DataBatt: "Integration Horizontaler Datenstrukturen in der Batterieproduktion"

By implementing digitalization approaches in battery production, it becomes possible to control flexible plant technology in a process-specific manner, detect anomalies in production, and reduce production costs by shortening ramp-up processes and increasing overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). A key component in applying such digitalization approaches is a comprehensive data foundation and cross-technology data collection from production facilities. The integration of horizontal data structures enables the cross-process utilization of information, which is essential for the efficient and sustainable application of digitalization approaches such as machine learning methods.

In the project, the relevant parameters of the entire battery production process are first collected and structured in the form of an ontology. This serves as the basis for developing middleware that assigns machine parameters to their unique counterparts in the ontology and automatically performs appropriate preprocessing steps (e.g., unit conversion). The assigned and processed data is then sent to a custom-developed data platform, which structures the information based on the ontology, allowing for easy and automated search and further processing. To demonstrate the continuity of the entire data pipeline, a semi-automated analysis of the collected data will be conducted at the end.

The work timeline is divided into five work packages:

1.     Data Flow Analysis and Definition of Process Parameters

2.     Development of Horizontal, Cross-Process Data Structures

3.     Strategic Data Utilization and Analysis of Software Architectures

4.     Cross-Process Use of Standardized Interfaces

5.     Implementation and Validation through Practical Application

As part of DataBatt, an efficient digital integration of production equipment and the extraction of production data in appropriate quality and completeness will be demonstrated. This presents a major challenge, particularly in battery cell production, due to the large number of process steps, different equipment suppliers, and the lack of communication standards.

The ontology-based horizontal data structures developed in the project serve as the foundation for creating standardized interfaces to simplify the digital integration of equipment. This will facilitate future equipment exchanges e.g., between different manufacturers and improve the transferability of data and insights from one production facility to another. As a result, battery cell production will become more efficient, flexible, and transparent. Concrete standardization efforts, such as an OPC UA Companion Specification for battery cell manufacturing, are currently being pursued as part of the follow-up project ENLARGE.