Systems, apparatus, and processes for battery recycling
AssigneeInterco Trading, Inc.
InventorMatthew Strong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, apparatus, and methods for recycling battery cells and/or battery cell assemblies for metallurgical recovery. In some embodiments, the battery cells and/or battery cell assemblies can be discharged/deactivated, reduced to smaller pieces, thermally decomposed, and then sorted into different component materials.
Claims23
A method of recycling one or more battery cell assemblies each containing a plurality of battery cells, the method comprising:
- reducing a battery cell assembly into smaller pieces while keeping the battery cells of the battery cell assembly intact to retain electrolyte therein, the smaller pieces including the intact battery cells;
- directing the smaller pieces to a furnace for burning off electrolyte in the battery cells;
- shredding a remainder of the smaller pieces from the furnace;
- and
- sorting the remainder by material type into different material groups.
A method for breaking down battery cell assemblies containing a plurality of battery cells, the method comprising:
- breaking apart the battery cell assemblies with a reducer to reduce the battery cell assemblies to smaller pieces;
- wherein breaking apart the battery cell assemblies is performed in a way to prevent breach of the battery cells to retain electrolyte in the battery cells.
A method of sorting pieces from batteries for recycling, the method comprising:
- separating fine particles from the pieces with one or more filters leaving a first remainder;
- separating plastics from the first remainder with a first sieve leaving a second remainder;
- separating metals from the second remainder with a second sieve leaving a third remainder;
- and
- collecting the third remainder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.