Method of and apparatus for dismantling and storage of objects comprising alkali metals, such as alkali metal containing batteries

• US 20030180604A1
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Batrec Industrie AG (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Original Assignee: Batrec Industrie AG (Veolia Environnement SA)
• Inventors: Van Deutekom, Huibert Jacobus Hendrik, Zenger, Thomas, Krebs, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 7,833,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/49
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 2009/066 the refuse being batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 3/00 Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 5/00 Operations not covered by a single other subclass or by a single other group in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 26/12 Obtaining lithium
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 7/005 Separation by a physical processing technique only, e.g. by mechanical breaking
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 7/006 Wet processes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/05 Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte H01M10/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/54 Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/16 with organic electrolyte H01M6/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5072 Preserving or storing cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/122 by capturing or storing CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/20 Recycling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/84 Recycling of batteries or fuel cells

Abstract

There is disclosed a method of and an arrangement for dismantling and storage of objects comprising alkali metal containing substances, in particular lithium containing batteries, in the presence of a protective atmosphere, wherein the protective atmosphere is carbon dioxide. The arrangement comprises a gas-tight chamber for bringing the objects under a protective environment, and a gas-tight chamber for dismantling the objects within the protective atmosphere of carbon dioxide gas.

Claims

1. A method for dismantling batteries or cells comprising alkali metal containing substances, in particular lithium containing batteries or cells, in the presence of a protective atmosphere, characterized in that said protective atmosphere is a carbon dioxide atmosphere.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said protective atmosphere is substantially gaseous.

3. A method according to any of the previous claims, wherein, in addition to said carbon dioxide, said protective atmosphere comprises at least one further gaseous substance, such as, but not limited to an inert gas, moist air, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide.

4. A method according to any of the claim 3, wherein said at least one gaseous substance is added to said protective atmosphere during said dismantling of said objects.

5. A method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said protective atmosphere is refreshed during said dismantling of said objects.

6. A method according to any of the previous claims, wherein prior to said dismantling, said method further comprises a step of storing said batteries or cells under said protective atmosphere using storage means.

7. A method according to any of the previous claims, further comprising a step of transporting said batteries or cells in storage means under said protective atmosphere.

8. A method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said dismantling comprises at least one of shredding, cutting, pressuring, deforming, separating, breaking or a similar mechanical deformation technique providing residual scrap.

9. A method according to any of the previous claims, wherein after said dismantling of said cells or batteries, the residual scrap of said cells or batteries is neutralized.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said neutralization of said scrap is carried out by adding moist air to said protective atmosphere.

11. A method according to any of the claims 9 or 10, wherein after said neutralization of said scrap of said cells or batteries, said scrap is washed or leached.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said washing is carried out with an acidified aqueous liquid.

13. A method according to any of the claims 11 or 12, wherein residual products of said washing or leaching, such as residual leaching or washing liquid, is processed in order to recycle valuable chemical substances present in said residue.

14. An arrangement for dismantling batteries or cells comprising alkali metal containing substances, in particular lithium containing batteries or cells, comprising a first gas-tight chamber, having an inlet for adding gasses to said first gas-tight chamber and an outlet for removing gasses from said first gas-tight chamber, a second gas-tight chamber having an inlet for adding gasses to said second gas-tight chamber and an outlet for removing gasses from said second gas-tight chamber, said second gas-tight chamber comprising means for mechanically dismantling said batteries or cells, said first gas-tight chamber having a gas-tight door for receiving said objects, said second gas-tight chamber having a gas-tight door for removing dismantled batteries or cells, and said first gas-tight chamber and said second gas-tight chamber connect by a gas-tight door for exchanging batteries or cells to be dismantled, wherein said first and said second gas-tight chamber and said in- and outlets are arranged for providing a carbon dioxide atmosphere in said chambers.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said in- and outlets of said gas-tight chambers are arranged for adding at least one further gaseous substance in addition to said carbon dioxide atmosphere.

16. An arrangement according to any of the claims 14 or 15, arranged for refreshing said atmosphere during said dismantling of said batteries or cells.

17. An arrangement according to any of the claims 14, 15 or 16, wherein said dismantling comprises any of a group comprising shredding, cutting, pressuring, deforming, separating, breaking or a similar mechanical deforming technique.

18. An arrangement according to any of the claims 14-17, comprising, in addition to said gas-tight chambers, a reactor room for collecting and washing of said processed objects with an acidified aqueous liquid, said reactor connecting to said gas-tight door for removing said processed objects from said second gas-tight chamber.

19. An arrangement according to any of the claims 14-18, further comprising storage means arranged for storing said batteries or cells under said carbon dioxide atmosphere, prior to said dismantling.

20. An arrangement for the storage of objects comprising alkali metal containing substances, in particular lithium containing batteries, comprising a gas-tight chamber in which said objects can be stored, which gas-tight chamber is separated from its surrounding environment by an air lock, and comprising an inlet and an outlet for adding and removing gasses from said gas-tight chamber, wherein said gas-tight chamber and said in- and outlets are arranged for maintaining a carbon dioxide atmosphere in said chamber.

21. An arrangement for the storage of batteries or cells comprising alkali metal containing substances, in particular lithium containing batteries or cells, comprising a chamber in which said batteries or cells can be stored, wherein said chamber comprises means for filling said chamber with a substance, wherein said means for filling said chamber are arranged for providing a carbon dioxide atmosphere in said chamber.

22. An arrangement according to claim 21, further comprising a housing and means arranged for transportation of said arrangement on a vehicle.

23. A vehicle arranged for transportation of batteries or cells comprising alkali metal containing substances, in particular lithium containing batteries or cells, comprising a chamber in which said batteries or cells can be stored, wherein said chamber comprises means for filling said chamber with a substance, wherein said means for filling said chamber are arranged for providing a carbon dioxide atmosphere in said chamber.