Battery production powers up

Prof. Martin Winter and Dr. Gerhard Hörpel are in charge of building up the center that focuses on: - New electrode materials with higher capacity - New electrolyte materials - New productions processes The research centre is being built up in cooperation with more than 30 external industrial partners, representing the entire value chain from the raw materials supplier to the end user. The MEET Arcades are home to the heart of the 1,000 m2 big research centre – the battery laboratory, that includes the following modules: - synthesis of active materials, - production of electrodes and cells, - cell testing, safety and electrical measurement technology. The centre is expected to become one of Europe’s top research institutes for electrochemical energy storage devices. Lithium-based batteries have a special potential because they are flexible and variable when used for energy storage. Today they are already the dominant energy storage system for small mobile devices and their superior energy and power density show great potential for use in large systems like eg. cars. Up to now the performance of lithium-ion batteries has not been sufficient for use in large systems. The focus at MEET is the development and characterization of materials for lithium batteries as well as new production processes for lithium-ion batteries with higher performance, improved safety and lifetime.

Research of great importance

The center is expected to become one of Europe’s top research institutes for electrochemical energy storage devices. Lithium-based batteries have a special potential because they are flexible and variable when used for energy storage. Today they are already the dominant energy storage system for small mobile devices and their superior energy and power density show great potential for use in large systems like cars. Up until now lithium-ion battery performance has not been sufficient for use in large systems. The focus at MEET is the development and characterization of materials for lithium batteries as well as new production processes for lithium-ion batteries with better performance, improved safety and lifetime. Extreme production climate demands Industrial Lithium battery manufacturing takes place in settings of all sizes, from small laboratory environments to full mass production dry rooms. These high energy batteries must be produced in less than 1% humidity environments because lithium reacts with water vapor to form lithium hydroxide, hydrogen and heat. Exposure to moisture levels greater than 1% results in poorer battery quality, performance and shelf life. The University already knew of Munters when the MEET center was established, since one of our high efficiency desiccant air treatment systems had been in use for some time in a smaller battery research dry room, supplying dry air at very low dewpoint.

Turn-key supply shortened installation time

This Munters MDU system is specially designed to control moisture levels at -43°C dew point with 12 persons working in the room. The MDU system supplies an air flow of 30,000 m3/h, creating an air-exchange rate at 95 1/h. (Exhaust air 1,200 m3/h). The supply air is distributed into the dry room via a ceiling of perforated sheets to achieve laminar flow conditions. The return air intakes are integrated in the wall panels 0,5 m above the floor. The desiccant wheel is individually designed with a unique low dew point purge sector for heat recovery and a special cooling sector ensuring an efficient dehumidification performance at a very low energy consumption. This closed loop reduces the moisture load as no outside air will be required for cooling down the rotor material. Hereby the energy consumption is reduced considerably and the life time of rotor and sealings is prolonged. A special team at Munters is designing low dew point solutions for lithium battery manufacturers, providing individual solutions for the demanding processes. Thanks to many years of experience and the continuous development of rotor materials, purge sectors and energy efficient components, Munters is able to supply systems meeting the strongest demands from battery manufacturers all over the world.