FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)
“GAS ANALYSIS DEVICE”
LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD., Tower1, 108, Yeoui-
daero, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07335, Republic of Korea
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is
to be performed.
2
Description
Title of Invention: GAS ANALYSIS DEVICE
Technical Field
[1] The present application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean patent
application No. 10-2021-0150545 filed on November 4, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is5
incorporated herein by reference.
[2] The present disclosure relates to a gas analysis apparatus, and relates to a gas
analysis apparatus capable of real-time analysis of a secondary battery generated gas generated
in a secondary battery with high resolution.
10
Background Art
[3] In general, a secondary battery is a battery that can be used repeatedly through a
process of discharging and charging in the reverse direction of converting chemical energy into
electrical energy, and the types of the secondary battery include a nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd)
battery, a nickel-hydrogen (Ni-MH) battery, a lithium-metal battery, a lithium-ion (Li-ion)15
battery and a lithium-ion polymer battery, etc. Among these secondary batteries, lithium
secondary batteries with high energy density and voltage, long cycle life, and low self-
discharge rate have been commercialized and widely used.
[4] Depending on the reaction inside the lithium secondary battery, various types of
gases, such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, CnH2n-2 (n=2~5),20
CnH2n (n=2~5), CnH2n+2 (n=1~5) hydrocarbons and other organic gases, may be generated as
secondary battery generated gases.
[5] In addition, the lithium secondary battery degrades while generating a large amount
of secondary battery generated gas due to electrolyte decomposition according to the repeated
charge and discharge progress, and this aspect appears differently depending on the design and25
3
use form of the battery. Therefore, it is essential to infer the degradation mechanism of a
battery by analyzing the secondary battery generated gas during the battery development
process.
[6] Therefore, it is very important to accurately analyze the secondary battery
generated gas. Specifically, information on the composition and content of the secondary5
battery generated gas is useful in the development of battery materials, optimization of battery
manufacturing processes, and identification of causes of battery failures. For this, it is
important to develop technology to analyze secondary battery generated gases.
[7] Analysis of the secondary battery generated gas can be performed by transferring
the gas generated in the secondary battery to a gas detector such as GC-MS (Gas10
Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry), GC-TCD (Gas Chromatography-Thermal Conductivity
Detector), GC-FID (Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector), etc.
[8] For example, GC-MS may use a column including a stationary phase to separate
and inject each gas species with a time difference into a detector, in the operation of a mass
spectrometer (MS) as a detector, in order to solve that each compound is decomposed and the15
molecular weight and mass value of the compound do not match, and the characteristic mass
value overlaps in the case of some gas species.
[9] Therefore, in analyzing the secondary battery generated gas generated in the
secondary battery in real time, the time resolution of the measurement data was determined by
the time required for separation and analysis of the gas in the gas detector. In general, the time20
required for separation and analysis of gas in a gas detector was several minutes to several tens
of minutes, limiting high-resolution analysis.
Disclosure of the Invention
Technical Goals25
4
[10] The present disclosure relates to a gas analysis apparatus, and relates to a gas
analysis apparatus capable of real-time analysis of a secondary battery generated gas generated
in a secondary battery with high resolution.
[11] The technical problems to be achieved by the present disclosure are not limited to
the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be5
clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.
Technical Solutions
[12] A gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure may include:
[13] a diffusion chamber unit provided with a gas diffusion space in which a secondary10
battery is housed;
[14] a plurality of gas analysis units for receiving and analyzing a secondary battery
generated gas generated by the secondary battery from the gas diffusion space of the diffusion
chamber unit;
[15] a gas discharge pipe connected to the diffusion chamber unit to discharge the15
secondary battery generated gas in the gas diffusion space;
[16] a plurality of gas injection pipes each provided to the corresponding one of the
plurality of gas analysis units, respectively;
[17] an injector unit for selectively connecting the gas discharge pipe with one of the
plurality of gas injection pipes to inject the secondary battery generated gas in the gas diffusion20
space into one of the plurality of gas analysis units;
[18] a carrier gas supply unit for supplying a carrier gas to the gas diffusion space; and
[19] a control unit for controlling the injector unit.
Advantageous Effects25
5
[20] A gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure is capable of high-resolution
analysis over time in analyzing the secondary battery generated gas in real time, and the
behavior of the secondary battery according to changes in experimental conditions such as
temperature condition and charging/discharging behavior conditions may be precisely
analyzed.5
[21] The gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure is capable of real-time and
high-resolution analysis of the variable secondary battery driving environment and conditions,
and may enable development of battery materials, optimization of battery manufacturing
processes, and identification of the cause of battery failure by simulating the actual secondary
battery driving conditions.10
Brief Description of Drawings
[22] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a gas analysis apparatus of the present
disclosure.
[23] FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating a time resolution for analysis in a gas analysis15
apparatus of the present disclosure.
[24] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a flow of gas in a diffusion chamber
unit.
[25] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an injector unit.
[26] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a gas analysis unit.20
[27] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of a gas analysis unit.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[28] A gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure may include:
6
[29] a diffusion chamber unit provided with a gas diffusion space in which a secondary
battery is housed;
[30] a plurality of gas analysis units for receiving and analyzing a secondary battery
generated gas generated by the secondary battery from the gas diffusion space of the diffusion
chamber unit;5
[31] a gas discharge pipe connected to the diffusion chamber unit to discharge the
secondary battery generated gas in the gas diffusion space;
[32] a plurality of gas injection pipes each provided to the corresponding one of the
plurality of gas analysis units, respectively;
[33] an injector unit for selectively connecting the gas discharge pipe with one of the10
plurality of gas injection pipes to inject the secondary battery generated gas in the gas diffusion
space into one of the plurality of gas analysis units;
[34] a carrier gas supply unit for supplying a carrier gas to the gas diffusion space; and
[35] a control unit for controlling the injector unit.
[36] In the gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure, a mass flow controller15
(MFC) may be provided in a carrier gas supply flow path connecting the carrier gas supply unit
and the diffusion chamber unit.
[37] In the gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure, the diffusion chamber unit
may include an inlet through which the carrier gas is injected into the gas diffusion space, and
an outlet from which the secondary battery generated gas in the gas diffusion space is20
discharged, wherein an exit of the inlet and an entrance of the outlet may be located on two
inner walls facing each other, respectively, among inner walls of the diffusion chamber unit
forming the gas diffusion space.
[38] In the gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure, the diffusion chamber unit
may be provided with a carrier gas dispersion space to which the carrier gas supply flow path25
7
is connected, the inlet may be provided in plurality, and entrances of the plurality of inlets may
be connected to the carrier gas dispersion space.
[39] In the gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure, the secondary battery may
be disposed between exits of the plurality of inlets and the entrance of the outlet, and the exit
of the plurality of inlets may face one side of the secondary battery.5
[40] In the gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure, the injector unit may be a
multi position valve.
[41] In the gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure, the control unit may receive
analysis unit state information from each of the plurality of gas analysis units, and the control
unit may control the injector unit based on the analysis unit state information.10
[42] In the gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure, the control unit may include
a timer, and the control unit may control the injector unit at a predetermined time period.
[43] The gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a
plurality of gas sampling units each provided in each of the plurality of gas injection pipes to
quantify an amount of the secondary battery generated gas injected into each of the plurality of15
gas analysis units.
[44] In the gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure, the diffusion chamber unit
may be provided with a temperature sensor or a pressure sensor, and the control unit may
control the injector unit based on a measured value of the temperature sensor or a measured
value of the pressure sensor.20
[45] In the gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of gas
sampling units may be provided with a gas sampling space for quantifying the amount of the
secondary battery generated gas, a volume of the gas sampling space may be formed differently
for each of the plurality of gas sampling units, and the control unit may select the gas injection
pipe connected to the gas discharge pipe in consideration of the measured value of the25
8
temperature sensor, the measured value of the pressure sensor, and the volume of the gas
sampling space.
[46] In the gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure, each of the plurality of gas
analysis units may be provided with at least two types of columns for decomposing the
secondary battery generated gas.5
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[47] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments
according to the present disclosure will be described in detail. In this process, the size or shape
of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of
description. In addition, in consideration of the configuration and operation of the present10
disclosure, specially defined terms may vary depending on the intentions or practices of users
and operators. Definitions of these terms should be based on the content throughout this
specification.
[48] In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that orientation or
positional relationship indicated by the terms "center", "top", "bottom", "left", "right",15
"vertical", "horizontal", "inside", "outside", "one side", "other side", etc, are based on the
orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, or the orientation or positional
relationship that is usually placed when using the product of the present disclosure, and are
intended only for explanation and brief description of the present disclosure, and are not to be
construed as limiting the present disclosure as they do not suggest or imply that the device or20
element shown must necessarily be configured or operated in a specific orientation.
[49] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a gas analysis apparatus of the present
disclosure. FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating a time resolution for analysis in a gas analysis
apparatus of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a flow of gas
in a diffusion chamber unit 300. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an injector unit25
9
600. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a gas analysis unit 700. FIG. 6 is a block diagram
illustrating another embodiment of a gas analysis unit 700.
[50] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, the gas analysis apparatus of the
present disclosure will be described in detail.
[51] The gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure may be capable of high-5
resolution analysis over time in analyzing the secondary battery generated gas in real time, and
behaviors of a secondary battery 11 according to changes in experimental conditions such as
temperature condition and charging/discharging behavior condition may be precisely analyzed.
[52] As shown in FIG. 1, the gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure may
include:10
[53] the diffusion chamber unit 300 provided with a gas diffusion space 310 in which
a secondary battery 11 is housed;
[54] a plurality of gas analysis units 700 for receiving and analyzing a secondary
battery generated gas generated by the secondary battery 11 from the gas diffusion space 310
of the diffusion chamber unit 300;15
[55] a gas discharge pipe 400 connected to the diffusion chamber unit 300 to discharge
the secondary battery generated gas in the gas diffusion space 310;
[56] a plurality of gas injection pipes 500 each provided to the corresponding one of
the plurality of gas analysis units 700, respectively;
[57] the injector unit 600 for selectively connecting the gas discharge pipe 400 with20
one of the plurality of gas injection pipes 500 to inject the secondary battery generated gas in
the gas diffusion space 310 into one of the plurality of gas analysis units 700;
[58] a carrier gas supply unit 100 for supplying a carrier gas to the gas diffusion space
310; and
[59] a control unit 800 for controlling the injector unit 600.25
10
[60] To analyze the secondary battery generated gas generated by the secondary
battery 11 in real time, the secondary battery generated gas in the diffusion chamber unit 300
is delivered to the gas analysis unit 700 every specific time period under continuous conditions
or environments over a long time.
[61] In FIG. 2, graph A represents a time axis, and graph B shows gas analysis results5
output from a plurality of gas analysis units 700. As shown in FIG. 2, the time period Ta for
high resolution analysis of the behavior of the secondary battery 11 over time is generally
shorter than the time Tb required for one analysis in one gas analysis unit 700. The gas analysis
apparatus of the present disclosure may provide a plurality of gas analysis units 700 to analyze
the continuous situation of the secondary battery 11 in a short period of time.10
[62] The carrier gas supply unit 100 may supply the carrier gas for transporting the
secondary battery generated gas located in the gas diffusion space 310 of the diffusion chamber
unit 300 to the gas analysis unit 700. The carrier gas may be an inert gas such as helium or the
like. The carrier gas supply unit 100 may be a cylinder, a bomb, a gas tank, and the like in
which the carrier gas is stored.15
[63] The carrier gas supply unit 100 and the diffusion chamber unit 300 may be
connected to a carrier gas supply flow path 200. The carrier gas supply flow path 200 may be
a pipe or tube through which gas can flow. The carrier gas supplied from the carrier gas supply
unit 100 via the carrier gas supply flow path 200 may be supplied to the gas diffusion space
310 of the diffusion chamber unit 300.20
[64] A mass flow controller (MFC) 210 may be provided in the carrier gas supply flow
path 200 connecting the carrier gas supply unit 100 and the diffusion chamber unit 300. The
form of gas delivered from the diffusion chamber unit 300 to the gas analysis unit 700 may be
a gas in which a carrier gas and a secondary battery generated gas are mixed. Therefore, it is
necessary to know the exact amount of carrier gas injected into the gas diffusion space 310 to25
11
calculate the amount of secondary battery generated gas generated by the secondary battery 11
through the analysis result output from the gas analysis unit 700. To this end, the carrier gas
supply flow path 200 may be provided with a mass flow controller 210 for weighing or
controlling the amount of carrier gas injected into the gas diffusion space 310.
[65] As shown in FIG. 3, the diffusion chamber unit 300 may include an inlet 3305
through which the carrier gas is injected into the gas diffusion space 310, and an outlet 340
through which the secondary battery generated gas of the gas diffusion space 310 is discharged.
[66] Inside the diffusion chamber unit 300, a gas diffusion space 310 in which the
secondary battery 11 is accommodated may be provided, and the exit 332 of the inlet 330 and
the entrance 341 of the outlet 340 may be located on two inner walls facing each other,10
respectively, among inner walls of the diffusion chamber unit 300 forming the gas diffusion
space 310. In other words, the exit 332 of the inlet 330 is formed on one inner wall forming
the gas diffusion space 310, and the entrance 341 of the outlet 340 may be formed on the other
inner wall forming the gas diffusion space 310.
[67] The carrier gas may be input to the entrance 331 of the inlet 330 and the carrier15
gas may be supplied to the gas diffusion space 310 through the exit 332 of the inlet 330. The
carrier gas and the secondary battery generated gas in the gas diffusion space 310 are
discharged to the entrance 341 of the outlet 340, and the exit 342 of the outlet 340 is connected
to the gas discharge pipe 400 so that the carrier gas and secondary battery generated gas passing
through the outlet 340 may be delivered to the gas analysis unit 700.20
[68] The diffusion chamber unit 300 may be provided with a carrier gas dispersion
space 320 to which the carrier gas supply flow path 200 is connected, and the inlet 330 may be
provided in plurality, and entrances 331 of the plurality of inlets 330 may be connected to the
carrier gas dispersion space 320.
12
[69] In other words, inside the diffusion chamber unit 300, a gas diffusion space 310
and a carrier gas dispersion space 320, which are separated from each other, are provided,
respectively, and the two spaces may be connected through a plurality of inlets 330.
Specifically, the entrance 331 of the inlet 330 may be located in the carrier gas dispersion space
320, and the exit 332 of the inlet 330 may be located in the gas diffusion space 310. The carrier5
gas supply path 200 may be connected to the carrier gas dispersion space 320, so that the carrier
gas supplied from the carrier gas supply unit 100 may be supplied to the gas diffusion space
310 through the carrier gas dispersion space 320.
[70] The inlet 330 may be provided in plurality, and the carrier gas may be injected
into the gas diffusion space 310 to be uniformly sprayed on the front of the secondary battery10
11. The gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure is operated in real time, and when the
carrier gas is intensively injected into the local area in the gas diffusion space 310, the carrier
gas and the secondary battery generated gas are not sufficiently mixed, which may affect the
analysis result. In order to prevent this, a plurality of the inlets 330 may be provided to inject
the carrier gas into the gas diffusion space 310 at a uniform density.15
[71] Specifically, the secondary battery 11 may be disposed between the exits 332 of
the plurality of inlets 330 and the entrance 341 of the outlet 340, and the exits 332 of the
plurality of inlets 330 may face one side of the secondary battery 11. Therefore, the carrier gas
flows as shown in the dotted arrow shown in FIG. 3, and the carrier gas can uniformly scan the
secondary battery 11.20
[72] In the gas diffusion space 310 of the diffusion chamber unit 300, a heater (not
shown) for heating the secondary battery 11, a charge and discharge module (not shown) for
charging and discharging the secondary battery 11, and the like may be provided.
13
[73] The gas discharge pipe 400 and the plurality of gas injection pipes 500 may be
pipes or tubes through which gas can flow. The gas discharge pipe 400 and the plurality of gas
injection pipes 500 may be connected to the injector unit 600.
[74] The injector unit 600 may be a multi position valve.
[75] As shown in FIG. 4, the injector unit 600 includes a plurality of ports 620 to which5
a plurality of gas injection pipes 500 are connected, respectively, and a switching path 610 that
is selectively connected to one of the plurality of ports 620. One end of the switching flow
path 610 may be connected to the gas discharge pipe 400 at the center of the virtual circle. The
switching flow path 610 may be a flow path extending in the diametrical direction of the virtual
circle and rotatable with the center of the virtual circle as a rotation axis. In the arc of the10
virtual circle, a plurality of ports 620 to which the plurality of gas injection pipes 500 are
connected may be arranged. The switching flow path 610 may be selectively connected to one
of the plurality of ports 620 while rotating, whereby the gas discharge pipe 400 may be
selectively connected to one of the plurality of gas injection pipes 500.
[76] The control unit 800 may receive analysis unit state information from each of the15
plurality of gas analysis units 700, and the control unit 800 may control the injector unit 600
based on the analysis unit state information.
[77] The analysis unit state information is information indicating the state of the gas
analysis unit 700, for example, may be information indicating whether the gas analysis unit
700 is analyzing or in an analysis preparation complete state. The analysis preparation20
complete state may be a state where analysis can start immediately when the secondary battery
generated gas is injected. For example, the control unit 800 may control the injector unit 600
so that the gas injection pipe 500 connected to the gas analysis unit 700 in the analysis
preparation complete state and the gas discharge pipe 400 are connected.
14
[78] The control unit 800 may include a timer, and the control unit 800 may control
the injector unit 600 at a predetermined time period. For example, the control unit 800 may
control the injector unit 600 so that the gas injection pipe 500 connected to the gas analysis
unit 700 in the analysis preparation complete state and the gas discharge pipe 400 are
connected, every predetermined time period.5
[79] The control unit 800 is an arithmetic device and may be a device in which
hardware and software are combined.
[80] As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of gas sampling units 510 each provided in each
of the plurality of gas injection pipes 500 to quantify the amount of secondary battery generated
gas injected into each of the plurality of gas analysis units 700 may be further included. The10
gas sampling unit 510 may be a loop-shaped pipe or tube. The secondary battery generated
gas can be quantified by the magnitude of the volume of the gas sampling space formed inside
the gas sampling unit 510.
[81] The diffusion chamber unit 300 is provided with a temperature sensor 311 and a
pressure sensor 312, and the control unit 800 may control the injector unit 600 based on a15
measured value of the temperature sensor 311 or a measured value of the pressure sensor 312.
[82] Specifically, a gas sampling space for quantifying the amount of the secondary
battery generated gas is provided in each of the plurality of gas sampling units 510, the volume
of the gas sampling space is formed differently for each of the plurality of gas sampling units
510, and the control unit 800 may select the gas injection pipe 500 connected to the gas20
discharge pipe 400 considering the measured value of the temperature sensor 311, the measured
value of the pressure sensor 312, and the volume of the gas sampling space. Depending on
temperature and pressure, the amount of gas per unit volume (mass, moles, etc.) may vary.
Therefore, in order to secure a certain level of detection sensitivity, it is necessary to adjust the
amount of gas sampled in the gas sampling unit 510. Therefore, the control unit 800 may25
15
control the injector unit 600 so that a gas sampling unit 510 having an appropriate volume of
gas sampling space according to the temperature and pressure and a gas analysis unit 700
connected to the gas sampling unit 510 are connected to the gas discharge pipe 400 via a gas
injection pipe 500.
[83] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the gas analysis unit 700 may include a column 7105
for gas chromatography (GC), and a mass spectrometry (MS), a thermal conductivity detector
(TCD), and a flame ionization detector (FID) as a detector 720 for gas detection. The
secondary battery generated gas delivered to the gas analysis unit 700 may be decomposed
while passing through the column 710 and then injected into the detector 720.
[84] Each of the plurality of gas analysis units 700 may have two or more types of10
columns 710 for decomposing the secondary battery generated gas. The type of column 710
for GC may be classified according to a stationary phase filling method, filling material and
specification, and the like. For each type of column 710 that varies depending on the stationary
phase filling method, filling material, and specification, the time required for the separation of
individual components included in the secondary battery generated gas may vary. Therefore,15
by simultaneously using multiple types of columns 710, the gas analysis apparatus of the
present disclosure can save time required for GC, and finally, by reducing the time
corresponding to the Tb indicated in FIG. 2, a high resolution gas analysis may be possible
with a smaller number of gas analysis units 700. In other words, the column 710 may be
provided in plurality, and each column may have different conditions of one or more of a20
stationary phase filling method, filling material, and specification. For example, the column
710 may be provided in three, one column 710 may be provided in a packed manner, the other
column 710 may be provided in a micro-packed manner, and the other may be provided in a
capillary manner. As another example, the column 710 may be provided in three, one column
710 may be filled with silica substituted with an alkyl group of various lengths or benzene as25
16
the filling material, the other column 710 may be filled with polyacrylamide as the filling
material, and the other may be filled with agarose or dextrin as the filling material.
[85] The stationary phase filling method means a method of decomposition of the
material to be analyzed in the column 710, and may include a packed method, a micro-packed
method, a capillary method, and the like.5
[86] The filling material means a material filled into the column 710, and may include
silica substituted with an alkyl group of various lengths or benzene, polyacrylamide, agarose
or dextrin.
[87] The specification may mean the size or shape of the column 710.
[88] Multiple types of columns 710 may be connected in series as shown in FIG. 5 and10
may be connected in parallel as shown in FIG. 6. For example, the column 710 may be
provided in three types.
[89] Although embodiments according to the present disclosure have been described
above, these are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various
modifications and embodiments of equivalent range are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true15
technical protection scope of the present disclosure should be defined by the following claims.
[90]
[91] 11...Secondary battery 100...Carrier gas supply unit
[92] 200...Carrier gas supply flow path 210...Mass flow controller
[93] 300...Diffusion chamber unit 310...Gas diffusion space20
[94] 311...Temperature sensor 312...Pressure sensor
[95] 320...Carrier gas dispersion space 330...Inlet
[96] 331...Entrance of inlet 332...Exit of inlet
[97] 340...Outlet 341...Entrance of outlet
[98] 342...Exit of outlet 400...Gas discharge pipe25
17
[99] 500...Gas injection pipe 510...Gas sampling unit
[100] 600...Injector unit 610...Switching flow path
[101] 620...Port 700...Gas analysis unit
[102] 710...Column 720...Detector
[103] 800...Control Unit5
Industrial Applicability
[104] A gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure is capable of high-resolution
analysis over time in analyzing the secondary battery generated gas in real time, and the
behavior of the secondary battery according to changes in experimental conditions such as
temperature and charging and discharging behavior may be precisely analyzed.10
[105] The gas analysis apparatus of the present disclosure is capable of real-time and
high-resolution analysis of the variable secondary battery driving environment and conditions,
and may enable development of battery materials, optimization of battery manufacturing
processes, and identification of the cause of battery failure by simulating the actual secondary
battery driving conditions.15
18
CLAIMS
1. A gas analysis apparatus comprising:
a diffusion chamber unit provided with a gas diffusion space in which a secondary
battery is housed;
a plurality of gas analysis units for receiving and analyzing a secondary battery5
generated gas generated by the secondary battery from the gas diffusion space of the diffusion
chamber unit;
a gas discharge pipe connected to the diffusion chamber unit to discharge the
secondary battery generated gas in the gas diffusion space;
a plurality of gas injection pipes each provided to the corresponding one of the plurality10
of gas analysis units, respectively;
an injector unit for selectively connecting the gas discharge pipe with one of the
plurality of gas injection pipes to inject the secondary battery generated gas in the gas diffusion
space into one of the plurality of gas analysis units;
a carrier gas supply unit for supplying a carrier gas to the gas diffusion space; and15
a control unit for controlling the injector unit.
2. The gas analysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein a mass flow controller (MFC) is
provided in a carrier gas supply flow path connecting the carrier gas supply unit and the
diffusion chamber unit.20
3. The gas analysis apparatus of claim 2, wherein the diffusion chamber unit
comprises:
an inlet through which the carrier gas is injected into the gas diffusion space; and
an outlet from which the secondary battery generated gas of the gas diffusion space is25
discharged, and
19
wherein an exit of the inlet and an entrance of the outlet are located on two inner walls
facing each other, respectively, among inner walls of the diffusion chamber unit forming the
gas diffusion space.
4. The gas analysis apparatus of claim 3, wherein the diffusion chamber unit is5
provided with a carrier gas dispersion space to which the carrier gas supply flow path is
connected,
a plurality of the inlets are provided, and
entrances of the plurality of inlets are connected to the carrier gas dispersion space.
10
5. The gas analysis apparatus of claim 4, wherein the secondary battery is disposed
between exits of the plurality of inlets and the entrance of the outlet, and
the exits of the plurality of inlets face one side of the secondary battery.
6. The gas analysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the injector unit is a multi15
position valve.
7. The gas analysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit receives analysis
unit state information from each of the plurality of gas analysis units, and
the control unit controls the injector unit based on the analysis unit state information.20
8. The gas analysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a
timer, and
the control unit controls the injector unit at a predetermined time period.
25
9. The gas analysis apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of gas
sampling units each provided in each of the plurality of gas injection pipes to quantify an
20
amount of the secondary battery generated gas injected into each of the plurality of gas analysis
units.
10. The gas analysis apparatus of claim 9, wherein the diffusion chamber unit is
provided with a temperature sensor or a pressure sensor, and5
the control unit controls the injector unit based on a measured value of the temperature
sensor or a measured value of the pressure sensor.
11. The gas analysis apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of gas
sampling units is provided with a gas sampling space for quantifying the amount of the10
secondary battery generated gas,
a volume of the gas sampling space is formed differently for each of the plurality of
gas sampling units, and
the control unit selects the gas injection pipe connected to the gas discharge pipe in
consideration of the measured value of the temperature sensor, the measured value of the15
pressure sensor, and the volume of the gas sampling space.
12. The gas analysis apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of gas
analysis units is provided with at least two types of columns for decomposing the secondary
battery generated gas.20