Lithium Ion Battery Production

The worldwide market for lithium batteries has grown exponentially over the last few years. This demand will continue to increase as more and more countries throughout the world move towards zero carbon economies and push forward with new technologies for electric vehicles.

Lithium batteries can be categorized as, lithium ion cell, Lithium metal cell, lithium metal polymer cell and lithium ion polymer cell types. Lithium compounds are highly hygroscopic and will react with the moisture in the air, producing Hydrogen, Lithium Hydroxide, and heat. This will adversely affect the quality, performance, and durability of a lithium battery. It is therefore vitally important that the manufacturing takes place in controlled, ultra-low humidity environments (-40 to -60°C dew point).

Because of the greater demand placed on manufacturing, the small-scale production laboratories normally used are now being scaled up to large production facilities with multiple lithium battery manufacturing lines.

This brings with it a series of humidity control challenges for the battery manufacturers.

• Supplying dry air continuously at -60°C dewpoint.
• Controlling room conditions against airlock use and materials movement.
• Maintaining room conditions against fluctuating ambient conditions.
• Maintaining room conditions against changing machinery heat loads.
• Ensuring fresh air quantities to maintain a positive pressure in the clean rooms.
• Minimising energy consumption.

In order to address these challenges which are specific to the Lithium battery industry, Fisair has developed the DFLOW range of ultra-low dew point, dual rotor, desiccant dehumidification systems.

Fisair have developed an innovative dual heat recovery system for the DFLOW range. This lowers energy usage and maximises drying capacity while still maintaining the ability to introduce fresh air into the dry rooms for pressurisation. A single rotor system can also be utilised for these units if required.

The DFLOW systems for low dew point control are designed and built to an individual customer requirement. The DFLOW systems can utilise Gas, Steam or Electric Heaters for reactivation of the desiccant rotor. A typical DFLOW unit would incorporate pre and post heating/cooling and final filtration up to H14 standards. Each unit can be supplied with a controls package including touch screen HMI and a full range of BMS connectivity, this can include remote access via the internet or 3G network if required.

Fisair is dedicated to working in collaboration with companies, their consultants and engineering teams to design the best possible solution for your dry room projects. We understand the necessity for very specific humidity requirements and our team of international engineers, designers and experts will work with you to create the optimum bespoke solution.

Fisair will support you from concept to commissioning and beyond to achieve the best possible solution for a successful project.

Example of a Fisair ultra-low dew point, dual rotor DFLOW system installed in the most advanced Lithium Battery research facility in the UK.