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DE-102025114488-B3 - SYSTEM FOR ACCELERATING THE ELECTROLYTE FILLING OF BATTERY CELLS BY ELECTROLYTE VAPOR PRETREATMENT

DE102025114488B3DE 102025114488 B3DE102025114488 B3DE 102025114488B3DE-102025114488-B3

Abstract

A system for filling a battery cell with electrolyte comprises an electrolyte filling chamber configured to enclose a battery cell with an electrolyte filling port. A first heating element is configured to heat the electrolyte filling chamber to a predetermined temperature. A vacuum source is configured to maintain a vacuum in the electrolyte filling chamber. A vapor generator is configured to feed vapor from a liquid electrolyte and/or a liquid electrolyte co-solvent into the electrolyte filling chamber for a predetermined period. An electrolyte funnel is configured to fill the battery cell with the liquid electrolyte after the predetermined time. The predetermined temperature is greater than 40 °C and the vacuum is less than 1 bar. The vapor generator is located either inside or outside the electrolyte filling chamber.

Inventors

  • Xingcheng Xiao
  • Sean Coyle
  • Joel G. Toner
  • Daniel Gerardo Gonzalez
  • John P. Healy
  • Ruchira Dharmasena

Assignees

  • GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250413
Priority Date
20250303

Claims (10)

  1. System for filling a battery cell (10, 58, 212-1 - 212-B) with electrolyte, comprising: an electrolyte filling chamber (210) configured to enclose a battery cell (10, 58, 212-1 - 212-B) with an electrolyte filling opening (91); a first heating element (214) configured to heat the electrolyte filling chamber (210) to a predetermined temperature; a vacuum source (234) configured to control a vacuum in the electrolyte filling chamber (210); a steam generator (220) configured to feed steam from a liquid electrolyte (248) and/or a liquid electrolyte co-solvent into the electrolyte filling chamber (210) for a predetermined period; and a liquid electrolyte funnel (246) configured to fill the battery cell (10, 58, 212-1 - 212-B) with the liquid electrolyte (248) after the predetermined period.
  2. System according Claim 1 , where the predetermined temperature is higher than 40 °C and the vacuum is less than 1 bar.
  3. System according to Claim 1 , wherein the steam generator (220) is arranged outside the electrolyte filling chamber (210).
  4. System according to Claim 3 , wherein the steam generator (220) comprises a second heating element (228) to heat the liquid electrolyte (248) and/or the liquid electrolyte co-solvent to a temperature of more than 60 °C.
  5. System according to Claim 1 , wherein the steam generator (220) comprises a container (280) arranged within the electrolyte filling chamber (210) and comprising the liquid electrolyte (248) and/or the liquid electrolyte co-solvent.
  6. System according Claim 1 , wherein the battery cell (10, 58, 212-1 - 212-B) comprises a housing (60) selected from a group consisting of prismatic housings, cylindrical housings and pouch housings.
  7. System according Claim 1 , where the predetermined period is longer than 1 minute.
  8. System according Claim 1 , further comprising a positioning device (270) which is designed to position a nozzle (260-1 - 260B) of the liquid electrolyte funnel (246) in the electrolyte filling opening (91) during filling.
  9. System according to Claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the battery cells (10, 58, 212-1 - 212-B) are arranged in the electrolyte filling chamber (210).
  10. System according Claim 1 , wherein: the vapor is generated from the liquid electrolyte co-solvent, and the liquid electrolyte co-solvent is selected from a group consisting of dimethyl carbonate (DMC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), propylene carbonate (PC) and combinations thereof.

Description

INTRODUCTION The present disclosure relates to battery cells and in particular to systems and methods for adding electrolyte to battery cells. A device for impregnating a leaf-shaped electrode with electrolyte using a porous plunger is derived from the DE 10 2022 003 928 B3 known. Furthermore, in the DE 10 2022 114 793 A1 Designed for filling a battery cell with electrolyte, a container containing electrolyte is placed on a battery cell in such a way that an outlet opening formed on the container is fluidically connected to an opening of the battery cell, without the battery cell being enclosed by the container. Electric vehicles (EVs), such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrid vehicles, and/or fuel cell vehicles, comprise one or more electric motors and a battery system with one or more battery cells, modules, and/or packs. A power control system is used to control the charging and/or discharging process of the battery system during charging and/or driving. Battery cells comprise cathode electrodes, anode electrodes, and separators arranged within a battery cell casing. The cathode electrodes include a layer of active cathode material arranged on a cathode current collector. The anode electrodes include a layer of active anode material arranged on an anode current collector. After the cathode and anode electrodes, along with the separators, are arranged within the battery cell casing, the casing is enclosed, and liquid electrolyte is added through an electrolyte filling port. One of the aims of the invention is to make the manufacturing of a battery cell more efficient. SUMMARY This problem is solved by a system having the features of claim 1. A system according to the invention for filling a battery cell with electrolyte comprises an electrolyte filling chamber configured to enclose a battery cell with an electrolyte filling opening. A first heating element is configured to heat the electrolyte filling chamber to a predetermined temperature. A vacuum source is configured to control a vacuum in the electrolyte filling chamber. A vapor generator is configured to feed vapor from a liquid electrolyte and/or a liquid electrolyte co-solvent into the electrolyte filling chamber for a predetermined period. A liquid electrolyte funnel is configured to fill the battery cell with the liquid electrolyte after the predetermined time. Advantageous further training can be found in the dependent requirements, the following description and the attached drawings. In other cases, the predetermined temperature is greater than 40 °C and the vacuum less than 1 bar. The steam generator is located outside the electrolyte filling chamber. The steam generator includes a second heating element to heat the liquid electrolyte and/or the liquid electrolyte co-solvent to a temperature greater than 60 °C. The steam generator includes a container located within the electrolyte filling chamber, which contains the liquid electrolyte and/or the liquid electrolyte co-solvent. Other features include a battery cell housing selected from a group consisting of prismatic housings, cylindrical housings, and pouch housings. The predetermined period is longer than 1 minute. A positioning device is designed to align a nozzle of a liquid electrolyte funnel in the electrolyte filling port during filling. In other respects, a large number of battery cells are arranged within the electrolyte filling chamber. The vapor is generated from the liquid electrolyte co-solvent. The liquid electrolyte co-solvent is selected from a group consisting of dimethyl carbonate (DMC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), propylene carbonate (PC), and combinations thereof. A method for filling a battery cell comprises heating an electrolyte filling chamber to a predetermined temperature, arranging a battery cell with an electrolyte filling port in the chamber, creating a vacuum in the chamber, generating a vapor from a liquid electrolyte and/or a liquid electrolyte co-solvent, supplying the vapor to the chamber for a predetermined period, and filling the battery cell with the liquid electrolyte after the predetermined period. For other characteristics, the predetermined temperature is greater than 40 °C and the vacuum less than 1 bar. The process includes the production The vapor is generated by a steam generator located outside the electrolyte filling chamber. The steam generator heats the liquid electrolyte and/or the liquid electrolyte co-solvent to a temperature above 60 °C. The method comprises generating the vapor by arranging a container containing the liquid electrolyte and/or the liquid electrolyte co-solvent in the electrolyte filling chamber. The battery cell comprises a casing selected from a group consisting of prismatic casings, cylindrical casings, and pouch casings. For other characteristics, the predetermined period is longer than 1 minute. Filling the battery cell with the liquid electrolyte involves lowering a nozzle of an electro