Apparatus and method for recycling batteries

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for recycling batteries, the apparatus comprises a sealed chamber having a loading port formed on an upper portion and an unloading port formed on a lower portion, a vacuum device coupled to the sealed chamber for withdrawing air from the sealed chamber, a first gas supply device coupled to the sealed chamber for providing a flame retardant gas into the sealed chamber, a second gas supply device coupled to the sealed chamber for providing a coolant into the sealed chamber, a cutting device coupled to the sealed chamber for performing a severing operation in the sealed chamber, and a conveyor belt disposed horizontally in the sealed chamber to transport batteries received from the loading port to the cutting device for severing the batteries into fragments, and to transport the battery fragments to the unloading port for collection.

Description

[0001] Apparatus and Method For Recycling Batteries

[0002] The present application claims priority to Singapore patent application number 10202400098Q filed on 12 January 2024. The full content of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety herein.

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present application relates to batteries recycling technology. In particular, the present application relates to an apparatus and a method for recycling batteries.

[0005] Background

[0006] Batteries such as lithium batteries have becoming one of the most widely used mobile energy sources in many industrial and daily life applications. With the usage of batteries greatly increasing, aged and discarded batteries have become a major issue of environmental concern and sustainability of social developments. Industrial players have been endeavoured with continuous efforts in developing effective and practical solutions for batteries recycling for the purposed of possible environmental pollutions reduction and better reusage of the precise metals and other materials from the recycled battery parts.

[0007] Present batteries recycling technologies requires all the batteries be discharged prior to any subsequent processes. The discharge process is implemented by soaking the batteries in e.g. salt solutions or by using dedicated discharging equipment. In either case, battery discharging processes are time consuming, low productivity and require complicated handling and processing.

[0008] It is therefore desirable to provide an improved batteries recycling apparatus and method to solve at least one of the problems identified above.

[0009] Summary According to one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for recycling batteries. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a sealed chamber a conveyor belt disposed in the sealed chamber and a cutting device coupled to the sealed chamber. The sealed chamber has a loading port formed on an upper portion and an unloading port formed on a lower portion. The cutting device is configured to perform a severing operation in the sealed chamber, the conveyor belt is configured to transport batteries received from the loading port to the cutting device for severing the batteries into battery fragments, and to transport the battery fragments to the unloading port for collection.

[0010] The apparatus may further comprise a vacuum device, a first gas supply device and a second gas supply device coupled to the sealed chamber. The vacuum device is configured to withdraw air from the scaled chamber. The first gas supply device is configured to provide a flame retardant gas into the sealed chamber. The second gas supply is configured to provide a coolant into the sealed chamber.

[0011] In the context, the term “coupled” or “coupled to” is understood to refer to a connection, mounting, assembling and / or positional relationship between to two or more individual components, element and / or articles, in a manner that the two or more individual components, clement and / or articles arc directly and / or indirectly connected to each other, physically and / or functionally, such that the two or more individual components, element and / or articles are either fixed or integrated to each other, or movement of one of the two or more individual components, element and / or articles carries the other one or more of the individual components, element and / or articles to move together, or one of the two or more individual components, element and / or articles becomes movable relative to the other one or more of the individual components, element and / or articles.

[0012] Preferably, the loading port comprises an outer entrance port, an inner entrance port and a transition entrance chamber between the outer entrance port and the inner entrance port. The inner entrance port and the outer entrance port are operable to open the transition entrance chamber one at a time to isolate the sealed chamber from the atmosphere during loading of batteries into the sealed chamber. Preferably, the inner entrance port is closed while the outer entrance port is opened to receive the batteries into the transition entrance chamber, and the outer entrance port is closed while the inner entrance port opened to allow the batteries to drop from the transition entrance chamber onto the first section of the conveyor belt.

[0013] Preferably, the unloading port comprises an inner exit port, an outer exit port and a transition exit chamber between the inner exit port and the outer exit port. The inner exit port and the outer exit port are operable to open the transition exit chamber one at a time to isolate the sealed chamber from the atmosphere during unloading of fragments out of the sealed chamber. Preferably, the outer exit port is closed while the inner exit port is opened to receive the battery fragments into the transition exit chamber, and the inner exit port is closed while the outer exit port is opened to allow the battery fragments to drop from the transition exit chamber out of the scaled chamber through the outer exit port.

[0014] Preferably, the cutting device is a laser cutter configured to direct a laser beam onto the third section of the conveyor belt for severing the batteries carried by the conveyor belt at the third section into the battery fragments.

[0015] Preferably, the first gas supply device is configured to provide a flame retardant gas, for example a nitrogen gas or an inert gas into the scaled chamber.

[0016] Preferably, the second gas supply device is configured to provide a cooled nitrogen gas generated by a liquid nitrogen.

[0017] Preferably, the second gas supply device is configured to provide a cooled nitrogen gas directly onto the batteries at the third section of the conveyor belt to cool the batteries before and during cutting.

[0018] Preferably, the loading port comprises an outer entrance port, an inner entrance port and a transition entrance chamber between the outer entrance port and the inner entrance port; and wherein the inner entrance port is closed while the outer entrance port is opened to receive the batteries into the transition entrance chamber, and the outer entrance port is closed while the inner entrance port opened to allow the batteries to drop from the transition entrance chamber onto the first section of the conveyor belt. Preferably, the vacuum device is configured to maintain an air pressure in the sealed chamber to be lower than the atmosphere.

[0019] According to another aspect, the present invention provides a method for recycling batteries. In one embodiment, the method comprises loading batteries onto a conveyor belt in a sealed chamber, reducing an air pressure of the sealed chamber, introducing a flame regardant gas into the sealed chamber, reducing a temperature of the sealed chamber, severing the batteries into fragments in the sealed chamber, and collecting the battery fragments.

[0020] Preferably, the step of loading the batteries onto the conveyor belt in the scaled chamber comprises a step of closing an inner entrance port of the sealed chamber; a step of opening an outer entrance port of the sealed chamber; a step of loading the batteries into a transition entrance chamber through the outer entrance port; a step of closing the outer entrance port of the sealed chamber, and a step of opening the inner entrance port of the sealed chamber to allow the batteries to drop onto the conveyor belt through the inner entrance port.

[0021] Preferably, the step of reducing an air pressure of the sealed chamber comprises a step of activating a vacuum pump connected to the sealed chamber to withdraw air from the sealed chamber.

[0022] Preferably, the step of introducing a flame regardant gas into the sealed chamber comprises a step of introducing a nitrogen gas or an inert gas into the sealed chamber.

[0023] Preferably, the step of reducing a temperature of the sealed chamber comprises a step of introducing a coolant into the sealed chamber.

[0024] Preferably, the step of severing the batteries comprises a step of directing a laser beam to move across and through the batteries. Preferably, the step of collecting the battery fragments comprises a step of closing an outer exit port of the sealed chamber, a step of opening an inner exit port of the sealed chamber; a step of receiving the battery fragments into a transition exit chamber, a step of closing the inner exit port of the sealed chamber, and a step of opening the outer exit port of the scaled chamber to allow the battery fragments to drop out of the scaled chamber through the outer exit port of the sealed chamber.

[0025] With the solutions provided by the present application, the present invention enables batteries recycling by eliminating the battery discharge process before the batteries cutting and fragmentation. Possible battery burning or explosion during the cutting and fragmentation process are effectively avoided, and the safely level and production efficiency arc greatly improved.

[0026] Brief Description of Drawings

[0027] The technical solutions and corresponding technical features of the embodiments will be more comprehensively understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an apparatus for recycling batteries according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing a method for recycling batteries according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing an exemplary detailed step of the method shown in Fig. 2;

[0031] Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing an exemplary detailed step of the method shown in Fig. 2;

[0032] Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing an exemplary detailed step of the method shown in Fig. 2;

[0033] Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing an exemplary detailed step of the method shown in Fig. 2;

[0034] Fig. 7 is a flow chart showing an exemplary detailed step of the method shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a flow chart showing an exemplary detailed step of the method shown in

[0035] Fig. 2.

[0036] Detailed Description

[0037] As shown in Fig. 1, according to one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus 100 for recycling batteries comprises a sealed chamber 1, with a vacuum device 2, a first gas supply device 14, a second gas supply device 15 and a cutting device 16 coupled to the sealed chamber 1, and with a conveying belt 13 disposed in the sealed chamber 100. A loading port 110 is formed at an upper portion of the sealed chamber 100, and an unloading port 120 is formed at a lower portion of the sealed chamber 100.

[0038] The conveyor belt 13 has a first section 131, a second section 132 and a third section 133. With respect to a vertical direction 104 of the sealed chamber 1, the first section 131 is positioned under the loading port 1 10, the second section 132 is positioned above the unloading port 120, and the third section 133 is positioned between the first section 131 and the second section 132 along a horizontal direction 102.

[0039] The loading port 110 comprises an outer entrance port 111, an inner entrance port 112 and a transition entrance chamber 113 between the outer entrance port 111 and the inner entrance port 112. The inner entrance port 112 and the outer entrance port 111 are operable to open the transition entrance chamber 113 one at a time, such that the sealed chamber 1 is isolated and remains isolated from the atmosphere during the process of batteries loading into the sealed chamber 1. For example, the inner entrance port 112 is closed and the outer entrance port 111 is opened, to receive batteries 80 into the transition entrance chamber 113. Thereafter, the outer entrance port 111 is closed and the inner entrance port 112 opened, to allow the batteries 80 to drop from the transition entrance chamber 113 onto the first section 131 of the conveyor belt 13. With the inner entrance port 1 12 and the outer entrance port 1 1 1 operating in the above-illustrated manner, a direct air communication between the sealed chamber 1 and the outside atmosphere through the loading port 110 is prevented. The cutting device 16 may be a laser cutter configured to direct a laser beam 163 onto the third section 133 of the conveyor belt 13, for severing the batteries 80 carried by the conveyor belt 13 at the third section 133 into the battery fragments 90.

[0040] The unloading port 120 comprises an inner exit port 121, an outer exit port 122 and a transition exit chamber 123 between the inner exit port 121 and the outer exit port 122. The inner exit port 121 and the outer exit port 122 are operable to open the transition exit chamber 123 one at a time, such that the sealed chamber 1 is isolated and remains isolated from the atmosphere, during the process of fragments unloading out of the sealed chamber 1. For example, the outer exit port 122 is closed and the inner exit port 121 is opened, to receive the battery fragments 90 into the transition exit chamber 123. Thereafter, the inner exit port 121 is closed and the outer exit port 122 is opened, to allow the battery fragments 90 to drop from the transition exit chamber 123 out of the sealed chamber 1 through the outer exit port 122. With the inner exit port 121 and the outer exit port 122 operating in the above-illustrated manner, during the processing loading the batteries into the sealed chamber 1 and unloading the battery fragments out of the sealed chamber 1, a direct air communication between the sealed chamber 1 and the outside atmosphere through the unloading port 120 is prevented such that .

[0041] The vacuum device 2 is used to withdraw air from the sealed chamber 1, to maintain an air pressure in the sealed chamber 1 at a level lower than the atmosphere. The vacuum device 2 may be further configured to maintain an air pressure in the sealed chamber 1 at a level lower than the atmosphere. For example, when the air pressure in the sealed chamber 1 is increased due to the opening of the inner entrance port 112 and / or the inner exit port 121, which allows a certain amount of art in the transition entrance chamber 113 transition exit chamber 123 to enter the scaled chamber 1, the vacuum device 2 operates to withdraw air from the sealed chamber 1, to maintain the air pressure of the sealed chamber 1 at a predetermined pressure level, e.g. lower than the atmosphere.

[0042] The first gas supply device 14 is configured to provide a flame retardant gas, for example a nitrogen gas or an inert gas, into the sealed chamber 1, after the air pressure of the sealed chamber 1 reaches the predetermined level, to reduce the possibility of battery burning or explosion during the severing process performed by the cutting device 16. The second gas supply device 15 is configured to provide a coolant, for example a cooled nitrogen gas generated by a liquid nitrogen, into the sealed chamber 1, for lowing the temperature of the batteries 80 during the cutting process performed by the cutting device 16. Preferably, the second gas supply device 15 is configured to provide a cooled nitrogen gas directly onto the batteries 80, or at an area adjacent to the batteries 80 as carried by the conveyor belt 13 at the third section 133, to cool the batteries 80 before and during the cutting and / or severing process.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 2, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a method 200 for recycling batteries comprises, a step 220 of loading batteries into a sealed chamber, a step 230 of reducing an air pressure of the sealed chamber, a step 240 of introducing a flame regardant gas into the scaled chamber, and a step 250 of reducing a temperature of the sealed chamber. At step 260, the method 200 severs the batteries into fragments in the sealed chamber and thereafter, the battery fragments are collected at step 270.

[0044] Preferably, as shown in Fig. 3, the step 220 of loading the batteries into the sealed chamber comprises a step 222 of closing an inner entrance port of the sealed chamber, a step 223 of opening an outer entrance port of the scaled chamber, a step 224 of loading the batteries into a transition entrance chamber, a step 226 of closing the outer entrance port of the sealed chamber, and a step 228 of opening the inner entrance port of the sealed chamber to allow the batteries to drop onto the conveyor belt through the inner entrance port. With the operation steps 222 to 228 illustrated above,

[0045] Preferably, as shown in Fig. 4, the step 230 of reducing an ah' pressure of the scaled chamber comprises a step 232 of activating a vacuum pump connected to the scaled chamber to withdraw air from the sealed chamber.

[0046] Preferably, as shown in Fig. 5, the step 240 of introducing a flame regardant gas into the sealed chamber comprises a step 242 of introducing a nitrogen gas or an inert gas into the sealed chamber. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 6, the step 250 of reducing a temperature of the sealed chamber comprises a step 252 of introducing a coolant into the sealed chamber. Preferably, the coolant comprises a cooled nitrogen gas generated by a liquid nitrogen.

[0047] Preferably, as shown in Fig. 7, the step 260 of severing the batteries comprises a step 262 of directing a laser beam to move across and through the batteries.

[0048] Preferably, as shown in Fig. 8, the step 270 of collecting the battery fragments comprises a step 272 of closing an outer exit port of the sealed chamber, a step 273 of opening an inner exit port of the sealed chamber, a step 274 of receiving the battery fragments into a transition exit chamber through the inner exit port of the sealed chamber, a step 276 of closing the inner exit port of the scaled chamber, and a step 278 of opening the outer exit port of the sealed chamber to allow the battery fragments to drop out of the sealed chamber through the outer exit port of the sealed chamber.

[0049] This disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description of the embodiments of the present invention, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. For example, while the present invention is presented by making reference to one type of batteries as illustrated in the drawings and the description, it should be appreciated that the present invention may be practiced for batteries of various other types, other structures other models and other architectures. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skilled in the art. The example embodiments are chosen and described to explain principles and practical application of the present invention, and to enable those of ordinary skilled in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular technical solution contemplated and described. Further, while some technical details may be omitted from the description and drawings, for the purpose of clarity and conciseness, such omissions are not meant to be understood that the omitted features are necessarily absent or missing in the relevant structures, parts, processes and / or steps, as described herein, for understanding and practicing the invention.

[0050] Thus, although illustrative example embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that this description is not limiting and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure as sets out and defined the claims appended hereto.

Claims

Claims1. An apparatus for recycling batteries, the apparatus comprising: a sealed chamber having a loading port formed on an upper portion thereof and an unloading port formed on a lower portion thereof; a conveyor belt disposed in the sealed chamber, the conveyor belt having a first section positioned under the loading port, a second section positioned above the unloading port, with respect to a vertical direction of the sealed chamber, and a third section between the first section and the second section, a cutting device coupled to the sealed chamber for performing a severing operation in the sealed chamber, wherein the conveyor belt is operable to receive batteries through the loading port at the first section and transport the batteries to the third section; wherein the cutting device is operable to sever the batteries into battery fragments, and wherein the conveyor belt is operable to transport the battery fragments to the second section and to carry the battery fragments to the unloading port.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the loading port comprises an outer entrance port, an inner entrance port and a transition entrance chamber between the outer entrance port and the inner entrance port; wherein the inner entrance port and the outer entrance port are operable to open one at a time to isolate the sealed chamber from the atmosphere during loading of batteries into the scaled chamber.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the inner entrance port is closed while the outer entrance port is opened to receive the batteries into the transition entrance chamber, and the outer entrance port is closed while the inner entrance port is opened to allow the batteries to drop from the transition entrance chamber onto the first section of the conveyor belt in the sealed chamber.

4. The apparatus as recited in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the unloading port comprises an inner exit port, an outer exit port and a transition exit chamber between the inner exit port and the outer exit port, and wherein the inner exit port and the outer exit port are operable to open the transition exit chamber one at a time to isolate the scaled chamber from the atmosphere during unloading of battery fragments out of the sealed chamber.

5. The apparatus as recited in claims 4, wherein the outer exit port is closed while the inner exit port is opened to receive the battery fragments into the transition exit chamber, and the inner exit port is closed while the outer exit port is opened to allow the battery fragments to drop out from the transition exit chamber through the outer exit port.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the cutting device is a laser cutter configured to direct a laser beam onto the third section of the conveyor belt for severing the batteries carried by the conveyor belt at the third section into the battery fragments.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first gas supply device coupled to the sealed chamber for providing a flame retardant gas into the sealed chamber.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the first gas supply device is to provide a nitrogen gas or an inert gas into the sealed chamber.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second gas supply device coupled to the sealed chamber for providing a coolant into the sealed chamber.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the second gas supply device is to provide a cooled nitrogen gas generated by a liquid nitrogen.1 1 . The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein the second gas supply device is to provide a cooled nitrogen gas directly onto the batteries at the third section of the conveyor belt to cool the batteries before and during cutting.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a vacuum device coupled to the sealed chamber for withdrawing air from the sealed chamber;13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the vacuum device is to maintain an air pressure in the scaled chamber to be lower than the atmosphere.

14. A method for recycling batteries, the method comprising: loading batteries onto a conveyor belt in a sealed chamber; reducing an air pressure of the sealed chamber; introducing a flame regardant gas into the sealed chamber; reducing a temperature of the sealed chamber; severing the batteries into battery fragments in the sealed chamber; collecting the battery fragments.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein loading the batteries comprises: closing an inner entrance port of the sealed chamber; opening an outer entrance port of the sealed chamber; loading the batteries into a transition entrance chamber through the outer entrance port; closing the outer entrance port of the sealed chamber, and opening the inner entrance port of the sealed chamber to allow the batteries to drop onto the conveyor belt through the inner entrance port.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein reducing an air pressure of the sealed chamber comprises activating a vacuum pump connected to the sealed chamber to withdraw air from the sealed chamber.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein introducing a flame regardant gas into the sealed chamber comprises introducing a nitrogen gas or an inert gas into the sealed chamber.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein reducing a temperature of the sealed chamber comprises introducing a coolant into the sealed chamber.

19. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein the coolant comprises a cooled nitrogen gas generated by a liquid nitrogen.

20. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein reducing a temperature of the scaled chamber comprises introducing the coolant directly onto the batteries.21 . The method as recited in claim 14, wherein severing the batteries comprises directing a laser beam to move across and through the batteries.

22. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein collecting the battery fragments comprises: closing an outer exit port of the sealed chamber; opening an inner exit port of the sealed chamber; receiving the battery fragments into a transition exit chamber through the inner exit port of the sealed chamber; closing the inner exit port of the sealed chamber, and opening the outer exit port of the sealed chamber to allow the battery fragments to drop out of the scaled chamber through the outer exit port of the scaled chamber.

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