High temperature reduction device for spent battery recycling

Abstract

The present invention relates to a high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling, comprising a charging section into which a raw material substance is charged, a heating section that heats the raw material substance charged from the charging section, a cooling section that cools a product after heat treatment, a discharge section that discharges a reaction product after cooling from the cooling section, and a monitoring section comprising a first measuring section that measures a furnace inventory of the raw material substance charged through the charging section into which the raw material substance is charged, and a second measuring section that measures an inventory of the raw material substance charged through the charging section within the heating section.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to waste batteries, and specifically to a high-temperature reduction apparatus for waste battery recycling. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing global demand for electric vehicles, the disposal of waste batteries generated by these vehicles is becoming a prominent social issue. Lithium-ion batteries, the main raw material for these waste batteries, contain organic solvents, explosive substances, and heavy metals such as Ni, Co, Mn, and Fe. However, Ni, Co, Mn, and Li are valuable metals and therefore have significant scarcity value. Consequently, the recycling and reuse processes for discarded lithium-ion batteries are emerging as an important research area.

[0003] For the routine recycling of these waste batteries, black powder, a mixture of positive and negative electrode materials, is extracted from the batteries after they have reached the end of their lifespan through processes such as crushing, pulverizing, gravity separation, and magnetic separation. This black powder includes, for example, oxides of nickel, cobalt, manganese, lithium, aluminum, and oxygen as positive electrode materials, and graphite and its mixtures as negative electrode materials, as well as some impurities such as aluminum and copper. Methods for recovering valuable metals from this black powder primarily utilize wet and dry processes.

[0004] The wet process produces NiSO4, CoSO4, MnSO4, and Li2CO3 through leaching, solvent extraction, and lithium production. However, when processing the black powder using a wet process, there are problems such as excessive leaching time due to the graphite, which serves as the negative electrode material and is included in the black powder, being insoluble in a strong acid atmosphere, and a decrease in actual yield as the black powder and graphite are separated together.

[0005] In this way, high-temperature reduction devices are core equipment in the dry recycling process of waste batteries. In order to utilize the relevant equipment to convert waste batteries into the required reactants and feed them into the next process to ensure a high recovery rate of valuable metals, it is very important to easily control the input raw materials at the target temperature.

[0006] However, due to the characteristics of the raw materials in the high-temperature reduction unit, there is a problem that the internal temperature changes and the variability of the waste gas generated from the raw materials increase depending on the raw material level in the furnace. Summary of the Invention

[0007] (a) Technical problems to be solved The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an execution method for a device, wherein a high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling minimizes the variability of internal temperature deviation caused by the material level in the furnace and stably performs the treatment of waste gas generated from the material.

[0008] (II) Technical Solution According to one embodiment of the present invention, a high-temperature reduction apparatus for waste battery recycling may include a loading section for feeding raw materials, a heating section for heating the raw materials fed into the loading section, a cooling section for cooling the heat-treated products, a discharge section for discharging the cooled reactants from the cooling section, and a monitoring section including a first measuring section and a second measuring section. The first measuring section measures the furnace level of the raw materials fed into the loading section, and the second measuring section measures the temperature of the raw materials fed into the loading section within the heating section. In one embodiment, an environmental treatment section may be included to treat the waste gas generated by the reaction of the raw materials within the heating section.

[0009] In one embodiment, the monitoring unit may include a third measuring unit for measuring the temperature of the exhaust gas. In one embodiment, the environmental treatment unit for treating the exhaust gas may include a duct for the exhaust gas generated by the heating unit to pass through.

[0010] In one embodiment, an integrated control unit may be included, which detects signals from the monitoring unit to control the amount of raw material fed into the loading unit or the temperature of the heating unit. In one embodiment, if the exhaust gas temperature is measured to be below 120°C by the third measuring unit, the integrated control unit may control the loading unit to add more raw material.

[0011] In one embodiment, if the integrated control unit detects that the loading level of the raw material is below 70% to 80% of the overall height of the heating section as measured by the first measuring unit, it can control the loading section to add more raw material. In another embodiment, the integrated control unit can control the temperature of the heating section to prevent the formation of reactants in the shape of flakes larger than 3000 μm that are discharged through the discharge section.

[0012] In one embodiment, the first measuring unit can measure the level of the raw material based on at least one of ultrasound, lidar, and radar. In one embodiment, the system includes a preheating treatment unit for preheating the raw material fed from the loading unit, and a high-temperature heat treatment unit for heating at a temperature higher than that of the preheating treatment unit. The high-temperature heat treatment unit may include a heat treatment unit that performs heat treatment on the raw material in a temperature range of 1150 to 1400°C.

[0013] In one embodiment, the high-temperature heat treatment section may include two or more heat treatment sections in a vertical or horizontal direction. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the preheating treatment section may include a space not filled with the raw material.

[0014] In one embodiment, the raw material can be fed into the loading section at a rate of 15 to 35 mm / min. In one embodiment, the integrated control unit can control the monitoring unit to adjust the temperature of the heating section, keeping it within the range of 800 to 1400°C. In one embodiment, the second measuring unit may include multiple units, which respectively measure the temperatures of the preheating treatment section and the high-temperature heat treatment section.

[0015] (III) Beneficial Effects According to an embodiment of the present invention, a high-temperature reduction apparatus for waste battery recycling provides a device that minimizes the variation in internal temperature caused by the material level in the furnace and stably performs the treatment of waste gas generated from the material by including a measuring unit and a control unit for measuring the material level and the furnace temperature.

[0016] A battery processing method for waste battery recycling according to another embodiment of the present invention provides a waste battery processing method with the above-mentioned advantages. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1a A high-temperature reduction apparatus for waste battery recycling according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 1b A high-temperature reduction apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a graph showing the change in raw material loading height versus temperature over time in a high-temperature reduction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3a and Figure 3b The diagram illustrates the changes in raw material loading height and temperature over time in a comparative high-temperature reduction apparatus according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a graph showing the change in raw material loading height versus temperature over time in a high-temperature reduction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5a and Figure 5b This is a photograph of the recovered reactants according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used to describe various parts, components, regions, layers, and / or segments, but are not limited thereto. These terms are only used to distinguish a particular part, component, region, layer, or segment from other parts, components, regions, layers, or segments. Therefore, without departing from the scope of this invention, the first part, component, region, layer, or segment described below may be referred to as the second part, component, region, layer, or segment.

[0023] The technical terms used herein are for reference only to specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms used herein include the plural forms unless the phrase expressly indicates otherwise. The word "comprising" as used in the specification means to embody a particular feature, region, integer, step, operation, element, and / or component, and does not exclude the presence or addition of other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components.

[0024] When referring to a part as "above" or "on top of" another part, it can be directly above or on top of the other part, or it can be accompanied by other parts. Conversely, when referring to a part as "directly above" another part, no other parts are involved.

[0025] Unless otherwise defined, all terms, including technical and scientific terms as used herein, shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Terms as defined in commonly used dictionaries are further interpreted as having meanings consistent with relevant technical literature and current disclosure, and should not be construed as having ideal or highly formal meanings unless otherwise defined.

[0026] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail. However, these are merely examples and the present invention is not limited thereto; the invention is defined only by the scope of the claims described below.

[0027] Figure 1a and Figure 1b This is a schematic diagram and cross-sectional view of a high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Reference Figure 1a and Figure 1bAccording to an embodiment of the present invention, a high-temperature reduction apparatus 10 for waste battery recycling includes a loading section 100 for feeding raw materials, a heating section 110 for heating the raw materials fed from the loading section 100, a cooling section 120 for cooling the heat-treated product, a discharge section 130 for discharging the cooled reactants from the cooling section 120, and a monitoring section. The high-temperature reduction apparatus 10 of the present invention refers to a furnace used in the step of feeding broken battery material into a furnace capable of heating it to a temperature above its melting point, and involves uniformly maintaining the temperature deviation within the furnace by means of the monitoring section.

[0029] The high-temperature reduction device 10 crushes waste batteries and performs high-temperature reduction on the crushed waste batteries that have been sorted by gravity, magnetic force or grade as needed, thereby producing reactants including oxides of nickel, cobalt, manganese, lithium, aluminum or oxygen as positive electrode materials and graphite and its mixtures as negative electrode materials, as well as some impurities such as aluminum and copper.

[0030] The loading section 100 is a component for feeding in raw materials, which may be the previously described waste battery fragments. The waste battery fragments refer to materials that become the parent material for battery fragments, or materials that have already been fragmented. The parent material for battery fragments may include end-of-life batteries, waste batteries, and waste materials generated during the manufacturing process of lithium-ion batteries.

[0031] Specifically, the waste batteries may include waste materials constituting the waste batteries, jelly rolls, positive electrode materials such as slurry, defective products generated during the manufacturing process, residues from the manufacturing process, and generated debris. The parent material of the battery fragments can then be manufactured into battery fragments through a crushing process. The crushed material itself can be a finished crushed product, such as black powder. In this way, recycling waste batteries to produce battery fragments has the advantages of being both environmentally friendly and economical.

[0032] In one embodiment, the raw material can be added to the loading section 110 at a rate of 15 to 35 mm / min. Specifically, the raw material can be added at a rate of 20 to 25 mm / min. As the raw material is added within the aforementioned range, it can readily react in the heating section to form the target reactants. If the raw material is added faster than the aforementioned range, there is a problem of a shorter reaction time leading to a slower reaction rate. If the raw material is added slower than the aforementioned range, there is a problem of an excessively long reaction time leading to the discharge of over-reacted products.

[0033] In one embodiment, the C / Ni weight ratio in the raw material can be 20 or higher. Specifically, the C / Ni weight ratio refers to the value of carbon by weight percent divided by nickel by weight percent. In one embodiment, by ensuring the C / Ni weight ratio in the raw material meets the aforementioned range, the particle size of the powder becomes smaller, thereby forming spherical reactants in the range of 500 to 3000 μm, which is the optimal particle size ratio for acid treatment in subsequent processes. When the C / Ni weight ratio in the raw material exceeds the aforementioned range, it is difficult to form spherical fragments, and as the reactants become blocky, there is a problem of incomplete carbon reduction.

[0034] In one embodiment, the loading section 100 may further include a pusher or a screw. The pusher may be configured to facilitate the smoother delivery of raw materials loaded through the loading section 100.

[0035] The heating unit 110 is a component that heats the raw materials fed into the loading unit 100. The heating unit 110 can feed raw materials such as shredded waste batteries into a furnace capable of heating to a high temperature, raising the temperature of the shredded waste batteries to above their melting point. In this way, the heating unit 110 generates Ni-Co-Mn alloys and Li oxides, including valuable metals, allowing the valuable metals to be recovered in subsequent processes.

[0036] In one embodiment, the heating unit 110 is characterized by heating the raw material fed from the loading unit 100 at a heating rate of 1 to 10 °C / min. Specifically, the heating rate can be in the range of 2.0 to 5.0 °C / min.

[0037] In one embodiment, the heating element 110 can operate within a temperature range of 800 to 1400°C. As heating is performed within the stated heating rate and temperature range, Ni-based alloys are formed into spherical particles of 100 to 3000 μm, thereby improving the recovery rate of valuable metals and Li.

[0038] Specifically, the heating element 110 may include at least one induction coil. Specifically, the heating element 110 may include one induction coil, but more induction coils may be used. Figure 1a In the process, an induction coil is used in the preheating treatment section 111, and additional induction coils are used in the heat absorption section 112 and the melting section 113.

[0039] In one embodiment, the heating unit 110 may include a preheating treatment unit 111 for preheating the input raw material and a high-temperature heat treatment unit (not shown) for heating at a temperature higher than that of the preheating treatment unit 111. The high-temperature heat treatment unit may be a component that reduces the raw material by heating it at a temperature higher than that of the preheating treatment unit 111, i.e., a high-temperature reduction unit. In one embodiment, the high-temperature heat treatment unit may include two or more heat treatment units in a vertical or horizontal direction.

[0040] In one embodiment, the high-temperature heating section may include a heat-absorbing section 112 and a molten section 113 that is heated in a temperature range higher than that of the heat-absorbing section 112 to form at least a partially molten layer. The heating section 110, by including different temperature ranges, has the advantage of improving the recovery rate of valuable metals.

[0041] The preheating treatment unit 111 can be heated in a temperature range of 800°C or lower. Specifically, the preheating treatment unit 111 can be heated in a temperature range of 700°C or lower. The main purpose of the preheating treatment unit 111 is to remove the electrolyte and separator from the waste battery fragments by preheating the waste battery fragments, which are raw materials, within the aforementioned range.

[0042] The heat-absorbing section 112 can be heated within a temperature range higher than that of the preheating treatment section 111. Specifically, an endothermic reaction can be initiated within a range of 700 to 1200°C, more specifically 700 to 900°C, and even more specifically 800 to 900°C. Specifically, within the aforementioned temperature range, the heat-absorbing section 112 can initiate an endothermic reaction through the Boudouard reaction, which converts CO2 gas into 2CO gas. By including the heat-absorbing section 112, the high-temperature reduction device 10 can reduce carbon dioxide, thus having the advantage of being environmentally friendly.

[0043] The molten section 113 can be heated in a temperature range higher than that of the heat-absorbing section 112. Specifically, it can be heated in a temperature range below 1400°C, and more specifically, in a temperature range between 1150°C and 1400°C. In this molten section 113, any one of the metallic substances, such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, and copper, can be melted and arranged in a spherical form. The molten section 113 is the highest high-temperature reaction zone within the heating section 110, and heat treatment is performed within this temperature range to generate Ni-Co-Mn alloys and Li oxides, which include valuable metals.

[0044] Specifically, the molten section 113 is the area in which the fragments of the positive electrode, negative electrode, or diaphragm, which are reduced in a stacked form, are reduced to droplets as heat treatment is performed within the aforementioned temperature range. This shape is conducive to reaction in subsequent processes for extracting valuable metals, such as wet processes.

[0045] As the molten section 113 is heated within the aforementioned temperature range, the Li recovery rate can reach 40% to 70%, specifically 55% to 60%, and the Ni-Co-Mn alloy recovery rate can reach 55% to 95%, specifically 85% to 95%, and more specifically 85% to 90%. If the molten section 113 exceeds the upper limit of the aforementioned range, the Li recovery rate becomes too low; if it exceeds the lower limit of the aforementioned range, the Ni-Co-Mn alloy recovery rate becomes too low. Thus, by operating the molten section 113 within the aforementioned temperature range, it is advantageous to improve both the Ni-Co-Mn alloy recovery rate and the Li recovery rate.

[0046] In one embodiment, the heating unit 110 includes a heating furnace 110_F and a heating device 110_H. The heating furnace 110_F refers to the channel through which the raw materials are fed into the heating unit 110. The heating device 110_H refers to the component that applies heat energy to the heating furnace 110_F.

[0047] In the cross-section of the heating furnace 110_F, when the temperature at any position along the minor and major axes of the cross-section is measured with the center as a reference, the temperature difference between the center of the heating furnace 110_F and the arbitrary position can be less than 250°C. The cross-section of the heating furnace 110_F refers to a cross-section cut along a direction offset from the direction of the raw material's movement, such as an intersecting or perpendicular direction.

[0048] Specifically, the temperature difference can be the difference between the maximum temperature and the minimum temperature. When the temperature difference between the center and the arbitrary location exceeds the temperature range, uniform heat transfer to the heating furnace 110_F cannot be easily achieved, resulting in a decrease in the recovery rate of valuable metals.

[0049] In one embodiment, the heating device 110_H includes at least one heating section 110, and the heating device 110_H can apply heat energy by means such as induction heating, gas heating, or resistance heating. In one embodiment, as a means of supplying the heat energy, the heating device 110_H may have a coil shape. In one embodiment, as a non-limiting example, the wire of the coil may have any cross-section of circular, square, rectangular, elliptical, triangular, trapezoidal, rhomboid, and star-shaped.

[0050] In one embodiment, the further the coil of the heating device 110_H is from its central region, the narrower the pitch spacing of the coil can be. The central region of the coil refers to the area containing the midpoint of the length direction of the coil winding. The coil pitch refers to the distance between two effective coil sides when the coil is wound.

[0051] In induction heating, the coil inductance is directly proportional to the number of coil rotations. Specifically, the coil inductance is directly proportional to the number of times the coil is wound. Specifically, the applied heat energy is higher when the coil is wound more times, and lower when the coil is wound fewer times.

[0052] Utilizing this principle, the coil of the heating device 110_H of the present invention has a narrower pitch spacing as it moves further away from the center region of the coil, which has the advantage of dispersing heat from the central region where heat energy is previously concentrated. In one embodiment, the heating device 110_H can be respectively arranged in the preheating treatment section 111, the heat absorption section 112, and the melting section 113 to control the temperature of the heating section 110.

[0053] The heating unit 110 can perform heating in a gaseous atmosphere containing oxygen, wherein the volume fraction of oxygen may be less than 5 vol%. In one embodiment, the heating unit 110 can be performed in an atmosphere with an oxygen partial pressure of less than 0.1 atm. Heating in a gaseous atmosphere containing oxygen within the aforementioned range readily forms lithium oxide for lithium recovery, thereby improving the recovery rate of valuable metals.

[0054] In one embodiment, the preheating treatment unit 111 within the heating unit 110 can be operated at a power of 12.0 kW or higher. Specifically, the preheating treatment unit 111 can be operated at a power of 12.0 to 15.0 kW. More specifically, the power can be operated at a power of 12.0 to 14 kW.

[0055] In one embodiment, the melting section 113 within the heating section 110 can operate at a power of 16.0 kW or higher. Specifically, the power can be between 16.0 and 19.0 kW. More specifically, the power can be between 17.5 and 18.5 kW.

[0056] The power applied in the preheating section 111 and the melting section 113 can represent the minimum energy required to heat the reactants, and the power can perform heat treatment within the target temperature range by satisfying the range.

[0057] In one embodiment, the residence time of the reactants within the heating section 110 can be 5 to 7 hours. The residence time can be the value obtained by dividing the overall length of the heating section 110 by the distance the reactants travel per hour. For example, in a heating section 110 that generates 65 kg / hr of reactants per hour, with a length of 285 cm, the reactants move at approximately 44 cm per hour and remain within the heating section 110 for approximately 6.5 hours before passing through.

[0058] When performed within the residence time specified in the heating section 110, it has the advantage of improving the recovery rate of Li and valuable metals such as Ni, Co, and Mn in the heating section 110. If the residence time exceeds the aforementioned range, not only is Li lost, but the particle size of the reduced valuable metals also increases, leading to a longer leaching time in subsequent processes.

[0059] In one embodiment, the target temperature of the preheating treatment section 111 within the heating section 110 can satisfy the following formula 1.

[0060] <Formula 1> T111 ≥ 0.813(x / (Cp×m) + 25) (In Equation 1, x is the energy input [W], Cp is the specific heat [J / Kg-℃], and m is the mass transport rate [Kg / s]) In one embodiment, the target temperature of the molten portion 113 within the heating portion 110 can satisfy the following formula 2.

[0061] <Formula 2> T113 ≥ 0.4(x / (Cp×m) + 700) (In Equation 2, x is the input energy [W], Cp is the specific heat [J / Kg-℃], and m is the mass transport rate [Kg / s]) Equations 1 and 2 specifically represent the minimum values ​​of the target temperatures of the preheating section 111 and the melting section 113 within the heating section 110 and the minimum energy supplied to the reactants. By supplying the minimum energy according to Equations 1 and 2, the target temperatures of the preheating section 111 and the melting section 113 can be achieved. In one embodiment, x in Equation 1 can be 12000 W or more. In one embodiment, x in Equation 2 can be 16000 W or more.

[0062] As described in Formulas 1 and 2, controlling the target temperature based on the energy supplied to the reactants has the advantage of improving the recovery rate of valuable metals such as Li, Ni, Co, and Mn. However, when heating is performed outside the temperature range of Formulas 1 and 2, the recovery rate of valuable metals decreases.

[0063] The cooling section 120 includes the step of cooling the reactants generated by the heating section 110 to below 100°C. The reactants may be a reducing agent generated by the heating section 110. As the cooling section 120 cools the reactants within the aforementioned range, the reactants heated in the heating section 110 can be stabilized.

[0064] The discharge section 130 is a component that discharges reactants containing valuable metals that have been cooled by the cooling section 120. The reactants containing valuable metals may consist of Ni-Co based alloys and lithium compounds, carbon, and other residual impurities. These impurities may include, for example, Al, Cu, P, Na, Mg, and F.

[0065] In one embodiment, in the high-temperature reduction apparatus 10, the reactants recovered from the raw materials can be more than 60% based on the total raw materials. Specifically, the weight of the waste battery fragments before being fed into the heating furnace can have a reactant recovery rate of more than 60% to 65% after heat treatment. In one embodiment, Ni-Co can account for more than 40% of the total weight of the reactants after heat treatment.

[0066] The high-temperature reduction apparatus 10 may include a magnetic separation section for magnetically separating the alloy recovered after cooling. The magnetic separation section may be arranged inside the discharge section 130 or may be arranged separately from the discharge section 130.

[0067] In one embodiment, the magnetic separation unit can use a magnetic field strength of 100 Gauss or higher to perform magnetic separation of Ni-Co based alloys. By performing magnetic separation with a magnetic field strength of 100 Gauss or higher, it has the advantage of separately separating magnetic Co-based alloys, thereby improving the recovery rate of valuable metal alloys.

[0068] In one embodiment, the discharge section 130 may further include a stepper. The stepper, for example, is a spring-loaded component and can be a means of discharging the amount of reactant discharged from the discharge section 130 more precisely and easily.

[0069] In one embodiment, the high-temperature reduction apparatus 10 may further include at least one suction section. The suction section may be a component for controlling the gas concentration and heat in the heating furnace and for ventilation. The suction section may, for example, be configured in the input section, which is a front-end component of the heating section 110, or in the cooling section 120, which is a rear-end component of the heating section 110.

[0070] The monitoring unit may include a first measuring unit and a second measuring unit. The first measuring unit measures the furnace level of the raw material fed through the loading section 100, and the second measuring unit measures the temperature of the raw material fed through the loading section 100 within the heating section. Specifically, the monitoring unit can confirm the temperature of the heating section within the high-temperature reduction apparatus or the level of the raw material loaded within the heating section.

[0071] In one embodiment, the first measuring unit can measure the level of the raw material based on at least one of ultrasound, lidar, and radar. Specifically, the first measuring unit can determine characteristics of the broken battery material, such as the tap density, which is fed from the loading section 100 to the heating section 110.

[0072] In one embodiment, the first measuring unit can measure the shrinkage characteristics of the raw material loaded from the loading section 100. In another embodiment, the first measuring unit can measure the loading level of the raw material, and if the loading level is 70 to 80% or less of the overall height of the furnace, the further loading of the raw material into the loading section 110 can be controlled. Specifically, when the loading level of the raw material is 70 to 80% or less based on the overall height of the heating section 110, the first measuring unit can further load the raw material.

[0073] In one embodiment, at least a portion of the preheating treatment unit 111 may include a space that is not filled with the raw material. Specifically, the loading level of the raw material can be controlled so that the raw material is not 100% loaded into the space of the preheating treatment unit 111, and heat is dissipated to the outside through the environmental treatment unit. By maintaining the loading level within the aforementioned range, the heat dissipated above the raw material can be kept uniform, and problems such as blockage caused by the accumulation of exhaust gas in the pipes connected to the environmental treatment unit can be prevented.

[0074] In one embodiment, the second measuring unit may include a temperature measuring sensor such as a thermometer. The second measuring unit is used to measure the temperature of the heating furnace inside the heating unit 110. For example, it is disposed on the outside of the heating unit 110, thereby enabling the measurement of the temperature of the heating furnace.

[0075] In one embodiment, an environmental treatment unit may be included to treat waste gases generated from the reaction of the raw materials within the heating unit 110. This environmental treatment unit may be a component that collects byproducts, such as carbon dioxide or fluorine-containing gases, generated during the heating process of the raw materials within the heating unit 110. However, during the high-temperature reduction of waste battery shreds, byproducts accumulate in the discharge pipes as gases or dust cool, causing blockages. This can lead to increased pressure inside the furnace and impede gas discharge, potentially rendering the environmental treatment unit inoperable. To address this problem, maintaining an appropriate temperature in the pipe section is crucial.

[0076] In one embodiment, the pipeline connected to the environmental treatment unit can be controlled at a temperature of 100°C or higher. Specifically, the temperature can be controlled at 120°C or higher. If the temperature is maintained below the aforementioned range, there is a problem of gas or dust accumulating in the pipeline due to cooling. This problem can be addressed by monitoring the exhaust gas temperature using the first to third measuring units, and by increasing the raw material loading level to raise the exhaust gas temperature when the exhaust gas temperature is low.

[0077] In one embodiment, the monitoring unit may include a third measuring unit for measuring the temperature of the exhaust gas. In one embodiment, the third measuring unit may measure the temperature of the exhaust gas as it is discharged into the environmental treatment unit. The third measuring unit functions to maintain an appropriate temperature, ensuring that the exhaust gas is discharged smoothly into the environmental treatment unit while preventing blockage of the pipe section, and also preventing excessive temperature rise within the heating unit 110.

[0078] In one embodiment, the integrated control unit can detect signals from the monitoring unit to control the amount of raw material added to the loading unit 100 or the temperature of the heating unit 110. The integrated control unit can control the monitoring unit, the loading unit 100, and the heating unit 110, which include a first measuring unit, a second measuring unit, and a third measuring unit. Specifically, the integrated control unit can detect signals received from the first measuring unit, the second measuring unit, and the third measuring unit to control the loading unit 100 and the heating unit 110.

[0079] By using the first, second, and third measuring units, if the temperature of the heating unit 110 is found to be low or the loading level of the raw material is found to be too low, the temperature of the heating unit 110 can be increased to prevent the battery fragments from being reduced to reactants at low temperatures. Furthermore, by measuring the temperature inside the heating unit 110 and the temperature of the exhaust gas emitted from the battery fragments, pipe blockage due to exhaust gas accumulation can be prevented in advance.

[0080] In one embodiment, the integrated control unit can control the monitoring unit to adjust the temperature of the heating unit to a range of 800 to 1400°C. Specifically, the integrated control unit can adjust the temperature of the heating unit 110 based on signals detected from the monitoring unit to a range of 1200 to 1400°C.

[0081] The third and second measuring units can control the temperature of the heating unit 110 by measuring the temperature of the exhaust gas and the temperature of the heating furnace. This maintains a uniform temperature in the heating unit 110 and prevents pipe blockage caused by dust cooling in the pipe section, thus enabling normal operation.

[0082] In other embodiments, the high-temperature reduction apparatus 10 may also be implemented as a horizontal furnace rather than a vertical furnace, and may be appropriately modified according to changes in process design.

[0083] Preferred embodiments and comparative examples of the present invention are described below. However, the following embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0084] <Experimental Example 1>: Reduction rate of raw material loading level as a function of temperature Figure 2 This indicates the rate of decrease in the height of the raw material charge as a function of temperature.

[0085] Reference Figure 2 This is a calculated value measured by the first measuring unit after the furnace is 100% filled with raw materials and the temperature is raised to the target temperature of 1310°C. This measurement confirms the changes in the characteristics of the raw material charge with temperature. Specifically, the actual raw materials require a certain amount of time to become reactants, maintain the target temperature, and transfer sufficient heat into the furnace.

[0086] <Experimental Example 2>: Controlling blockages in the environmental treatment unit's pipelines by controlling the material loading level. Figure 3a and Figure 3b This is a photo of the pipes connected to the environmental treatment department.

[0087] Figure 3a This refers to the inside of the pipe before the raw materials are loaded and the height is controlled at an appropriate level. Figure 3b This is a photograph of the inside of the pipe after the material loading height has been controlled to maintain an appropriate level, specifically, around 70-80% of the total height of the heating section 110. (Refer to...) Figure 3a This confirms that dust and other materials, such as tar, have accumulated inside the pipe. (Refer to...) Figure 3b It can be confirmed that there are no dust deposits such as tar inside the pipeline, and the exhaust gas can be discharged easily. Based on this, it can be confirmed that pipeline blockage can be prevented by controlling the raw material loading level.

[0088] <Experimental Example 3>: Current Status of Reactant Recovery Controlled by Raw Material Loading Level Figure 4 This is a graph showing the change in raw material loading height versus temperature over time in a high-temperature reduction apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0089] Reference Figure 4It can be confirmed that, under conditions where pretreatment of broken battery parts is easily achievable, the raw materials fed from the loading section are uniformly added at a rate of 30 mm / min. Furthermore, after reaching the target temperature of 1320°C, the material reaches the heating section and temperature control begins.

[0090] The temperatures of the first and second measuring sections are maintained by the integrated control unit. The level of the loaded material fluctuates depending on its shrinkage characteristics. Maintaining the loading level at 70-80% is crucial. When the loading level falls below 70-80%, heat is rapidly lost from the preheating section, resulting in greater temperature fluctuations. This can cause problems during the material reaction. Furthermore, if a rapid change in the loading height also occurs at the reactant discharge point, the temperature fluctuations in the preheating section will increase further.

[0091] In order to address the issue of furnace internal temperature control deviations caused by the height of the raw materials, the charging level conditions should be carefully controlled, taking into account both the shrinkage characteristics of the raw materials and the temperature control discharge conditions, so that the height of the charging section can be controlled according to these conditions. This increases the variability of reactants generated inside the furnace, affecting the morphology of reactants fed into subsequent processes and leading to a decrease in recovery rates.

[0092] Table 1 Table 1 below shows the reactant morphology that affects the recovery rate depending on whether the feed material level is controlled. It can be confirmed that when the feed material level is controlled at 70 to 80% based on 100% of the heating section, almost no flakes affecting the recovery rate occur. Under conditions of above 80% or below 70%, the temperature fluctuation range of the preheating section increases, causing temperature changes inside the furnace, resulting in flake-shaped reactants. Figure 5a and Figure 5b This is a photograph of the recovered reactants according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0093] Figure 5a The image shows the flake-shaped reactants recovered when the charge level is low. Figure 5b This refers to the shape of the reactants recovered when the charge level is maintained within the range specified in this invention. (See reference...) Figure 5a and Figure 5b It can be confirmed that the shape of the recovered reactants can be easily controlled by maintaining the charge level at an appropriate level.

[0094] The preferred embodiments have been described in detail above, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concepts defined in the above claims also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0095] [Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures] 10: High-temperature reduction device; 100: Loading section 110: Heating section; 120: Cooling section 130: Discharge section; 111: Preheating section 112: Heat-absorbing section; 113: Melting section 110_F: Heating furnace; 110_H: Heating device

Claims

1. A high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling, characterized in that, include: The loading section for inputting raw materials; A heating section for heating the raw material material fed into the loading section; Cooling section for cooling the product after heat treatment; A discharge section from which cooled reactants are discharged from the cooling section; and Including the monitoring unit of the first and second measurement units, The first measuring unit measures the furnace level of the raw material fed into the furnace through the loading unit, and the second measuring unit measures the temperature of the raw material fed into the heating unit through the loading unit.

2. The high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an environmental treatment unit that treats the waste gas generated by the reaction of the raw materials in the heating unit.

3. The high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling according to claim 2, characterized in that, The environmental treatment unit for treating the waste gas includes a pipeline section through which the waste gas generated by the heating unit passes.

4. The high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling according to claim 2, characterized in that, The monitoring unit includes a third measuring unit for measuring the temperature of the exhaust gas.

5. The high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling according to claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes: an integrated control unit, which detects signals from the monitoring unit and thereby controls the amount of raw material input from the loading unit or the temperature of the heating unit.

6. The high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling according to claim 5, characterized in that, If the temperature of the exhaust gas is measured to be below 120°C by the third measuring unit, the integrated control unit controls the loading unit to add the raw material.

7. The high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling according to claim 5, characterized in that, Based on the overall height of the heating section being 100%, if the first measuring unit measures that the loading level of the raw material is below 70 to 80%, the integrated control unit controls the loading section to add more raw material.

8. The high-temperature reduction apparatus for waste battery recycling according to claim 7, characterized in that, The integrated control unit controls the temperature of the heating unit to prevent the formation of reactants in the shape of flakes larger than 3000 μm that are discharged through the discharge unit.

9. The high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first measuring unit measures the level of the raw material based on at least one of ultrasound, lidar, and radar.

10. The high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A preheating treatment unit for preheating the raw material fed from the loading section; A high-temperature heat treatment section that heats at a temperature higher than that of the preheating treatment section. The high-temperature heat treatment section includes a heat treatment section that performs heat treatment on the raw material in a temperature range of 1150 to 1400°C.

11. The high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling according to claim 1, characterized in that, The high-temperature heat treatment section includes two or more heat treatment sections in the vertical or horizontal direction.

12. The high-temperature reduction apparatus for waste battery recycling according to claim 10, characterized in that, At least a portion of the preheating treatment section includes spaces that are not filled with the raw material.

13. The high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling according to claim 1, characterized in that, The raw materials are fed into the loading section at a rate of 15 to 35 mm / min.

14. The high-temperature reduction device for waste battery recycling according to claim 1, characterized in that, The integrated control unit controls the monitoring unit to adjust the temperature of the heating unit, keeping it within the range of 800 to 1400°C.

15. The high-temperature reduction apparatus for waste battery recycling according to claim 10, characterized in that, It includes multiple second measuring units, which respectively measure the temperature of the preheating treatment unit and the high-temperature heat treatment unit.

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