KR20220073395A - Method and apparatus for producing electrolyte layer of solid oxide fuel cell based on roll-to-roll continuous process - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process, comprising the steps of performing a first calendering process on the electrolyte layer via an infeed, slot-die coater ( forming a thin film by providing ink on the electrolyte layer to perform calendering via a slot-die coater) Comprising the steps of calculating a quality index by sensing the side of the electrolyte layer performed, and performing a second calendaring process on the electrolyte layer performing the sintering by controlling the pressure of the outfeed based on the quality index.

Description

Method and apparatus for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process

The present invention relates to a technology for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process, and more particularly, to an electrolyte layer by performing a calendaring process in a process for forming an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process capable of improving the layer packing density.

A roll-to-roll continuous process for mass, high-speed production is one of the recent attention-grabbing processes. The roll-to-roll continuous process is a process for producing a functional film by using tension as a traction force based on a flexible film.

A coating method for forming a uniform thin film of a functional film is performed through gravure, blade, spray, slot-die coating, or the like. Here, in the case of the slot-die coating method, it is widely used because it is suitable for forming a thin film with high uniformity and can form a predictable thin film thickness by appropriately setting various process conditions.

On the other hand, a solid oxide fuel cell is a fuel cell using a solid oxide as an electrolyte, and operates at the highest temperature (700 ~ 1000°C) among existing fuel cells. The solid oxide fuel cell has a simpler structure than other fuel cells because each component is made of a solid, and there is no problem of electrolyte loss and replenishment and corrosion.

In the conventional manufacturing of the electrolyte layer of the solid oxide fuel cell, a calendaring process is additionally performed after the formation of the electrolyte layer to improve the packing density of the electrolyte layer. Therefore, there is an unavoidable problem of an increase in production cost because two steps are required to manufacture the electrolyte layer.

Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2014-0070761 (June 11, 2014) discloses a step of mixing an insoluble ceramic material and a soluble ceramic material to form a mixture, molding the mixture to form a compact, and first sintering the compact Forming a sintered body, coating an insoluble ceramic powder on the first sintered body to form a coating layer, secondary sintering the first sintered body on which the coating layer is formed to form a second sintered body, and a soluble ceramic material from the second sintered body It provides a method for manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell comprising the step of leaching and removing to form a porous layer.

Korean Patent No. 10-0194615 (February 10, 1999) relates to a method for manufacturing a polymer electrolyte membrane for a lithium polymer secondary battery and a method for manufacturing a lithium polymer secondary battery by calendering with an electrode, and a polymer electrolyte on a polymer support film Casting the slurry by tape roll casting, and passing the polymer support film on which the polymer electrolyte is cast through a dryer to solidify the polymer electrolyte to form a polymer electrolyte membrane, Separating the polymer support and the polymer electrolyte, calendering the polymer electrolyte and the positive electrode film separated in the above step to bond the polymer electrolyte and the positive electrode film, and calendering the negative electrode film to the assembly of the polymer electrolyte and the positive electrode film obtained from the above step and bonding to form a three-layer unit cell.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2014-0070761 (2014.06.11) Korean Patent No. 10-0194615 (199.02.10)

An embodiment of the present invention provides a roll-to-roll continuous process-based solid oxide fuel cell capable of improving the packing density of the electrolyte layer by performing a calendaring process on the process of forming the electrolyte layer of the solid oxide fuel cell An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for manufacturing an electrolyte layer.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the production cost of the solid oxide fuel cell is improved by simultaneously performing the process of generating the electrolyte layer through nipping of the infeed and the process of performing the calendering process to improve the packing density of the electrolyte layer. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process that can reduce

An embodiment of the present invention is a roll-to-roll continuous process-based solid that can increase the quality index of the electrolyte layer by sensing the quality (internal filling rate) of the electrolyte layer performing sintering and performing a calendering process on the electrolyte layer performing sintering An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of an oxide fuel cell.

Among the embodiments, the method for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process includes performing a first calendering process on the electrolyte layer via an infeed, slot-die coater (slot-die coater) Coater) to form a thin film by providing ink on the calendering-performing electrolyte layer, sintering the thin-film-forming electrolyte layer via a heating region, and performing the sintering through an electrolyte layer quality sensor. Calculating the quality index by sensing the side of the , and controlling the pressure of the outfeed based on the quality index to perform a second calendaring process with respect to the sintered electrolyte layer.

Performing the first calendering process may include simultaneously performing the process of generating the electrolyte layer by sequential lamination of the first and second electrolyte materials and the process of performing the first calendering process .

The performing of the first calendering process may include implementing the first calendering process by providing a specific pressure through nipping of the infeed.

The specific pressure is determined based on the thickness of each of the first and second electrolyte materials and may be utilized to improve the packing density of the electrolyte layer.

The forming of the thin film may include dynamically adjusting a nozzle gap of the slot-die coater based on the type of the second electrolyte material disposed on the upper part of the electrolyte layer.

The forming of the thin film may further include increasing a nozzle gap of the slot-die coater when the second electrolyte material is formed of a strong electrolyte material.

Sintering the thin film-forming electrolyte layer may include determining the temperature of the heating region based on the thickness of the thin film.

Calculating the quality index may include calculating the quality index by detecting the internal filling rate of the electrolyte layer through the electrolyte layer quality sensor.

The electrolyte layer quality detection sensor may be implemented through magnification based on an optical camera module.

In the step of performing the second calendering process, when the quality index exceeds a specific criterion, an outfeed having a relatively small diameter among a series of outfeeds is selected to improve the uniformity of the electrolyte layer for performing the sintering. may include increasing.

In the step of performing the second calendering process, when the quality index is below a specific standard, selecting an outfeed having a relatively large diameter from among a series of outfeeds to increase the interlocking pressure with respect to the electrolyte layer performing sintering It may include further steps.

In embodiments, the roll-to-roll continuous process-based electrolyte layer manufacturing apparatus of a solid oxide fuel cell provides an infeed for performing a first calendering process with respect to the electrolyte layer, and ink on the calendering-performing electrolyte layer. A slot-die coater for forming a thin film, a heating region for sintering the thin film-forming electrolyte layer, an electrolyte layer quality sensor for detecting a side surface of the electrolyte layer performing sintering to calculate a quality index, and the quality and an outfeed for performing a second calendering process with respect to the sintered electrolyte layer by controlling the pressure based on the index.

The disclosed technology may have the following effects. However, this does not mean that a specific embodiment should include all of the following effects or only the following effects, so the scope of the disclosed technology should not be understood as being limited thereby.

The method and apparatus for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process according to an embodiment of the present invention perform a calendaring process in a process of forming an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell to obtain electrolyte It is possible to improve the packing density of the layer.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process according to an embodiment of the present invention performs a process of generating an electrolyte layer through nipping of an infeed and a calendering process The production cost of the solid oxide fuel cell can be reduced by improving the filling density of the electrolyte layer by simultaneously performing the process.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process according to an embodiment of the present invention is a calendering process for an electrolyte layer performed sintering by sensing the quality (internal filling rate) of the electrolyte layer performing sintering By performing this, it is possible to increase the quality index of the electrolyte layer.

1 is a view for explaining an apparatus for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing the packing density before and after performing the calendering process of the electrolyte layer manufactured by the method for manufacturing the electrolyte layer of the solid oxide fuel cell based on the roll-to-roll continuous process according to an embodiment.

Since the description of the present invention is merely an embodiment for structural or functional description, the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the embodiment described in the text. That is, since the embodiment may have various changes and may have various forms, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention includes equivalents capable of realizing the technical idea. In addition, since the object or effect presented in the present invention does not mean that a specific embodiment should include all of them or only such effects, it should not be understood that the scope of the present invention is limited thereby.

On the other hand, the meaning of the terms described in the present application should be understood as follows.

Terms such as “first” and “second” are for distinguishing one component from another, and the scope of rights should not be limited by these terms. For example, a first component may be termed a second component, and similarly, a second component may also be termed a first component.

When a component is referred to as being “connected to” another component, it may be directly connected to the other component, but it should be understood that other components may exist in between. On the other hand, when it is mentioned that a certain element is "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that the other element does not exist in the middle. Meanwhile, other expressions describing the relationship between elements, that is, "between" and "between" or "neighboring to" and "directly adjacent to", etc., should be interpreted similarly.

The singular expression is to be understood as including the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, and terms such as "comprises" or "have" refer to the embodied feature, number, step, action, component, part or these It is intended to indicate that a combination exists, and it should be understood that it does not preclude the possibility of the existence or addition of one or more other features or numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

In each step, identification numbers (eg, a, b, c, etc.) are used for convenience of description, and identification numbers do not describe the order of each step, and each step clearly indicates a specific order in context. Unless otherwise specified, it may occur in a different order from the specified order. That is, each step may occur in the same order as specified, may be performed substantially simultaneously, or may be performed in the reverse order.

All terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs, unless otherwise defined. Terms defined in the dictionary should be interpreted as being consistent with the meaning of the context of the related art, and cannot be interpreted as having an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless explicitly defined in the present application.

1 is a view for explaining an apparatus for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , an apparatus 100 for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process includes an unwinder 110 and first and second dancers 120a and 120b. ), infeed 130, guide roll 140, slot-die coater 150, heating area 160, electrolyte layer quality sensor 170 , and roll-to-roll equipment such as an Outfeed 180 and a Rewinder 190 , and these are performed through a controller (not shown) in a continuous process.

The material film is supplied to the infeed 130 through the unwinder 110 . At this time, the tension of the material film supplied by the first dancer 120a may be constantly maintained.

The infeed 130 may perform a first calendering process with respect to the electrolyte layer. In one embodiment, the infeed 130 may simultaneously perform the process of generating an electrolyte layer by sequentially stacking the first and second electrolyte materials on the material film and the process of performing the first calendering process. Here, the first electrolyte material stacked on the lower layer may correspond to Gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) and the second electrolyte material stacked on the upper layer may correspond to Yttria-Stabilized zirconia (YSZ).

The infeed 130 may implement the first calendering process by providing a specific pressure to the electrolyte layer through nipping of the upper and lower rolls while generating the electrolyte layer on the material film passing therethrough. In one embodiment, the infeed 130 determines the engagement pressure according to the thickness of each of the first and second electrolyte materials in the process of sequentially stacking the first and second electrolyte materials to create an electrolyte layer to determine the electrolyte It is possible to improve the packing density of the layer. For example, a high pressure is provided to an electrolyte layer in which a thicker material of the first and second electrolyte materials is laminated, and a low pressure is provided in an electrolyte layer in which a thinner material of the first and second electrolyte materials is laminated.

The slot-die coater 150 may form a thin film by providing ink on the calendering-performing electrolyte layer transferred through the guide roll 140 . The slot-die coater 150 supplies ink between fine metal plates in the shape of a nozzle called a slot-die, and applies the ink to the electrolyte layer in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the slot-die (width direction) to a certain thickness. Apply to form a thin film. The performance of the slot-die coating is determined by the shape and size of the nozzle part from which the ink (coating liquid) is ejected. In one embodiment, the slot-die coater 150 may dynamically adjust the nozzle gap based on the type of the electrolyte material on the upper part of the electrolyte layer to improve the slot-die coating performance.

The heating region 160 is positioned at the rear end of the slot-die coater 150 to sinter the electrolyte layer on which the thin film is formed. The temperature of the heating region 160 may be determined according to the thickness of the thin film. Sintering refers to a process of applying sufficient temperature and pressure to make particles with a large specific surface area, such as powder, into a more dense mass. The heating region 160 performs drying and sintering of the electrolyte layer on which the thin film is formed.

The electrolyte layer quality detection sensor 170 detects the side of the electrolyte layer during sintering to calculate a quality index. The electrolyte layer quality detection sensor 170 can calculate a quality index through the detection of the filling rate inside the electrolyte layer by magnifying the side of the electrolyte layer, including the optical camera module.

The outfeed 180 may perform a second calendaring process with respect to the electrolyte layer performed sintering by controlling the pressure based on the quality index calculated by the electrolyte layer quality detection sensor 170 .

The rewinder 190 winds the film on which the electrolyte layer performing the second calendering is formed by a predetermined tension via the outfeed 180 . At this time, the tension may be constantly maintained by the second dancer 120b.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2 , in the roll-to-roll continuous process-based method for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell according to an embodiment, a first calendering process for the electrolyte layer is performed via an infeed 130 ( step S210). In one embodiment, performing the first calendering process may include simultaneously performing the process of generating an electrolyte layer by sequentially stacking the first and second electrolyte materials and the process of performing the first calendering process. can The performing the first calendering process may include implementing the first calendering process by providing a specific pressure through nipping of the infeed 130 . Here, the specific pressure is determined based on the thickness of each of the first and second electrolyte materials and may be utilized to improve the packing density of the electrolyte layer.

Then, a thin film is formed by providing ink on the calendering-performing electrolyte layer via a slot-die coater 150 (step S230). In one embodiment, the forming of the thin film may include dynamically adjusting the nozzle gap of the slot-die coater 150 based on the type of the second electrolyte material on the upper part of the electrolyte layer. Forming the thin film may further include increasing the nozzle gap of the slot-die coater 150 when the second electrolyte material is a strong electrolyte material.

Then, the thin film-forming electrolyte layer is sintered via the heating region 160 (step S250). In one embodiment, the step of sintering the thin film-forming electrolyte layer may include determining the temperature of the heating region 160 based on the thickness of the thin film.

Then, the quality index is calculated by detecting the side of the electrolyte layer to be sintered through the electrolyte layer quality detection sensor 170 (step S270). In one embodiment, calculating the quality index may include calculating the quality index by detecting the internal filling rate of the electrolyte layer through the electrolyte layer quality sensor 170. The electrolyte layer quality detection sensor 170 may be implemented through magnification based on an optical camera module. In the step of calculating the quality index, the internal filling rate of the electrolyte layer may be detected through an image analysis obtained by magnifying the side of the electrolyte layer performed sintering through the optical camera module, and this may be calculated as a quality index. Here, the quality index may be proportional to the internal filling factor.

Then, by controlling the pressure of the outfeed 180 based on the quality index, a second calendering process is performed on the sintered electrolyte layer (step S290). In one embodiment, the performing of the second calendering process may include selecting an outfeed having a relatively small diameter from among a series of outfeeds when the quality index exceeds a specific criterion to perform sintering uniformity with respect to the electrolyte layer may include the step of increasing The step of performing the second calendering process further includes the step of increasing the interlocking pressure with respect to the electrolyte layer performing sintering by selecting an outfeed having a relatively large diameter from among a series of outfeeds when the quality index is less than or equal to a specific standard. may include Here, the packing density of the electrolyte layer may be increased by increasing the interlocking pressure.

3 is a view showing the packing density before and after performing the calendering process of the electrolyte layer manufactured by the method for manufacturing the electrolyte layer of the solid oxide fuel cell based on the roll-to-roll continuous process according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, (A) shows the electrolyte layer of the solid oxide fuel cell before performing the calendering process, and (B) shows the electrolyte layer of the solid oxide fuel cell after performing the calendering process. Comparing (A) and (B) of FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the packing density of the electrolyte layer is improved by performing the calendering process.

In the roll-to-roll continuous process-based electrolyte layer manufacturing method of the solid oxide fuel cell according to an embodiment, the interlocking pressure is applied in the process of generating the electrolyte layer via the infeed 130 in the roll-to-roll continuous process. The calendering process can be simultaneously performed through the calendering process, and by performing the calendering process additionally according to the quality index based on the internal filling rate of the electrolyte layer in the process of passing through the outfeed 180 after sintering, the electrolyte layer of the solid oxide fuel cell It is possible to improve the packing density and increase the uniformity. Accordingly, the production cost of the solid oxide fuel cell can be reduced because the generation of the electrolyte layer and the improvement of the filling density of the solid oxide fuel cell are performed through a single process.

Although the above has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art can variously modify and change the present invention within the scope without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in the claims below. You will understand that it can be done.

100: Electrolyte layer manufacturing apparatus of solid oxide fuel cell based on roll-to-roll continuous process
110: unwinder 120a, 120b: dancer
130: infeed 140: guide roll
150: slot-die coater 160: heating area
170: electrolyte layer quality detection sensor 180: outfeed
190: rewinder

Claims (12)

performing a first calendering process on the electrolyte layer via the infeed;
forming a thin film by providing ink on the calendering-performing electrolyte layer via a slot-die coater;
sintering the thin film-forming electrolyte layer via a heating region;
Calculating a quality index by detecting the side of the electrolyte layer to be sintered through the electrolyte layer quality detection sensor; and
A method of manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process, comprising: performing a second calendering process on the sintered electrolyte layer by controlling the pressure of the outfeed based on the quality index.
The method of claim 1, wherein performing the first calendering process comprises:
Roll-to-roll continuous process-based solid comprising the step of simultaneously performing the process of generating the electrolyte layer by sequential lamination of the first and second electrolyte materials and the process of performing the first calendering process A method for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of an oxide fuel cell.
The method of claim 2, wherein performing the first calendering process comprises:
Method for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process, comprising the step of implementing the first calendering process by providing a specific pressure through nipping of the infeed .
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the specific pressure is
A method for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process, which is determined based on the thickness of each of the first and second electrolyte materials and is used to improve the packing density of the electrolyte layer.
The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the thin film comprises:
Roll-to-roll continuous process-based solid oxide fuel cell, characterized in that it includes the step of dynamically adjusting the nozzle gap of the slot-die coater based on the type of the second electrolyte material on the upper part of the electrolyte layer Method for manufacturing an electrolyte layer.
The method of claim 5, wherein the forming of the thin film comprises:
When the second electrolyte material is composed of a strong electrolyte material, the method further comprising increasing a nozzle gap of the slot-die coater.
According to claim 1, wherein the step of sintering the thin film-forming electrolyte layer
and determining the temperature of the heating region based on the thickness of the thin film.
The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the quality index comprises:
and calculating the quality index by detecting the internal filling rate of the electrolyte layer through the electrolyte layer quality sensor.
The method of claim 8, wherein the electrolyte layer quality detection sensor
A method for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process, characterized in that it is implemented through magnification based on an optical camera module.
The method of claim 1, wherein performing the second calendering process comprises:
If the quality index exceeds a specific criterion, selecting an outfeed having a relatively small diameter from among a series of outfeeds to increase the uniformity of the electrolyte layer for performing the sintering; -A method for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a two-roll continuous process.
The method of claim 10, wherein performing the second calendering process comprises:
When the quality index is less than or equal to a specific standard, selecting an outfeed having a relatively large diameter from among a series of outfeeds, further comprising the step of increasing the interlocking pressure with respect to the electrolyte layer performing sintering- A method for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a two-roll continuous process.
Infeed for performing a first calendering process with respect to the electrolyte layer;
a slot-die coater for forming a thin film by providing ink on the calendering-performing electrolyte layer;
a heating region for sintering the thin film-forming electrolyte layer;
an electrolyte layer quality sensor for calculating a quality index by sensing the side of the electrolyte layer performing the sintering; and
An apparatus for manufacturing an electrolyte layer of a solid oxide fuel cell based on a roll-to-roll continuous process, comprising an outfeed for performing a second calendering process on the sintered electrolyte layer by controlling the pressure based on the quality index.

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