Discrete-Element-Simulations in Lithium-Ion Battery Production

High-performance and low-cost batteries have become a key feature in various applications, critical for reaching climate protection goals. Battery production requires significant improvements to achieve energy density and cost targets. The battery production process chain comprises many consecutive process steps significantly influenced by the material properties and electrode compositions. Therefore, it is crucial to deeply understand how the production processes affect the battery cell and determine what special requirements the battery production processes must fulfill. By creating Discrete-Element-Simulations, the processes can be observed at a micrometer scale, explaining multiple correlations of process parameters and the formation of the microstructure of battery electrodes. The Discrete-Element model is used to predict the process parameters for the calandering process, which significantly influences the electrodes’ mechanical and electrochemical properties and is decisive in defining their volumetric energy density and performance. In this presentation the parametrization and modeling of the calendering process are explained, followed by an outlook where DEM modeling will be used to simulate the battery production.

Presented as part of the virtual ATCx DEM in November 2022.
Speaker: Johannes Lindenblatt, Research Associate, Technische Universität München
Duration: 16 minutes