Method and apparatus for recycling batteries

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for recycling batteries, comprising the steps of (a) providing a battery that is at least partially discharged; (b) crushing the battery that is at least partially discharged in a processing chamber (11) to obtain battery pieces; (c) drying the battery pieces in the processing chamber (11) to obtain dried battery pieces and separation gas; and (d) packaging the dried battery pieces in a packaging body, wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed in the same processing chamber (11). The present invention further relates to a mobile device for recycling batteries using the method, and to a packaging body that can contain 1 kg to 30 kg of battery pieces that can be obtained using the method.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a mobile device for recycling batteries. The present invention further relates to a package containing battery pieces weighing from 1 kg to 30 kg.

Background Art

[0002] Methods and devices for recycling batteries, especially used batteries, are known in the prior art.

[0003] For example, Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 113477684 discloses a mobile recycling device for lithium batteries. The lithium battery is supplied to a crushing section D shown in Figure 1 of the document filled with water without oxygen, so the lithium battery can be crushed underwater in a non-explosive atmosphere. Then, the crushed battery pieces are conveyed from the crushing section D by a screw conveyor E and reach a drying section F where they are dried.

[0004] Chinese Patent No. 114583305 relates to a device for recycling lithium batteries. According to Figure 1 of the document, the device has a discharge container with a sieve-equipped insertion part respectively. The discharge container is filled with an aqueous sodium chloride solution. The lithium battery is immersed in the solution for discharge by being housed in the sieve-equipped insertion part. After the lithium batteries are discharged, they are pre-dried by rotating the sieve-equipped insertion part and then crushed into small pieces with a size of 20 mm × 30 mm in a first crushing section. Then, the battery pieces are transferred to a drying section by a conveyor belt where they are further dried. Then, the dried battery pieces are crushed into particles with a size of 16 mm in a second crushing section and separated into their components.

[0005] European Patent Application Publication No. 3312922 describes a method and plant for recycling used batteries. The batteries are first discharged in a discharge section. They are then fed into a crushing section and crushed under an inert gas. After crushing, the resulting battery pieces are transported to a drying section using a first airtight conveyor. During the drying of the battery pieces, the electrolyte is separated. The dried and inactivated battery pieces are then transported by a second conveyor to a packaging section, where they are filled into transport containers. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] There is a need to further increase the flexibility of methods and apparatus for recycling batteries. The object of the present invention is to provide such flexible methods and such flexible apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The purpose is to develop methods for recycling batteries. (a) A step of providing a battery that is at least partially discharged, (b) A step of crushing a battery that has been at least partially discharged in a processing chamber in order to obtain battery pieces, (c) A step of drying the battery pieces in a processing chamber in order to obtain dried battery pieces and separation gas, The present invention is achieved in that it includes the step of (d) packing the dried battery pieces into a packaging body, wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed in the same processing chamber.

[0008] Performing crushing and drying within the same processing chamber simplifies the method and makes it highly efficient, as process parameters (e.g., pressure, temperature) only need to be adjusted for this single processing chamber. Furthermore, drying may be performed immediately after crushing. This has the advantage of reducing the amount of intermediate undried battery pieces, or eliminating the need for intermediate storage altogether. Intermediate storage of undried battery pieces is complex from a process engineering standpoint, as harmful flammable vapors may leak from them, and therefore these battery pieces must be stored under controlled conditions. Drying is preferably started within 10 minutes, more preferably within 3 minutes, and most preferably within 1 minute after the completion of crushing.

[0009] The voltage of the battery provided in step (a) is preferably 2.5V or less per cell, more preferably 1V or less per cell, and most preferably 0.1V or less per cell. For this purpose, the battery may be at least partially discharged before step (a). Voltage measurement may be performed using a voltmeter connected in series. If at least partial discharge has not yet occurred (for example, due to the battery's previous intended use), the reliability of the operation of subsequent steps of the Method and the reliability of the process can be improved by the discharge incorporated into the Method, and in particular, the risk of thermal overload due to short circuits, which could lead to fire or spontaneous combustion of a flammable atmosphere, can be reduced.

[0010] The battery provided in step (a) may be obtained by disassembling a battery module or battery pack. A battery module is understood to be a combination of two or more batteries. A battery pack is understood to mean a combination of two or more battery modules including a battery system (similar to a battery pack, but which may have additional components, such as a cooling and / or management system), and the battery system should be considered to consist of battery packs within the scope of this application. Disassembly is preferably performed after the battery has been discharged, so that the battery module or battery pack can be brought to a voltage-free or at least low-voltage state, which may be advantageous from a safety standpoint.

[0011] The battery housing may be opened before crushing. As a result, the gas can be separated more easily, and the subsequent drying of the crushed battery pieces can be carried out more efficiently.

[0012] It is preferable to create a protective atmosphere within the processing chamber. A protective atmosphere is understood to mean an atmosphere with controlled pressure, controlled temperature, and controlled composition. This allows crushing and drying to be carried out in a controlled, safe, and reproducible manner. The protective atmosphere may be generated by a fractional vacuum process. As a result, the protective atmosphere can be constructed rapidly.

[0013] The protective atmosphere preferably contains at least 85% by volume, more preferably at least 95% by volume, and particularly preferably at least 98% by volume, of the total volume of the protective atmosphere, of an inert gas. The inert gas preferably contains nitrogen, which facilitates the avoidance of explosion or ignition of the battery components.

[0014] The moisture pressure of the protective atmosphere is preferably 100 Pa or less, preferably 70 Pa or less, and particularly preferably 50 Pa or less. As a result, the decomposition of the battery components, especially hexafluorophosphate, can be avoided, thereby preventing the formation of lithium hydroxide compounds or hydrogen fluoride compounds.

[0015] Furthermore, the partial pressure of oxygen in the protective atmosphere is preferably 100 mbar or less, more preferably 50 mbar or less, and particularly preferably 30 mbar or less. As a result, not only can corrosion of the components of the apparatus according to the present invention be reduced, but the tendency to form molecular hydrogen, which can form an ignitable atmosphere together with oxygen, can also be reduced.

[0016] In step (b) of this method, the battery, which is at least partially discharged, is crushed in the processing chamber to obtain battery fragments. As a result, the specific free surface area of ​​the battery can be increased, thereby improving the efficiency of the subsequent method steps.

[0017] Crushing may be carried out under vacuum, preferably at a pressure in a processing chamber of 100 mbar or less, more preferably 50 mbar or less, and particularly preferably in the range of 10 mbar to 50 mbar. As a result, the pressure that can be used for drying later can be set before crushing, so that drying can be carried out efficiently.

[0018] Alternatively, crushing may be carried out at atmospheric pressure in the processing chamber. Atmospheric pressure is understood to mean a pressure in the range of 1 bar to 1.1 bar. The pressure used for drying may then be set after or during step (b). In particular, this can be done if the size of the processing chamber is reduced after step (b), as will be further explained below.

[0019] Crushing may be carried out in a processing chamber at a temperature of 20°C to 200°C. Crushing is preferably carried out at 20°C to 30°C. As a result, the method can be carried out in a more energy-efficient manner. On the other hand, if a wet battery is provided, it may be advantageous to raise the temperature during crushing so that the water contained in the battery can evaporate. Crushing is then preferably carried out at a temperature in the range of 40°C or higher, more preferably 60°C or higher, even more preferably 90°C to 200°C, and particularly preferably 90°C to 150°C.

[0020] The diameter or maximum elongation (e.g., maximum length) of the battery piece is preferably 100 mm or less, more preferably 50 mm or less, and particularly preferably 20 mm or less. Because the specific free surface area of ​​the battery piece is large, this not only significantly improves drying efficiency but also improves the packaging of subsequent battery pieces. This also simplifies further processing of the battery piece to obtain raw materials, particularly metallurgical processing.

[0021] The size of the processing chamber may be reduced after step (b). For these purposes, a separation device may be placed inside the processing chamber. In this case, it is not necessary to heat and / or operate the entire processing chamber under vacuum during the subsequent drying, nor is it necessary to maintain a protective atmosphere throughout the entire processing chamber. Reducing the size of the processing chamber is not only advantageous in terms of energy consumption, but it also allows the remaining processing chamber to reach a specific temperature and / or pressure more quickly, thus enabling faster and more uniform drying.

[0022] In step (c) of this method, the battery pieces are dried in a processing chamber to obtain dried battery pieces and separated gas. The separated gas may be extracted through a filter, preferably a vapor filter.

[0023] The drying in step (c) may be carried out under vacuum in the processing chamber at a pressure preferably of 100 mbar or less, more preferably of 50 mbar or less, and particularly preferably in the range of 10 mbar to 50 mbar. As a result, the vapor pressure of the separated gas, especially the electrolyte, can be reduced.

[0024] If step (c) is carried out under vacuum, the vacuum pump may be operated in a hysteresis mode to generate a vacuum in the processing chamber. As a result, the pressure in the processing chamber can be rapidly reduced. This can also reduce the duty cycle of the vacuum pump. The "hysteresis mode" is understood to mean an operating mode of the vacuum pump in which the power of the vacuum pump alternately repeats the minimum value and the maximum value. The power of the vacuum pump preferably alternately repeats between 0 kW and 150 kW, more preferably between 0 kW and 100 kW, and particularly preferably between 0 kW and 60 kW.

[0025] The drying in step (c) is preferably carried out at a temperature in the processing chamber of 60 °C or higher, preferably in the range of 90 °C to 200 °C. As a result, drying can be carried out efficiently, and the risk of decomposition of the components contained in the crushed battery pieces can be kept low.

[0026] The drying in step (c) is preferably carried out at a temperature in the processing chamber in the range of 90 °C to 200 °C and a pressure of 50 mbar or less. Thereby, the vapor pressure of the separated gas, particularly the electrolyte, can be surely lowered, and effective and rapid separation from the crushed battery pieces becomes possible.

[0027] Preferably, the provided battery contains an electrolyte that is at least partially contained in the separated gas. The boiling point or the upper end of the boiling point range of the electrolyte contained in the battery is preferably 180 °C or lower, more preferably 150 °C or lower, and particularly preferably 130 °C or lower at a pressure of 10 mbar. As a result, during the drying in step (c), the electrolyte can be separated efficiently and as completely as possible. As a result, the battery can be inactivated, and subsequent electrochemical reactions and the formation of explosive gas mixtures can be avoided.

[0028] Preferably, after step (c), the remaining electrolyte content in the battery pieces is 0.1% by weight or less, preferably 0.01% by weight or less, and particularly preferably 0.002% by weight or less based on the total weight of the battery pieces.

[0029] Preferably, the packaging in step (d) is carried out in the same processing chamber as in steps (b) and (c). This allows the packaging of the dried battery pieces to be carried out in a controlled environment. For example, condensation of water vapor on the battery pieces and / or contamination of the battery pieces before packaging can be avoided.

[0030] Packaging may be carried out under atmospheric pressure. However, if step (d) is performed in the same processing chamber as steps (b) and (c), the pressure used in the processing chamber during drying may also be maintained for packaging. As a result, the atmosphere inside the processing chamber can be kept constant.

[0031] The dried battery pieces may be packaged in a plastic-containing packaging, preferably in a barrier packaging. As a result, the battery pieces can be packaged airtight and / or watertight. Preferably, the battery pieces are packaged at a temperature of 50°C and atmospheric pressure for at least 4 weeks in such a way that the formation of a flammable atmosphere is eliminated.

[0032] The dried battery pieces may be packed inside a vacuum packaging. The packaging may be sealed by welding. As a result, the battery pieces can be protected particularly well from environmental influences.

[0033] In step (d), the dried battery pieces are preferably packaged in batches of 1 kg to 30 kg, preferably 1 kg to 25 kg, and more preferably 1 kg to 20 kg. This allows the packaged battery pieces to be easily carried and transported by one person, further improving the flexibility of this method.

[0034] This method may include a further step (e), a step of separating the electrolyte from the separated gas. The electrolyte content relative to the total weight of the gas is preferably 50% by weight or more, more preferably 70% by weight or more, and particularly preferably 90% by weight or more.

[0035] The electrolyte may be separated from the gas by condensation. For this purpose, the separated gas is cooled to a temperature preferably 30°C or lower, preferably 15°C or lower, and particularly preferably 5°C or lower. The content of the separated and recovered electrolyte is preferably 95% by weight or more, more preferably 99% by weight or more, relative to the total weight of the electrolyte contained in the provided battery. As a result, this method can make a significant contribution to the circular economy and sustainability.

[0036] After step (e), the separated gas may be purified. Acidic components of the gas, such as hydrogen fluoride and / or phosphorus pentafluoride, may be removed, at least partially. These components may be used for other purposes.

[0037] After step (e), the nitrogen contained in the separated gas can be separated at least partially. The separated nitrogen may be used in a method for a protective atmosphere containing an inert gas, if steps (b), (c), and optionally (d) are carried out under such a protective atmosphere. Before recirculation to this method, the nitrogen may be purified and, in particular, any electrolyte residue may be separated therefrom.

[0038] The present invention further relates to a mobile device for recycling batteries using the method according to the present invention, An insertion section for inserting at least partially discharged batteries, A crushing section for crushing at least partially discharged batteries, A drying section for drying battery pieces, Packaging section for packaging dried battery pieces and Equipped with, The present invention relates to a mobile apparatus characterized in that a crushing section and a drying section are arranged within the same processing chamber.

[0039] In this application, “mobile device” is understood to mean a device that can be transported by truck, in particular by semi-trailer vehicles, in accordance with Council Directive 96 / 53 / EC of 25 July 1996, and that can therefore be used flexibly locally.

[0040] The mobile device may be configured to be housed in a container. The container used in this invention may be a container conforming to the ISO 668:2020-01 standard. Standardized containers can be easily transported, for example, by truck, freight train or freight ship. The container is preferably a 40-foot container, more preferably a 20-foot container, and particularly preferably a 10-foot container. A 40-foot container is understood to be a container with a length of approximately 12.2m, a width of approximately 2.4m, and a height of approximately 2.6m. A 20-foot container is understood to be a container with a length of approximately 6.1m, a width of approximately 2.4m, and a height of approximately 2.6m. A 10-foot container is understood to be a container with a length of approximately 3m, a width of approximately 2.4m, and a height of approximately 2.6m.

[0041] The container can be loaded in a short time, especially within 8 hours, and then transported to another location of use, where it can be brought into operation in a short time, especially within 8 hours. Furthermore, according to the present invention, no special foundation, such as an outer enclosure in the form of a hall, is required. Thus, the present invention makes it possible to use the method in a simple and flexible manner as needed for the on-site recycling of batteries, especially waste batteries. The method may also be carried out directly inside the container. In this case, the mobile equipment may be housed inside the container during the execution of the method, thereby eliminating loading and unloading and further improving flexibility.

[0042] It is preferable to place a separation device within the processing chamber, configured to separate the input and crushing sections from the drying and packaging sections. The separation device may have a door, particularly a sliding door or a hinged door. Providing a separation device can simplify or make certain processing sequences more efficient. For example, the separation device may be closed after the battery pieces have been supplied to the drying section. In this case, it is no longer necessary to heat and / or operate the entire processing chamber under vacuum during drying, and it is no longer necessary to maintain a protective atmosphere throughout the entire processing chamber. Process parameters (e.g., pressure, temperature) can then be set more quickly in the drying section.

[0043] The separation device may include fire-resistant material, preferably steel and / or aluminum. If spontaneous combustion or thermal overload occurs during the process, the separation device may be closed to spatially limit damage.

[0044] The mobile device preferably includes a unit for supplying an inert gas into the processing chamber. The inert gas may be contained in a container, which can be connected to the processing chamber via a line to supply the inert gas into the processing chamber through one or more inlet openings. Preferably, two inlet openings are provided for supplying the inert gas into the processing chamber, with the inert gas preferably supplied to the crushing section via the first inlet opening and to the drying section via the second inlet opening.

[0045] Preferably, a vacuum pump for creating a protective atmosphere is connected to the processing chamber. Since the crushing and drying sections are located within the same processing chamber, one vacuum pump may be sufficient to generate a specific pressure. Depending on the power of the vacuum pumps, two or more vacuum pumps may be used.

[0046] The crushing section may include a rotor shearing section. This is suitable for crushing bulky materials such as batteries.

[0047] The drying section may include a paddle dryer. The paddle dryer may be arranged horizontally or vertically. This allows the battery pieces to be mixed well and dried uniformly.

[0048] The drying section may have a filter for extracting the gas. The filter is preferably a vapor filter. As a result, not only can the gas be extracted efficiently, but dust particles can also be separated and removed from the processing chamber. An evaporator may be connected downstream of the filter to separate the electrolyte from the gas by condensation.

[0049] The drying section is preferably an autoclave. As a result, good airtightness can be achieved.

[0050] The drying section is preferably located below the crushing section. In this case, the battery pieces may fall from the crushing section into the drying section by gravity immediately after the completion of step (b). This means that there are no undried battery pieces that need to be temporarily stored. The size of the processing chamber can also be kept small because there is no need to provide a conveying device (e.g., a conveyor) to transport the battery pieces from the crushing section to the drying section. Spatial arrangement ("below") refers to the operating state of the intended mobile device.

[0051] The packaging section is preferably located below the drying section. In this case, the dried battery pieces may fall from the drying section into the packaging section by gravity immediately after the completion of step (c). Therefore, since there is no need to provide a conveying device (e.g., a conveyor) to transport the battery pieces from the drying section to the packaging section, the method can be designed to be even more efficient. If the packaging section is located in the same processing chamber as the crushing and drying sections, this arrangement allows the size of the processing chamber to be kept small.

[0052] The mobile device may further include a discharge unit for at least partially discharging the battery, the discharge unit being positioned before the charging unit. If at least partial discharge has not yet occurred (for example, due to previous intended use of the battery), the discharge unit can improve the reliability of the operation of subsequent steps of the method and the reliability of the process.

[0053] The mobile device may further include a disassembly section for disassembling battery modules or battery packs, the disassembly section being located before the input section. If the mobile device has a discharge section, it is preferable that the disassembly section be located downstream of the discharge section. In this case, the battery modules or battery packs can be made voltage-free or at least low-voltage, which may be advantageous from a safety standpoint.

[0054] The present invention also relates to a packaging body for containing 1 kg to 30 kg of battery pieces obtained by the method according to the present invention. Preferably, 1 kg to 25 kg, more preferably 1 kg to 20 kg of battery pieces are packed inside the packaging body. This allows the packaging body to be easily carried and transported by one person.

[0055] The diameter or maximum elongation of the battery pieces to be packaged is preferably 100 mm or less, more preferably 50 mm or less, and particularly preferably 20 mm or less. As a result, the large specific free surface area of ​​the battery pieces simplifies further processing, especially metallurgical processing for raw material extraction.

[0056] The electrolyte content of the battery piece is preferably 0.1% by weight or less, more preferably 0.01% by weight or less, and particularly preferably 0.002% by weight or less, relative to the total weight of the battery piece. As a result, safe handling is possible. In particular, the formation of a flammable atmosphere can be eliminated for at least 4 weeks at a temperature of 50°C and atmospheric pressure.

[0057] The packaging may be a plastic-containing packaging, preferably a barrier packaging. As a result, the battery pieces may be packaged in an airtight and / or watertight manner. The packaging may be sealed by welding and / or vacuum packaging. As a result, the battery pieces can be protected particularly well from environmental influences.

[0058] The present invention relates in particular to the following embodiments.

[0059] 1. (a) A step of providing a battery that is at least partially discharged, (b) A step of crushing the at least partially discharged battery in a processing chamber in order to obtain battery pieces, (c) A step of drying the battery pieces in the processing chamber in order to obtain dried battery pieces and separation gas, (d) The step of packaging the dried battery pieces into a packaging body, A method for recycling batteries, particularly waste batteries, wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed within the same processing chamber.

[0060] 2. The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein the battery is a lithium-ion battery.

[0061] 3. The method according to Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, wherein the voltage of the battery provided is 2.5V or less per cell, preferably 1V or less per cell, and more preferably 0.1V or less per cell.

[0062] 4. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the battery is discharged before step (a).

[0063] 5. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the battery provided in step (a) is obtained by disassembling a battery module or battery pack.

[0064] 6. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the battery housing is opened before it is crushed.

[0065] 7. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 6, wherein a protective atmosphere is created inside the processing chamber.

[0066] 8. The method according to Embodiment 7, wherein the protective atmosphere is generated by a fractional vacuum process.

[0067] 9. The method according to Embodiment 7 or Embodiment 8, wherein the protective atmosphere contains at least 85 volume%, preferably at least 95 volume%, and particularly preferably at least 98 volume%, of an inert gas relative to the total volume of the protective atmosphere.

[0068] 10. The method according to Embodiment 9, wherein the inert gas contains nitrogen.

[0069] 11. The method according to any one of Embodiments 7 to 10, wherein the moisture pressure of the protective atmosphere is 100 Pa or less, preferably 70 Pa or less, and more preferably 50 Pa or less.

[0070] 12. The method according to any one of Embodiments 7 to 11, wherein the partial pressure of oxygen in the protective atmosphere is 100 mbar or less, more preferably 50 mbar or less, and most preferably 30 mbar or less.

[0071] 13. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 12, wherein the crushing in step (b) is carried out under vacuum and at a pressure in the processing chamber, preferably 100 mbar or less, more preferably 50 mbar or less, and particularly preferably in the range of 10 mbar to 50 mbar.

[0072] 14. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 12, wherein the crushing in step (b) is performed at atmospheric pressure in the processing chamber.

[0073] 15. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 14, wherein the crushing in step (b) is performed at a temperature in the processing chamber of 20°C to 200°C.

[0074] 16. The method according to Embodiment 15, wherein the crushing in step (b) is performed at a temperature of 20°C to 30°C in the processing chamber.

[0075] 17. The method according to Embodiment 15, wherein the crushing in step (b) is carried out at a temperature in the processing chamber of 40°C or higher, preferably 60°C or higher, more preferably 90°C to 200°C, and particularly preferably 90°C to 150°C.

[0076] 18. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 17, wherein the diameter or maximum extension of the battery piece is 100 mm or less, preferably 50 mm or less, and more preferably 20 mm or less.

[0077] 19. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 18, wherein drying is started within 10 minutes, preferably within 3 minutes, more preferably within 1 minute, after the completion of crushing, and in particular, drying is performed immediately after crushing.

[0078] 20. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 19, wherein the gas in step (c) is extracted through a filter, preferably through a vapor filter.

[0079] 21. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 20, wherein the drying in step (c) is carried out in the processing chamber under vacuum, preferably at a pressure of 100 mbar or less, more preferably 50 mbar or less, and particularly preferably in the range of 10 mbar to 50 mbar.

[0080] 22. The method according to Embodiment 21, wherein during the drying of step (c), a vacuum pump is operated in hysteresis mode to generate a vacuum in the processing chamber, and the power of the vacuum pump alternates between preferably between 0 kW and 150 kW, more preferably between 0 kW and 100 kW, and most preferably between 0 kW and 60 kW.

[0081] 23. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the drying in step (c) is carried out at a temperature in the processing chamber of 60°C or higher, preferably in the range of 90°C to 200°C.

[0082] 24. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 23, wherein the processing chamber is reduced after step (b).

[0083] 25. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 24, wherein the battery provided comprises an electrolyte that is at least partially contained in the separation gas.

[0084] 26. The method according to Embodiment 25, wherein the boiling point or the upper end of the boiling point range of the electrolyte is 180°C or less, more preferably 150°C or less, and particularly preferably 130°C or less at a pressure of 10 mbar.

[0085] 27. The method according to Embodiment 25 or Embodiment 26, wherein, after step (c), the remaining electrolyte content in the battery piece is 0.1% by weight or less, preferably 0.01% by weight or less, and more preferably 0.002% by weight or less, relative to the total weight of the battery piece.

[0086] 28. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 27, wherein the packaging in step (d) is performed in the same processing chamber as in steps (b) and (c).

[0087] 29. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 28, wherein the packaging in step (d) is carried out under normal pressure.

[0088] 30. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 29, wherein the dried battery pieces of step (d) are packaged in a plastic-containing packaging, preferably in a barrier packaging.

[0089] 31. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 30, wherein the dried battery pieces are packed into a vacuum packaging body in step (d).

[0090] 32. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 31, wherein the packaging body is sealed by welding.

[0091] 33. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 32, wherein the dried battery pieces from step (d) are packaged in batches of 1 kg to 30 kg, preferably 1 kg to 25 kg, and more preferably 1 kg to 20 kg.

[0092] 34. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 33, further comprising step (e) a step of separating the electrolyte from the separated gas.

[0093] 35. The method according to Embodiment 34, wherein the content of the electrolyte in relation to the total weight of the gas is 50% by weight or more, more preferably 70% by weight or more, and particularly preferably 90% by weight or more.

[0094] 36. The method according to Embodiment 34 or Embodiment 35, wherein in step (e), the electrolyte is separated from the gas by condensation.

[0095] 37. The method according to Embodiment 36, wherein in step (e), the gas is cooled to a temperature of 30°C or lower, preferably 15°C or lower, and more preferably 5°C or lower, to separate the electrolyte.

[0096] 38. The method according to any one of Embodiments 34 to 37, wherein the content of the electrolyte to be separated is 95% by weight or more, more preferably 99% by weight or more, relative to the total weight of the electrolyte contained in the provided battery.

[0097] 39. The method according to any one of Embodiments 34 to 38, wherein the separated gas is purified after step (e).

[0098] 40. The method according to Embodiment 39, wherein nitrogen contained in the separation gas is at least partially separated.

[0099] 41. The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 41, wherein the method is performed inside a container.

[0100] 42. An insertion section for inserting the aforementioned battery, A crushing section for crushing the at least partially discharged battery, A drying section for drying the aforementioned battery piece, A packaging section for packaging the dried battery pieces Equipped with, A mobile device for recycling batteries, particularly waste batteries, using the method described in any one of Embodiments 1 to 41, wherein the crushing section and the drying section are arranged in the same processing chamber.

[0101] 43. The mobile device according to embodiment 42, configured to be housed inside a container.

[0102] 44. The mobile device according to Embodiment 43, wherein the container is a container in accordance with the ISO 668:2020-01 standard.

[0103] 45. The mobile device according to Embodiment 43 or Embodiment 44, wherein the container is a 40-foot container, preferably a 20-foot container, and more preferably a 10-foot container.

[0104] 46. ​​A mobile apparatus according to any one of embodiments 42 to 45, wherein a separation device configured to separate the input section and the crushing section from the drying section and the packaging section is arranged within the processing chamber.

[0105] 47. The mobile device according to embodiment 46, wherein the separation device comprises a door, particularly a sliding door or a hinged door.

[0106] 48. The mobile device according to Embodiment 46 or Embodiment 47, wherein the separation device comprises a fire-resistant material, preferably steel and / or aluminum.

[0107] 49. A mobile apparatus according to any one of embodiments 42 to 48, wherein a vacuum pump for creating a protective atmosphere is connected to the processing chamber.

[0108] 50. A mobile device according to any one of Embodiments 42 to 49, wherein the crushing section includes a rotor shearing section.

[0109] 51. A mobile device according to any one of Embodiments 42 to 50, wherein the drying section includes a paddle dryer.

[0110] 52. A mobile device according to any one of Embodiments 42 to 51, wherein the drying section is equipped with a filter, preferably a steam filter, for extracting the gas.

[0111] 53. The mobile apparatus according to embodiment 52, wherein an evaporator is connected downstream of the filter.

[0112] 54. A mobile apparatus according to any one of Embodiments 42 to 53, wherein the drying section is an autoclave.

[0113] 55. A mobile device according to any one of Embodiments 42 to 54, wherein, in the operating state of the mobile device, the drying section is located below the crushing section, and / or, in the operating state of the mobile device, the packaging section is located below the drying section.

[0114] 56. A mobile device according to any one of Embodiments 42 to 55, further comprising a discharge unit for at least partially discharging the battery, wherein the discharge unit is located upstream of the input unit.

[0115] 57. A mobile device according to any one of embodiments 42 to 56, further comprising a disassembly section for disassembling a battery module or battery pack.

[0116] 58. The mobile device according to Embodiment 57, wherein the disassembly unit is positioned in front of the input unit, and the mobile device has a discharge unit, preferably the disassembly unit is positioned downstream of the discharge unit.

[0117] 59. A container equipped with a mobile device according to any one of Embodiments 42 to 58.

[0118] 60. The container described in Embodiment 59, which is a container according to the ISO 668:2020-01 standard.

[0119] The container according to Embodiment 59 or Embodiment 60, which is a 61.40-foot container, preferably a 20-foot container, and more preferably a 10-foot container.

[0120] 62. A packaging body for containing 1 kg to 30 kg of battery pieces obtained by the method described in any one of Embodiments 1 to 41.

[0121] The packaging body according to embodiment 62, wherein 63.1 kg to 25 kg, preferably 1 kg to 20 kg of battery pieces are packed inside the packaging body.

[0122] 64. The packaging body according to Embodiment 62 or Embodiment 63, wherein the diameter or maximum extension of the battery piece is 100 mm or less, preferably 50 mm or less, and more preferably 20 mm or less.

[0123] 65. The packaging according to any one of Embodiments 62 to 64, wherein the electrolyte content of the battery piece is 0.1% by weight or less, preferably 0.01% by weight or less, and more preferably 0.002% by weight or less, relative to the total weight of the battery piece.

[0124] 66. A packaging body according to any one of embodiments 62 to 65, which is a plastic-containing packaging body, preferably a barrier packaging body.

[0125] 67. A packaging body according to any one of embodiments 62 to 66, which is sealed by welding.

[0126] 68. A vacuum-packed packaging body according to any one of embodiments 62 to 67.

[0127] In this application, the term "battery" includes both non-rechargeable batteries and rechargeable batteries (also called storage batteries). Preferably, the battery is a lithium-ion battery, in particular a lithium-ion storage battery.

[0128] In this application, “processing chamber” is understood to mean a chamber that can be treated as a uniform chamber (having a uniform atmosphere) in an operating mode (from a processing standpoint). Preferably, this chamber (in this operating mode) may be heated by a single heater and / or discharged by a single vacuum pump. The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0129] [Figure 1] The schematic structure of the mobile device is shown. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a detailed longitudinal cross-sectional view of the mobile device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0130] The mobile device 1 shown in Figure 1 has an input section 2, a crushing section 3, a drying section 4, and a packaging section 5, all located in the same processing chamber 11 (shown in Figure 2). Furthermore, a separation device 6 is located within the processing chamber 11, which allows the input section 2 and the crushing section 3 to be separated from the drying section 4 and the packaging section 5. The separation device 6 contains steel as a refractory material and has a hinged door (not shown). To carry out this method, a protective atmosphere is created within the processing chamber 11 by a fractional vacuum method using a vacuum pump 7. The protective atmosphere contains at least 98 volume percent nitrogen relative to the total volume of the protective atmosphere. Nitrogen is supplied from a container 8 to the crushing section 3 through a first inlet opening and to the drying section 4 through a second inlet opening. The moisture pressure of the protective atmosphere is less than 50 Pa, and the oxygen partial pressure is less than 30 mbar. Partially discharged batteries are added to the input section 2 and then crushed in the crushing section 3 at 40 mbar by a rotor shear section. During crushing, the drying section 4 is already heated, so the crushing is carried out at a high temperature of 40°C or higher due to the waste heat from the drying section 4.

[0131] As can be seen from Figure 1, the drying section 4 is located below the crushing section 3, so that the obtained battery pieces can fall from the crushing section 3 to the drying section 4 by gravity. Subsequently, the size of the processing chamber 11 may be reduced by closing the hinged door of the separation device 6, and as a result, only the portion of the processing chamber 11 where the drying section 4 and the packaging section 5 are located must be operated under vacuum and high temperature and the protective atmosphere must be maintained. The battery pieces are dried in the drying section 4 at 40 mbar and 150°C, and the electrolyte-containing gas is separated via the vapor filter 9 and withdrawn from the processing chamber 11. After drying, the remaining electrolyte content of the battery pieces is less than 0.002% by weight of the total weight of the battery pieces. The dried battery pieces are finally packaged in 25 kg units in barrier packaging in the packaging section 5. During packaging, the pressure and protective atmosphere inside the processing chamber 11 are maintained unchanged, but no heating is performed.

[0132] Figure 1 further shows that the gas extracted through the vapor filter 9 is subsequently supplied to the evaporator 10 to separate the electrolyte from the gas. The gas is cooled to below 30°C. As a result, more than 99% by weight of the electrolyte contained in the provided battery can be recovered.

[0133] Details of the mobile apparatus 1 in Figure 1 are shown in the longitudinal section of Figure 2. From this longitudinal section, it can be seen that the input section 2, crushing section 3, drying section 4, and packaging section 5 are located within the same processing chamber 11 (shown by the dashed line). As a result, the method is designed to be highly efficient, as the setting of process parameters (e.g., pressure, temperature) only needs to be sufficient for this single processing chamber. A protective atmosphere with controlled pressure, controlled temperature, and controlled composition may be created throughout the processing chamber 11, and as a result, the method can be performed reproducibly and safely.

Claims

1. (a) A step of providing a battery that is at least partially discharged, (b) A step of crushing the battery which has been at least partially discharged in the processing chamber (11) in order to obtain battery pieces, (c) A step of drying the battery pieces in a processing chamber (11) in order to obtain dried battery pieces and separation gas, (d) The step of packaging the dried battery pieces into a packaging body, A method for recycling batteries, characterized in that steps (b) and (c) are performed in the same processing chamber (11).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a protective atmosphere is created inside the processing chamber (11).

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the drying in step (c) is carried out at a pressure in the processing chamber (11) within the range of 10 mbar to 50 mbar.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that during the drying of step (c), the vacuum pump (7) is operated in hysteresis mode to generate a vacuum in the processing chamber (11).

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the power of the vacuum pump (7) alternately repeats between 0 kW and 60 kW in hysteresis mode.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the drying in step (c) is carried out at a temperature in the range of 90°C to 200°C.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the battery provided contains an electrolyte at least partially contained in the separation gas, and after step (c), the remaining electrolyte content in the battery piece is 0.002% by weight or less relative to the total weight of the battery piece.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in step (d), the dried battery pieces are packaged in quantities of 1 kg to 30 kg.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising step (e) separating an electrolyte from the separation gas.

10. The insertion section (2) for inserting the battery which has been partially discharged, A crushing section (3) for crushing the at least partially discharged battery, A drying section (4) for drying the battery piece, A packaging section (5) for packaging the dried battery pieces and Equipped with, A mobile device (1) for recycling batteries using the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the crushing section (3) and the drying section (4) are arranged in the same processing chamber (11).

11. The mobile device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the mobile device (1) is configured to be housed inside a container.

12. The mobile apparatus (1) according to claim 10 or claim 11, characterized in that a separation device (6) is arranged in the processing chamber (11), and the separation device (6) is configured to separate the input section (2) and the crushing section (3) from the drying section (4) and the packaging section (5).

13. The mobile device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that, in the operating state of the mobile device (1), the drying section (4) is positioned below the crushing section (3).

14. The mobile device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that, in the operating state of the mobile device (1), the packaging section (5) is positioned below the drying section (4).

15. A packaging body for containing 1 kg to 30 kg of battery pieces obtained by the method described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images