Disclosed herein are improved methods and devices for recycling lithium cathodes from batteries using a Soxhlet extractor.

Provided is a storage for used battery units capable of economically storing a plurality of used battery units of various manufacturers while suppressing the deterioration of the used battery units during storage. The storage for used battery units includes: a selection unit that selects a discharge target battery unit and a charge target battery unit from among the plurality of used battery units on the basis of the current values and the voltage values of the plurality of used battery units in storage and the predetermined SOC range of each of the plurality of used battery units; and a charge/discharge control unit which causes a discharge target battery unit to be discharged and charges the discharged power into a charge target battery unit such that the SOCs of the discharge target battery unit and the charge target battery unit reach a predetermined SOC range.

A method for breaking down electrochemical energy storage devices in conjunction with a subsequent reclamation of recyclable materials contained therein as secondary raw materials. The devices are broken down by a thermal treatment in a negative pressure environment in a process chamber to remove electrolyte and reactive substances, before the thermally treated material is subjected to downstream processing, by which the secondary raw materials are separated from one another. After introducing a batch of storage devices, in a first process step, the process chamber is evacuated with simultaneous heating of the devices to a first temperature level such that electrolytes in the devices evaporate and, due to the resulting vapor pressure, the devices are opened, wherein produced process gases containing electrolytes in the vapor phase are withdrawn from the process chamber. The devices are then heated to a second temperature level for further breakdown with a simultaneous pressure increase in the process chamber in a reducing atmosphere, before the chamber is ventilated and cooled and the broken down devices are removed, wherein the pressure increase is monitored during this second process step so that it increases continuously. Also, a thermal treatment system for removing electrolytes and reactive substances in electrochemical energy storage devices, thus for pyrolytically breaking them down.

A method for breaking down electrochemical energy storage devices in conjunction with a subsequent reclamation of recyclable materials contained therein as secondary raw materials. The devices are broken down by a thermal treatment in a negative pressure environment in a process chamber to remove electrolyte and reactive substances, before the thermally treated material is subjected to downstream processing, by which the secondary raw materials are separated from one another. After introducing a batch of storage devices, in a first process step, the process chamber is evacuated with simultaneous heating of the devices to a first temperature level such that electrolytes in the devices evaporate and, due to the resulting vapor pressure, the devices are opened, wherein produced process gases containing electrolytes in the vapor phase are withdrawn from the process chamber. The devices are then heated to a second temperature level for further breakdown with a simultaneous pressure increase in the process chamber in a reducing atmosphere, before the chamber is ventilated and cooled and the broken down devices are removed, wherein the pressure increase is monitored during this second process step so that it increases continuously. Also, a thermal treatment system for removing electrolytes and reactive substances in electrochemical energy storage devices, thus for pyrolytically breaking them down.

Lead is recovered from lead paste of a lead acid battery in a continuous and electrochemical lead recovery process. In especially preferred aspects, lead paste is processed to remove residual sulfates, and the so treated lead paste is subjected to a thermal treatment step that removes residual moisture and reduces lead dioxide to lead oxide. Advantageously, such pretreatment will avoid lead dioxide accumulation and electrolyte dilution.

Lead is recovered from lead paste of a lead acid battery in a continuous and electrochemical lead recovery process. In especially preferred aspects, lead paste is processed to remove residual sulfates, and the so treated lead paste is subjected to a thermal treatment step that removes residual moisture and reduces lead dioxide to lead oxide. Advantageously, such pretreatment will avoid lead dioxide accumulation and electrolyte dilution.

Disclosed is a device for automatically dismantling a power battery module, including a cutting platform, a clamping mechanism, a first cutting mechanism, a second cutting mechanism, a turnover mechanism, and a stripping mechanism. The clamping mechanism is disposed on the cutting platform. The first cutting mechanism includes a first cutting blade, a cutting blade set, and a first drive assembly. The second cutting mechanism includes a third cutting blade, a fourth cutting blade, and a third drive assembly. The first cutting blade, the cutting blade set, the third cutting blade, and the fourth cutting blade are vertically movable. The cutting blade set includes a plurality of second cutting blades that are movable relative to each other.

Disclosed is a device for automatically dismantling a power battery module, including a cutting platform, a clamping mechanism, a first cutting mechanism, a second cutting mechanism, a turnover mechanism, and a stripping mechanism. The clamping mechanism is disposed on the cutting platform. The first cutting mechanism includes a first cutting blade, a cutting blade set, and a first drive assembly. The second cutting mechanism includes a third cutting blade, a fourth cutting blade, and a third drive assembly. The first cutting blade, the cutting blade set, the third cutting blade, and the fourth cutting blade are vertically movable. The cutting blade set includes a plurality of second cutting blades that are movable relative to each other.

The invention discloses a vacuum cracking apparatus for a power battery and a cracking method thereof. The cracking device comprises a cylinder and further comprises a rolling device, a first sealing device, a cracking device, a second sealing device, a pyrolysis device and a third sealing device which are arranged from top to bottom. The cracking device for the power battery of the present invention is equipped with the first sealing device, the second sealing device and the third sealing device to isolate the cracking device from the pyrolysis device and be capable of realizing material transmission and gas isolation without interference with each other, so that gas stirring between an anaerobic zone and an aerobic zone is avoided; and by combing battery cracking and battery pyrolysis, with cracked gas discharged after cracking as a fuel for cracking and pyrolysis or preheating a pyrolysis device, resources are fully used.

The invention discloses a vacuum cracking apparatus for a power battery and a cracking method thereof. The cracking device comprises a cylinder and further comprises a rolling device, a first sealing device, a cracking device, a second sealing device, a pyrolysis device and a third sealing device which are arranged from top to bottom. The cracking device for the power battery of the present invention is equipped with the first sealing device, the second sealing device and the third sealing device to isolate the cracking device from the pyrolysis device and be capable of realizing material transmission and gas isolation without interference with each other, so that gas stirring between an anaerobic zone and an aerobic zone is avoided; and by combing battery cracking and battery pyrolysis, with cracked gas discharged after cracking as a fuel for cracking and pyrolysis or preheating a pyrolysis device, resources are fully used.