Lithium-Metal Battery Extraction Using Melt Drainage and Cell Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for recycling solid lithium metal from lithium-metal-polymer batteries pose a fire risk due to the need for heating above the melting temperature, and there are limited efficient techniques for recovering solid lithium metal from these batteries.
Innovation Solution
A method involving heating the battery to a temperature greater than or equal to the melting point of lithium, positioning it to facilitate gravity-driven lithium flow, and cutting the electrical connections between positive electrodes to prevent reactivity and fire risks, while also optionally charging and compressing the battery to enhance lithium extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the battery is heated to a temperature greater than or equal to the melting temperature of solid lithium metal to recover lithium, then lithium recovery efficiency is improved, but fire risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery pack is divided into individual cells, and electrical connections between cells are cut to isolate them. This segmentation prevents a fire event in one cell from propagating to other cells, thereby reducing overall fire risk while maintaining the ability to heat the entire pack for lithium recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connection elements connecting positive electrodes between cells are removed from the system. By extracting these conductive elements, the system eliminates the pathway for electrical short-circuits and fire propagation between cells during the heating process
2Stability of the object's composition
If electrical connections between positive electrodes are maintained during heating, then battery structural integrity is preserved, but reactivity and fire risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
Electrical connection elements are removed from the battery pack structure. This extraction eliminates the fire hazard associated with maintained electrical connections while the battery pack structure itself remains intact for the heating process
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 allows for safe and efficient recovery of solid lithium metal by controlling the extraction process, reducing fire risks and improving yield through controlled heating, orientation, and electrical disconnection, thereby addressing the limitations of existing techniques.
Implementation Method 1
heating the battery to a temperature greater than or equal to the melting temperature of the solid lithium metal
Implementation Method 2
all or part of it drains naturally from each cell... Such an orientation of each cell facilitates the flow of molten lithium out of the cell by gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for extracting lithium from a battery including at least two cells, each cell including a negative electrode, a positive electrode and solid or quasi-solid metal lithium; is disclosed. The battery having a first edge from which the negative electrodes of the cells protrude and a second edge which is opposite said first edge and from which the positive electrodes protrude The method including an extraction phase, which includes:positioning the battery in an orientation in which one of the first and second edges is below the other one of the first and second edges;heating the battery to a treatment temperature, which is greater than or equal to the melting temperature of the solid metal lithium; andcutting the electrical connection between the positive electrodes of at least two of the cells of the battery. The invention further relates to a plant implementing such a method.