Waste Battery Fine Sorting for High-Purity Material Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current recycling technologies face challenges in achieving high-purity separation of materials from crushed waste lithium batteries, particularly in effectively sorting iron, copper, aluminum, graphite, and positive electrode materials.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for automatic fine-quantity sorting that combines magnetic sorting, electrostatic processing, and bouncing processing to achieve high-purity separation of materials from crushed waste lithium batteries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a single sorting method (such as window sorting or magnetic sorting) is used, then the sorting process is simple, but the sorting precision and material separation quality are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesorting precisionVSAvoidsorting process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sorting process is divided into multiple independent stages, each handling a specific material separation task. The first sorting machine performs initial separation, the second sorting machine performs fine sorting, and the third sorting machine performs precision sorting. This segmentation allows each stage to focus on specific material types, achieving high sorting precision without requiring a single complex device to handle all separations simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple sorting machines with different sorting capabilities are combined in sequence to form an integrated sorting system. Each machine uses different sorting principles (magnetic, electrostatic, density-based) and handles different material fractions. By merging these sorting capabilities in a coordinated workflow, the system achieves comprehensive material separation that would be impossible with a single sorting method.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional single sorting method is used, then the equipment is simple, but it cannot effectively sort materials by type, only by size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial sorting capabilityVSAvoidsorting equipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sorting system is designed to handle multiple material types through different sorting mechanisms. The first sorting machine handles ferrous metals, the second handles non-ferrous metals and plastics, and the third handles fine particle separation. This multi-functional approach allows the system to adapt to various material compositions from waste lithium batteries, achieving versatile material sorting capability while maintaining relatively simple individual sorting units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The method and apparatus effectively separate copper, iron, aluminum, graphite, and positive electrode materials with low impurity content, overcoming the limitations of traditional single-sorting methods.

Implementation Method 1

S1. The material is crushed, and leveled, and is then subjected to magnetic sorting processing to sort out iron powder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic sorting: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

S2. The material after magnetic sorting is subjected to electrostatic processing to sort out the positive electrode material powder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic processing: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 3

S3. The material after electrostatic processing is subjected to bounce processing to sort out the collector and graphite powder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBouncing processing: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4184656B1Method for power battery automatic fine-quantity sorting and apparatus thereof
Publication Date: 2025.01.29 GUANGDONG BRUNP RECYCLING TECH CO LTD
  • EP4184656B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method for power battery automatic fine-quantity sorting and an apparatus thereof, the method including the following steps of S1. The material is crushed, and leveled, and is then subjected to magnetic sorting processing to sort out iron powder; S2. The material after magnetic sorting is subjected to electrostatic processing to sort out positive electrode material powder; S3. The material after electrostatic processing is subjected to bounce processing to sort out the collector and graphite powder. A magnetic sorting device, an electrostatic sorting device, and a bouncing sorting device are accordingly provided. The present invention adopts the combination of three methods of magnetic sorting, electrostatic processing, and bouncing processing to realize the high-purity separation of copper, iron, aluminum, graphite, and anode material in the crushed materials of the waste battery, and solve the difficult problem in the traditional method that the metal entraining and positive and negative electrode material powders cannot be effectively separated.