BliXray brings 100 % inline CT to cylindrical cell lines with the BLXR-MICROPRO

BliXray brings 100 % inline CT to cylindrical cell lines with the BLXR-MICROPRO. The Inline CT system scans up to six cylindrical cells at once in under 2.8 s and reports gap and overhang for every cell, at 72 to 288 cells per minute depending on the number of X-ray sources.

Every cell scanned, measured and sorted

The BLXR-MICROPRO is a fully automatic Inline CT line for cylindrical and button cells. A barcode scanner identifies each cell, a loading robot places it in the rotating fixture, and the X-ray source and detector acquire the scan. An unloading robot returns the cell to the line, and a reject sorter moves any cell outside tolerance into a separate store. Loading, unloading, material handling, scanning, analysis and sorting run automatically.

• Parallel scanning: up to six cells per scan, 180° rotation, region-of-interest (ROI) CT scan in under 2.8 s.
• Resolution: below 20 µm.
• Automatic results: cell-can-to-electrode gap, cell-top-to-electrode gap and anode-to-cathode overhang for each cell.
• Sample size: button and cylindrical cells up to 170 mm × ⌀80 mm, including the 21700 and 46800 formats.
• Traceability: barcode tracking of every cell from loading to sorting.

Throughput matched to the line

The BLXR-MICROPRO scales with the number of parallel X-ray sources. For 21700-format cells it uses a 225 kV open microfocus X-ray source. One source delivers 72 cells per minute at 95 % overall equipment effectiveness (OEE); two, three or four sources raise this to 144, 216 and 288 cells per minute. For the larger 46800 format, a 160 kV, 700 W X-ray source configuration scans 14 cells per minute with one source and 28 with two.

Customised fixtures for each cell format hold every cell in the same position. The scans therefore repeat exactly from cell to cell, and the measured distances stay comparable across a shift. The system is configured to the cell format and the target line speed rather than offered as one fixed design.

Overhang and gaps measured on every cell

The BLXR-MICROPRO measures the internal geometry of each cylindrical cell automatically. The software reports the gap between the cell can and the electrodes, the gap between the cell top and the electrodes, and the anode-to-cathode overhang distance. At a resolution below 20 µm, these distances are resolved at line speed rather than in a sampling laboratory. Process engineers gain a measured value for every cell, and cells outside tolerance leave the line at the CT station.

“With the BLXR-MICROPRO, every cylindrical cell leaves the line with its own gap and overhang measurement, not only a sample from the batch,” says Adrian de Riz, Managing Director, BliXray Technologies GmbH.

Inline CT in place of sampling

BliXray offers the BLXR-MICROPRO to the cylindrical cell lines now ramping up in Europe, the UK and North America. Because throughput grows with the number of sources, one system design covers a line at 72 cells per minute and a line at 288 cells per minute. The same station accepts 21700 cells and large 46800 cells with the matching source configuration. Cell manufacturers gain a 100 % inline check of internal electrode geometry in place of sampling.

“We match the X-ray source, the fixtures and the number of sources to the cell format and the target line speed,” says Adrian de Riz. “Customers can send their own cells for a test scan before they decide.”

More on CT for battery cells: Batteries.

Test scans available

BliXray scans customer cells on request through its CT testing service.

Contact Adrian de Riz, Managing Director, BliXray Technologies GmbH, a.deriz@blix-ray.de, +49 511 57092696 – www.blix-ray.de.

About BliXray: BliXray Technologies GmbH, Hannover, designs and builds industrial CT systems and X-ray safety cabinets. Manufacturers in defence, aerospace and research use BliXray CT to inspect safety-critical parts without destroying them. BliXray cabinets and containers house X-ray sources up to 300 kV at a protection level of 0.5 µSv/h. CT for critical parts. Shielding for any source.