System and method for processing an end-of-life or reduced performance energy storage and/or conversion device using a supercritical fluid
AssigneeEco-Bat Indiana, LLC
InventorsSteven E. Sloop, Robert Parker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of refurbishing a lithium-containing energy storage and/or conversion device is disclosed, wherein the energy storage and/or conversion device includes electrodes and an electrolyte, and wherein the method includes substantially removing the electrolyte from the energy storage and/or conversion device, substantially removing waste products from surfaces of the electrodes, and adding a new quantity of electrolyte to the energy storage and/or conversion device.
Claims24
A method of processing an energy storage and/or conversion device, comprising:
- discharging the energy storage and/or conversion device;
- removing an electrolyte from the energy storage and/or conversion device by extraction via a supercritical fluid;
- and
- adding a new quantity of electrolyte to the energy storage and/or conversion device after removing waste products from the energy storage and/or conversion device.
A method of refurbishing a used lithium-containing energy storage and/or conversion device, the energy storage and/or conversion device including electrodes and an electrolyte, the method comprising:
- removing at least a portion of the used electrolyte from the energy storage and/or conversion device with a supercritical fluid;
- and
- adding a new quantity of electrolyte to the energy storage and/or conversion device after removal of at least a portion of the used electrolyte.
In a hybrid electric or electric vehicle, a method of rejuvenating a battery having reduced performance, the method comprising:
- discharging the battery;
- removing electrolyte from the battery with a supercritical fluid;
- adding a new quantity of electrolyte to the battery;
- and
- recharging the battery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.