Ultrasonic Electrode Separation by Frequency Sweep in Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for separating a current collector and an electrode mixture in battery recycling often cause damage to the current collector and require extensive time, with low treatment efficiency and accuracy, and often fail to efficiently separate the components from each other.
Innovation Solution
The method involves treating an electrode with an ultrasonic wave in water while sweeping the frequency of the ultrasonic wave to separate the current collector and the electrode mixture from each other with high efficiency and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional methods (mechanical mixing, ultrasonic treatment at fixed frequency) are used to separate electrode mixture from current collector, then separation is achieved, but the current collector is damaged and treatment efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic frequency sweeping of ultrasonic waves instead of fixed frequency treatment. The frequency is continuously varied during treatment to optimize separation effectiveness while minimizing damage to the current collector, resolving the contradiction between separation accuracy and collector integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the ultrasonic wave frequency parameter dynamically during treatment. By sweeping through a range of frequencies rather than using a single fixed frequency, the system achieves effective separation while avoiding resonant frequencies that could cause excessive damage to the current collector.
2Productivity
If conventional ultrasonic treatment is used, then electrode mixture is removed, but treatment time is long (30 minutes to 5 hours) and pretreatment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic frequency sweeping during ultrasonic treatment, which significantly reduces the treatment time from hours to minutes. This dynamic approach eliminates the need for lengthy pretreatment and mechanical mixing, directly improving productivity while reducing time loss.
3Manufacturing precision
If fixed frequency ultrasonic treatment is used, then treatment is simple, but separation accuracy is insufficient and residual electrode mixture remains on current collector
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic frequency sweeping controlled by a controller, which automatically varies the ultrasonic frequency during treatment. This dynamic control achieves complete separation without residual mixture while managing the increased process complexity through automated frequency modulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback control to monitor and adjust the ultrasonic frequency during treatment, ensuring optimal separation effectiveness. The controller modulates frequency based on treatment progress, achieving high separation completeness while managing process complexity through closed-loop control.
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 method achieves high efficiency and accuracy in separating the current collector and electrode mixture using the physical action of ultrasonic waves in water, reducing damage and residual mixture, and allows for a suitable energy distribution.
Implementation Method 1
The above separation method and separation device use the physical action using the cavitation effects of ultrasonic waves instead of the chemical action of an organic solvent or an aqueous solution.
Implementation Method 2
treating an electrode with an ultrasonic wave in water while sweeping the frequency of the ultrasonic wave enables a current collector and an electrode mixture to be separated from each other
Data Source
AI summary
A separation method includes a separation step in which a treatment target electrode including a current collector and an electrode mixture is treated with an ultrasonic wave in water (a treatment liquid) while the frequency of the ultrasonic wave is swept in order to separate the current collector and the electrode mixture from each other. A separation device includes a separation unit that treats the treatment target electrode with an ultrasonic wave in water to separate the current collector and the electrode mixture from each other and a controller that controls the separation unit such that the ultrasonic treatment is performed while the frequency of the ultrasonic wave is swept.