Lithium recovery equipment

Abstract

A lithium recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a recovery body providing an internal path through which gaseous lithium sulfide passes, a plurality of first electrodes installed in the recovery body and spaced apart from each other, a plurality of second electrodes installed in the recovery body and alternately arranged with the plurality of first electrodes, and a voltage application unit connected to the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes and applying a voltage, and generates an electric field between the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes by the voltage approved by the voltage application unit, thereby capturing the gaseous lithium sulfide as lithium powder.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lithium recovery device, and more particularly to a lithium recovery device that recovers gaseous lithium sulfide. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, lithium-ion batteries use liquid electrolytes, which make them prone to fire and difficult to store. To solve these problems, solid-state batteries that use solid electrolytes are being developed. Lithium sulfide (Li2S) is used as the solid electrolyte in these solid-state batteries.

[0003] Lithium recovery devices that produce such lithium sulfide generally collect lithium powder through processes such as evaporation, condensation, sublimation, etc. That is, lithium sulfide can be collected on a filter by evaporating it together with gas, by condensing it due to a temperature difference, or by sublimating it.

[0004] However, in this case, not only the lithium powder, which is a small and light particle, but also other large particles are collected, so a post-process is required to separate only the small lithium powder.

[0005] Therefore, the lithium recovery process becomes complicated, the size of the lithium recovery device increases, and the collection efficiency of the lithium powder decreases. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention provides a lithium recovery device that has a simple lithium recovery process, is small in size, and can improve the efficiency of collecting lithium powder. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A lithium recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a recovery body providing an internal path through which gaseous lithium sulfide passes, a plurality of first electrodes installed in the recovery body and spaced apart from each other, a plurality of second electrodes installed in the recovery body and alternately arranged with the plurality of first electrodes, and a voltage application unit connected to the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes and applying a voltage, and generates an electric field between the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes by the voltage approved by the voltage application unit, thereby capturing the gaseous lithium sulfide as lithium powder.

[0008] The first electrode and the second electrode may partially overlap each other.

[0009] The collection body may further include a fixing member installed within the collection body to fix the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes, the fixing member including a first fixing member provided on one hemisphere of the collection body and a second fixing member provided on the other hemisphere of the collection body opposite the one hemisphere, the plurality of first electrodes may be coupled to the first fixing member, and the plurality of second electrodes may be coupled to the second fixing member.

[0010] The first electrode and the second electrode may have a flat plate shape with cuts or grooves.

[0011] The first electrode and the second electrode may have a mesh shape.

[0012] The battery may further include a powder separating unit that separates the lithium powder collected on the first electrode and the second electrode, and the powder separating unit may include a first powder separating unit that applies vibration to the first electrode and the second electrode to separate the lithium powder, and a second powder separating unit that applies physical force to surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode to separate the lithium powder.

[0013] The first powder separating unit may include a vibrating unit provided in the collecting body.

[0014] The second powder separating unit may include an electrode rotating unit connected to the first electrode and the second electrode to rotate the first electrode and the second electrode, and a wiper that comes into contact with surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode rotated by the electrode rotating unit to separate the lithium powder from the first electrode and the second electrode.

[0015] The voltage application unit may apply a reverse voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode to separate the lithium powder between the first electrode and the second electrode. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] A lithium recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention can selectively collect small lithium particles by capturing gaseous lithium sulfide with lithium powder using an electric field generated between a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, thereby improving the collection efficiency of the lithium powder.

[0017] In addition, since only lithium powder is selectively collected, no additional post-processing is required, and the size of the lithium recovery device can be small, thereby reducing the cost of lithium recovery. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lithium recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 1 shows the flatness of the first electrode or the second electrode of a lithium recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which lithium powder is collected on the first electrode and the second electrode of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 10 shows the flatness of the first electrode or the second electrode of the lithium recovery device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10 shows the flatness of the first electrode or the second electrode of the lithium recovery device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a lithium recovery device according to another embodiment of the present invention. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0019] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention may be embodied in various different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lithium recovery device according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the flatness of the first electrode or the second electrode of the lithium recovery device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining the state in which lithium powder is collected on the first electrode and the second electrode of FIG. 2.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lithium recovery device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a recovery body 100, a plurality of first electrodes 200, a plurality of second electrodes 300, a voltage application unit 400, and a fixing member 500.

[0022] The collection body 100 can provide an internal passage through which gaseous lithium sulfide (LiS) passes. In this embodiment, the collection body 100 is shown to have an empty cylindrical shape, but it is not limited thereto and various shapes of collection bodies are possible.

[0023] A plurality of first electrodes 200 may be installed in the collection body 100 and spaced apart from one another. As shown in FIG. 3, the first electrode 200 may have a circular flat plate shape with a knob 50. This increases the contact area between the gaseous lithium sulfide (Li2S) and the first electrode 200, thereby improving the collection efficiency of the lithium powder (LP). However, the shape of the first electrode 200 is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 5, the first electrode 200 may have a circular flat plate shape with a plurality of grooves 60. By forming a plurality of grooves 60 in the first electrode 200, the contact area between the gaseous lithium sulfide (Li2S) and the first electrode 200 increases, thereby improving the collection efficiency of the lithium powder (LP).

[0024] A plurality of second electrodes 300 are installed in the collection body 100 and are alternately arranged with a plurality of first electrodes 200. As shown in FIG. 3, the second electrode 300 may have a circular flat plate shape with a knob 50. This increases the contact area between the gaseous lithium sulfide (Li2S) and the first electrode 200, thereby improving the collection efficiency of the lithium powder (LP). However, the shape of the second electrode 300 is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 5, the second electrode 300 may have a circular flat plate shape with a plurality of grooves 60. By forming a plurality of grooves 60 in the second electrode 300, the contact area between the gaseous lithium sulfide (Li2S) and the second electrode 300 increases, thereby improving the collection efficiency of the lithium powder (LP).

[0025] The first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300 may partially overlap each other. Therefore, the internal path through which the gaseous lithium sulfide passes becomes zigzag and longer, thereby improving the efficiency of collecting lithium powder (LP).

[0026] The voltage applying unit 400 is connected to the plurality of first electrodes 200 and the plurality of second electrodes 300 and can apply a voltage of about 50 to 100V to the plurality of first electrodes 200 and the plurality of second electrodes 300 .

[0027] An electric field is generated between the plurality of first electrodes 200 and the plurality of second electrodes 300 by a voltage applied to the plurality of first electrodes 200 and the plurality of second electrodes 300 by the voltage application unit 400, and gaseous lithium sulfide can be captured by lithium powder.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, when lithium sulfide in a gaseous state can be positively or sonically charged, the electric field between the plurality of first electrodes 200 and the plurality of second electrodes 300 causes the lithium sulfide in an ionic state to adhere to the plurality of first electrodes 200 and the plurality of second electrodes 300, and the lithium sulfide can be collected into lithium powder (LP).

[0029] The fixing member 500 is installed in the collection body 100 and can fix the plurality of first electrodes 200 and the plurality of second electrodes 300. The fixing member 500 can be made of an insulating material such as Teflon.

[0030] The fixing member 500 may include a first fixing member 510 and a second fixing member 520 .

[0031] The first fixing member 510 may be installed on one hemisphere, i.e., the lower hemisphere, of the collection body 100. The plurality of first electrodes 200 may be coupled to the first fixing member 510. In this case, the knobs 50 of the plurality of first electrodes 200 may be coupled to the first fixing member 510 so that they are positioned in different directions from each other. Therefore, the internal path through which the gaseous lithium sulfide passes is lengthened, thereby improving the collection efficiency of the lithium powder (LP).

[0032] The second fixing member 520 may be installed on the other hemisphere, i.e., the upper hemisphere, of the collection body 100, facing the one hemisphere. A plurality of second electrodes 300 may be coupled to the second fixing member 520. In this case, the knobs 50 of the plurality of second electrodes 300 may be coupled to the second fixing member 520 so that they are positioned in different directions from each other. Therefore, the internal path through which the gaseous lithium sulfide passes is lengthened, thereby improving the collection efficiency of lithium powder (LP).

[0033] Meanwhile, other embodiments are possible in which the first and second electrodes have a mesh shape, unlike the above embodiment.

[0034] Hereinafter, a lithium recovery apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0035] FIG. 6 shows the flatness of the first electrode or the second electrode of the lithium recovery device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] The other embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is substantially the same as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 except for the structures of the first and second electrodes, and therefore, a repeated description will be omitted.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 6, a lithium recovery device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a recovery body 100, a plurality of first electrodes 200, a plurality of second electrodes 300, a voltage application unit 400, and a fixing member 500.

[0038] The first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300 may have a mesh shape, which increases the contact area between the gaseous lithium sulfide (LiS) and the first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300, thereby enhancing the charging effect and improving the collection efficiency of the lithium powder (LP).

[0039] Meanwhile, other embodiments may be possible in which a powder separation unit for separating lithium powder is provided, unlike the above embodiment.

[0040] Hereinafter, a lithium recovery apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0041] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a lithium recovery device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] The other embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is substantially the same as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 except for the structure of the powder separating portion, so a repeated description will be omitted.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 7, a lithium recovery device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a recovery body 100, a plurality of first electrodes 200, a plurality of second electrodes 300, a voltage application unit 400, a fixing member 500, and a powder separation unit 600.

[0044] The powder separating unit 600 can separate the lithium powder collected in the first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300 .

[0045] The powder separation section may include a first powder separation section 610 and a second powder separation section 620.

[0046] The first powder separating unit 610 may include a vibrating unit 610 provided in the collecting body 100. The vibrating unit 610 is a device for generating vibrations and may include a vibration motor, etc. In this manner, the first powder separating unit 610 may apply vibrations to the first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300 to separate the lithium powder in the first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300.

[0047] The second powder separating unit 620 may include an electrode rotating unit 621 and a wiper 622 .

[0048] The electrode rotation unit 621 is connected to the first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300 to rotate the first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300. The electrode rotation unit 621 may include a rotation shaft 61 connected to the central axis of the first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300, and a rotation motor 62 connected to the rotation shaft 61 to rotate the rotation shaft 61.

[0049] The wiper 622 comes into contact with the surfaces of the first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300 rotated by the electrode rotation unit 621 and applies a physical force to the first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300, thereby separating the lithium powder in the first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300.

[0050] In addition, the voltage application unit may apply a voltage opposite to the voltage applied for powder collection to the first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300, thereby separating the lithium powder at the first electrode 200 and the second electrode 300 due to the opposite charge effect.

[0051] Although the present disclosure has been described through preferred embodiments as described above, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains that the present invention is not limited thereto and that various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the claims set forth below. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 100 Recovered Body 200 multiple first electrodes 300 multiple second electrodes 400 Voltage application section 500 Fixing member 600 Powder separation section

Claims

1. a collection body providing an internal passageway for passing gaseous lithium sulfide; a plurality of first electrodes disposed in the collection body and spaced apart from one another; a plurality of second electrodes disposed within the collection body and arranged alternately with the plurality of first electrodes; a voltage applying unit connected to the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes to apply a voltage; Including, A lithium recovery device that generates an electric field between the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes by the voltage approved by the voltage application unit, and captures the gaseous lithium sulfide with lithium powder.

2. The lithium recovery device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode partially overlap each other.

3. The collection body further includes a fixing member that is installed in the collection body and fixes the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes, The fixing member a first fixing member provided on one hemisphere of the recovery body; a second fixing member provided on the other hemisphere of the collecting body opposite to the one hemisphere; Including, the plurality of first electrodes are coupled to the first fixing member; The lithium recovery device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second electrodes are coupled to the second fixing member.

4. The lithium recovery device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode have a flat plate shape with cut portions or grooves.

5. The lithium recovery device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode have a mesh shape.

6. The lithium battery further includes a powder separation unit that separates the lithium powder collected on the first electrode and the second electrode, The powder separation unit a first powder separating unit that applies vibration to the first electrode and the second electrode to separate the lithium powder; a second powder separation unit that applies a physical force to surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode to separate the lithium powder; The lithium recovery device of claim 1 , comprising:

7. The lithium recovery device according to claim 6 , wherein the first powder separation unit includes a vibration unit provided in the recovery body.

8. The second powder separation section an electrode rotation unit connected to the first electrode and the second electrode to rotate the first electrode and the second electrode; a wiper that comes into contact with surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode rotated by the electrode rotating unit to separate the lithium powder from the first electrode and the second electrode; The lithium recovery device of claim 6, comprising:

9. The lithium recovery device according to claim 6 , wherein the voltage application unit applies a reverse voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode to separate the lithium powder at the first electrode and the second electrode.

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