Battery cell disposal device including an input section capable of dispersed input

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery cell disposal device including a charging unit capable of distributed charging and a method of charging a battery cell using the same. The battery cell disposal device according to the present invention includes a charging unit into which a battery is charged and a processing unit that processes the battery cell charged through the charging port. The charging unit includes a charging hole provided in a central portion and a charging inlet surface that is inclined downward toward the charging hole, a dispersion guide that is located below the charging hole, has a conical shape, and has a vertex on an upper surface, and one or more connecting shafts that connect an edge of the charging hole and an edge of the dispersion guide.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0072082, filed on June 14, 2022, and all the contents disclosed in the Korean Patent Application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery cell disposal device including a charging unit capable of distributed charging and a method of charging battery cells using the same. Specifically, when a large number of battery cells are charged into a processing unit, the present invention relates to a battery cell disposal device including a charging unit capable of distributed charging that can prevent short circuits and explosions caused by contact between battery cells by charging the battery cells in a distributed manner, and a method of charging battery cells using the same.

Background Art

[0003] The usage amount of battery cells is increasing geometrically. At the same time, the number of battery cells that must be discarded is also rapidly increasing. Spent batteries always require specialized after-treatment due to recycling and environmental issues.

[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional battery cell disposal device 10. Referring to FIG. 1, in the conventional battery cell disposal device 10 according to the prior art, spent batteries are charged into a processing unit 200 containing an acidic solution to discharge the spent batteries, and then dried and crushed for processing.

[0005] When a large amount of spent batteries are simultaneously charged into the processing unit 200, short circuits and discharge accidents may occur due to contact between the spent batteries. In addition, when charging, safety accidents of operators and environmental pollution caused by scattering of the acidic solution must also be considered.

[0006] Patent Document 1 discloses a waste lithium battery disposal device that inputs waste lithium batteries, punches and cuts them, and discharges them for treatment. Patent Document 1 supplies waste lithium batteries to a process chamber via a battery input unit and a battery supply unit, and a discharge unit provided in the process chamber punches, cuts, discharges, and treats the waste lithium batteries. Patent Document 1 is for preventing safety accidents caused by a wet treatment method using an acidic solution, and blocks the occurrence of safety accidents by a non-wet treatment method. Thus, additional disposal devices such as a process chamber for treating waste lithium batteries, such as punching and cutting, are required, so there are disadvantages in that equipment manufacturing costs, maintenance costs due to replacement of parts that have operated for a certain period, and a larger space for the disposal device are required.

[0007] Currently, most waste batteries are treated using an acidic solution, so a simple and effective solution that can be easily applied to such an environment is required.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] The present invention is for solving the above problems, and even when a large number of battery cells are input into a battery cell disposal device, it suppresses damage caused by short circuits between battery cells and can prevent safety accidents caused by scattering of an acidic solution, and aims to provide a battery cell disposal device and a method of inputting battery cells using the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a battery cell disposal device including an input unit into which a battery cell is inserted and a processing unit that processes the battery cell inserted through the input unit. The input unit includes an input port provided with an input hole at a central portion and an input inclined surface inclined downward toward the input hole, a dispersion guide located below the input hole, having a conical shape and having a vertex on an upper surface thereof, and one or more connecting shafts connecting an edge of the input hole and an edge of the dispersion guide.

[0011] The input unit can include a corrosion-resistant material or can be coated with a corrosion-resistant material, and the corrosion-resistant material can be one or more selected from the group consisting of polyolefin resins and glass.

[0012] The input port can have a frustum of a cone shape or a frustum of a pyramid shape.

[0013] The length of the lower surface of the dispersion guide can be equal to or greater than the size of the input hole.

[0014] The dispersion guide can have a conical shape or a frustum of a pyramid shape, and the vertex of the dispersion guide can be located within a range on a vertical extension line of the input hole. Preferably, a vertical line of the center of the dispersion guide and a vertical line of the center of the input hole can be located identically.

[0015] The input unit and the processing unit can be coupled to each other, and in order to prevent the solution inside the processing unit from spilling out, a curtain portion made of a corrosion-resistant resin material can further extend or be coupled to an outer periphery of an upper portion of the input unit.

[0016] An acidic solution can be stored inside the processing unit, specifically, an aqueous sulfuric acid solution or the like can be stored.

[0017] Further, the present invention provides a battery cell disposal method using the battery cell disposal device.

[0018] The disposal of the battery cell can include melting of the external cover of the battery cell and disassembling of the case.

[0019] The present invention can also be provided as a configuration that arbitrarily combines the above-mentioned problems to be solved.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] Thus, the present invention provides a battery cell disposal device that can prevent short circuits and discharge accidents between battery cells by including an input hole, an input inclined surface, and a dispersion guide, so that when a large number of battery cells are input, they are dispersed and input into the processing unit.

[0021] In addition, the present invention can prevent safety accidents of operators caused by the acidic solution scattered by the input of the battery cell from scattering to the outside.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Hereinafter, based on the accompanying drawings, embodiments that enable a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention pertains to easily implement the present invention will be described in detail. However, when explaining in detail the operating principle of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known functions or configurations may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0024] Also, the same reference numerals are used for parts having similar functions and actions throughout the drawings. Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be connected to another part, this includes not only the case where they are directly connected, but also the case where they are indirectly connected with other elements interposed therebetween. Further, including a certain component means, unless otherwise stated to the contrary, not excluding other components, but meaning that other components can be further included.

[0025] Hereinafter, a battery cell disposal device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a battery cell disposal device 1000 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the battery cell disposal device 1000 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] For reference, in the cases of FIGS. 3, 5, and 7, the input parts 1100, 2100, 3100 are not shown in a state where they are completely coupled to the processing parts 1200, 2200, 3200, but show the state immediately before coupling. When the input parts 1100, 2100, 3100 and the processing parts 1200, 2200, 3200 are coupled, the outer periphery, inside, or lower end of the upper part of the input parts 1100, 2100, 3100 comes into contact with the processing parts 1200, 2200, 3200.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the battery cell disposal device 1000 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an input part 1100 and a processing part 1200.

[0029] The input section 1100 can include a corrosion-resistant material or can be coated with a corrosion-resistant material, and can include an input hole 1110, an input inclined surface 1120, a dispersion guide 1130, and a connecting shaft 1140. The input port 1105 includes the input hole 1110 and the input inclined surface 1120.

[0030] The corrosion-resistant material can be one or more selected from the group including polyolefin resin and glass. The input section 1100 can include a corrosion-resistant material or can be coated with a corrosion-resistant material not only on the upper surface but also on the lower surface facing the processing section 1200.

[0031] A curtain part C made of a corrosion-resistant resin material can extend or be coupled to the outer peripheral edge of the upper part of the input section 1100. The curtain part C can prevent the acidic solution inside the processing section 1200 from splashing out. Even if it splashes out, the acidic solution does not splash high and flows along the curtain part C to the bottom, which has the advantage of preventing safety accidents of operators. The curtain part C can be detachably coupled.

[0032] The input hole 1110 is a hole located in the center of the input section 1100, and can send a large number of battery cells input into the input section 1100 to the processing section 1200.

[0033] The battery cell can be a cylindrical, rectangular or pouch-type battery cell, but is not limited thereto. The cylindrical or rectangular battery cell includes a metal cell case that houses the electrode assembly and is electrically connected to the negative electrode lead of the electrode assembly, and a top cap located on the upper part of the cell case.

[0034] The top cap does not conduct electricity with the cell case by an insulating member, and acts as a positive electrode terminal by being electrically connected to the positive electrode lead of the electrode assembly.

[0035] The upper surface of the cell case is positioned along the outer periphery of the top cap with an insulating member interposed therebetween so that the cell case and the top cap can be fixed to each other. The top cap preferably protrudes from the upper surface of the cell case, and more preferably further includes a positive electrode terminal that bulges upward at the center of the top cap.

[0036] The electrode assembly includes a cell assembly and leads. The cell assembly can include a jelly roll type cell assembly having a structure in which a separator is interposed between a long sheet-shaped positive electrode and a negative electrode and attached, a stack type cell assembly including unit cells having a structure in which rectangular positive and negative electrodes are laminated with a separator interposed therebetween, a stack folding type cell assembly in which unit cells are attached by a long separation film, or a lamination stack type cell assembly in which unit cells are laminated with a separator interposed therebetween and adhered to each other, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0037] Among a pair of leads including a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead, the positive electrode lead is directly or indirectly connected to the positive electrode of the cell assembly and the top cap, and the negative electrode lead is electrically connected to the cell case. Since the electrode assembly constituting the cylindrical battery cell as described above corresponds to a generally known configuration, a more detailed description will be omitted.

[0038] The battery cell disposal device according to the present invention can also dispose of a pouch type battery cell for disposal after use, if necessary.

[0039] The input inclined surface 1120 has a frustum shape and is inclined downward from the edge of the input portion 1100 toward the input hole 1110 located at the center of the input portion 1100.

[0040] Since the input inclined surface 1120 is formed, when a large number of battery cells are input, the battery cells do not stay on the upper surface of the input section 1100, but can move toward the input hole 1110 and move quickly and accurately to the processing section 1200. Also, the battery cells forming the inclined surface do not move suddenly at once, but can move gradually along the inclined surface.

[0041] On the surface of the input inclined surface 1120, a linear or spiral protrusion or groove (not shown) connected to the input hole 1110 can be provided so as to guide the movement of the battery cells.

[0042] The input port 1105 including the input hole 1110 and the input inclined surface 1120 can have a frustum of a cone shape or a frustum of a pyramid shape as a whole, specifically in a form where the size of the upper surface is large. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the frustum of a cone shape.

[0043] The dispersion guide 1130 has a conical shape with a vertex at the center of the upper surface and can be located at a certain distance below the input hole 1110.

[0044] As described above, the dispersion guide 1130 is located below the input hole 1110 and is configured such that the battery cells input for disposal are dispersed throughout the processing section 1200, thereby preventing a large amount of battery cells from being input in one side direction such as the center or the edge of the processing section 1200 and preventing a short-circuit discharge accident between the battery cells.

[0045] The surface of the dispersion guide 1130 is preferably made of a softer material than a hard material. Since the battery cells falling through the input hole 1110 may collide with the surface of the dispersion guide 1130 and then jump upward and collide with other falling battery cells, the surface of the dispersion guide 1130 is preferably made of a softer material. By manufacturing the connecting shaft 1140 itself from a material having an elastic force, a similar effect can be shown.

[0046] The length of the connecting shaft 1140 must be equal to or greater than the length at which the battery cells falling through the input hole 1110 can be dispersed peripherally after colliding with the dispersion guide 1130, and must be short enough so that the acidic solution inside the processing unit 1200 does not come into contact with the dispersion guide 1130.

[0047] The apex of the dispersion guide 1130 can be located within the range on the vertical extension line of the input hole 1110, and more preferably, it can be located at the same position as the central vertical line of the dispersion guide 1130 and the central vertical line of the input hole 1110.

[0048] Preferably, the length D3 of the lower surface of the dispersion guide 1130 is equal to or greater than the size D2 of the input hole 1110. In this case, the battery cells cannot fall directly into the processing unit 1200 and fall after colliding with the dispersion guide 1130 once. If the length D3 of the lower surface of the dispersion guide 1130 is less than the size D2 of the input hole 1110, the input battery cells can fall directly into the processing unit 1200, and thus the scattered acidic solution of the processing unit 1200 may flow out to the outside of the waste disposal device, causing safety accidents to the operators.

[0049] Specifically, the area of the lower part of the dispersion guide 1130 is equal to or greater than the area of the input hole 1110, and when the dispersion guide 1130 and the input hole 1110 are projected vertically, the lower surface of the dispersion guide 1130 must include the entire surface of the input hole 1110.

[0050] On the surface of the dispersion guide 1130, linear or spiral protrusions or grooves (not shown) can be provided to guide the movement of the battery cells.

[0051] The dispersion guide 1130 can further include a guide (not shown) extending in a wing shape along the outer peripheral part, which can more effectively prevent the scattering of the acidic solution.

[0052] The connecting shaft 1140 can have a rod shape and can connect the edge of the input hole 1110 and the edge of the dispersion guide 1130 to support and fix the dispersion guide 1130.

[0053] The position of the dispersion guide 1130 can be determined by the connection position between the connecting shaft 1140 and the dispersion guide 1130 and the length of the connecting shaft 1140.

[0054] One or more connecting shafts 1140 are provided to connect the input hole 1110 and the dispersion guide 1130, and preferably there can be 3 or 4. If the number of connecting shafts 1140 is less than 3, the supporting force and fixing force between the input hole 1110 and the dispersion guide 1130 may become weak. If it exceeds 4, it may interfere with the movement path of the inserted battery cell. In the case of 2, the dispersion guide 1130 may not be fixed and may rotate due to the insertion of the battery cell.

[0055] The processing unit 1200 can have an open cylindrical shape on the upper surface and stores an acidic solution for discarding the inserted battery cell inside. Specifically, it can store an aqueous sulfuric acid solution or the like.

[0056] The acidic solution in the processing unit 1200 dissolves or decomposes the outer cover and case of the inserted battery cell.

[0057] The acidic solution dissolves or corrodes the inserted battery cell for discarding. In the case of thionyl chloride used as the negative electrode, it reacts with water and becomes acidic, so continuous reprocessing is possible by only replenishing water without the need to separately replenish sulfuric acid.

[0058] Although not shown in the drawings, for the smooth insertion of the battery cell, the battery cell disposal device can further be provided with a vibration device that imparts vibration to the whole device.

[0059] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the battery cell disposal device 2000 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the battery cell disposal device 2000 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the battery cell disposal device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as the battery cell disposal device 1000 according to the first embodiment described in FIGS. 2 and 3, except for the shape of the dispersion guide 2130. Therefore, the description of the same configuration is omitted.

[0061] The input unit 2100 of the battery cell disposal device 2000 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes an input hole 2110, an input inclined surface 2120, a dispersion guide 2130, and a connecting shaft 2140.

[0062] The dispersion guide 2130 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is formed in a quadrangular pyramid shape, so that the input direction of the input battery cells can be intentionally determined, and thus the battery cells can be more evenly dispersed. The quadrangular pyramid shape is an example, and in addition to the quadrangular pyramid shape, it can be deformed into various polygonal pyramid shapes such as a triangular pyramid shape, a pentagonal pyramid shape, and a hexagonal pyramid shape.

[0063] In the drawings, three connecting shafts 2140 are provided, but the number can be adjusted as needed, such as four.

[0064] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a battery cell disposal device 3000 according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the battery cell disposal device 3000 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the battery cell disposal device 3000 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as the battery cell disposal device according to the first embodiment described in FIGS. 2 and 3, except for the shapes of the input unit 3100 and the processing unit 3200. Therefore, the description of the same configuration is omitted.

[0066] The battery cell disposal device 3000 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes an input unit 3100 and a processing unit 3200. The input unit 3100 includes an input hole 3110, an input inclined surface 3120, a dispersion guide 3130, and a connecting shaft 3140.

[0067] The inlet 3105 includes an inlet hole 3110 and an inlet inclined surface 3120. The inlet 3105 has a quadrangular pyramid shape. Each of the inlet inclined surfaces 3120 is a flat surface and slopes downward from the edge of the inlet part 3100 toward the inlet hole 3110.

[0068] The dispersion guide 3130 is formed in a quadrangular pyramid shape, and since the input direction of the inserted battery cells can be intentionally determined, the battery cells can be dispersed more evenly.

[0069] The processing unit 3200 has a rectangular box shape with an open top surface and can store an acidic solution inside.

[0070] Thus, the battery cell disposal device according to the third embodiment has the advantage that when installing a plurality of battery cell disposal devices, the space occupied by the battery cell disposal devices can be used more efficiently because the inlet 3105 has a quadrangular pyramid shape, the inlet inclined surface 3120 has a flat shape, and the processing unit 3200 has a rectangular box shape.

[0071] The forms of the inlet part, the dispersion guide, and the processing unit mentioned in the above embodiments can be combined with each other in any form and are not limited to only the above embodiments.

[0072] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a case of disposing of battery cells by a battery cell disposal device according to the prior art and the present invention.

[0073] Referring to FIG. 8, as shown in FIG. 8(a), when the battery cell disposal device 10 according to the prior art inputs battery cells into the processing unit 200, the acidic solution stored in the processing unit 200 may scatter, so there is a risk of safety accidents for the operator. Also, after the battery cells are input, the battery cells may accumulate intensively at one point, and damages such as explosion of the battery cells may occur.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 8(b), since the present invention includes the charging unit 1100 including the dispersion guide 1130 above the processing unit 1200, damage such as explosion of the battery cells can be prevented by the battery cells being dispersed and piled up on the processing unit 1200. By providing the charging unit 1100 and the curtain part C extending from or joined to the charging unit 1100, there is an advantage that scattering of the acidic solution due to the charging of the battery cells can be prevented and safety accidents of workers can be prevented.

[0075] Further, the present invention can provide a method of charging a battery cell or a method of discarding a battery cell using the above-described battery cell discarding device.

[0076] The method of charging a battery cell or the method of discarding a battery cell using the above-described battery cell discarding device can include a step of charging the battery cell into the charging unit, a step of waiting for the charged battery cell to dissolve or decompose and stabilize, and a step of crushing the dissolved or decomposed battery cell after drying.

[0077] In FIGS. 2 to 8, the inlets 1105, 2105, 3105 are shown as frustum of a cone or frustum of a quadrangular pyramid. However, as long as the charged battery cells can move along the charging inclined surfaces 1120, 2120, 3120 toward the charging holes 1110, 2110, 3110, they may be formed in a frustum of a polygonal pyramid such as a frustum of a triangular pyramid or a frustum of a pentagonal pyramid.

[0078] In FIGS. 2 to 8, the dispersion guides 1130, 2130, 3130 are shown as a cone or a quadrangular pyramid. However, as long as the charged battery cells can be dispersed and piled up on the processing units 1200, 2200, 3200, they may be formed in a polygonal pyramid such as a triangular pyramid or a pentagonal pyramid.

[0079] Although the specific parts of the content of the present invention have been described in detail above, for those with ordinary knowledge in the art, such specific technologies are only preferred embodiments, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereby. It is obvious that various changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the category and technical idea of the present invention. Needless to say, such variations and modifications also belong to the scope of the appended claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0080] 10, 1000, 2000, 3000 Battery Cell Disposal Device 1100, 2100, 3100 Feeding Section 1105, 2105, 3105 Inlet 1110, 2110, 3110 Feeding Hole 1120, 2120, 3120 Feeding Inclined Plane 1130, 2130, 3130 Dispersion Guide 1140, 2140, 3140 Connecting Shaft 1200, 2200, 3200 Processing Section C Curtain Section D1 Diameter above the feeding inclined plane D2 Size of the feeding hole D3 Diameter of the lower surface of the dispersion guide, length of the cross-section of the dispersion guide

Claims

1. An input section into which a battery cell is inserted, A processing section that processes the battery cell inserted through the input section, A battery cell disposal device including: The input section includes: An input port including an input hole provided at the center and an input inclined surface inclined downward toward the input hole, A dispersion guide located below the input hole, having a conical shape and having a vertex on the upper surface, One or more connecting shafts connecting the edge of the input hole and the edge of the dispersion guide, A battery cell disposal device.

2. The battery cell disposal device according to claim 1, wherein the input section includes a corrosion-resistant material or is coated with a corrosion-resistant material.

3. The battery cell disposal device according to claim 2, wherein the corrosion-resistant material is one or more selected from the group consisting of polyolefin resin and glass.

4. The battery cell disposal device according to claim 1, wherein the input port has a frustum of a cone shape or a frustum of a pyramid shape.

5. The battery cell disposal device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the lower surface of the dispersion guide is greater than or equal to the size of the input hole.

6. The battery cell disposal device according to claim 1, wherein the dispersion guide has a conical shape or a frustum of a pyramid shape.

7. The battery cell disposal device according to claim 1, wherein the vertex of the dispersion guide is located within the range on the vertical extension line of the input hole.

8. The battery cell disposal device according to claim 7, wherein the vertical line at the center of the dispersion guide and the vertical line at the center of the input hole are located identically.

9. The battery cell disposal device according to claim 1, wherein the input section and the processing section are coupled to each other.

10. The battery cell disposal device according to claim 1, further comprising a curtain section in which a corrosion-resistant resin material extends or is coupled to the upper outer periphery of the input section to prevent the solution inside the processing section from splashing out.

11. The battery cell disposal device according to claim 1, wherein an acidic solution is stored in the processing section.

12. A battery cell disposal method using the battery cell disposal device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The battery cell disposal method according to claim 12, wherein the disposal of the battery cell includes dissolution of the outer cover of the battery cell and decomposition of the case.

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