Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling With Two-Stage Discharge Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lithium-ion battery recycling methods fail to adequately collect lithium from used batteries, leading to inefficiencies and potential sparks due to high initial voltage and current values during discharging.
Innovation Solution
A recycling method involving two discharging steps with different resistance values, where the first step uses a higher resistance load to reduce voltage and prevent sparks, followed by a lower resistance load to further extract lithium, while maintaining a stable connection to prevent voltage spikes and excessive current.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single low resistance load is used for discharging to maximize lithium extraction, then the collected amount of lithium is increased, but the initial current value becomes excessively large causing sparks and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The discharging process is divided into multiple stages with different resistance values. The first stage uses a first resistance value to limit initial current and prevent sparks, while subsequent stages use lower resistance values to maximize lithium extraction. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both safety and maximum lithium recovery without the harmful effects of a single low-resistance discharge.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple discharging steps with different resistance values are used to increase lithium collection, then the collected amount of lithium is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The discharging device dynamically adjusts the resistance value during the discharging process. The control unit automatically switches between different resistance values based on the discharging stage, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex mechanical switching mechanisms. This dynamic adjustment simplifies the overall device structure while achieving multi-stage discharging for maximum lithium extraction.
3Quantity of substance
If the discharging process is interrupted to switch loads, then the resistance can be adjusted for better lithium extraction, but the voltage increases causing potential safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The discharging process maintains continuous current flow throughout the entire operation. The control unit ensures that the discharging action never stops, even when transitioning between different resistance values. This continuous discharge prevents voltage spikes that would occur during interruption, maintaining both safety and reliability while achieving optimal lithium extraction through resistance adjustment.
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 effectively increases the collected amount of lithium from lithium-ion batteries while preventing sparks and voltage spikes, ensuring a more efficient recycling process.
Implementation Method 1
discharging the lithium-ion battery via a load with a first resistance value
Implementation Method 2
discharging the lithium-ion battery via a load with a second resistance value lower than the first resistance value
Data Source
AI summary
This invention has an objective to increase the collected amounts of lithium contained in a lithium-ion battery. A recycling method for a lithium-ion battery comprising: a first discharging step, which increases an amount of lithium included in a cathode active material by discharging the lithium-ion battery via a load with a first resistance value; a second discharging step, which further increases the amount of lithium included in the cathode active material by discharging the lithium-ion battery via a load with a second resistance value lower than the first resistance value; and a collecting step, which collects the cathode active material from the lithium-ion battery after the second discharging step.