Cryogenic Battery Comminution With Argon Inerting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current recycling methods for alkali metal-containing electricity storage devices are economically and technically challenging due to the risk of violent reactions and explosions during shredding, especially when using liquid nitrogen, and the high cost of using liquid argon as a coolant.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of liquid nitrogen for cooling followed by an argon atmosphere in the shredding device, where evaporated nitrogen is used as an inert gas to prevent reactions and recycled argon is reused to maintain a safe and cost-effective cooling process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid nitrogen is used to cool the energy storage devices before shredding, then the risk of violent reactions and explosions is reduced, but the complexity of the process increases due to additional cooling equipment and safety measures
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage devices are cooled with liquid nitrogen before being fed into the shredding device. This preliminary cooling action reduces the temperature of the devices to below the ignition point of alkali metals, preventing violent reactions during shredding. The cooling step is performed in advance to eliminate the safety hazard before the main shredding operation begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The shredding device is filled with an inert gas atmosphere (nitrogen or argon) to displace oxygen and prevent oxidation reactions of alkali metals during shredding. This creates a chemically inert environment where the liberated alkali metals cannot react with atmospheric oxygen, eliminating fire and explosion risks while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Reliability
If liquid argon is used instead of liquid nitrogen for cooling, then the risk of explosion is reduced, but the cost increases significantly due to high argon consumption
Solution Approach 1:
Liquid nitrogen is used as the cooling medium instead of expensive liquid argon. Nitrogen is abundant, inexpensive, and effectively cools the energy storage devices to safe temperatures. Although nitrogen can react with alkali metals at high temperatures, the preliminary cooling ensures reactions do not occur, making nitrogen a cost-effective substitute for argon.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature parameter of the energy storage devices is changed from ambient temperature to cryogenic temperatures (below ignition point) through liquid nitrogen cooling. This parameter change prevents the chemical reactivity of alkali metals, allowing the use of cheaper nitrogen instead of expensive argon without increasing explosion risk.
3Productivity
If the energy storage devices are shredded at ambient temperature, then the process is simpler and faster, but violent reactions and explosions occur due to the reaction of alkali metals with water, air, or nitrogen
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage devices are pre-cooled with liquid nitrogen to reduce their temperature below the ignition point of alkali metals before shredding. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the potential harmful reaction by lowering the temperature, allowing rapid shredding without fire or explosion risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The shredding process is conducted in an inert gas atmosphere that prevents oxidation and reaction of alkali metals. This inert environment allows the shredding operation to proceed at normal speeds without the risk of violent reactions, as the alkali metals cannot react with the inert atmosphere.
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 significantly reduces the risk of explosions and lowers costs by using liquid nitrogen for cooling and argon for inerting, allowing for safe and economical recycling of alkali metals like lithium.
Implementation Method 1
the energy storage devices are cooled with liquid nitrogen, which at least largely evaporates upon thermal contact with the energy storage devices
Implementation Method 2
liquid nitrogen, which at least largely evaporates upon thermal contact with the energy storage devices
Implementation Method 3
liquid nitrogen, which at least largely evaporates upon thermal contact with the energy storage devices
Implementation Method 4
argon is supplied to form an atmosphere in the comminution device consisting essentially of argon
Implementation Method 5
at least a partial flow of the heated argon discharged from the comminution device is cooled in a cooler and used again to cool the power storage devices in the comminution device
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
To recover raw materials from alkali metal-containing energy storage devices, the devices are first cooled with liquid nitrogen and then broken down into fractional components in a comminution unit. These fractional components are subsequently processed in further steps to obtain the raw materials. To increase the efficiency of the process and to minimize the risk of violent chemical reactions, particularly when processing energy storage devices containing lithium, sodium, or potassium, the invention provides that, following the cooling of the energy storage devices with liquid nitrogen, the comminution unit that receives the cooled energy storage devices is inerted with argon before being started.