Search

EP-4736257-A1 - METHOD FOR DISMANTLING BATTERIES, INVOLVING DEEP DISCHARGING AND ENERGY RECOVERY

EP4736257A1EP 4736257 A1EP4736257 A1EP 4736257A1EP-4736257-A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for dismantling (1) batteries comprising at least one module of electrical storage cells, the method comprising: - a step of providing (3) at least one undamaged battery at the end of its life; and - a step of deep-discharging (40) the undamaged battery, during which step the energy from the discharge is recovered by an energy recovery unit.

Inventors

  • ELISABETH-MESNAGER, Adeline
  • WATTELLIER, Alexandre

Assignees

  • SUEZ International

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240628

Claims (10)

  1. [Claim 1] Method for dismantling (1) batteries comprising at least one module of electric accumulator cells, the method comprising: - a supply step (3) by means of supplying at least one undamaged end-of-life battery; and - a deep discharge step (40) of said undamaged battery by a deep discharge unit, during which the energy from the discharge is recovered by an energy recovery member.
  2. [Claim 2] Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the supplying step (3) also comprises the supply of damaged end-of-life batteries, the supplying step (3) comprising a sub-step (3') of diagnosing the end-of-life batteries making it possible to determine whether they are damaged or not damaged.
  3. [Claim 3] Method according to claim 2, each battery comprising a housing enclosing said at least one module, characterized in that the undamaged end-of-life batteries are subjected to steps prior to said deep discharge step, comprising: - A preparation step for unscrewing the case and decontaminating the battery; and - A step of unscrewing (30) the battery case.
  4. [Claim 4] Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises after the deep discharge step (40) steps of: - Removal (50) of electronic components; and - Extraction of modules (60).
  5. [Claim 5] A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the supplying step (3) also comprises the supply of damaged batteries and production scraps, said method comprising a set of manual dismantling steps (10) for these damaged batteries and production scraps, comprising: - A discharge step (11) in a saline solution; and - A step of manual dismantling (12) of the battery comprising at least the recovery of the battery modules or production waste.
  6. [Claim 6] Method according to claim 4 or claims 4 and 5, characterized in that said extracted modules are subjected to a grinding step (31).
  7. [Claim 7] Battery dismantling installation (100) comprising at least one module of electric accumulator cells, comprising: - means of supplying at least one undamaged end-of-life battery; and - a deep discharge unit (ST40) of said undamaged battery during which the energy from the discharge is recovered by an energy recovery member.
  8. [Claim 8] Installation according to claim 7, the batteries comprising a housing containing said at least one module, the installation being characterized in that it comprises a semi-automated dismantling unit (120) for undamaged batteries, comprising the deep discharge unit (ST40) and comprising upstream of the deep discharge unit (ST40): - A station (ST20) for charging, preparing and decontaminating the battery; - A station (ST30) for unscrewing battery boxes; And downstream of the deep discharge unit (ST40): - An electronic component removal station (ST50); and - A battery module extraction station (ST60).
  9. [Claim 9] Installation according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises means for supplying damaged batteries, damaged end-of-life batteries, and production scrap, the installation comprising a manual dismantling unit (110) for damaged batteries, damaged end-of-life batteries, and production scrap including: - A discharge unit (SI 1) for batteries and waste in a saline solution; and - A unit for manual dismantling of said batteries and waste, including at least the recovery of battery modules and waste.
  10. [Claim 10] Installation according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises a crushing unit (31) for crushing the modules extracted and/or recovered from said batteries and/or waste.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Method for dismantling batteries with deep discharge and energy recovery. [0001] The invention relates to the field of battery recycling, and in particular to the field of battery dismantling. [0002] The market for electric and hybrid vehicles has been growing steadily since the early 2000s. By 2030, players in the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) sector will have to process a significant volume of Li-ion batteries from electric vehicles. [0003] The battery of an electric vehicle is composed of the following elements: cover: protects and isolates the electronic component from the external environment. It is attached to the housing. module: The modules are composed of cells. The quantity and design of the modules and cells depend on the expected energy and power of the vehicle. The modules can be built in series or in parallel. bus bar: Electrical cable that connects the modules to each other and to the contactor, also known as a bus bar or busbar according to their English name. cooling system: Allows the internal temperature of the battery to be regulated. Indeed, during the charging and discharging processes, the modules and cells generate heat by the Joule effect, which can affect the efficiency of the battery and increase the risk of flammability. BMS (Battery Management System): System that monitors cell temperature and voltage. [0004] A known solution for recycling li-ion batteries is to directly crush the battery module. [0005] However, such a solution is not fully satisfactory because it does not take into account the particularities and the state of each battery, and does not make it possible to satisfactorily address the safety issues linked to the dismantling of batteries. [0006] There is therefore a need for a battery dismantling process and installation that solves these problems. [0007] For this purpose, a method is proposed for dismantling batteries comprising at least one module of electric accumulator cells, the method comprising: [0008] - a step of providing at least one undamaged end-of-life battery; and [0009] - a step of deep discharging said undamaged battery during which the energy from the discharge is recovered by an energy recovery member. [0010] Advantageously, the supply step also comprises the supply of damaged end-of-life batteries, the supply step comprising a sub-step of diagnosing the end-of-life batteries making it possible to determine whether they are damaged or not. [0011] Advantageously, each battery comprises a housing containing said at least one module, and the undamaged end-of-life batteries are subjected to steps prior to said deep discharge step, comprising: [0012] - A step of preparation for unscrewing the case and decontaminating the battery; and [0013] - A step of unscrewing the battery case. [0014] Advantageously, the method comprises, after the deep discharge step, the steps of: [0015] - Removal of electronic components; and [0016] - Extracting modules. [0017] Advantageously, the supply step also comprises the supply of damaged batteries and production scrap, said method comprising a set of manual dismantling steps for these damaged batteries and production scrap, comprising: [0018] - A discharge step in a saline solution; and [0019] - A step of manual dismantling of the battery comprising at least the recovery of the battery modules or production waste. [0020] Advantageously, said extracted modules are subjected to a grinding step. [0021] The invention also relates to a battery dismantling installation comprising at least one module of electric accumulator cells, comprising: [0022] - means for providing at least one undamaged end-of-life battery; and [0023] - a deep discharge unit of said undamaged battery during which the energy from the discharge is recovered by an energy recovery member. [0024] In particular, the batteries comprise a housing enclosing said at least one module. [0025] The installation comprising a semi-automated dismantling unit for undamaged batteries, comprising the deep discharge unit and comprising upstream of the deep discharge unit: [0026] - A battery preparation and decontamination charging station; [0027] - A station for unscrewing battery boxes; [0028] And downstream of the deep discharge unit: [0029] - An electronic component removal station; and [0030] - A battery module extraction station. [0031] Advantageously, the installation comprises means for supplying damaged batteries, damaged end-of-life batteries, and production scrap, the installation comprising a manual dismantling unit for damaged batteries, damaged end-of-life batteries, and production scrap comprising: [0032] - A unit for discharging batteries and waste into a saline solution; and [0033] - A unit for manual dismantling of said batteries and scrap, comprising at least the recovery of battery modules and scrap. [0034] Advantageously, the installation comprises a crushing unit for crushing the modules extrac