Cryogenic Battery Electrolyte Extraction for Loss-Free Disassembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for extracting electrolyte from batteries are prone to accidents and result in electrolyte loss due to impacts during the disassembly process.

Innovation Solution

An electrolyte extraction system utilizing a first transfer unit, loading unit, cutting unit, unloading unit, and second transfer unit, which operates in an ultra-low temperature environment using liquid nitrogen to stabilize the battery before cutting it into pieces for extraction in an electrolyte extraction tank.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated disassembly method is used to extract electrolyte from battery, then extraction efficiency is improved, but impact accidents occur causing electrolyte loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction efficiencyVSAvoidelectrolyte loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The battery is cooled to low temperature before disassembly operations are performed. This preliminary cooling action stabilizes the battery structure and prevents impact accidents during automated disassembly, thereby preventing electrolyte loss while maintaining extraction efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature parameter of the battery is changed to a low temperature state before disassembly. This parameter change stabilizes the battery and prevents accidents during automated handling, resolving the contradiction between extraction efficiency and electrolyte loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If manual disassembly method is used to extract electrolyte from battery, then accident risk is reduced, but extraction time increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccident preventionVSAvoidextraction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery is cooled to low temperature before disassembly to stabilize it structurally. This preliminary action enables safe automated handling and disassembly, achieving both accident prevention and high extraction efficiency simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical disassembly process is replaced with an automated system that operates on a cooled, stabilized battery. This substitution maintains safety while dramatically improving extraction efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If battery is cut at room temperature, then cutting process is simple, but impact causes electrolyte loss and accidents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting simplicityVSAvoidelectrolyte loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The battery temperature is changed to a low temperature state before cutting. This parameter change stabilizes the battery structure, preventing impact accidents and electrolyte loss during the cutting process while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting process is performed on a localized cooled region of the battery. The low temperature stabilizes the battery structure at the cutting zone, preventing accidents and electrolyte loss while keeping the overall process simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 system prevents accidents and ensures stable electrolyte extraction without loss by cutting batteries at ultra-low temperatures, enabling rapid extraction for multiple batteries.

Implementation Method 1

a loading unit configured to accommodate the lower jig together with the battery in a freezing tank filled with liquid nitrogen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCryogenic cooling: Cryogenics

Implementation Method 2

a cutting unit configured to cut the battery inside the freezing tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFracture mechanics: Fracture Mechanics

Implementation Method 3

an unloading unit configured to take out the lower jig together with the battery from the freezing tank and accommodate the lower jig together with the battery in an electrolyte extraction tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid-liquid extraction: Liquid-Liquid Extraction

Data Source

PatentEP4246661B1Electrolyte extraction system and method
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4246661B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP4246661B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an electrolyte extraction system and method, and the objective of the present invention is to provide an electrolyte extraction system and method for stably extracting, without loss, an electrolyte from a battery by disassembling the battery.