Method and device for processing bulky waste including combustible batteries

Abstract

To effectively prevent ignition phenomenon caused by crushing of an ignitible battery such as a lithium ion battery.SOLUTION: A bulky waste treatment method for treating bulky waste 10 including an ignitible battery 12 is provided that includes: a crushing step of crushing the bulky waste 10 into crushed waste 14; a separation step of receiving the crushed waste 14 crushed in the crushing step, and separating the crushed waste depending on the size of the crushed waste 14; a small-sized crushed waste transportation step of classifying the small-sized crushed waste 16 separated in the separation step and including the ignitible battery 12 from other large-sized crushed waste 18 and transporting the classified small-sized crushed waste 16; a heat detection step of detecting heat generation or firing from the small-sized crushed waste 16 transported in the small-sized crushed waste transportation step; and a fire extinguishing step of extinguishing fire when heat generation or firing from the small-sized crushed waste 16 is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and device for treating bulky waste including combustible batteries, and more particularly to a method and device for treating bulky waste including combustible batteries that can prevent ignition caused by the crushing of combustible batteries such as lithium ion batteries. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, in order to dispose of waste by incineration, melting, gasification or the like, the waste is first crushed to a desired size in a crushing facility and then sorted into valuable materials, non-combustible materials, combustible materials, etc.

[0003] Specifically, the bulky waste is sent to, for example, a high-speed rotary crusher (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a crusher), where it is crushed to, for example, 150 mm or less (85% or more by weight).

[0004] At this time, the garbage contains a large number of containers containing residual flammable material, such as gas cylinders, spray cans, organic solvent containers, gasoline containers, and kerosene containers, as well as flammable batteries such as lithium-ion batteries that will ignite if cut (hereinafter collectively referred to as hazardous materials).These hazardous materials should be separated and removed at the garbage collection stage, but in reality, a large number of hazardous materials are mixed in with the garbage that is brought to bulky waste processing facilities.

[0005] For this reason, bulky waste treatment facilities visually select the waste brought in and remove any hazardous materials before putting it into the crusher. Also, in the unlikely event that hazardous materials are put in by mistake, measures are taken to prevent fires and explosions. For example, various detectors such as ITV cameras, heat detectors, and flame detectors, as well as fire extinguishing water sprinklers, are installed as explosion and fire countermeasures. Furthermore, the same measures as above are taken on the conveyor after the crusher.

[0006] The applicant has already proposed a solution to the fire prevention measures in such bulky waste treatment facilities using the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1. According to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to prevent fires caused by ignition of combustible materials by detecting near-infrared rays that are generated before combustible materials ignite and spraying water from a water spray nozzle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-113213 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] In recent years, it has become common to find that lithium-ion batteries are included in the waste disposed of at bulky waste disposal facilities. When these lithium-ion batteries are crushed in a crusher at a bulky waste disposal facility, flammable electrolyte leaks from the lithium-ion battery, and the mixture of the leaked flammable electrolyte and combustible materials can easily cause a fire, so immediate measures were needed.

[0009] However, the measures taken so far have mainly targeted explosions and fires caused by flammable gases from gas cartridges, etc., and have not been sufficient to prevent ignitions caused by leakage of flammable electrolyte from lithium-ion batteries, etc. As a result, when lithium-ion batteries are crushed into small pieces by high-speed rotary crushers, they are more likely to cause explosions and fires.

[0010] There are two ways that lithium-ion batteries can catch fire: (1) by being cut, and (2) by the leakage of flammable electrolyte and sparks. (1) occurs inside the crusher, so existing fire prevention measures are effective, but (2) can occur during transportation to the next process, so sufficient measures have not been taken.

[0011] The bulk density of crushed bulky waste is low, and the probability that combustible materials come into direct contact with air increases dramatically, making them more flammable. If such combustible materials are mixed together and ignite due to leaked flammable electrolyte, the damage caused by the fire can be enormous.

[0012] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional art. This system makes it easier to detect fires in small crushed waste that contains flammable batteries such as lithium-ion batteries, while preventing the spread of fire to large crushed waste. The present invention aims to provide a method and device for treating bulky waste that can effectively prevent ignition caused by the crushing of flammable batteries such as lithium ion batteries. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The present invention relates to a method for treating bulky waste including ignitable batteries, the method comprising the steps of: crushing the bulky waste into crushed waste; receiving the crushed waste crushed by the crushing step; Using a vibrating sieve The crushed waste So, a sorting step for sorting the particles according to their size; The sieve is vibrated Small crushed waste containing the ignitable batteries, which has been sorted by only The above problem is solved by a method for processing bulky waste containing flammable batteries, which comprises: a small crushed waste transporting process for transporting the small crushed waste separately from other large crushed waste; a heat detection process for detecting heat generation or fire from the small crushed waste transported by the small crushed waste transporting process separately from the other large crushed waste; and a fire extinguishing process for extinguishing the small crushed waste separately from the other large crushed waste when heat generation or fire from the small crushed waste is detected.

[0014] The present invention also provides a treatment device for treating bulky waste including combustible batteries, the treatment device comprising: a crushing means for crushing the bulky waste into crushed waste; and receiving the crushed waste crushed by the crushing means; Using a sieve that is vibrated by a vibrator The crushed waste So, a sorting means for sorting the particles according to their size; Sieve shaken by a vibrator Small crushed waste containing the ignitable batteries, which has been sorted by onlyThe present invention provides an apparatus for treating bulky waste containing flammable batteries, comprising: a small crushed waste transporting means for transporting the small crushed waste separately from other large crushed waste; a heat detection means for detecting heat generation or fire from the small crushed waste transported by the small crushed waste transporting means separately from the other large crushed waste; and a fire extinguishing means for extinguishing the fire separately from the other large crushed waste when heat generation or fire from the small crushed waste is detected.

[0015] Here, the size of the small crushed waste containing the ignitable batteries to be sorted can be set to 50 mm or less.

[0017] In addition, the time for transporting the small crushed waste in the small crushed waste transporting process or in the small crushed waste transporting means can be set to a predetermined time or longer.

[0018] In addition, the conveying speed of the small crushed waste conveying process or the small crushed waste conveying means can be made variable. Effect of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention, This system makes it easier to detect fires in small crushed waste that contains flammable batteries such as lithium-ion batteries, while preventing the spread of fire to large crushed waste. It is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of ignition caused by the crushing of flammable batteries such as lithium ion batteries. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a bulky waste treatment facility in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted. [Diagram 2] Flowchart showing the mechanism by which a lithium-ion battery catches fire DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the contents described in the following embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the embodiments described below include those that a person skilled in the art can easily imagine, those that are substantially the same, and those that are within the so-called equivalent range. Furthermore, the components disclosed in the embodiments described below may be appropriately combined or appropriately selected for use.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a bulky waste treatment facility in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

[0023] Bulky waste 10, which contains ignitable batteries 12 such as lithium ion batteries, is fed through a bulky waste feed opening and is transported to a high-speed rotary crusher 22 (hereinafter also referred to as crusher 22) by a feed conveyor 20. The crushed waste 14, which has been crushed by the crusher 22 to a size of, for example, 150 mm or less (85% or more by weight), is sorted by a sorter 24 having a sieve 24B of, for example, 50 mm, which is vibrated by a vibrator 24A, and small crushed waste 16, which contains ignitable batteries 12, falls to the entrance side of a crushed material conveyor 26. Meanwhile, large crushed waste 18, which contains combustible material and contains almost no ignitable batteries 12, is left on the sieve 24B of the sorter 24 and is transported, and then falls onto the crushed material conveyor 26.

[0024] That is, after the small crushed waste 16 and the large crushed waste 18 are first separated by the sorter 24, the small crushed waste 16 and the large crushed waste 18 are mixed again and transported by the crushed material transport conveyor 26.

[0025] The ignitable battery 12 is damaged by impact from the hammer of the crusher 22, collision contact with metal blocks, or drop and collision. That is, in the crushing process, the separator of the battery component, such as a lithium ion battery, is damaged by mechanical factors, such as strong impact or pressure, or being pierced by a sharp object such as scissors or a blade, as shown in Fig. 2, and the ignitable battery 12 ignites when a spark comes into contact with the electrolyte 13. Alternatively, the positive and negative electrodes may short-circuit, causing a large current to flow through the short-circuited part, generating a large amount of heat, which may lead to thermal runaway and ignition.

[0026] When the ignitable battery 12 is, for example, a lithium ion battery, the shape may be, for example, (1) a cylinder with a diameter of 18 mm and a length of 65 mm, (2) a square shape with a thickness of 5 mm, a width of 40 mm, and a height of about 50 mm, or a square shape with a length of 17 mm, a width of 40 mm, and a height of about 110 mm, or (3) a laminate shape with a size almost the same as the square shape, or a length of 250 mm, a width of 140 mm, and a height of about 9 mm. Most of the shapes are 50 mm or less after crushing, so after the cases housing the ignitable batteries 12 are crushed by the crusher 22, the small crushed waste 16 containing the ignitable batteries 12 can be collected by the 50 mm sieve 24B of the sorter 24. The collected small crushed waste 16 contains little combustible material, so that even if the ignitable battery 12 explodes or ignites, the fire can be prevented from spreading.

[0027] The collected small crushed garbage 16 of 50 mm or less is sent to the next process by a crushed material conveyor 26 made of iron or a flame-retardant rubber belt, but only the small crushed garbage 16 of 50 mm or less is sieved out by a sieve 24B and falls to the entrance side of the crushed material conveyor 26. A heat source detector 30 that detects near-infrared rays, for example, as in Patent Document 1, is installed near the entrance side of the crushed material conveyor 26 where the small crushed garbage 16 falls, and heat generation and ignition can be detected. Therefore, there is little large flammable material around the collected small crushed garbage 16 of 50 mm or less, and the crushed material conveyor 26 that carries the collected garbage also uses a non-flammable iron or flame-retardant rubber belt, so that the spread of fire can be prevented even if the ignitable battery 12 explodes or ignites.

[0028] Furthermore, the transport speed of the crushed material transport conveyor 26 is adjusted so that the transport time is, for example, 30 seconds to 1 minute, taking into consideration the ignition time (approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute) of the ignition battery 12. In this case, by making the transport speed of the crushed material transport conveyor 26 variable, the transport time can be easily adjusted.

[0029] Before and after the heat source detector 30, sprinkler nozzles 34 connected to a fire extinguishing sprinkler system 32 are installed, and when the heat source detector 30 detects heat generation or fire, water is sprinkled from the sprinkler nozzles 34.

[0030] The heat source detectors 30 can be installed, for example, at intervals of approximately 2.5 m on the crushed material transport conveyor 26, with around 10 units installed. However, it is particularly preferable to install them directly below the sorter 24, before the small crushed waste 16 and large crushed waste 18 are mixed.

[0031] The water spray nozzle 34 can be, for example, 10 liters / min, 20 sprays of water per meter of conveyor.

[0032] As mentioned above, in the past, combustible materials and flammable batteries such as lithium-ion batteries were transported together. Clearly In this method, small crushed waste containing combustible batteries is separated from large crushed waste containing a large amount of combustible material immediately after crushing, and heat generation or fire is detected during the transportation process of the small crushed waste, so that small fires caused by combustible batteries can be detected reliably without being hindered by the large crushed waste. Therefore, it is possible to quickly extinguish small fires before they become large.

[0033] In the embodiment of the present invention, the ignitable battery is a lithium ion battery, but the ignitable battery is not limited to this, and can be a lithium battery other than a lithium ion battery or other batteries. The crusher 22 is not limited to a high-speed rotary crusher, and the present invention can be applied to a low-speed two-shaft crusher, for example. The sorter 24 is not limited to a vibrating screen, and the heat source detector 30 is not limited to one that detects near-infrared rays. The positions and numbers of the heat source detector 30 and the watering nozzle 34 are not limited to the embodiment of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10. Bulky garbage 12... Explosive batteries (lithium ion batteries) 13...Electrolyte 14. Crushed garbage 16. Small crushed waste 18. Large crushed waste 20…Feed conveyor 22...(High-speed rotary) crusher 24…Sorting machine 24A…Vibrator 24B...Sieve 26...Crusher conveyor 30...Heat source detector 32…Fire extinguishing equipment 34…Watering nozzle

Claims

1. A method for treating bulky waste containing ignitable batteries, comprising: A crushing step of crushing the bulky waste into crushed waste; A sorting process for receiving the crushed waste crushed by the crushing process and sorting the crushed waste according to its size using a vibrated sieve; a small crushed waste conveying process in which only the small crushed waste containing the combustible batteries sorted by the vibrated sieve in the sorting process is conveyed separately from other large crushed waste; A heat detection process for detecting heat generation or ignition from the small crushed waste transported by the small crushed waste transport process separately from the other large crushed waste; a fire extinguishing step for extinguishing the small crushed waste separately from the other large crushed waste when heat generation or ignition from the small crushed waste is detected; A method for treating bulky waste containing flammable batteries, comprising:

2. 2. The method for treating bulky waste containing combustible batteries according to claim 1, wherein the size of the small crushed waste containing the combustible batteries to be separated is 50 mm or less.

3. 3. The method for treating bulky waste containing ignitable batteries according to claim 1, wherein the transport time of the small crushed waste in the small crushed waste transporting step is a predetermined time or longer.

4. 4. The method for treating bulky waste containing ignitable batteries according to claim 1, wherein the transport speed of the small crushed waste transporting step is variable.

5. A bulky waste treatment device for treating bulky waste containing ignitable batteries, A crushing means for crushing the bulky waste into crushed waste; A sorting means for receiving the crushed waste crushed by the crushing means and sorting the crushed waste according to its size using a sieve vibrated by a vibrator; A small crushed waste conveying means for conveying only the small crushed waste containing the combustible batteries separated by the sieve vibrated by the vibrator of the sorting means, separately from other large crushed waste; A heat detection means for detecting heat generation or ignition from the small crushed waste transported by the small crushed waste transport means separately from the other large crushed waste; a fire extinguishing means for extinguishing a fire separately from the other large crushed waste when heat generation or ignition from the small crushed waste is detected; A treatment device for bulky waste containing ignitable batteries, comprising:

6. 6. The treatment device for bulky waste containing ignitable batteries according to claim 5, wherein the size of the small crushed waste containing the ignitable batteries to be separated is 50 mm or less.

7. 7. The treatment device for bulky waste containing ignitable batteries according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the time taken for the small crushed waste to be transported by the small crushed waste transporting means is equal to or longer than a predetermined time.

8. 8. The treatment device for bulky waste containing ignitable batteries according to claim 5, wherein the transport speed of the small crushed waste transport means is variable.

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