PHS(Powder Handling system)
What is PHS (Powder Handling System)?
The Powder Handling System (PHS) is an essential powder supply device for mixing operations that transports powder materials quickly and accurately without compromising precision. As the secondary battery industry transitions to mass production, all equipment has been developed to meet the needs of this production system. The PHS was designed to transport larger quantities of material in a shorter time compared to conventional systems.
Previously, powdered materials were quantitatively transferred in small volumes by controlling the vacuum within a hopper and transfer piping. However, this method had the drawback of being unable to transfer large volumes of powder quickly. With the PHS, it has become possible to transfer large quantities of powder rapidly. This system was developed using proprietary technology to design a powder transfer and metering system based on spatial design techniques, enhancing the efficiency of building layouts and on-site equipment placement.
Previously, powdered materials were quantitatively transferred in small volumes by controlling the vacuum within a hopper and transfer piping. However, this method had the drawback of being unable to transfer large volumes of powder quickly. With the PHS, it has become possible to transfer large quantities of powder rapidly. This system was developed using proprietary technology to design a powder transfer and metering system based on spatial design techniques, enhancing the efficiency of building layouts and on-site equipment placement.
Secondary Battery Manufacturing Process
Generally, secondary batteries undergo various manufacturing stages, including electrode processes, assembly processes, activation processes, and pack processes, totaling four main stages. Among these, the electrode process is the key stage for creating the positive and negative electrodes. The first stage of the electrode process is the mixing process (Mixing). As the name suggests, the mixing process involves measuring and blending various raw materials necessary for producing the positive and negative electrodes. The mixing process is further divided into the following steps
Powder Supply
Binder, conductive materials, and active materials are supplied to each weighing hopper.
Pre-Mixing
The mixing process is carried out through step-by-step mixers and dispersion solvents.
Main Mixing
Through the blending of each material, the slurry is formed.
Slurry Storage and Transfer
The produced slurry is stored in a storage tank and then transferred for use in the subsequent coating process.
The mixing process involves using the PHS (Powder Handling System), a powder transfer and metering system developed with proprietary technology, to mix binders, conductive materials, and solvents. Specialized mixers then convert the mixture into a slurry form. The mixing process is broadly divided into two main steps
① Using a binder mixer, the binder powder is dissolved in a solvent to produce a binder solution.
② The prepared binder solution, conductive material powder, and active material powder are quantitatively measured and added to the main mixer, where they are mixed to produce the slurry.
② The prepared binder solution, conductive material powder, and active material powder are quantitatively measured and added to the main mixer, where they are mixed to produce the slurry.
In the mixing process, precise blending of various mixed materials, uniform slurry composition, and impurity management are crucial. The focus of mixing equipment technology development is on increasing the mixing capacity per hour. At the powder supply stage, the PHS (Powder Handling System) plays a special role.
Operating Principle of PHS (Powder Handling System)
The PHS (Powder Handling System) operates based on the following principles
PHS 이송
PHS에 설정된 양의 powder를 진공상태로
90% 가량 이송 후, 밸브로 소용량 이송하여
정량을 맞춥니다.
기기 전달 이송
정량 계량 후, out 밸브를 열어 진공을 깬 후,
PHS 호퍼를 통해 Discharge 호퍼로 이송합니다.
PHS 호퍼를 통해 Discharge 호퍼로 이송합니다.
저장 및 계량
분말은 저장소에 보관된 후 계량 시스템을
통해 정확한 양을 측정합니다.
통해 정확한 양을 측정합니다.
혼합
계량된 분말은 혼합 시스템으로 이동하여
균일한 비율로 혼합됩니다.
균일한 비율로 혼합됩니다.
PHS의 장점
PHS(Powder Handling system)는 여러가지 장점을 제공합니다.
구체적인 장점은 다음과 같습니다.
구체적인 장점은 다음과 같습니다.
PHS(Powder Handling system)는 빠르고 정확한 분체 이송을 통해
생산성을 향상시킵니다.
진공 이송을 통해 보다 정확한 정량을 유지합니다.
단시간에 많은 양을 이송하기에 용이합니다. 일례로 양극 소재의 경우 1000kg/4.5H ~ 200kg/1min, 음극 소재의 경우 1000kg/4.5H ~ 100kg/1min 수준의 처리가 가능합니다.
진공으로 분체를 이송하기 때문에 이물 발생이 현저하게 적습니다.
내부압력을 측정하여 Filter의 막힘을 감지하여 이상압력에 대해 미리 확인할
수 있도록 설정되어 있습니다.
양극 및 음극 활물질 이송에 사용됩니다.
PHS 기술은 효율성과 안전성을 지속적으로 개선하고 있습니다. 예를 들어, 건식 공정(Dry Electrode Process) 진행 중 용매를 사용하지 않는데 이로 인해 친환경적이면서 동시에 생산 효율을 높일 수 있습니다. 이 공정은 전극의 건조 과정을 생략할 수 있는 특징으로 인해 습식 공정에 비해 높은 로딩의 후막 전극을 쉽게 형성할 수 있습니다.
본 PHS(Powder Handling system) 시스템은 2차전지 전극공정의 믹싱과정 중 다양한 원재료의 혼합을 위해 설정된 양의 Powder를 정량혼합 및 이송하는 메인장비로 교반 중에 이물이 유입되지 않도록 하는 것이 핵심기술입니다. 보다 나은 기술개발로 한단계 더 진일보한 PHS 시스템 구축이 기대되고 있습니다.
본 PHS(Powder Handling system) 시스템은 2차전지 전극공정의 믹싱과정 중 다양한 원재료의 혼합을 위해 설정된 양의 Powder를 정량혼합 및 이송하는 메인장비로 교반 중에 이물이 유입되지 않도록 하는 것이 핵심기술입니다. 보다 나은 기술개발로 한단계 더 진일보한 PHS 시스템 구축이 기대되고 있습니다.
