IMPACT REACTOR

Abstract

Impact reactor (1) for comminuting composite materials, comprising a cylindrical casing (2), in which a rotor (4) provided with impact elements (5) is 5 arranged, wherein the impact reactor (1) is closed on the end face remote from the rotor (4) by means of a cover (7), wherein an suction opening (8) is assigned to the cover (7), wherein a classifying device (9) is assigned to the suction opening (8), and method of processing accumulator batteries, mineral wool and raw material.

Claims

1. A method of processing accumulator batteries in an impact reactor, comprising: providing an impact reactor having a cylindrical casing with a first end and a second end, a rotor provided with impact elements positioned proximate the first end, and a cover closing the second end facing away from the rotor; providing a suction opening in the cover; positioning a classifying device in communication with the suction opening; feeding accumulator batteries into the impact reactor; comminuting the accumulator batteries in the impact reactor by striking the accumulator batteries with the impact elements of the rotor; removing components of the accumulator batteries from the impact reactor via the suction opening.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the components removed from the accumulator batteries comprise at least one of gaseous components and particulate components.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising removing combustible components from the accumulator batteries prior to the step of feeding the accumulator batteries into the impact reactor.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of removing combustible components from the accumulator batteries comprises subjecting the accumulator batteries to a treatment by pyrolysis.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising treating air extracted from the impact reactor via the suction opening to remove noxious gases created by the step of comminution.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of treating the extracted air comprises at least one of combustion and filtration.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising subjecting the at least some of the components removed from the impact reactor to the classifying device, where the classifying device is a screen.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the screen is roller shaped.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising rotating the screen in the suction opening.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the classifying device comprises an air separator.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the classifying device comprises a deflection wheel.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the deflection wheel comprises two mutually spaced apart rotor disks having rotor blades arranged between them.

13. The method according to claim 10, comprising separating the components in the classifying device by pre-selectable particle sizes.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the pre-selectable particle sizes ranges from 5 μm to 500 μm.

15. The method according to claim 1, comprising cleaning the classifying device with a cleaning apparatus.

16. The method according to claim 1, comprising supplying air through an opening in the impact reactor to increase airflow in the impact reactor.

17. The method according to claim 1, comprising drying the contents of the impact reactor by supplying air through an opening in the impact reactor.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the casing is closed in the region of the rotor.

Description

[0044] Some embodiments of the inventive impact reactor will be explained in more detail hereinafter with the aid of the figures. The figures show, in each case schematically:

[0045] FIG. 1 an impact reactor arrangement;

[0046] FIG. 2 a device for pyrolyzing accumulator batteries;

[0047] FIG. 3 a further impact reactor arrangement;

[0048] FIG. 4 an impact reactor arrangement having a feeding device and classifying device;

[0049] FIG. 5 an impact reactor arrangement having a zigzag separator and cyclone separator;

[0050] FIG. 6 different embodiments of deflection wheels in detail;

[0051] FIG. 7 different separators integrated into the impact reactor in detail;

[0052] FIG. 8 different sizers arranged in the head region of the impact reactor in detail;

[0053] FIG. 9 different embodiments of cyclone separators.

[0054] The figures show an impact reactor 1 or an impact reactor arrangement for comminuting composite materials. The impact reactor 1 comprises a cylindrical casing 2 consisting of metallic material. A rotor 4 which is provided with impact elements 5 is arranged in the interior of the casing 2 in the bottom area 3. The rotor 4 is operatively connected to an electric motor 6 which is arranged outside the casing 2. The shaft connecting the rotor 4 to the electric motor 6 extends in the axial direction of the cylindrical casing 2. The rotor 4 is provided with blades which protrude radially from the shaft. Impact elements are arranged at the free ends of the blades. The impact elements are interchangeably fastened to the blades.

[0055] The impact reactor 1 is closed, at the end face facing away from the rotor 4, by means of a cover 7. The cover 7 is assigned to a suction opening 8, in which a classifying device 9 is arranged.

[0056] A supply air opening is placed into the impact reactor. Said opening allows an overpressure to be built up within the impact reactor 1. Furthermore, an inert gas can be fed to the interior of the impact reactor 1.

[0057] The inventive impact reactor 1 is suitable in particular for processing accumulator batteries, in particular for processing lithium-ion batteries.

[0058] For processing purposes, these accumulator batteries are opened in a first step. This can be performed for example by a spiked roller or the like. In a second step, the accumulator batteries are fed to a treatment by pyrolysis, in which volatile or combustible components are removed from the accumulator batteries. In a next step, the accumulator batteries are comminuted in the impact reactor 1 by mechanical loading of the rotor 4 provided with the impact elements. Dusty parts of the accumulator batteries are removed from the impact reactor 1 via the suction opening 8. Larger particles, for example metallic granulate material, accumulates in the bottom area of the impact reactor and is removed cyclically from the impact reactor.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows an impact reactor arrangement which is suitable in particular for processing accumulator batteries, for example lithium-ion batteries. The material to be comminuted, for example batteries, is removed from a bunker container 10 comprising a weighing device and is introduced into the impact reactor 1 via a feed belt 11 having a materials lock 12. At this location, the material is comminuted by mechanical energy introduced via the rotors 4.

[0060] During comminution, the components of the accumulator batteries are separated from one another, wherein larger components consisting of metal or synthetic material accumulate in the bottom area of the impact reactor and can be removed via a removal device 13 arranged in the bottom area. Sorting can be performed by means of a magnetic discharge which separates magnetic materials from non-magnetic materials.

[0061] In contrast, particulate components, in particular black mass contained in the accumulator batteries, are led out of the impact reactor via the suction opening 8 arranged in the region of the cover 7.

[0062] The inner space of the impact reactor can be inertized. Furthermore, the inner space of the impact reactor can have a lower pressure in comparison with the surrounding area and therefore undesired gaseous components cannot escape from the comminution process into the surrounding area.

[0063] Preferably, pyrolyzed accumulator batteries are fed to the above-described arrangement regarding the impact reactor 1. A device for pyrolyzing accumulator batteries and the like is shown in FIG. 2.

[0064] Material, in particular accumulator batteries, is removed from a container 14 and fed to an impact reactor 1 via a material feed. At this location, the material, for example accumulator batteries, is mechanically loaded in such a way that housing parts are opening and any windings of electrode layers are opening. The energy supplied is relatively low and thus the material is not comminuted but instead is merely broken up so that all of the components of the material react in the same manner under the treatment by pyrolysis. Following this pre-treatment, the material is fed to a treatment by pyrolysis. The material being broken up beforehand prevents explosive gases from suddenly escaping. The treatment by pyrolysis can be initiated uniformly and can be performed in a continuous manner.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of an impact reactor arrangement. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is particularly suitable for comminuting objects comprising non-pyrolyzed accumulator batteries. This is particularly advantageous for objects which are provided with fixedly installed or integrated accumulator batteries.

[0066] In the case of this embodiment, the material is fed to the impact reactor 1 via an inertization lock which prevents gases from escaping from the impact reactor 1 into the surrounding area. Provided in the bottom area, is an inertized material discharge 15 through which extraneous material can be removed. Furthermore, a magnetic discharge 16 is arranged in the bottom area.

[0067] FIG. 4 shows an installation diagram of an impact reactor arrangement. Material is fed to the impact reactor 1 via a metering facility 17. The material is discharged via a suction opening 8. In the adjoining rising main 18, course particles are separated and the remaining material is fed to a classifying device 9 in the form of a zigzag separator for classification. A cyclone separator is connected to the classifying device 9 in order to deposit fine material. Subsequently, the gas flow passes through a fines separator 19 for depositing very fine material and passes into the surrounding area via a fan 20.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows in detail the arrangement consisting of the impact reactor 1 and the classifying device 9 comprising a zigzag separator and a cyclone separator.

[0069] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the classifying device 9 is formed as a deflection wheel. The deflection wheel has two mutually spaced apart rotor disks having rotor blades arranged between them. The rotor blades are rounded on the outer side and taper on the inner side. Therefore, the rotor blades have a tear-shaped configuration in cross-section. FIG. 6a shows a deflection wheel which rotates axially with respect to the casing 2 and FIG. 6b shows a deflection wheel which rotates radially with respect to the casing 2. FIG. 6c shows a plurality of deflection wheels arranged in the impact reactor 1.

[0070] FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c show different embodiments of statically functioning classifying devices 9.

[0071] FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c show different embodiments of classifying devices 9 in the form of gravity separators.

[0072] FIGS. 9a and 9b show different air supply options.

[0073] Alternatively, it is possible to form the classifying device as a screen. The screen can be roller-shaped, wherein the screen protrudes radially into the impact reactor. The screen can be caused to rotate by means of an electric motor fastened outside the impact reactor. A cleaning apparatus in the form of a lance protrudes into the roller-shaped screen. The lance can build up an overpressure in the interior of the screen cyclically or in dependence upon differential pressure, said overpressure serving to remove a filter cake adhering to the screen on the outer side. Furthermore, particles caught in the screen meshes, so-called trapped grains, can be removed. In addition to the cleaning by means of the pressure surge, mechanical cleaning can also be performed, for example by brushes.

[0074] The screen is formed in such a way that particles having a particle size of 10 μm up to a size of several millimeters are allowed to pass through and are thus discharged from the impact reactor. The deflection wheel is formed in such a way that particles having a particle size of 5 μm to 500 μm are allowed to pass through and are thus discharged from the impact reactor.