MOBILE DEVICE FOR THE TREATMENT OF LITHIUM-ION ACCUMULATORS AND METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF LITHIUM-ION ACCUMULATORS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mobile device for treating lithium-ion batteries and a method for treating lithium-ion batteries.

[0002] A lithium-ion battery is the generic term for a battery based on lithium compounds. Such lithium-ion batteries are also referred to as lithium-ion accumulators or lithium-ion batteries. Due to their high specific energy, lithium-ion batteries are now used to power a wide variety of devices, such as smartphones, power tools, electric garden equipment, electric scooters, electric bicycles, electric forklifts, electric cars, stationary storage devices, and other applications in the field of electromobility.

[0003] After the end of the service life of lithium-ion batteries, it is advisable for ecological and economic reasons to recycle many of the raw materials contained in lithium-ion batteries, such as lithium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, zinc, aluminum, or copper. The same applies to waste material from the production of lithium-ion batteries. Legal regulations also sometimes require the manufacturer or distributor of lithium-ion batteries to take back the raw materials they contain so that the raw materials they contain can be recycled.

[0004] In order to recover and recycle the raw materials contained in lithium-ion batteries, they must first be treated. Such treatment is typically carried out in specially designed industrial facilities. To treat lithium-ion batteries in such facilities to recover the raw materials they contain, lithium-ion batteries are first collected from companies and institutions and then transported in batches to the facilities for treatment. However, such transport is associated with high costs. Furthermore, such transport of lithium-ion batteries poses a safety risk due to the high risk of fire and ignition posed by lithium-ion batteries.For this reason, for example, according to the "European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road" (ADR), any transport of lithium-ion batteries is considered to be the transport of dangerous goods, for which special safety regulations apply.

[0005] EP 3 517 641 discloses a device for treating lithium-ion batteries in which the crushed material is chemically broken down.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing a device for treating lithium-ion batteries, in particular to be able to treat them in such a way that the substances present in the lithium-ion batteries can subsequently be recovered, by means of which such transports of lithium-ion batteries can be reduced.

[0007] In particular, the invention is based on the object of providing a mobile device for treating lithium-ion batteries. The invention is based on the fundamental idea of ​​reducing the transport of lithium-ion batteries to devices for treating lithium-ion batteries by transporting the device to the lithium-ion batteries rather than the lithium-ion batteries to the device, in order to treat the lithium-ion batteries by the device. The object of the invention is therefore also, in particular, to provide a device for treating lithium-ion batteries that is mobile, so that the device can be transported to the lithium-ion batteries.

[0008] To achieve these objects, the invention provides a mobile device for treating lithium-ion batteries, which comprises the following features: An input chamber, wherein lithium-ion batteries can be accommodated in the input chamber; a comminution device, wherein the lithium-ion batteries accommodated in the input chamber can be conveyed from the input chamber to the comminution device, and the lithium-ion batteries conveyed to the comminution device can be comminuted by the comminution device; an intermediate input container, wherein the lithium-ion batteries comminuted by the comminution device can be conveyed from the comminution device to the intermediate input container, and the comminuted lithium-ion batteries conveyed to the intermediate input container can be accommodated in the intermediate input container;a rotary kiln, wherein the crushed lithium-ion batteries held in the intermediate feed container can be conveyed from the intermediate feed container into the rotary kiln, the rotary kiln is electrically heated, and the crushed lithium-ion batteries conveyed into the rotary kiln can be thermally treated by the rotary kiln; and a discharge conveyor, wherein the crushed lithium-ion batteries thermally treated in the rotary kiln can be conveyed out of the rotary kiln by the discharge conveyor.

[0009] The invention is based on the fundamental idea of ​​providing a device for treating lithium-ion batteries. This device, on the one hand, allows lithium-ion batteries to be treated in such a way that raw materials present in the batteries can be recovered after treatment, while, on the other hand, the device is designed to be mobile. All components of the device can therefore be configured and interact with each other in such a way that the device as a whole is mobile, i.e., transportable in its entirety.

[0010] This mobility or transportability of the device allows it to be transported in its entirety. For example, the device can be transported to the location where lithium-ion batteries to be treated are collected, so that they can be treated by the device according to the invention without transport.

[0011] Preferably, the mobile device according to the invention is designed in such a way that it is mobile or transportable in its functional arrangement, i.e. without having to disassemble the device for transport.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the mobile device is arranged in at least one mobile container, so that the device according to the invention is designed to be mobile due to the mobility or transportability of the at least one container. For example, the device can be arranged in two or more containers, wherein these containers can be coupled together, for example, in such a way that the device according to the invention is formed when the containers are coupled together.

[0013] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention can be operated exclusively with electrical power. In other words, the device according to the invention requires only an electrical power supply for its functionality and no additional power supply, such as a gas, oil, or water supply.

[0014] Preferably, all components of the device according to the invention are therefore designed in such a way that they can be operated by electrical current.

[0015] In order to be able to introduce the lithium-ion batteries to be treated by the device according to the invention into the device, the device according to the invention has an input chamber. Lithium ion batteries to be treated by the device according to the invention can be accommodated in this input chamber. In order to be able to introduce the lithium-ion batteries into the input chamber, the input chamber preferably has an input opening through which lithium-ion batteries can be introduced into the input chamber. According to a preferred embodiment, an inert gas atmosphere can be set in the input chamber. The adjustability of such an inert gas atmosphere in the input chamber has the particular advantage that it can prevent reactive gases from passing through the input chamber into the components of the device according to the invention that are connected downstream of the input chamber.Preferably, an inert gas atmosphere based on nitrogen can be set in the input chamber. Preferably, the input chamber can be sealed gas-tight. This can prevent reactive gases from entering the input chamber when an inert gas atmosphere is set therein. Preferably, the input chamber has a gas inlet for introducing inert gas into the input chamber. Preferably, the input chamber has an opening through which lithium-ion batteries received in the input chamber can be conveyed into the comminution device downstream of the input chamber. Preferably, this discharge opening can be sealed gas-tight.

[0016] A comminution device is arranged downstream of the input chamber in the process direction. Lithium-ion batteries accommodated in the input chamber can be conveyed from the input chamber to the comminution device. According to a preferred embodiment, the lithium-ion batteries accommodated in the input chamber can be conveyed by gravity from the input chamber to the comminution device. This has the particular advantage that no separate conveying unit is required to convey the lithium-ion batteries from the input chamber to the comminution device, which enables additional compactness of the device and thus promotes its mobility.If the input chamber, as previously stated, has a closable discharge opening, the lithium-ion batteries accommodated in the input chamber can be conveyed from the input chamber to the comminution device by opening the discharge opening by gravity. According to a preferred embodiment, the comminution device is arranged below the input chamber, whereby the lithium-ion batteries can be conveyed particularly easily by gravity from the input chamber to the comminution device.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the lithium-ion batteries can be comminuted by the comminution device to a particle size such that at least 90% by mass of the lithium-ion batteries comminuted by the comminution device have a particle size of no more than 20 mm, particularly preferably no more than 15 mm. As further explained below, the lithium-ion batteries can preferably be thermally treated in the rotary kiln such that they are at least partially pyrolytically decomposed. According to the invention, it has now been found that sufficient pyrolytic decomposition cannot be achieved, or cannot be achieved regularly, if the lithium-ion batteries are comminuted to a particle size of more than 20 mm or even more than 15 mm.According to the invention, as stated above, it is therefore preferably provided that the lithium-ion accumulators are crushed by the crushing device predominantly to a particle size below this critical size.

[0018] The particle size of the crushed lithium-ion batteries can preferably be measured by means of a sieve analysis.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the comminution device comprises a single-shaft shredder. Single-shaft shredders, also referred to as single-shaft crushers, are known from the prior art. Single-shaft shredders generally comprise a rotatable shaft on which rotor blades are arranged around the circumference. A cutting gap is formed between the shaft and an edge on which counter blades are arranged. By rotating the shaft, components in the cutting gap are comminuted by being cut between the rotor blades and the counter blades in the cutting gap. According to the invention, it has surprisingly been found that lithium-ion batteries can be comminuted particularly advantageously using such a single-shaft shredder, in particular even to particle sizes of a maximum of 20 mm or a maximum of 15 mm.Furthermore, it has surprisingly been found according to the invention that such comminution to a maximum of 20 mm or 15 mm cannot be achieved by numerous other comminution units available on the market, for example twin-shaft shredders. This applies in particular to the comminution of the polymer films regularly present in lithium-ion batteries. According to a preferred embodiment, the comminution device comprises a single-shaft shredder and a punch. The punch guides the lithium-ion batteries against the single-shaft shredder or the cutting gap of the single-shaft shredder. This allows optimal comminution of the lithium-ion batteries, in particular to the aforementioned particle size, to be achieved in a particularly reliable manner. The punch is preferably hydraulically driven.

[0020] The mobile device according to the invention has an intermediate feed container arranged downstream of the comminution device in the process direction. The intermediate feed container is a container into which the lithium-ion batteries comminuted by the comminution device can be received before the comminuted lithium-ion batteries are introduced into the rotary kiln. The intermediate feed container thus also serves, in particular, as a buffer for the comminuted lithium-ion batteries between the comminution device and the rotary kiln. This buffering effect of the intermediate feed container also has the particular advantage that the mobile device according to the invention can be operated continuously, even if it is only discontinuously or batchwise charged with lithium-ion batteries, or if the lithium-ion batteries are only introduced into the feed chamber in batches.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the lithium-ion batteries crushed by the crushing device can be conveyed by gravity from the crushing device to the intermediate input container. Such conveying by gravity also has the particular advantage that a separate conveying device, by means of which the crushed lithium-ion batteries can be conveyed from the crushing device to the intermediate input container, can be dispensed with. This also has the particular advantage of additional compactness and thus improved mobility of the device according to the invention. The intermediate input container is preferably arranged below the crushing device, so that the crushed lithium-ion batteries can be conveyed particularly easily by gravity from the crushing device into the intermediate input container.

[0022] It has proven advantageous if the intermediate entry container can hold at least 100 liters, particularly preferably at least 150 liters, of crushed lithium-ion batteries.

[0023] The rotary kiln of the device according to the invention can be designed essentially like a rotary kiln according to the prior art. The rotary kiln preferably comprises a rotary tube rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis is inclined to the horizontal. An inclination in the range between 0 and 3°, particularly advantageously between 1 and 3°, has proven advantageous according to the invention. The combustion chamber, in which the fired material located therein can be thermally treated, is formed inside the rotary tube. By rotating the rotary tube about its longitudinal axis, the fired material is automatically moved from the higher end of the rotary tube to the lower end of the rotary tube due to the inclination of the longitudinal axis. Fired material to be thermally treated in the rotary kiln is therefore moved from the upper end of the rotary tube, the kiln inlet, to the lower end of the rotary tube, the kiln outlet. Fired material is fed into the rotary tube at the kiln inlet and discharged from the rotary tube at the kiln outlet.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the rotary tube can be provided with an internal spiral. According to the invention, it has been found that the crushed lithium-ion batteries can thereby be conveyed particularly advantageously through the rotary tube during their thermal treatment.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the rotary tube can be provided with guide plates extending into the combustion chamber. According to the invention, it has been found that these guide plates allow the crushed lithium-ion batteries to be mixed particularly advantageously and that heat can be transferred to them particularly effectively.

[0026] In the device according to the invention, the crushed lithium-ion batteries conveyed into the rotary kiln can preferably be thermally treated by the rotary kiln in such a way that at least partial pyrolytic decomposition of the lithium-ion batteries takes place. Such pyrolytic decomposition, also referred to as pyrolysis, is known to involve a thermo-chemical conversion in which organic materials are split under the substantial exclusion of oxygen. The thermal treatment in the rotary kiln preferably takes place in an inert gas atmosphere, for which purpose an inert gas atmosphere can preferably be set in the rotary kiln. A nitrogen-based inert gas atmosphere can preferably be set. To set such an inert gas atmosphere, an inert gas can preferably be introduced into the rotary kiln. For this purpose, the rotary kiln preferably has a gas inlet through which the inert gas can be introduced into the rotary kiln.Preferably, the rotary kiln has such a gas inlet in the region of the kiln inlet, i.e. in the region in which the fuel can be introduced into the rotary kiln.

[0027] The rotary kiln preferably has a gas outlet through which fuel gas (process gas) can be discharged from the rotary kiln. This fuel gas particularly also includes the inert gas present in the rotary kiln as well as pyrolysis gases formed during the thermal treatment of the lithium-ion batteries in the rotary kiln. The fuel gas discharged from the rotary kiln can preferably be subjected to post-treatment. In particular, thermal post-treatment of the fuel gases can be provided, in particular to render harmful components in the fuel gas harmless.

[0028] Preferably, a temperature in the range between 250°C and 650°C can be set in the rotary kiln, i.e. in the rotary kiln or in the combustion chamber of the rotary kiln. According to the invention, it has been found that complete pyrolysis of the lithium-ion batteries treatable in the rotary kiln is not guaranteed if the temperature is below 250°C. Furthermore, it has been found according to the invention that undesirable partial melting of components of the lithium-ion batteries in the rotary kiln can occur if the temperature exceeds 650°C. Particularly preferably, the rotary kiln is adjustable to a temperature in the range between 500°C and 550°C. The lithium-ion batteries are preferably thermally treated in the rotary kiln for a duration in the range of 10 to 150 minutes.

[0029] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, an indirectly heated rotary kiln is provided as the rotary kiln. As is known, in an indirectly heated rotary kiln, the heat is generated outside the rotary kiln and transferred via the rotary kiln into the combustion chamber within the rotary kiln. According to the invention, it has been found that in a directly heated rotary kiln, in which the heat is generated within the rotary kiln, in particular by gas burners, undesirable melting phenomena of the lithium-ion batteries in the rotary kiln can occur, which can clog the rotary kiln or complicate the thermal treatment of the lithium-ion batteries. However, the use of an indirectly heated rotary kiln results in a particularly gentle thermal treatment of the lithium-ion batteries in the combustion chamber, which can suppress such melting reactions.Particularly preferably, an indirectly electrically heated rotary kiln is provided, wherein the electrical heating is preferably provided by electrical heating elements or heating rods, particularly preferably by silicon carbide heating rods, which are preferably arranged outside the rotary kiln. As is known from the prior art, such an indirectly electrically heated rotary kiln can comprise an outwardly insulated heating muffle, wherein the heating rods or heating elements can be arranged in the space between the rotary kiln and the heating muffle.

[0030] A particular advantage of such an indirectly electrically heated rotary kiln according to the invention is that it only needs to be connected to an electrical power supply for operation. An additional supply, such as gas or oil, is not necessary. This also makes it possible to achieve the inventive goal of operating the device according to the invention solely via an external electrical power supply.

[0031] The rotary kiln preferably operates on the direct current principle. Therefore, the rotary kiln is preferably configured such that the lithium-ion batteries thermally treated in the rotary kiln and the kiln gases are guided from the inlet side to the outlet side of the rotary kiln, or through the combustion chamber defined by the rotary kiln.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, the mobile device according to the invention further comprises an input conveyor, wherein the lithium-ion batteries accommodated in the intermediate input container can be conveyed by the input conveyor from the intermediate input container into the rotary kiln. The input conveyor is thus designed such that the crushed lithium-ion batteries accommodated in the intermediate input container, or buffer, can be conveyed by the input conveyor from the intermediate input container into the rotary kiln and subsequently thermally treated there.

[0033] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the feed conveyor device comprises at least two screw conveyors. According to the invention, it has been found that the lithium-ion batteries crushed by the crushing device, particularly if, as previously stated, they are predominantly crushed to a maximum size of 20 mm or 15 mm, can be very advantageously transported by screw conveyors and conveyed into the rotary kiln. According to a further development of this inventive concept, the feed conveyor device comprises at least a first screw conveyor, through which the crushed lithium-ion batteries can be conveyed from the intermediate feed container, and a second screw conveyor, through which the crushed lithium-ion batteries can be conveyed into the rotary kiln.Preferably, the first and second screw conveyors are designed such that the crushed lithium-ion batteries conveyed by the first screw conveyor can be transferred to the second screw conveyor. An input conveyor device comprising at least two such screw conveyors has numerous advantages. Firstly, two such screw conveyors can be movable relative to one another, whereby the second screw conveyor can be easily adapted to a desired inclination of the rotary kiln. Furthermore, this also allows the first and second screw conveyors to be constructed from different materials. For example, the second screw conveyor can be constructed from high-strength steel, which can withstand the harsh conditions at the inlet of the rotary kiln, so that the second screw conveyor can convey the crushed lithium-ion batteries into the rotary kiln.However, the first screw conveyor can be made of a cheaper material, in particular a cheaper steel, which does not have to withstand such harsh conditions.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment, the rotary kiln comprises a rotary tube and an inlet housing, wherein the rotary tube is sealed from the inlet housing by a seal comprising polytetrafluoroethylene or a carbon ring seal. The inlet housing is, as known from the prior art, preferably arranged in the region of the kiln inlet. Corresponding inlet housings are known from the prior art. They serve to receive fuel to be thermally treated in the rotary tube before it is introduced into the rotary tube. According to the invention, the comminuted lithium-ion batteries can be conveyed into the inlet housing, preferably by the feed conveyor device, particularly preferably by the second screw conveyor. The comminuted lithium-ion batteries conveyed into the inlet housing can then be conveyed into the rotary tube, where they can be thermally treated.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the rotary kiln comprises a cooling device in the region of the inlet housing. Such a cooling device can in particular be designed such that the rotary kiln can be cooled in the region of its inlet housing. The cooling device is preferably designed such that the rotary kiln can be cooled in the region of its inlet housing by gas, in particular by air. It is particularly preferably provided that the cooling device is designed such that the rotary kiln can be cooled from the outside by gas. Such a cooling device can in particular also prevent the polytetrafluoroethylene from thermally decomposing at higher temperatures.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the rotary kiln comprises a rotary tube and an outlet housing, wherein the rotary tube is sealed from the outlet housing by a seal comprising polytetrafluoroethylene or a carbon ring seal.

[0037] The outlet housing is, as known from the prior art, preferably arranged in the region of the kiln outlet. Corresponding outlet housings are known from the prior art. They serve to receive kiln material thermally treated in the rotary kiln after it has been discharged from the rotary kiln. The kiln material thermally treated in the rotary kiln is regularly introduced into the outlet housing by the rotation of the rotary kiln. A technical challenge with rotary kilns according to the prior art is the sealing of the rotary kiln from the outlet housing. While the outlet housing is usually arranged in a stationary manner, the rotary kiln is guided into the outlet housing in a rotatable manner. According to the invention, it has now been surprisingly found that the rotary kiln of the mobile device according to the invention can be very advantageously sealed from the outlet housing using a seal comprising polytetrafluoroethylene.

[0038] As previously stated, an inert gas atmosphere can preferably be set in the rotary kiln. According to a further development of this inventive concept, an inert gas atmosphere can also preferably be set in the components of the device located downstream of the feed chamber in the process direction. This can prevent reactive gases from these components from entering the rotary kiln, where they could impede pyrolysis of the lithium-ion batteries.

[0039] The discharge conveyor of the mobile device according to the invention can, in principle, be any conveyor known from the prior art, by means of which fuel treated in a rotary kiln can be conveyed out of the rotary kiln. According to a preferred embodiment, the discharge conveyor comprises a rotary wheel lock. Lithium-ion batteries thermally treated in the rotary kiln can preferably be conveyed, optionally via an outlet housing designed as above, into the discharge conveyor or the rotary wheel lock of the discharge conveyor. The lithium-ion batteries can preferably be conveyed into the discharge conveyor, in particular into a rotary wheel lock of the discharge conveyor, by means of gravity. This eliminates the need for an additional conveyor, which promotes the mobility of the device according to the invention.

[0040] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the mobile device according to the invention further comprises an intermediate discharge container, wherein the lithium-ion batteries conveyed from the rotary kiln by means of the discharge conveyor can be accommodated in the intermediate discharge container. The intermediate discharge container is in turn a buffer into which the thermally treated lithium-ion batteries conveyed from the rotary kiln by means of the discharge conveyor can be accommodated before they are further treated or conveyed. This, in turn, enables the rotary kiln to be operated continuously, while the thermally treated lithium-ion batteries conveyed from the rotary kiln can only be further treated or transported discontinuously, i.e., in batches.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the mobile device according to the invention can comprise a conveyor screw through which the lithium-ion batteries accommodated in the intermediate outlet container can be conveyed out. The conveyor screw can then transfer the lithium-ion batteries to any desired receiving device. According to a preferred embodiment, the conveyor screw is cooled, preferably by means of a fluid, for example in the form of water or oil. Preferably, the fluid is circulated and not consumed. The heat is preferably dissipated to the environment.

[0042] According to a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the mobile device according to the invention comprises a device for generating inert gas. In particular, the device according to the invention can comprise such a device for generating gaseous nitrogen. A particular advantage of such a device for generating inert gas is that the device according to the invention does not have to be connected to an external inert gas supply for its operation. Rather, the presence of such a device enables the device according to the invention to be operated solely by connection to an external power supply. The device for generating inert gas, in particular for generating gaseous nitrogen, can in principle be any device known from the prior art by means of which an inert gas, in particular gaseous nitrogen, can be generated.Particularly preferably, such a device is one that can be operated solely by connection to an external power supply. Preferably, the device is a nitrogen generator, particularly preferably a nitrogen generator operating according to the pressure swing principle with a carbon molecular sieve. The nitrogen generator is preferably powered by a screw air compressor.

[0043] According to a further development of the inventive concept, it can be provided that the device further comprises a tank for storing the inert gas generated by the device for generating inert gas.

[0044] Furthermore, according to a further development of this inventive concept, the device can comprise means for conducting inert gas from the tank to the rotary kiln, in particular into the rotary kiln tube, in particular for introducing inert gas in the region of the kiln inlet. Furthermore, means for conducting inert gas from the tank into the feed chamber can be provided.

[0045] The mobile device according to the invention preferably comprises control means by which the device can be controlled. These control means preferably comprise an electronic data processing device by which the device can be controlled. In particular, the operation of all components of the device can be controlled or monitored by the control means. In particular, the operation of the rotary kiln, i.e., in particular the temperature and atmosphere of the rotary kiln, can be controlled or monitored by the control means.

[0046] The invention also relates to a method for treating lithium-ion batteries, which comprises the following steps: Provision of a mobile device according to the invention; input of lithium-ion batteries into the input chamber; conveying the lithium-ion batteries input into the input chamber to the comminution device; comminution of the lithium-ion batteries by the comminution device; conveying the comminuted lithium-ion batteries into the intermediate input container; conveying the comminuted lithium-ion batteries conveyed into the intermediate input container into the rotary kiln; thermally treating the comminuted lithium-ion batteries conveyed into the rotary kiln through the rotary kiln; conveying the comminuted lithium-ion batteries thermally treated in the rotary kiln out of the rotary kiln through the discharge conveyor.

[0047] The method according to the invention is preferably carried out in such a way that the lithium-ion accumulators are treated as described above.

[0048] In this respect, as previously stated, the lithium-ion batteries are preferably thermally treated by the rotary kiln in such a way that at least partial pyrolytic decomposition of the lithium-ion batteries takes place.

[0049] The lithium-ion accumulators thermally treated by means of the mobile device according to the invention, in particular by the method according to the invention, can subsequently be further treated in such a way that the aforementioned raw materials can be at least partially recovered from them.

[0050] Further features of the invention emerge from the claims, the figures and the following, associated description of the figures.

[0051] All features of the invention can be combined with each other in any way, individually or in combination.

[0052] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the attached, highly schematic figures and the associated, following figure description.

[0053] In the figures shows: Figure 1 is a schematic process diagram of an embodiment of the device according to the invention and of the method according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the device according to Figure 1 .

[0054] In its entirety, the mobile device is in Figure 1 marked with the reference number 1.

[0055] The device 1 comprises an input chamber 10, into which lithium-ion batteries 11 can be inserted via an input opening 12 as indicated by arrow P1. The input opening 12 can be closed gas-tight by a first flap 13. On the underside, the input chamber 10 has an output opening 14, which can be closed gas-tight by a second flap 15. The input chamber 10 has a volume of 250 liters and can be closed gas-tight by means of the first and second flaps 13, 15. The input chamber 10 has a gas connection 16 for introducing inert gas into the input chamber 10. By introducing inert gas via the gas connection 16, an inert gas atmosphere can be set in the input chamber 10.

[0056] A comminution device 20 of the device 1 is arranged below the input chamber 10. The arrangement of the comminution device 20 below the input chamber 10 enables the lithium-ion batteries to be conveyed from the input chamber 10 to the comminution device 20 by gravity. By opening the second flap 15 of the input chamber 10, the lithium-ion batteries located in the input chamber 10 fall into the comminution device 20 due to gravity. The comminution device 20 is a single-shaft shredder in which the material to be comminuted is pressed against the shaft of the single-shaft shredder by a hydraulic ram. The single-shaft shredder can comminute lithium-ion batteries in such a way that they are almost completely and over 90% by mass present in a particle size of no more than 15 mm.The conveying path of the lithium-ion batteries from the input chamber 10 to the comminution device 20 is indicated by arrow P2. The lithium-ion batteries comminuted by the comminution device 20 are indicated by black circles 21.

[0057] An intermediate feed container 30 is arranged below the comminution device 20. The intermediate feed container 30 is designed as a simple steel box and serves as a buffer between the feed chamber 10 and comminution device 20, which are arranged upstream in the process direction, and the rotary kiln 50, which is arranged downstream in the process direction. The arrangement of the intermediate feed container 30 below the comminution device 20 allows lithium-ion batteries crushed in the comminution device 20 to fall by gravity from the comminution device 20 into the intermediate feed container 30, indicated by arrow P3. The intermediate feed container 30 has a volume of approximately 150 liters.

[0058] The mobile device 1 further comprises a rotary kiln 50 and an input conveyor 40, via which crushed lithium-ion batteries received in the input intermediate container 30 can be conveyed from the input intermediate container 30 into the rotary kiln 50.

[0059] The rotary kiln 50 is in the form of a rotary kiln 50 that is indirectly heated electrically via silicon carbide heating elements. The rotary kiln 50 comprises a cylindrical rotary tube 51 that is rotatably mounted about the central longitudinal axis L of the rotary tube 51. The central longitudinal axis L is inclined to the horizontal. The rotary tube 51 is made of a stainless, austenitic chromium-nickel-molybdenum steel with a low carbon content. The higher, in Figure 1 The left end of the rotary kiln 51 is the furnace inlet 52 of the rotary kiln 50, through which the crushed lithium-ion batteries to be thermally treated in the rotary kiln 50 can be introduced into the rotary kiln 51. The deeper, in Figure 1The right end of the rotary tube 51 represents the furnace outlet 53 of the rotary tube 51, through which lithium-ion batteries thermally treated in the rotary tube furnace 50 can be discharged from the rotary tube 51. The rotary tube 51 is insulated from the outside by a heating muffle (not shown), with the silicon carbide fuel rods (not shown) arranged between the rotary tube 51 and the heating muffle. The electrical heating of the rotary tube 51 via the silicon carbide heating rods is carried out according to the prior art. In this respect, the rotary tube 51 is heated from the outside via the heating rods, so that the heat is conducted via the rotary tube 51 into the space enclosed by the rotary tube 51. The space enclosed by the rotary tube 51 thus serves as a combustion chamber in which the crushed lithium-ion batteries can be thermally treated. The rotary kiln 50 is controlled by a control device such that a temperature in the range of 500 to 550°C prevails in the rotary kiln 51.In the region of the inlet 52, the rotary kiln 50 has an inlet housing 54, into which the rotary kiln 51 is partially inserted and against which the rotary kiln 51 is sealed by a seal 55 comprising polytetrafluoroethylene. Similarly, in the region of the outlet 53, the rotary kiln 50 has an outlet housing 56, into which the rotary kiln 51 is also partially inserted and against which the rotary kiln 51 is sealed by a seal 57 comprising polytetrafluoroethylene. The device 1 further comprises an air cooler 60, by which the rotary kiln 50 can be cooled in the region of the inlet 52 and the outlet 53 of the rotary kiln 51. For this purpose, the cooler 60 comprises a fan 61, by means of which the rotary tube 51 can be cooled from the outside in the region of the inlet 52 via a first cooling line 62 and the rotary tube 51 can be cooled from the outside in the region of the outlet 53 by means of air (fresh air) blowing on it via a second line 63.As a result, the rotary tube 51 can be cooled in such a way that the seals 55, 57 comprising polytetrafluoroethylene can be protected from thermal damage.

[0060] The feed conveyor device 40 comprises a first screw conveyor 41 and a second screw conveyor 42. The first screw conveyor 41 conveys crushed lithium-ion batteries 21 located in the intermediate feed container 30 out of the intermediate feed container 30. At a transfer point 43, the first screw conveyor 41 transfers the crushed lithium-ion batteries 21 to the second screw conveyor 42, via which the crushed lithium-ion batteries 21 can finally be conveyed into the inlet housing 54 of the rotary kiln 50. The conveyance of the crushed lithium-ion batteries 21 through the first and second screw conveyors 41, 42 is indicated by the arrow P4 and the entry of the crushed lithium-ion batteries 21 from the second screw conveyor 42 into the inlet housing 54 is indicated by the arrow P5.

[0061] By rotating the rotary tube 51 about the central longitudinal axis L, the crushed lithium-ion batteries 21 are transported from the inlet housing 54 into the rotary tube 51 and through it along the direction of arrow P6 to the outlet housing 56. During this passage through the rotary tube 51, the crushed lithium-ion batteries 21 are thermally treated such that they undergo pyrolytic decomposition. To provide the inert gas atmosphere required for such pyrolysis in the rotary tube 51, the rotary tube 51 has a gas supply 58 in the region of the inlet 52, through which inert gas can be introduced into the rotary tube 51. The inert gas introduced into the rotary kiln 51 flows through the rotary kiln 51 in the direction of arrow P6 to the area of ​​the outlet 53, where the combustion gases, indicated by the arrow 59, are withdrawn again from the rotary kiln 50.The extracted fuel gases can then be treated by a fuel gas aftertreatment process not shown in the figures.

[0062] In the area of ​​the outlet 53, the lithium-ion batteries 21 pyrolyzed in the rotary kiln 51 fall by gravity into the outlet housing 56, indicated by arrow P7, and from there, by gravity, into a discharge conveyor 70 in the form of a rotary valve. Below the rotary valve 70, an intermediate outlet container 80, a simple steel box, acts as a buffer. Due to the arrangement of the intermediate outlet container 80 below the rotary valve 70, the thermally treated lithium-ion batteries 21 can fall by gravity from the rotary valve 70 into the intermediate outlet container 80, indicated by arrow P9. Via a further conveyor screw 90, the lithium-ion accumulators 21 can finally be conveyed along the direction of arrow P10 from the intermediate outlet container 80 and into a transport container 100, indicated by the arrow P11.The conveyor screw 90 has a water-fed jacket cooling system so that the lithium-ion batteries 21 can be cooled down to a maximum temperature of 60°C during their transport through the conveyor screw 90.

[0063] The shredded, thermally treated lithium-ion batteries 21 can be removed from the device 1 in batches via the transport container 100 and subjected to further treatment. This batch removal is buffered by the intermediate outlet container 80.

[0064] The mobile device 1 further comprises a device 110 for generating an inert gas in the form of gaseous nitrogen. The device 110 comprises a pneumatic screw compressor 111, by which gaseous nitrogen can be generated. Furthermore, the device 110 comprises a gas tank 112, in which nitrogen gas generated by the pneumatic screw compressor 111 can be accommodated. From the gas tank 112, nitrogen can be introduced into the input chamber 10 via a first inert gas line 113 via the gas opening 16, and into the rotary tube 51 via a second inert gas line 114 via the gas connection 58.

[0065] All components of the device 1 can be driven by electric current, so that only a supply of electric current is required to operate the device 1.

[0066] Furthermore, the device 1 is designed such that it is completely arranged in a container, indicated by the dashed line 120. By transporting the container 120, the entire device 1 is designed to be transportable or mobile.

[0067] In Figure 2 are only some elements of the device 1 according to Figure 1 provided with reference symbols.

Claims

1. A mobile device (1) for treating lithium-ion batteries comprising: 1.1 a feed chamber (10), wherein 1.1.1 lithium-ion batteries can be received in the feed chamber (10); 1.2 a comminuting device (20), wherein 1.2.1 the lithium-ion batteries received in the feed chamber (10) can be conveyed from the feed chamber (10) to the comminuting device (20) and 1.2.2 the lithium-ion batteries conveyed to the comminuting device (20) can be comminuted by the comminuting device (20); 1.3 an intermediate input container (30), wherein 1.3.1 the lithium-ion batteries comminuted by the comminuting device (20) can be conveyed from the comminuting device (20) to the intermediate input container (30) and 1.3.2 the comminuted lithium-ion batteries conveyed to the intermediate input container (30) can be received in the intermediate input container (30); 1.4 a rotary kiln (50), wherein 1.4.1 the comminuted lithium-ion batteries received in the intermediate input container (30) can be conveyed from the intermediate input container (30) into the rotary kiln (50), 1.4.2 the rotary kiln (50) can be electrically heated and 1.4.3 the comminuted lithium-ion batteries conveyed into the rotary kiln (50) can be thermally treated by the rotary kiln (50); and 1.5 an output conveying facility (70), wherein 1.5.1 the comminuted lithium-ion batteries thermally treated in the rotary kiln (50) can be conveyed out of the rotary kiln (50) by the output conveying facility (70).

2. The mobile device (1) according to Claim 1, wherein an inert gas atmosphere can be set in the feed chamber (10).

3. The mobile device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the lithium-ion batteries received in the feed chamber (10) can be conveyed from the feed chamber (10) to the comminuting device (20) by means of gravity.

4. The mobile device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the lithium-ion batteries can be comminuted by the comminuting device (20) to a particle size, according to which at least 90% by mass of the lithium-ion batteries comminuted by the comminuting device (20) have a particle size of a maximum of 20 mm.

5. The mobile device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the comminuting device (20) comprises a single-shaft shredder.

6. The mobile device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the lithium-ion batteries comminuted by the comminuting device (20) can be conveyed from the comminuting device (20) to the intermediate input container (30) by means of gravity.

7. The mobile device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the comminuted lithium-ion batteries conveyed into the rotary kiln (50) can be thermally treated by the rotary kiln (50) such that an at least partially pyrolytic decomposition of the lithium-ion batteries takes place.

8. The mobile device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising an input conveying facility (40), wherein the lithium-ion batteries received in the intermediate input container (30) can be conveyed out of the intermediate input container (30) into the rotary kiln (50) by the input conveying facility (40).

9. The mobile device (1) according to Claim 8, wherein the input conveying facility (40) comprises at least two screw conveyors (41, 42).

10. The mobile device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotary kiln (50) comprises a rotary tube (51) and an inlet housing (54), wherein the rotary tube (51) is sealed relative to the inlet housing (54) via a seal (55) comprising polytetrafluoroethylene.

11. The mobile device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotary kiln (50) comprises a rotary tube (51) and an outlet housing (56), wherein the rotary tube (51) is sealed relative to the outlet housing (56) via a seal (57) comprising polytetrafluoroethylene.

12. The mobile device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising an intermediate outlet container (80), wherein the lithium-ion batteries, which are conveyed out of the rotary kiln (50) by means of the output conveying facility (70), can be received in the intermediate outlet container (80).

13. The mobile device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising a facility (110) for generating an inert gas.

14. A method for treating lithium-ion batteries, comprising the following steps: A. providing a mobile device (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims; B. feeding lithium-ion batteries (11) into the feed chamber (10); C. conveying the lithium-ion batteries (11), which are fed into the feed chamber (10), to the comminuting device (20); D. comminuting the lithium-ion batteries (11) by means of the comminuting device (20); E. conveying the comminuted lithium-ion batteries (21) into the intermediate input container (30); F. conveying the comminuted lithium-ion batteries (21), which are conveyed into the intermediate input container (30), into the rotary kiln (50); G. thermally treating, by means of the rotary kiln (50), the comminuted lithium-ion batteries (21) which are conveyed into the rotary kiln (50); H. conveying the comminuted lithium-ion batteries (21), which are thermally treated in the rotary kiln (50), out of the rotary kiln (50) by means of the output conveying device (70).

15. The method according to Claim 14, wherein the lithium-ion batteries (11) are thermally treated by the rotary kiln (50) such that an at least partially pyrolytic decomposition of the comminuted lithium-ion batteries (21) takes place.