Lithium Secondary Battery Electrolyte Extraction by Freezing and Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for extracting electrolyte solutions from secondary batteries face challenges such as loss of volatile components and incomplete extraction due to disassembly and drilling, which affect battery performance.

Innovation Solution

A method involving freezing the battery with liquid nitrogen and cutting it without disassembly to allow direct extraction of the electrolyte solution, minimizing volatile component loss and enabling precise extraction without disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the battery is disassembled and electrodes are placed into solvent for extraction, then electrolyte solution can be extracted from electrodes, but volatile components are lost during the disassembly process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrolyte solution extraction completenessVSAvoidvolatile component loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The battery is frozen with liquid nitrogen before extraction to prevent volatile component loss. This preliminary freezing action preserves the electrolyte components while enabling subsequent complete extraction through cutting and solvent immersion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The battery is cut into sections after freezing, allowing the extraction solvent to penetrate deeper into the electrode structures. This segmentation enables more complete electrolyte extraction without requiring full disassembly that would cause volatile loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If a fine hole is drilled in the battery to extract electrolyte solution, then extraction can be performed without full disassembly, but the solvent cannot reach the electrolyte solution inside the electrode effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextraction process simplicityVSAvoidelectrolyte solution extraction completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The battery is cut into multiple sections, creating multiple access points for the extraction solvent. This segmentation allows the solvent to reach electrolyte solution throughout the electrode structure, improving extraction completeness while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The battery is frozen to change its physical state, making it easier to cut and process. This parameter change (temperature) enables effective segmentation and subsequent complete extraction without complex disassembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of substance

If the battery is frozen with liquid nitrogen and cut without disassembly, then volatile component loss is minimized and direct extraction is enabled, but additional freezing equipment is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolatile component lossVSAvoidextraction system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery is frozen by transitioning it to a solid state using liquid nitrogen. This phase transition prevents volatile component loss during cutting and extraction, while the frozen state also facilitates easier cutting and handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

Liquid nitrogen serves as an intermediary substance that enables the extraction process by freezing the battery. It protects volatile components during the procedure and can be easily removed after extraction, making the added complexity temporary and worthwhile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 ensures high-efficiency extraction of electrolyte solutions with minimal loss of volatile components, maintaining battery performance by allowing direct solvent contact with the electrodes and separator, and preventing internal short circuits and explosions.

Implementation Method 1

freezing a secondary battery by impregnating in liquid nitrogen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Implementation Method 2

impregnating in liquid nitrogen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCryogenics: Cryogenics

Implementation Method 3

immersing the frozen cut secondary battery in an extraction solvent to extract an electrolyte solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS11843099B2Method and system for extracting electrolyte in lithium secondary battery by freezing and cutting the secondary battery

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

A method for extracting electrolyte solution in lithium secondary battery includes (S1) freezing a secondary battery by impregnating in liquid nitrogen and then cutting it without disassembling; (S2) immersing the frozen cut secondary battery in an extraction solvent to extract an electrolyte solution contained in the battery; and (S3) calculating the total amount of the electrolyte solution with respect to the total size of the battery from the content of the extracted electrolyte solution, and then determining a ratio of total amount of the electrolyte solution to the content of the electrolyte solution used in manufacturing the secondary battery to obtain extraction efficiency. A system for extracting an electrolyte solution in a secondary battery is also provided.