank 100a is connected to the first temperature controller 200a, the first double pipe 300a and the first double pipe temperature controller 400a to be controlled so that the temperature of the slurry is within a preset range.

The second slurry tank 100b is connected to the second temperature controller 200b, the second double pipe 300b and the second double pipe temperature controller 400b, is connected to the first slurry tank 100a to receive the slurry from the first slurry tank 100a, and is controlled so that the slurry supplied from the first slurry tank 100a has a preset temperature.

As described above, when the slurry tank <NUM> is provided in plurality, there is an effect that the temperature of the slurry may be more precisely controlled. This is in common with the second embodiment described above.

Here, the temperature control of the slurry by the first slurry tank 100a, the first temperature controller 200a, the first double pipe 300a and the first double pipe temperature controller 400a, and the temperature control of the slurry by the second slurry tank 100b, the second temperature controller 200b, the second double pipe 300b and the second double pipe temperature controller 400b are common to that of the third embodiment.

Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the slurry supply method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the description common to the part described in the slurry supply device <NUM> according to each embodiment of the present disclosure described above is replaced with the above description.

In addition, among the contents described in the slurry supply method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the contents that may be applied to the slurry supply device <NUM> according to each embodiment of the present disclosure described above are also applied to the slurry supply device <NUM> according to each of the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure.

First, hot or cold water is supplied from the temperature controller <NUM> to the slurry tank <NUM> to control the temperature of the slurry. Here, slurry is stored in the slurry tank <NUM>.

Next, the hot or cold water supplied to the slurry tank <NUM> moves to the double pipe <NUM> connected to the slurry tank <NUM>.

Next, the hot or cold water moved to the double pipe <NUM> flows into the temperature controller <NUM> and circulates.

Accordingly, the slurry inside the slurry tank <NUM> and the slurry remaining in the double pipe <NUM> may be controlled to have a temperature within a preset range by the hot or cold water supplied from the temperature controller <NUM>.

While the present disclosure has been hereinabove described with regard to a limited number of embodiments and drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made thereto within the technical aspects of the present disclosure and the equivalent scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A slurry supply device (<NUM>) comprising:
a slurry tank (<NUM>) for storing slurry;
a temperature controller (<NUM>) for supplying hot or cold water to the slurry tank (<NUM>) to control the temperature of the slurry;
a double pipe (<NUM>) for supplying the slurry to the slurry tank (<NUM>) while being connected to the slurry tank (<NUM>) and for allowing hot or cold water to move to control the temperature of the slurry,
wherein the slurry device (<NUM>) further comprises:
a double pipe temperature controller (<NUM>) connected to the double pipe (<NUM>);
a temperature sensor (<NUM>) for measuring the temperature of the slurry remaining in the double pipe (<NUM>) and the temperature of the slurry stored in the slurry tank (<NUM>), respectively; and
a control unit (<NUM>) for controlling the temperature controller (<NUM>) or the double pipe temperature controller (<NUM>) so that the temperature of the slurry remaining in the double pipe (<NUM>) and the temperature of the slurry stored in the slurry tank (<NUM>) have a preset range according to the measured value of the temperature sensor (<NUM>).