Integrated recycling device for lithium battery separator and electrode powder

Abstract

The utility model relates to the recycling and sorting of lithium battery scraps, and discloses an integrated recycling device for lithium battery diaphragms and electrode powders, which includes a material distribution chamber in a shell and a feeding device at the top of the material distribution chamber, the material dropping direction of the feeding device is obliquely downward, a material distribution baffle is obliquely arranged in the middle of the material distribution chamber, two purging devices are arranged in the middle of the shell, the two purging devices are spaced a certain distance apart, the wind direction of the purging devices is facing the material dropping direction of the feeding device and is inclined in the direction of the material distribution baffle, the bottom of the shell is provided with a heavy material outlet and a light material outlet arranged on the left and right, the heavy material outlet is biased to one side of the material dropping of the feeding device and the light material outlet is biased to the other side, and the light material outlet is divided by a screen into an electrode powder outlet close to the heavy material outlet and located on the lower side of the screen and a diaphragm outlet far from the heavy material outlet and located on the upper side of the screen. The device can realize classified recycling, with a short recycling process and high recycling efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of lithium battery recycling, in particular to an integrated physical separation device for discharging and disassembling lithium battery fragments. Background Art

[0002] With the strong development trend of new energy vehicles in recent years, the recycling standard of power batteries, which are the core of new energy vehicles, is that the battery capacity is less than 80%, which means that new energy vehicles need to replace power batteries every 3 to 5 years. Waste power batteries contain a large amount of heavy metals and electrolyte solutions such as waste acid and waste alkali, which will harm the environment when entering the ecosystem. Therefore, it is necessary to recycle used waste lithium batteries to save resources. At present, the recycling of waste power batteries has become the focus of the industry.

[0003] At present, the power battery recycling process can be divided into two parts: cascade utilization and disassembly process. The power battery recycled in cascades is not completely scrapped and can still be used in other ways. Generally, the cascade utilization value is higher when the battery capacity is in the range of 60%-80%. At present, a crushing and sorting device for recycling lithium batteries and its use method as described in CN116213429A have been proposed, which separates the cathode, anode, and battery casing and then classifies and recycles them separately. However, many of the conventional recycling equipment that have been put into use still discharges and disassembles the battery and then crushes it together, and then classifies and recycles the crushed mixture. It is necessary to propose a reasonable classification and recycling device for such mixtures to improve the recycling efficiency.

[0004] As mentioned above, the disassembly process is to obtain valuable products such as electrode active materials, current collectors and battery shells through mechanical disassembly, crushing, screening, magnetic separation, fine crushing and sorting of waste power batteries. The main process is that after the waste batteries are discharged, nuts and gaskets, positive and negative conductive columns, battery core packs, aluminum alloy shells and rubber plastics are obtained through mechanical disassembly. After that, the battery core packs obtained by disassembly are further crushed and sorted to obtain valuable metals such as aluminum powder and copper powder, diaphragms and positive and negative electrode powders of batteries.

[0005] Since lithium battery cells are made of a special structure based on different materials layered and repeatedly stacked, the following problems will be encountered during the process of monomer disassembly and recycling: after the remaining materials in the crushed materials except the pole pieces and plastic diaphragms are sorted in the early process, when the pole pieces, diaphragms and battery positive electrode powder are recycled, it is impossible to recycle all kinds of materials at the same time between the pole pieces, diaphragms and battery positive electrode powder. The current common practice is to use a multi-stage sorting method or a multi-stage sorting method after high-temperature heat treatment. However, the multi-stage sorting method has a long recycling process and low recycling efficiency; and heat treatment will cause the diaphragm to gasify and disappear, and the material will be compacted. At the same time, it will also produce harmful substances to pollute the atmospheric environment, which cannot fundamentally solve the difficulties in recycling and disassembling lithium batteries. Utility Model Content

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the utility model is to provide a device for integrated classification and recycling of a mixture of pole pieces, diaphragms and battery positive electrode powder produced by a traditional disassembly process.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the utility model to solve its technical problems is: an integrated recovery device for lithium battery diaphragm and electrode powder, including a distribution chamber in a shell and a feeding device on the top of the distribution chamber, the dropping direction of the feeding device is obliquely downward, a distribution baffle is obliquely arranged in the middle of the distribution chamber, two purge devices are arranged in the middle position of the shell, the two purge devices are spaced a certain distance apart up and down, the wind directions of the purge devices are all toward the dropping direction of the feeding device and inclined toward the distribution baffle, the bottom of the shell is provided with a heavy material outlet and a light material outlet arranged on the left and right, the heavy material outlet is offset to one side of the feeding device and the light material outlet is offset to the other side, and the light material outlet is divided by a screen into an electrode powder outlet close to the heavy material outlet and located on the lower side of the screen and a diaphragm outlet away from the heavy material outlet and located on the upper side of the screen. The utility model reasonably arranges the feeding direction, the blowing direction, the material dividing baffle and the screen, and guides the direction of different materials in the mixture through the combined action of gravity and airflow, thereby realizing the classified recovery of the diaphragm, the electrode powder and the electrode piece in the continuous feeding process, shortening the recovery process and improving the recovery efficiency of the lithium battery.

[0008] The screen mesh forms an angle of 30 to 60 degrees downward with the horizontal direction. According to experiments, the screen mesh with the above inclination angle can better ensure the separation of electrode powder and diaphragm.

[0009] The mesh diameter of the sieve is 0.5-3 mm. According to tests, the sieve with the above mesh diameter can ensure the collection of the falling electrode powder.

[0010] In order to better separate heavy materials from light materials, a vertical partition is provided in the material separation chamber to separate the heavy material outlet and the electrode powder outlet, the screen is connected to the vertical partition, and the vertical partition is connected to the shell.

[0011] In order to provide the necessary sorting airflow to the material separation chamber, the purge device is a fan or two or more fans arranged on the same horizontal plane with parallel wind directions. The specific amount can be determined according to the feed amount per unit time and the size of the outlet end of the feeding device, and the fan can be equipped with corresponding guide ports to complete air supply and determine the wind direction.

[0012] The dropping direction of the feeding device is adjustable to form an angle of 45 to 60 degrees with the vertical direction, so that the mixed material has an angle with the vertical direction when falling, so as to provide a good initial feeding speed and force angle.

[0013] Furthermore, the material distribution baffle is adjustable to form an angle of 45 to 60° with the horizontal direction, the wind direction of the upper purging device is adjustable to form an angle of 10 to 20° downward with the horizontal direction, and the wind direction of the lower purging device is adjustable to form an angle of 5 to 15° upward with the horizontal direction.

[0014] The material distribution cavity is formed by enclosing the front and rear walls and the left and right walls. The material distribution baffle is connected between the front and rear walls and has no gap with the front and rear walls. There is a material conveying channel between the material distribution baffle and the left and right walls.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the utility model are: continuous operation, simultaneous sorting and recovery of diaphragms and electrode powders, promotion of subsequent recovery of positive and negative electrode sheets, and no wastewater and waste gas pollution. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure and principle of the recycling device of the utility model.

[0017] Markings in the figure are: 1-feeding device, 2-shell, 3-diaphragm outlet, 4-electrode powder outlet, 5-screen, 6-material distribution baffle, 7-heavy material outlet, 8-purge device, 9-material distribution chamber, 10-vertical partition, 11-material feeding channel, 81-first purge device, 82-second purge device, α1-angle between the falling direction and the vertical direction, α2-angle between the wind direction of the first purge device and the horizontal direction, α3-angle between the material distribution baffle and the vertical direction, α4-angle between the wind direction of the second purge device and the horizontal direction, α5-angle between the screen and the horizontal direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The utility model is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that the recycling device of the utility model uses gravity and airflow impact force to separate materials. The upper and lower relationships in this specification refer to the relative position relationship of the lithium battery separator and electrode powder integrated recycling device of the utility model when it is installed on a horizontal mounting surface in a working state. At this time, the axial direction of the shell is the vertical direction, and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in the schematic diagram is the front and rear direction.

[0019] Example:

[0020] like Figure 1 As shown, the utility model of the integrated recovery device for lithium battery separator and electrode powder includes a distribution chamber 9 and a feeding device 1 at the top of the distribution chamber, the distribution chamber 9 is the inner cavity of the shell 2, the feeding device 1 is installed on the top of the shell 2, and its material dropping direction is obliquely downward, and a distribution baffle 6 is obliquely arranged in the middle of the distribution chamber 9 for cutting off and changing the movement trajectory of the material; the so-called "obliquely downward" and "obliquely arranged" refer to a specific direction, and the distribution baffle plate surface and the vertical axis of the shell have a non-zero angle, and two purge devices 8 are arranged in the middle position of the shell 2, and the upper one is the first purge device 81, and the height direction of the first purge device 81 is roughly located between the discharge port of the feeding device and the upper side of the distribution baffle 6. The second purging device 82 is located between the ends, and the lower part is located at the lower part. The second purging device 82 is located in the height direction roughly between the lower end of the material distribution baffle 6 and the upper end of the heavy material outlet 7. The two purging devices are spaced a certain distance apart from each other. The wind direction of the purging device 8 is toward the falling direction of the feeding device and inclined toward the material distribution baffle. The bottom of the shell 2 is provided with a heavy material outlet 7 and a light material outlet arranged on the left and right. The heavy material outlet 7 is biased to the falling side of the feeding device 1 and the light material outlet is biased to the other side. The light material outlet is divided by the screen 5 into an electrode powder outlet 4 close to the heavy material outlet 7 and located on the lower side of the screen 5, and a diaphragm outlet 3 away from the heavy material outlet 7 and located on the upper side of the screen 5.

[0021] Preferably, the material dropping direction of the feeding device 1 forms an angle of 45 to 60° with the vertical direction, the wind direction of the first purge device 81 forms an angle of 10 to 20° with the horizontal direction downward, and the wind direction of the second purge device 82 forms an angle of 5 to 15° with the horizontal direction upward. This embodiment utilizes the different angles presented by the material separation baffle and the purge devices above and below it in the device to form different sorting airflows, thereby generating two-stage airflow effects, loosening the material and sorting out the diaphragm and electrode powder, operating continuously, and promoting subsequent positive and negative electrode sheet recovery. The aforementioned angles are adjustable within the range and can be adjusted according to the conditions of the material being fed and the screening conditions. The baffle angle adjustment structure and the fan purge angle adjustment structure are both prior art, and can be made with reference to the existing structure and properly installed on the shell. This is not the main improvement of the utility model and will not be described in detail.

[0022] The purging device 8 is a fan or two or more fans arranged on the same horizontal plane with wind directions parallel to each other. The fan is used to provide sorting airflow, and can supply air through a guide device and adjust the wind direction conveniently. It usually has a relatively large wind speed, and the specific wind speed is adjusted and determined according to the sorting material and the sorting effect. The airflow is used to blow the electrode powder and the diaphragm away from the material flow falling from the feeding device 1 from a nearly horizontal direction, loosen the material and make heavy materials such as the casing and the pole piece fall toward the heavy material outlet 7 after rebounding or diverting from the material separation baffle 6. The lower fan can provide a second section of airflow, which is used for secondary purging of the material flow rebounded by the material separation baffle 6, to achieve the separation of light and heavy materials, and blow light materials such as diaphragms and electrode powder to the side of the light material outlet.

[0023] The screen 5 is at an angle of 30 to 60 degrees downward with the horizontal direction and is adjustable. The screen angle adjustment structure belongs to the existing technology and can be made with reference to the existing structure and properly installed on the shell, so as to adjust it according to the feeding situation to obtain the best separation effect.

[0024] The mesh diameter of the screen 5 is 0.5-3 mm. Screens with different mesh diameters can be selected and installed according to the specific gravity and particle size of the mixed material to obtain the most suitable separation effect.

[0025] A vertical partition 10 is provided in the material distribution chamber 9 for separating the heavy material outlet 7 and the electrode powder outlet 4. The screen 5 is connected to the vertical partition 10. The vertical partition 10 is connected to the shell 2. The position of the second purge device 82 is higher than the top position of the vertical partition.

[0026] The material distribution chamber 9 is surrounded by the front and rear walls and the left and right walls. The material distribution baffle 6 is connected between the front and rear walls and there is no gap between them. The front and rear walls can constrain the wind flow so that the wind force is concentrated on the material flow incoming position to achieve a better separation effect. There is a material flow channel 11 between the material distribution baffle 6 and the left and right walls. The channel is used to name the spatial position, indicating a space wider than the conventional gap to facilitate the flow of material flow and give certain restrictions to ensure the separation effect. Therefore, the material distribution baffle 6 is generally located directly below the drop port of the feeding device 1. The width of the material distribution baffle 6 should be appropriate, and the width and inclination angle most suitable for a specific material component can be determined through experiments.

[0027] The lithium battery separator and electrode powder integrated recovery device provided by the utility model can simultaneously separate and recover separators and electrode powders through continuous operation, promote the subsequent recovery of positive and negative electrode sheets, improve the recovery efficiency of lithium batteries, and does not generate waste water and waste gas pollution. Therefore, it has the advantages of automation, high efficiency, no pollution, and integrated recovery.

Claims

1. An integrated recovery device for lithium battery separator and electrode powder, comprising a material distribution chamber (9) in a housing (2) and a feeding device (1) at the top of the material distribution chamber, characterized in that: The material dropping direction of the feeding device (1) is obliquely downward, a material distribution baffle (6) is obliquely arranged in the middle of the distribution chamber (9), two purge devices (8) are arranged in the middle of the shell (2), and the two purge devices are spaced a certain distance apart from each other. The wind direction of the purge devices (8) is toward the material dropping direction of the feeding device and is inclined toward the material distribution baffle. The bottom of the shell (2) is provided with a heavy material outlet (7) and a light material outlet arranged on the left and right. The heavy material outlet (7) is offset to one side of the material dropping of the feeding device (1) and the light material outlet is offset to the other side. The light material outlet is further divided by a screen (5) into an electrode powder outlet (4) close to the heavy material outlet (7) and located below the screen (5) and a diaphragm outlet (3) away from the heavy material outlet (7) and located above the screen (5).

2. The integrated recovery device for lithium battery separator and electrode powder according to claim 1, characterized in that: The screen (5) is adjustable to form an angle of 30 to 60 degrees downward with respect to the horizontal direction.

3. The integrated recovery device for lithium battery separator and electrode powder according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mesh diameter of the sieve (5) is 0.5 to 3 mm.

4. The lithium battery separator and electrode powder integrated recovery device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A vertical partition (10) is provided in the material distribution chamber (9) for separating the heavy material outlet (7) and the electrode powder outlet (4); the screen (5) is connected to the vertical partition (10); and the vertical partition (10) is connected to the housing (2).

5. The integrated recovery device for lithium battery separator and electrode powder according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that: The blowing device (8) is a fan or two or more fans arranged on the same horizontal plane with wind directions parallel to each other.

6. The integrated recovery device for lithium battery separator and electrode powder according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that: The material dropping direction of the feeding device (1) is adjustable to form an angle of 45 to 60 degrees with the vertical direction.

7. The integrated recovery device for lithium battery separator and electrode powder according to claim 6, characterized in that: The material distribution baffle (6) is adjustable at an angle of 45 to 60 degrees with the horizontal direction, the wind direction of the purge device located at the upper part is adjustable at an angle of 10 to 20 degrees downward with the horizontal direction, and the wind direction of the purge device located at the lower part is adjustable at an angle of 5 to 15 degrees upward with the horizontal direction.

8. The integrated recovery device for lithium battery separator and electrode powder as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The material distribution chamber (9) is formed by enclosing the front and rear walls and the left and right walls. The material distribution baffle (6) is connected between the front and rear walls and has no gap with the front and rear walls. A material conveying channel (11) exists between the material distribution baffle (6) and the left and right walls.

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