Continuous Battery Drying for Low-Temperature Electrolyte Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery recycling methods face challenges with batch drying operations that strain sealing elements and heating components due to rapid state changes, and continuous systems suffer from high temperatures leading to HF contamination and sealing difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A continuous battery recycling method involving crushing batteries to create mixed material, continuously drying it in a unit with controlled temperature and pressure fluctuations, and removing evaporated electrolyte for recovery, using a device with features like a feed lock, drying unit, and discharge lock to manage pressure and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If batch drying operation is used, then the entire recycling plant can be designed to support batch operations, but sealing elements and heating components are constantly exposed to rapidly changing conditions which places significant strain on them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous drying operation where batteries are continuously fed into the drying unit and processed without interruption. This eliminates the cyclic start-stop nature of batch operations, maintaining steady-state conditions for sealing elements and heating components, thereby reducing mechanical stress and extending component lifespan while improving system reliability
2Productivity
If continuous drum dryer system is used, then continuous operation is achieved, but high temperatures are required which lead to high HF contamination in exhaust gas and make sealing difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the temperature parameter from high temperature (conventional drum drying) to low temperature operation. By operating the drying unit at temperatures below 100°C, the system achieves continuous operation while eliminating the thermal conditions that cause HF generation and sealing difficulties, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and harmful emissions
3Productivity
If continuous drum dryer system is used, then continuous operation is achieved, but large sealing surfaces are required which complicates stable pyrolysis
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the operating temperature parameter to low temperature, the patent eliminates the need for large sealing surfaces required in high-temperature drum dryers. The low-temperature continuous drying unit can use simpler, smaller sealing mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining continuous operation capability
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 approach reduces component stress, increases system lifespan, and enables energy-efficient operation with lower temperatures, achieving moisture contents of ≤10% and high electrolyte recovery rates.
Implementation Method 1
continuously drying mixed material introduced into the drying unit together with mixed material already in the drying unit... continuously removing electrolyte which has evaporated from the mixed material from the drying unit
Implementation Method 2
The drying unit is set up to continuously dry mixed material... continuously removing electrolyte which has evaporated from the mixed material from the drying unit... at a temperature which is above the dew point of the electrolyte
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for recycling batteries, comprising the steps of: - comminuting the batteries to produce a mixture comprising solids and electrolyte, - conveying the mixture to a feed lock (20), - transferring the mixture to a drying unit (24), - continuously drying the mixture introduced into the drying unit (24) together with the mixture already present in the drying unit (24), - continuously removing electrolyte, which has evaporated from the mixture, from the drying unit (24), - discharging the dried mixture from the drying unit (24) by means of a discharge lock (48). The invention further relates to an associated device.