Waste lithium battery discharge device and discharge method based on fluidized particles

Abstract

The present invention provides a waste lithium battery discharge device and a discharge method based on fluidized particles. The discharge device is configured to discharge the waste lithium batteries (10) by making conductive particles (9) and waste lithium batteries (10) contact and collide with each other, and comprises: a fluidized bed discharge chamber (1); an air distribution plate (2); a waste lithium battery inlet (6) for supplying waste lithium batteries (10); a conductive particle inlet (7) for supplying conductive particles (9); conductive particles (9) enter the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1) through the conductive particle inlet (7) and are distributed in the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1); and a discharge port (8) for discharging conductive particles (9) and waste lithium batteries (10) from the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1). The waste lithium battery discharge device and the discharge method of the present invention can discharge waste lithium batteries in batches, solve the problem of battery heating during the discharge process, and reduce environmental pollution.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of battery recycling, and in particular to a waste lithium battery discharge device and a discharge method based on fluidized particles. Background Art

[0002] Lithium batteries have the advantages of light weight, small size, low self-discharge, high voltage, high specific energy, no memory effect, and long life. They are widely used in many fields such as smart phones, laptops, camcorders, digital cameras, and new energy vehicles. In recent years, due to my country's vigorous development of new energy vehicles, the use of lithium batteries has also increased dramatically. However, a large number of new energy vehicles put on the market will inevitably bring about the problem of recycling and disposal after the end of the battery life. The number of scrapped lithium batteries has also increased significantly year by year. Lithium batteries are considered green batteries because they do not contain heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. However, waste lithium battery materials still have serious adverse effects on the environment and human health. If not properly handled, it will cause waste of metal resources such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt in the positive electrode materials, and will also seriously pollute the environment. Therefore, it is of great significance to vigorously promote the recovery and recycling of waste lithium batteries.

[0003] Used lithium batteries generally contain residual electricity. The first step in the recycling of used lithium batteries is to deeply discharge them in order to avoid safety hazards such as combustion and explosion caused by short circuits between the positive and negative poles during battery disassembly.

[0004] At present, the following technical solutions are mainly used for discharging waste lithium batteries:

[0005] (1) Resistor discharge

[0006] The waste lithium battery is connected to a circuit with a fixed resistance to exhaust the residual power of the waste lithium battery. The advantages of this solution are: safe and stable discharge, no harmful exhaust gas is generated; the disadvantages are: for a huge number of single cells, it is a huge workload to manually connect the batteries, which is not suitable for large-scale processing.

[0007] (2) Piercing discharge

[0008] Use a steel needle to directly pierce the waste lithium battery, causing the positive and negative electrodes inside the battery to short-circuit, thereby consuming the residual power of the battery. The advantage of this solution is that it can quickly dispose of waste batteries. The disadvantage is that it is generally used for soft-pack digital device lithium batteries, but not suitable for metal-shell power lithium batteries. The heat released instantly by the battery short circuit is difficult to be discharged, which is easy to cause fire, and it will also release a large amount of toxic and harmful gases.

[0009] (3) Salt water pool discharge

[0010] The salt water pool discharge method is currently the most mainstream method for treating and discharging waste lithium batteries. The waste lithium batteries are directly put into the salt water pool and the batteries are discharged using the conductive properties of the salt water pool. The advantages of this solution are: waste lithium batteries can be quickly processed and are suitable for large-scale processing. The disadvantages are: when waste lithium batteries are discharged in the salt water pool, a large amount of toxic and harmful gases are generated due to the electrolysis reaction with the salt water. At the same time, a large amount of alkaline waste liquid is also generated after long-term operation, which has a great impact on the environment.

[0011] In addition to the above mainstream discharge schemes, a patent document has disclosed a waste lithium battery discharge device, see CN 209786133U, which discloses:

[0012] "The utility model discloses a waste lithium battery discharge device, including a motor and a cylinder. The motor is connected to a propulsion shaft through a coupling. The end of the propulsion shaft away from the motor penetrates the cylinder and extends to the interior of the cylinder. The end of the cylinder away from the motor is connected to a rear cover. The utility model discharges waste batteries through a discharge cylinder, does not require any chemical raw materials, and the conductive graphite powder required for discharge can be recycled. The mixed material coming out of the discharge port is screened to separate the battery and the graphite powder, which reduces the consumption of raw materials and thus does not generate secondary chemical pollution. All materials can enter the conductive cylinder for discharge without sorting, which reduces labor costs, and can adjust the discharge speed of waste batteries. The discharge time can be adjusted by adjusting the feed amount of graphite powder, thereby improving production efficiency."

[0013] However, when the above-mentioned waste lithium battery discharge device is discharging the battery, a large amount of heat will accumulate in the discharge cylinder and the battery, which is difficult to discharge in time, and a separate cooling cylinder needs to be provided, but even so, there are safety hazards. Summary of the invention

[0014] The purpose of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the defects of the prior art and provide a waste lithium battery discharge device and discharge method based on fluidized particles.

[0015] The present invention also aims to provide a waste lithium battery discharge device and discharge method based on fluidized particles, which is suitable for batch processing of waste lithium batteries and solves the problem of battery heating during the discharge process.

[0016] The present invention also aims to provide a waste lithium battery discharge device and discharge method based on fluidized particles, which is suitable for batch processing of waste lithium batteries and reduces environmental pollution.

[0017] To achieve the above purpose or one of the purposes, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0018] A waste lithium battery discharge device based on fluidized particles is configured to discharge the waste lithium battery by making the conductive particles and the waste lithium battery contact and collide with each other.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the discharge device comprises:

[0020] Fluidized bed discharge chamber;

[0021] An air distribution plate is arranged at the vertical lower side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber;

[0022] The waste lithium battery inlet is arranged on the fluidized bed discharge chamber and is used to supply the waste lithium batteries into the fluidized bed discharge chamber;

[0023] A conductive particle inlet is provided on the fluidized bed discharge chamber and is used to supply conductive particles into the fluidized bed discharge chamber;

[0024] Conductive particles enter the fluidized bed discharge chamber through the conductive particle inlet and are distributed in the fluidized bed discharge chamber; and

[0025] The discharge port is arranged on the fluidized bed discharge chamber and is used to discharge the conductive particles and waste lithium batteries from the fluidized bed discharge chamber.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an air inlet and an air exhaust duct are further provided on the fluidized bed discharge chamber, the air inlet duct is provided on the vertical lower side of the air distribution plate and is configured to supply an airflow flowing vertically upward in the vertical direction into the fluidized bed discharge chamber; the air exhaust duct is provided above the fluidized bed discharge chamber opposite to the air inlet duct.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the discharge device further comprises a wind chamber, and the wind chamber is arranged vertically below the wind distribution plate.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the waste lithium battery inlet and the conductive particle inlet are arranged on the same side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber and are separated in the vertical direction, and the discharge port is arranged on the side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber opposite to the waste lithium battery inlet and the conductive particle inlet and the height of the discharge port in the vertical direction is lower than the height of the waste lithium battery inlet and also lower than the height of the conductive particle inlet.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the discharge device further comprises a separation chamber for separating the conductive particles and the waste lithium batteries from each other, and the separation chamber comprises:

[0030] A separation bin inlet, the separation bin inlet is connected to the discharge outlet;

[0031] a screen configured to allow conductive particles to pass through but restrict the passage of spent lithium batteries;

[0032] a conductive particle discharge port communicating with the lower side of the screen; and

[0033] The battery discharge port is communicated with the upper side of the screen.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a gate valve is provided on the discharge port for opening or closing the discharge port, or adjusting the flow rate of the discharge port.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the screen is configured to be placed obliquely so that the side of the screen away from the fluidized bed discharge chamber is lower in the vertical direction than the side close to the fluidized bed discharge chamber; and

[0036] The separation bin further comprises a conductive particle collecting hopper, which is arranged vertically below the screen.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the discharge device further comprises a discharge bin sieve plate, and the discharge bin sieve plate is arranged in the fluidized bed discharge bin;

[0038] The discharge bin sieve plate is configured to be placed obliquely so that a side of the discharge bin sieve plate close to the waste lithium battery inlet is higher in the vertical direction than a side close to the discharge outlet; and

[0039] The vertical height of the side of the discharge bin sieve plate close to the waste lithium battery inlet is lower than the vertical height of the waste lithium battery inlet, and the vertical height of the side of the discharge bin sieve plate close to the discharge outlet is higher than or equal to the vertical height of the lowest end of the discharge outlet.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the discharge device further comprises a plurality of baffles, which are arranged in the fluidized bed discharge chamber and have a plurality of ventilation holes extending from bottom to top;

[0041] The plurality of baffles are arranged in sequence along a direction from an inlet to a discharge outlet of the waste lithium battery; and vertical projections of adjacent baffles on a horizontal plane have overlapping parts.

[0042] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of blocking plates are all placed horizontally.

[0043] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of baffles are all placed obliquely, and a side of each baffle close to the inlet of the waste lithium batteries is higher in the vertical direction than a side close to the discharge outlet.

[0044] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of blocking plates include at least a first blocking plate and a second blocking plate, and the second blocking plate is disposed below the first blocking plate in a vertical direction and is closer to the discharge port than the first blocking plate.

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the discharge device further comprises a plurality of baffles, which are arranged in the fluidized bed discharge chamber and have a plurality of ventilation holes extending from bottom to top;

[0046] The plurality of barrier plates are spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction, and a line connecting the same corners of the plurality of barrier plates forms a zigzag shape.

[0047] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the discharge device further comprises a vibration plate, which is arranged on the inner bottom side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber and above the air distribution plate, and is used to increase the disturbance of the conductive particles in the fluidized bed discharge chamber.

[0048] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for discharging waste lithium batteries based on fluidized particles is provided, wherein the method adopts the device for discharging waste lithium batteries based on fluidized particles according to any one of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0049] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the discharge method comprises:

[0050] Providing conductive particles into the fluidized bed discharge chamber via a conductive particle inlet;

[0051] Supplying fluidizing air to the fluidized bed discharge chamber;

[0052] Adding waste lithium batteries into the fluidized bed discharge chamber from the waste lithium battery inlet, so that the conductive particles and the waste lithium batteries contact and collide with each other to discharge the waste lithium batteries;

[0053] Discharge the conductive particles and waste lithium batteries from the discharge port;

[0054] Separating the conductive particles and the spent lithium batteries from each other; and

[0055] The separated waste lithium batteries are recovered and the separated conductive particles are sent back to the conductive particle inlet.

[0056] According to the waste lithium battery discharge device and discharge method based on fluidized particles of the present invention, the waste lithium battery is discharged by using the fluidized particles and the waste lithium battery to contact and collide with each other. Specifically, the discharge chamber is set in the form of a fluidized bed by using the fluidized bed principle to generate fluidized wind from bottom to top. Conductive particles are supplied to the fluidized bed discharge chamber. The conductive particles roll up and down and flow under the action of the fluidized wind, and fully contact and collide with the waste lithium batteries in the fluidized bed discharge chamber, thereby discharging the waste lithium battery. The waste lithium battery discharge device and discharge method based on fluidized particles of the present invention can quickly handle the discharge of a large number of waste lithium batteries, and the heat generated by the discharge is taken away by the fluidized wind, which ensures that the fluidized bed discharge chamber will not be overheated, and prevents the waste lithium battery from overheating or catching fire. Therefore, the waste lithium battery discharge device and discharge method of the present invention are safer. In addition, the discharge process of the waste lithium battery discharge device and discharge method of the present invention does not generate toxic and harmful gases and waste liquids, and has good environmental benefits. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a waste lithium battery discharge device based on fluidized particles according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of a waste lithium battery discharge device based on fluidized particles according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of a waste lithium battery discharge device based on fluidized particles according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of a waste lithium battery discharge device based on fluidized particles according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0061] Figure 5 The present invention is a flow chart of a method for discharging waste lithium batteries based on fluidized particles according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements. In addition, in the detailed description below, for ease of explanation, many specific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, it is apparent that one or more embodiments may also be implemented without these specific details. In other cases, known structures and devices are embodied in a schematic manner to simplify the accompanying drawings.

[0063] According to the general inventive concept of the present invention, there is provided a waste lithium battery discharging device based on fluidized particles, the discharging device being configured to discharge the waste lithium battery by causing conductive particles and the waste lithium battery to contact and collide with each other.

[0064] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a waste lithium battery discharge device based on fluidized particles according to a basic embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the discharge device is in the form of a fluidized bed, including a fluidized bed part and a separator part, wherein the fluidized bed part includes a fluidized bed discharge chamber 1, an air distribution plate 2, a wind chamber 3, an air inlet 4, an exhaust duct 5, a waste lithium battery inlet 6, a conductive particle inlet 7, an exhaust port 8 and conductive particles 9.

[0065] exist Figure 1 In the embodiment of the present invention, the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 is cylindrical, the air distribution plate 2 is arranged at the vertical lower side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1, the wind chamber 3 is arranged at the vertical lower side of the air distribution plate 2, the air inlet 4 is arranged at the vertical lower side of the wind chamber 3 and is configured to supply an airflow flowing vertically upward in the vertical direction into the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1, and the exhaust duct 5 is arranged above the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 opposite to the air inlet 4. Optionally, the air inlet 4 is directly arranged on the bottom surface of the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1, and the exhaust duct 5 is arranged on the top surface of the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 or on the side surface of the top of the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1. Air is supplied to the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 through the air inlet 4, the wind chamber 3 and the air distribution plate 2, and air is exhausted through the exhaust duct 5.

[0066] The waste lithium battery inlet 6 is arranged on the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1, and is used to supply the waste lithium battery 10 into the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1; the conductive particle inlet 7 is arranged on the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1, and is used to supply the conductive particles 9 into the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1; the discharge port 8 is arranged on the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1, and is used to discharge the conductive particles 9 and the waste lithium battery 10 from the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1. Preferably, the waste lithium battery inlet 6 and the conductive particle inlet 7 are arranged on the same side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 and are separated in the vertical direction, and the discharge port 8 is arranged on the side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 opposite to the waste lithium battery inlet 6 and the conductive particle inlet 7, and the height of the discharge port 8 is lower than the height of the waste lithium battery inlet 6 and the height of the conductive particle inlet 7 in the vertical direction.

[0067] exist Figure 1 In the embodiment of the present invention, the waste lithium battery inlet 6 and the conductive particle inlet 7 are arranged on the cylindrical side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 and are separated in the vertical direction. The vertical height of the waste lithium battery inlet 6 is higher than the vertical height of the conductive particle inlet 7. The discharge port 8 is opposite to the waste lithium battery inlet 6 and the conductive particle inlet 7 along the radial direction of the cylinder, and is lower in vertical height than the waste lithium battery inlet 6 and the conductive particle inlet 7, but higher than the vertical height of the air distribution plate 2.

[0068] It should be noted that the positions of the waste lithium battery inlet 6, the conductive particle inlet 7 and the discharge outlet 8 on the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 are not limited to the above-mentioned positions, and there may be other positions. For example, the waste lithium battery inlet 6 and the conductive particle inlet 7 may also be arranged on the top surface of the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1, and the discharge outlet 8 may also be arranged on the bottom surface of the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1, or the waste lithium battery inlet 6 and the conductive particle inlet 7 are not completely opposite to the discharge outlet 8, and the waste lithium battery inlet 6 and the conductive particle inlet 7 may not be arranged on the same side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1, as long as the path from the waste lithium battery inlet 6 to the discharge outlet 8 roughly passes through the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1, and the path from the conductive particle inlet 7 to the discharge outlet 8 roughly passes through the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1.

[0069] The conductive particles 9 enter the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 through the conductive particle inlet 7 and are distributed in the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 . The conductive particles 9 may be made of graphite, silicon carbide or other conductive materials.

[0070] The separator part includes a separation chamber 12 for separating the conductive particles 9 and the waste lithium battery 10 from each other, and the separation chamber 12 includes: a separation chamber inlet, which is connected to the discharge port 8; a screen 13, which is configured to allow the conductive particles 9 to pass through but restrict the waste lithium battery 10 from passing through; a conductive particle discharge port 15, which is connected to the lower side of the screen 13; and a battery discharge port 16, which is connected to the upper side of the screen 13. The separation chamber 12 is arranged at the side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1, and is slightly lower than the height of the discharge port 8, so as to receive the conductive particles 9 and the waste lithium battery 10 by gravity.

[0071] A gate valve 11 is provided on the discharge port 8 for opening or closing the discharge port 8 or adjusting the flow rate of the discharge port 8. Advantageously, the screen 13 is configured to be placed obliquely, so that the side of the screen 13 away from the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 is lower in the vertical direction than the side close to the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1; and the separation chamber 12 further includes a conductive particle collection hopper 14, which is arranged vertically below the screen 13.

[0072] In this way, after the conductive particles 9 and the waste lithium batteries 10 from the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 enter the separation chamber 12 through the discharge port 8, the waste lithium batteries 10 are collected at the battery discharge port 16 under the action of the screen 13 and discharged through the battery discharge port 16, and the conductive particles 9 are collected at the conductive particle discharge port 15 and discharged through the conductive particle discharge port 15. The conductive particles 9 are recycled, so the conductive particles 9 discharged through the conductive particle discharge port 15 are sent to the inlet of the conductive particle inlet 7. Therefore, the discharge device of the present invention also includes a conveying unit and a conveying pipeline, the conveying pipeline connects the conductive particle discharge port 15 and the conductive particle inlet 7, and the conveying unit can be an electric auger or a fan, and the conductive particles 9 are sent to the conductive particle inlet 7 through the conveying unit.

[0073] Figure 2 The present invention is a schematic structural diagram of a waste lithium battery discharge device based on fluidized particles according to another embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the discharge device also includes a discharge bin sieve plate 17, and the discharge bin sieve plate 17 is arranged in the fluidized bed discharge bin 1; the discharge bin sieve plate 17 is configured to be placed obliquely so that the side of the discharge bin sieve plate 17 close to the waste lithium battery inlet 6 is higher in the vertical direction than the side close to the discharge port 8; and the vertical height of the side of the discharge bin sieve plate 17 close to the waste lithium battery inlet 6 is lower than the vertical height of the waste lithium battery inlet 6, and the vertical height of the side of the discharge bin sieve plate 17 close to the discharge port 8 is higher than or equal to the vertical height of the lowermost end of the discharge port 8.

[0074] According to this embodiment, the discharge bin sieve plate is inclined at a certain angle from the waste lithium battery inlet to the discharge outlet, and the waste lithium batteries slowly move from the waste lithium battery inlet to the discharge outlet on the discharge bin sieve plate based on the action of fluidized particles and gravity. The benefit of adding the discharge bin sieve plate is that the movement direction and speed of the waste lithium batteries are more controllable, providing more choices for the materials of the conductive particles.

[0075] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a waste lithium battery discharge device based on fluidized particles according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3As shown, the discharge device further includes a plurality of baffles, which are arranged in the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 and have a plurality of ventilation holes from bottom to top, through which the fluidized wind can pass; the plurality of baffles are arranged in sequence along the direction from the waste lithium battery inlet 6 to the discharge port 8; and there is an overlapping part in the vertical projections of adjacent baffles on the horizontal plane, and the plurality of baffles are all placed horizontally. The plurality of baffles include at least a first baffle 18 and a second baffle 19, and the second baffle 19 is arranged below the first baffle 18 in the vertical direction and closer to the discharge port 8 relative to the first baffle 18. In the figure, four baffles are shown, the four baffles are separated in the vertical direction, the distance between two adjacent baffles is the same, and the four baffles are staggered in the horizontal direction, that is, there is a spacing between the leftmost sides of two adjacent baffles, and the spacing between the leftmost sides of every two adjacent baffles is the same.

[0076] By setting up multiple blocking plates, a certain support can be provided for the waste lithium batteries, increasing the residence time of the waste lithium batteries in the fluidized bed discharge chamber. Therefore, the contact and collision time between the conductive particles and the waste lithium batteries is extended, which can make the discharge of the waste lithium batteries more complete.

[0077] Alternatively, the plurality of baffles are all placed at an angle, and the side of each baffle close to the waste lithium battery inlet 6 is higher in the vertical direction than the side close to the discharge port 8. In this way, the baffle is slightly inclined, maintaining the directionality of the flow direction of the waste lithium batteries, and its function is similar to that of the discharge bin sieve plate, which increases the residence time of the waste lithium batteries in the fluidized bed discharge bin while also making the movement direction and speed of the waste lithium batteries more controllable.

[0078] Furthermore, the discharge device further comprises a plurality of baffles, which are arranged in the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 and have a plurality of ventilation holes from bottom to top; the plurality of baffles are separated from each other in the vertical direction, and the connecting lines of the same corners of the plurality of baffles form a sawtooth shape. That is to say, in this case, the arrangement of the plurality of baffles is not like Figure 3 That is not a linear arrangement along a certain direction, but a circuitous arrangement, that is, a reciprocating arrangement. The purpose of this arrangement is to fully increase the residence time of the waste lithium batteries in the fluidized bed discharge chamber to discharge them more fully.

[0079] Figure 4 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a waste lithium battery discharge device based on fluidized particles according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the discharge device further comprises a vibration plate 20, which is arranged on the inner bottom side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 and above the air distribution plate 2, and is used to increase the disturbance of the conductive particles 9 in the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1. The waste lithium battery 10 falling on the vibration plate 20 will be bounced by the vibration plate 20.

[0080] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for discharging waste lithium batteries based on fluidized particles is provided, wherein the method adopts the device for discharging waste lithium batteries based on fluidized particles according to any one of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0081] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the discharge method comprises:

[0082] Providing conductive particles 9 into the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 via the conductive particle inlet 7;

[0083] Supplying fluidizing air to the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1;

[0084] Add waste lithium batteries 10 into the fluidized bed discharge chamber 1 from the waste lithium battery inlet 6, so that the conductive particles 9 and the waste lithium batteries 10 contact and collide with each other to discharge the waste lithium batteries 10;

[0085] Discharge the conductive particles 9 and the waste lithium batteries 10 from the discharge port 8;

[0086] separating the conductive particles 9 and the used lithium batteries 10 from each other; and

[0087] The separated waste lithium batteries 10 are recovered, and the separated conductive particles 9 are sent back to the conductive particle inlet 7 .

[0088] According to the waste lithium battery discharge device and discharge method based on fluidized particles of the present invention, the waste lithium battery is discharged by using the fluidized particles and the waste lithium battery to contact and collide with each other. Specifically, the discharge chamber is set in the form of a fluidized bed by using the fluidized bed principle to generate fluidized wind from bottom to top. Conductive particles are supplied to the fluidized bed discharge chamber. The conductive particles roll up and down and flow under the action of the fluidized wind, and fully contact and collide with the waste lithium batteries in the fluidized bed discharge chamber, thereby discharging the waste lithium battery. The waste lithium battery discharge device and discharge method based on fluidized particles of the present invention can quickly handle the discharge of a large number of waste lithium batteries, and the heat generated by the discharge is taken away by the fluidized wind, which ensures that the fluidized bed discharge chamber will not be overheated, and prevents the waste lithium battery from overheating or catching fire. Therefore, the waste lithium battery discharge device and discharge method of the present invention are safer. In addition, the discharge process of the waste lithium battery discharge device and discharge method of the present invention does not generate toxic and harmful gases and waste liquids, and has good environmental benefits.

[0089] The solution of the present invention achieves rapid and safe discharge of large quantities of waste lithium batteries by placing waste lithium batteries in fluidized conductive particles and utilizing the conductivity and fluidity of the conductive particles to fully discharge the waste lithium batteries. Conductive particles are filled in a fluidized bed discharge chamber, and air is introduced to make the conductive particles in a fluidized state, and the waste lithium batteries are put into the fluidized conductive particles. Since the fluidized conductive particles have fluidity and the conductive particles at a certain fluidization speed have the opportunity to contact and collide with each other, they still have the characteristic of conductivity. The waste lithium batteries are continuously discharged while slowly moving in the fluidized conductive particles, and the heat generated by the discharge is taken away by the fluidized air, ensuring that the fluidized bed discharge chamber will not be overheated, thereby causing the problem of overheating or catching fire of the waste lithium batteries. After a period of full discharge, the waste lithium batteries that have completely lost power flow out of the fluidized bed discharge chamber together with the conductive particles, and the conductive particles are separated by a screen and then re-sent to the fluidized bed discharge chamber, and the waste lithium batteries that have completely lost power enter the next recycling process.

[0090] The scheme of the present invention uses fluidized bed conductive particles to discharge waste lithium batteries, which can achieve large-scale processing of waste lithium battery monomers, greatly improving the efficiency of processing waste lithium batteries; at the same time, it avoids the generation of a large amount of harmful and toxic gases and wastewater during the discharge process using a salt water pool, improves the working environment, protects the environment, and has good environmental benefits; the heat generated by the waste lithium batteries during the discharge process can be promptly taken away by fluidized air, preventing the waste lithium batteries from overheating, catching fire, and other problems during the discharge process, greatly improving the safety of discharge;

[0091] To discharge the waste lithium batteries through air fluidized conductive particles, it is necessary to select suitable conductive particles and fluidization speed. The conductive properties of the fluidized conductive particles in the fluidized bed discharge bin are closely related to the properties of the particles and the fluidization speed. The movement characteristics and residence time of the waste lithium batteries in the fluidized bed discharge bin are related to the properties of the particles and the fluidization speed. Therefore, the optimal discharge effect can be achieved by reasonably selecting the material of the conductive particles, setting the appropriate fluidization speed, and cooperating with the discharge bin sieve plate, baffle plate, etc. to control the movement characteristics and residence time of the waste lithium batteries in the fluidized bed discharge bin.

[0092] As a further embodiment of the present invention, the discharge device further comprises an additional fluidized bed discharge chamber, which is arranged downstream of the separation chamber, and the battery discharge port of the separation chamber is connected to the additional fluidized bed discharge chamber, and the waste lithium batteries are introduced into the additional fluidized bed discharge chamber to perform secondary fluidized discharge on the waste lithium batteries. In addition, the fluidized bed of the present invention can be recycled, and a heat exchange device is arranged on the exhaust duct, and the air discharged from the exhaust duct returns to the air inlet duct after passing through the heat exchange device.

[0093] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention. The scope of application of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0094] List of reference numerals:

[0095] 1. Fluidized bed discharge chamber

[0096] 2. Air distribution board

[0097] 3. Wind chamber

[0098] 4. Air inlet

[0099] 5. Exhaust duct

[0100] 6. Import of used lithium batteries

[0101] 7. Import of conductive particles

[0102] 8. Exhaust port

[0103] 9. Conductive particles

[0104] 10. Waste lithium batteries

[0105] 11. Gate valve

[0106] 12. Separation Chamber

[0107] 13. Screen

[0108] 14. Conductive particle collection hopper

[0109] 15. Conductive particle discharge port

[0110] 16. Battery outlet

[0111] 17. Discharge chamber screen plate

[0112] 18 first blocking plate

[0113] 19 Second blocking plate

[0114] 20 vibration plates.

Claims

1. A waste lithium battery discharge device based on fluidized particles, characterized in that: The discharge device is configured to make the conductive particles (9) and the waste lithium battery (10) contact and collide with each other to discharge the waste lithium battery (10), and the discharge device comprises: Fluidized bed discharge chamber (1); An air distribution plate (2) is arranged on the vertical lower side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1); A waste lithium battery inlet (6) is arranged on the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1) and is used to supply waste lithium batteries (10) into the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1); A conductive particle inlet (7) is arranged on the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1) and is used to supply conductive particles (9) into the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1); Conductive particles (9) enter the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1) through the conductive particle inlet (7) and are distributed in the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1); and A discharge port (8) is provided on the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1) and is used to discharge the conductive particles (9) and the waste lithium batteries (10) from the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1). The waste lithium battery inlet (6) and the conductive particle inlet (7) are arranged on the same side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1) and are separated in the vertical direction; the discharge port (8) is arranged on the side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1) opposite to the waste lithium battery inlet (6) and the conductive particle inlet (7); and the height of the discharge port (8) is lower than the height of the waste lithium battery inlet (6) and the height of the conductive particle inlet (7) in the vertical direction. The discharge device further comprises a separation chamber (12) for separating the conductive particles (9) and the waste lithium battery (10) from each other, wherein the separation chamber (12) comprises: a separation bin inlet, the separation bin inlet being in communication with the discharge outlet (8); a screen (13) configured to allow the conductive particles (9) to pass through but restrict the waste lithium batteries (10) from passing through; a conductive particle discharge port (15) communicating with the lower side of the screen (13); and The battery outlet (16) is connected to the upper side of the screen (13). The discharge device further comprises a discharge chamber sieve plate (17), wherein the discharge chamber sieve plate (17) is arranged in the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1); The discharge bin sieve plate (17) is configured to be placed obliquely, so that the side of the discharge bin sieve plate (17) close to the waste lithium battery inlet (6) is higher in the vertical direction than the side close to the discharge outlet (8); The vertical height of the side of the discharge chamber sieve plate (17) close to the waste lithium battery inlet (6) is lower than the vertical height of the waste lithium battery inlet (6), and the vertical height of the side of the discharge chamber sieve plate (17) close to the discharge outlet (8) is higher than or equal to the vertical height of the lowest end of the discharge outlet (8); The screen is configured to be placed obliquely so that a side of the screen away from the fluidized bed discharge chamber is lower in the vertical direction than a side close to the fluidized bed discharge chamber; and The separation bin further comprises a conductive particle collecting hopper, which is arranged vertically below the screen. The discharge device also includes a vibration plate, which is arranged on the inner bottom side of the fluidized bed discharge chamber and above the air distribution plate, and is used to increase the disturbance of the conductive particles in the fluidized bed discharge chamber; The fluidized bed discharge chamber (1) is also provided with an air inlet duct (4) and an air exhaust duct (5); the air inlet duct (4) is arranged on the vertical lower side of the air distribution plate (2) and is configured to supply an airflow flowing vertically upward in the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1); the air exhaust duct (5) is arranged above the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1) opposite to the air inlet duct (4); The discharge device further comprises a wind chamber (3), wherein the wind chamber (3) is arranged vertically below the wind distribution plate (2).

2. The waste lithium battery discharge device based on fluidized particles according to claim 1 is characterized in that: A gate valve (11) is provided on the discharge port (8) for opening or closing the discharge port (8) or adjusting the flow rate of the discharge port (8).

3. The waste lithium battery discharge device based on fluidized particles according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: The discharge device further comprises a plurality of baffles, which are arranged in the fluidized bed discharge chamber (1) and have a plurality of ventilation holes extending from bottom to top; A plurality of baffles are arranged in sequence along a direction from an inlet (6) for waste lithium batteries to an outlet (8); and vertical projections of adjacent baffles on a horizontal plane have overlapping portions.

4. A method for discharging waste lithium batteries based on fluidized particles, characterized in that: The discharge method adopts the waste lithium battery discharge device based on fluidized particles according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The discharge method comprises: Providing conductive particles into the fluidized bed discharge chamber via a conductive particle inlet; supplying fluidizing air to the fluidized bed discharge chamber; Adding waste lithium batteries into the fluidized bed discharge chamber from the waste lithium battery inlet, so that the conductive particles and the waste lithium batteries contact and collide with each other to discharge the waste lithium batteries; Discharge the conductive particles and waste lithium batteries from the discharge port; Separating the conductive particles and the spent lithium batteries from each other; and The separated waste lithium batteries are recovered and the separated conductive particles are sent back to the conductive particle inlet.

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