Lithium Battery Dismantling With High-Pressure Liquid Jet Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for dismantling lithium batteries are risky, difficult to automate, and pose safety hazards due to the potential for unintentional piercing and release of solvents and fluorinated compounds, especially when batteries are deformed or have high electric charges.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a high-pressure jet of cutting liquid, composed of inert components like carbon dioxide and abrasive particles, is used to cut the battery, followed by transforming the cutting liquid into a gaseous state to separate battery constituents, minimizing contact with reactive gases and facilitating dry sorting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If mechanical manual dismantling is used to access internal components, then the battery can be opened for recycling, but the risk of unintentional piercing and emission of solvents and fluorinated compounds increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical manual dismantling with a jet of liquid under pressure to cut the battery casing. This substitution eliminates the risk of unintentional piercing associated with manual tools while maintaining effective access to internal components for recycling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a jet of liquid under pressure as an intermediary medium between the operator and the battery casing. This intermediary enables cutting and opening operations without direct mechanical contact, thereby preventing the emission of harmful solvents and fluorinated compounds that would result from manual piercing.
2Ease of operation
If conventional mechanical methods are used to open deformed batteries, then dismantling can be attempted, but the operation becomes impossible or excessively difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cutting tools with a jet of liquid under pressure, which can effectively cut through deformed battery casings without being hindered by irregular shapes or structural deformations that render manual mechanical methods impossible or excessively difficult.
3Productivity
If automated dismantling strategies are implemented, then productivity increases, but the complexity of handling inhomogeneous battery designs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a jet of liquid under pressure as a universal cutting method that can handle various battery designs, configurations, and materials uniformly. This multi-functional approach enables automated dismantling systems to process inhomogeneous battery designs without requiring complex tool changes or adjustments, thereby maintaining high productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method reduces safety risks and allows for efficient, automated dismantling of lithium batteries by avoiding mechanical manual opening and chemical reactions, enabling safer and more efficient recycling.
Implementation Method 1
cutting the lithium battery by means of a jet of cutting liquid under pressure
Implementation Method 2
transformation of the first component from liquid state to gaseous state before separating the constituents of the cut battery and the cutting liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A method for dismantling a lithium battery includes: providing a lithium battery; cutting the lithium battery by means of a jet of cutting liquid under pressure, the cutting liquid including at least one component that is in liquid state, the cutting liquid being devoid of water, separating constituents of the cut battery and the cutting liquid. The component includes a first component in liquid state to cut the lithium battery, for example carbon dioxide. The component can include at least a second component chosen from ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or a mixture of the latter.