Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/54—Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
  • C22B26/00—Obtaining alkali, alkaline earth metals or magnesium
  • C22B26/10—Obtaining alkali metals
  • C22B26/12—Obtaining lithium
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
  • C22B7/00—Working up raw materials other than ores, e.g. scrap, to produce non-ferrous metals and compounds thereof; Methods of a general interest or applied to the winning of more than two metals
  • C22B7/001—Dry processes
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
  • C22B7/00—Working up raw materials other than ores, e.g. scrap, to produce non-ferrous metals and compounds thereof; Methods of a general interest or applied to the winning of more than two metals
  • C22B7/001—Dry processes
  • C22B7/004—Dry processes separating two or more metals by melting out (liquation), i.e. heating above the temperature of the lower melting metal component(s); by fractional crystallisation (controlled freezing)
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
  • C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
  • C22B7/00—Working up raw materials other than ores, e.g. scrap, to produce non-ferrous metals and compounds thereof; Methods of a general interest or applied to the winning of more than two metals
  • C22B7/005—Separation by a physical processing technique only, e.g. by mechanical breaking
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/05—Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte
  • H01M10/052—Li-accumulators
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/05—Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte
  • H01M10/056—Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte characterised by the materials used as electrolytes, e.g. mixed inorganic/organic electrolytes
  • H01M10/0564—Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte characterised by the materials used as electrolytes, e.g. mixed inorganic/organic electrolytes the electrolyte being constituted of organic materials only
  • H01M10/0565—Polymeric materials, e.g. gel-type or solid-type
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M6/00—Primary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M6/52—Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste cells or batteries, e.g. recycling
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for extracting lithium from a battery comprising solid metallic lithium, in a secure manner.
• the field of the invention is the field of batteries based on solid metal lithium, and in particular Lithium-Metal-Polymer batteries, and even more particularly the field of recycling these batteries.
• Batteries based on solid or quasi-solid metallic lithium are known, such as for example Lithium-Metal-Polymer (LMP®) batteries. These batteries are increasingly being used, for example in electric vehicles or at power supply stations. Thus, the number of batteries based on solid or quasi-solid metallic lithium has been constantly increasing for several years.
• LMP® Lithium-Metal-Polymer
• An object of the present invention is to remedy this drawback.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a method for recovering solid or quasi-solid metallic lithium in a battery, for all configurations where the cathode and the electrolyte are stable up to at least 181° C. ( or down to the melting temperature of lithium), electrical energy storage cells efficiently by limiting and controlling the effect of potential short circuits during lithium recovery.
• the invention makes it possible to achieve at least one of these aims by a process for extracting lithium from a battery, such as a solid or quasi-solid lithium electrolyte battery, comprising at least two cells electrical energy storage; each cell comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and solid or quasi-solid metallic lithium; said battery comprising a first border from which protrude the negative electrodes of said cells and a second border, opposite said first border, and from which protrude the positive electrodes; said method comprising an extraction phase comprising the following steps:
• the invention proposes to recover solid metallic lithium from a battery by heating said battery to a treatment temperature greater than or equal to the melting temperature of solid metallic lithium.
• the metallic lithium once melted, is evacuated, in whole or in part, naturally from each cell.
• the invention allows simple and uncomplicated recovery of solid metallic lithium.
• the invention proposes a specific orientation for each cell, the latter being at least inclined. Such an orientation of each cell facilitates the flow of molten lithium out of the cell by gravity.
• the invention provides for cutting the connection between the positive electrodes of at least two, preferably, of all the cells of the battery.
• the cutting step makes it possible to break the electrical connection between the positive electrodes of the cells of the battery.
• the battery comprises a plurality of cells which are no longer electrically connected to each other, which reduces the reactivity of the battery, and therefore the risks of battery fires during the recovery of the lithium .
• the first border can be characterized by the fact that it defines the side through which the lithium, once in the liquid state, must flow.
• electrical energy storage cell or “cell” an assembly comprising, at least:
• a negative electrode formed by, or comprising, a layer of solid metallic lithium
• the "solid or quasi-solid metallic lithium” may include:
• the heating step performs heating of the battery to a treatment temperature greater than or equal to:
• the treatment temperature is greater than or equal to 180.5°C.
• the treatment temperature is less than or equal to a maximum temperature, for example 300° C.
• the battery may comprise a number of cells greater than or equal to 2.
• the battery may comprise several cells assembled, or in particular stacked, along an assembly direction.
• the assembly direction can be perpendicular to the plane formed by each cell.
• the battery may correspond to a battery in which the cells are connected in series.
• the cut-off step can perform a cutting of connection wires between the positive electrodes along a cutting line located at the level, and in particular at the limit, of the second border, on the side of said electrical connection wires.
• This embodiment makes it possible to retain, or not to remove, solid metallic lithium from the battery, when the electrical connections are cut, which makes it possible to improve the lithium recovery efficiency.
• the cutting of the connecting wires must be sufficiently close to the second edge so that after the cutting there is no longer any contact between the various positive electrodes.
• the cutting step can produce a cutting of the cells along a cutting line located at the level, and in particular at the limit, of the second edge, on the side of said cells.
• the cutout in order to reduce the quantity of lithium lost, the cutout must be in the immediate vicinity of the second edge.
• the cutout can be made at a distance “d” from the second edge that is less than or equal to 2 mm, or less than or equal to 1% of the size of the cells between the first and the second edges of the battery.
• the cutting step can be carried out by trimming.
• the battery is inserted into a cutter of suitable size and power.
• the cutting step can be carried out before the start of the heating step.
• the cut-off step can be performed after the start of the heating step.
• the cutting step can be carried out before solid metallic lithium begins to melt.
• the cutting step can be performed before the positioning step.
• the cut-off step can be performed after the positioning step.
• the cutting step can be performed during the positioning step.
• the method according to the invention may further comprise, before the extraction phase, a step of electrically charging the battery, said extraction phase being applied to said charged battery.
• Each cell can be charged individually, or by electrical charging of the battery.
• the extraction phase may also comprise a step of compressing the battery.
• the compression step can be carried out continuously throughout the extraction phase.
• each cell is subjected to compression, in part or in whole, throughout the duration of the extraction phase.
• the compression step can be performed discretely, one or more times, during the extraction phase.
• the extraction phase includes times when the battery is not subjected to compression.
• the compression step can apply compression to the surface of the battery by sweeping the surface of said battery from the second edge towards the first edge.
• the molten lithium is gradually brought/guided towards the first edge from which the negative electrodes protrude, which increases the quantity of lithium recovered and reduces the risk of contact between the lithium and the positive electrodes.
• the compression step can be performed by passing the battery between two rollers.
• the compression step can be carried out by a compression roller which compresses the battery against a support surface.
• the compression can be applied by successive passes, each pass sweeping the surface of the battery starting with the second border towards the first border.
• the space between the compression rollers, respectively between the compression roller and the bearing surface may correspond to the thickness of the battery minus the thickness of the layers of solid metallic lithium. This allows compression to be applied, as long as there is solid lithium left in the battery.
• the space between the two compression rollers, respectively between the compression roller and the support surface, can be reduced as successive passages are made, so as to always apply compression to the battery.
• the speed of passage between the compression rollers, respectively of the compression roller, and more generally the scanning speed, can be between a few mm to a few tens of mm, per second.
• the method according to the invention may comprise, before the extraction phase, a step of removing at least one electrical connector from the battery, also called "crimp" in English.
• the method according to the invention may comprise, before the extraction phase, a step of removing overflows of material at the level of at least one, and particularly of each, edge of the battery.
• the positioning step can perform positioning of the battery in an orientation in which the first edge of said battery is below the second edge of said battery.
• Such an orientation of the battery, and therefore of each cell of the battery makes it possible on the one hand to facilitate the flow of the molten lithium out of the cell by gravity, and on the other hand to avoid contact between the molten lithium and the positive electrodes or the positive electrode current collector, such contact being able to cause an electric short circuit or an electric arc, such a short circuit being able to cause a fire.
• the positioning step can achieve a vertical positioning of the battery, in which the first edge is down.
• the battery heating step can be performed under inert gas.
• the method according to the invention reduces the risk of accidents, in particular the risk of fire.
• the method according to the invention makes it possible to avoid the formation of polluting compounds which can be generated by undesired, even uncontrolled, physicochemical reactions during the extraction of lithium.
• the inert gas can be, or comprise, any one of the following gases: helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe) and radon (Rn).
• the battery heating step can be carried out under vacuum.
• the positioning step can perform positioning of the battery in an orientation in which the first edge of said battery is above the second edge of said battery.
• the extraction phase further comprises, before the heating step, a step of immersing the battery in a liquid, called treatment, denser than liquid lithium and electrically insulating.
• This second version offers a specific orientation for each cell, the latter being at least inclined, so that the first border from which the negative electrodes protrude is above the level of the second border, opposite to the first border, from which protrude the positive electrodes.
• Such an orientation of each cell makes it possible on the one hand to facilitate the flow of the molten lithium out of the cell by difference in density, and on the other hand to avoid contact between the molten lithium and the positive electrodes or the collectors of current of the positive electrodes, such contact being able to cause an electrical short-circuit, such a short-circuit being able to cause a fire.
• the immersion of the set of cells(s) in a liquid makes it possible to improve the dissipation of heat from the cell, in particular during a short-circuit and therefore to greatly limit the effect thereof.
• density means the ratio between the density of the liquid in question and the density of water.
• the positioning step can achieve a vertical positioning of the battery, in which the second edge is down.
• the immersion step can be carried out by immersing the battery completely in the treatment liquid.
• the liquid can be a natural or synthetic oil, comprising the following physico-chemical properties: - hydrophobic and non-reactive towards lithium,
• an installation for extracting lithium from a battery, with solid or quasi-solid lithium electrolyte comprising at least two electrical energy storage cells; each cell comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and solid or quasi-solid metallic lithium; said battery comprising a first border from which protrude the negative electrodes of said cells and a second border, opposite said first border, and from which protrude the positive electrodes; said installation comprising:
• a heating means configured to heat said battery to a temperature, called treatment, greater than or equal to the melting temperature of said solid metallic lithium; characterized in that it further comprises a means for cutting the electrical connection between the positive electrodes of at least two, and in particular of all, cells of said battery.
• the installation may comprise means configured to implement any combination of at least one of the characteristics described above, and which are not repeated here in detail for the sake of brevity.
• the cutting means can comprise a cutter.
• the heating means may comprise an oven.
• the oven can be filled with an inert gas, or be placed under vacuum, or even be filled with a treatment liquid that is denser than liquid lithium.
• the installation according to the invention may further comprise a means of compressing the battery.
• the compression means may comprise at least one roller.
• the compression means may comprise a single roller which compresses the battery against a bearing surface.
• the support surface can be heated to accelerate the temperature rise of the battery.
• the compression means may comprise two rollers between which the battery has passed.
• the compression means can be configured to apply continuous compression throughout the extraction phase.
• the compression means can be configured to apply compression discretely over time, one or more times, during the extraction phase.
• the extraction phase includes times when the battery is not subjected to compression.
• the compression means can be configured to apply a compression, of constant or variable value, progressively or by sweeping over the surface of the battery, from the second border to the first border.
• a compression of constant or variable value, progressively or by sweeping over the surface of the battery, from the second border to the first border.
• the compression can be applied to the battery by successive passages. Each pass applies sweeping compression to the surface of the battery, from the second curb to the first curb. At the end of each pass, the compression can be stopped, by removing the rollers or by removing the roller from the support surface, to return to the second edge in order to start a new pass.
• the distance between the rollers, respectively between the compression roller and the support surface, can be reduced as the passages progress, and in particular between two successive passages.
• the invention can be implemented to treat several batteries, in particular several batteries forming a battery pack and connected together in parallel within said battery pack.
• At least two batteries can be aligned side by side, without overlapping, for example in a direction parallel to the first edge.
• the compression can be applied to at least two batteries by the same compression means, namely a set of rollers, or a roller cooperating with a bearing surface.
• FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a cell within the meaning of the present invention
• FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting embodiment of a battery within the meaning of the present invention
• FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of a first non-limiting embodiment of a method according to the invention.
• FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a method according to the invention.
• FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a method according to the invention
• - FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of a first non-limiting embodiment of an installation according to the invention
• FIGURE 7 is a schematic representation of a second non-limiting embodiment of an installation according to the invention.
• FIGURES 8a and 8b are schematic representations of examples of breaking the electrical connection between the positive electrodes of the cells of the battery, which can be implemented in the present invention.
• variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described below, isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art.
• This selection comprises at least one preferably functional feature without structural detail, or with only part of the structural detail if this part is only sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art.
• FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting embodiment of a cell within the meaning of the present invention.
• Cell 100 shown in FIGURE 1, includes a negative electrode 102 formed by, or including, a layer of solid metallic lithium.
• the cell 100 further comprises a positive electrode 104.
• a layer 106 of solid electrolyte is placed between the negative electrode 102 and the positive electrode 104.
• This layer of solid electrolyte 106 can for example comprise lithium salt.
• the positive electrode 104 is generally formed by a composite layer based on polymer and active material.
• Cell 100 may further comprise a current collector 108 on the side of positive electrode 104 and forming part of, or associated with, positive electrode 104.
• Current collector 108 is generally made of aluminum.
• the negative electrode 102 of the cell 100 protrudes from the other elements of the cell 100 on the side of a first border 110 of the cell 100, here towards the right of the figure.
• the positive electrode 104 with current collector 108 protrudes from the other elements of the cell 100 on the side of a second edge 112, opposite to the first edge 110.
• only the collector 108 protrudes on the second edge 112 , here towards the left of the figure.
• the overshoot could concern only the positive electrode 104 or also the positive electrode 104 and the collector 108.
• the cell 100 shown in FIGURE 1 is a very simplified embodiment, given by way of non-limiting illustration.
• the cell within the meaning of the present invention may comprise other layers than those indicated, or more numerous layers, or layers whose composition is different from the composition given here by way of non-limiting example.
• FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting embodiment of a battery comprising several cells.
• the battery 200 shown in FIGURE 2, comprises several cells 100i-100n, identical, assembled along a direction 202 perpendicular to the plane of the layers of each cell 100i.
• Each cell 100i may be identical to cell 100 in FIGURE 1.
• the battery 200 includes wires/tracks/connection lines 202 of the positive electrodes of all the cells 100i-100n between them. These lines of connection 202 are connected to a connector 204 of the battery 200 forming the positive terminal of the battery 200. This connector 204 is also called "crimp" in English.
• the battery 200 comprises wires/tracks/connection lines (not shown) of the negative electrodes of all the cells 100i-100n between them. These connection lines are connected to a connector (not shown) of battery 200 forming the negative terminal of battery 200.
• FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention.
• the method 300 represented in FIGURE 3, comprises a first step 302, optional, during which the electrical connectors, and in particular the current concentrators also called “crimps" in English, of the battery, are removed.
• step 304 overflows of material, and in particular of solid metallic lithium, at the level of each side edge of the battery are removed.
• the method 300 includes a phase 306 of extracting the metallic lithium from the cells of the battery.
• the extraction phase 306 comprises a step 308 of positioning the battery in an orientation in which the first border from which the negative electrodes protrude is at a lower level than the second border from which the negative electrodes protrude. positives and/or the collectors.
• step 308 positions the battery in a vertical orientation, i.e. parallel to the vector of gravity, with the first edge from which the negative electrodes protrude downward.
• the battery is maintained in this orientation throughout the extraction phase 306.
• the extraction phase 306 further comprises a step 310 of heating the battery to a treatment temperature greater than or equal to the melting temperature of the solid metallic lithium present in the battery, for example 180.5°C. This temperature will cause the solid lithium metal to melt and flow out of each cell. natural under the effect of gravity. Preferably, but in no way limiting, the battery is maintained at this temperature throughout the extraction phase 306.
• the heating step is carried out in a closed enclosure filled with inert gas.
• the extraction phase 306 can also comprise an optional step 312 of compressing the battery in order to drive the molten lithium out of each cell of the battery.
• the compression can be carried out continuously during all or part of the extraction phase 306.
• the compression step 312 can be repeated discretely several times during the extraction phase 306.
• the compression step 312 carries out an application of the compression in a progressive manner, or by sweeping, on the surface of the battery, starting with the second border from which the positive electrodes protrude and going towards the first border from which protrude from the negative electrodes.
• the method 300 includes a step 314 of cutting the electrical connection between the positive electrodes/current collectors of at least two, and in particular of all, the cells of the battery.
• a cut-off step 314 makes it possible to cut the electrical link between the positive electrodes of the cells of the battery, which makes it possible to reduce the reactivity of the battery.
• the risks of battery fire during the extraction phase are reduced, so that the recovery of solid metallic lithium can be carried out in a safer and less risky manner.
• the step 314 of cutting the electrical connections is carried out before the extraction phase 306.
• the cutting step 314 can be carried out during the extraction phase 306, before, during or after the positioning step 308, or before, during or after the heating step 310.
• FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of another non-limiting embodiment of a method according to the invention.
• the method 400 shown in FIGURE 4, includes, like the method 300 of FIGURE 3, the optional steps 302 of removing the electrical connectors from the battery and 304 of removing the overflows of solid lithium metal on each battery edge.
• the method 400 then comprises the step 314 of cutting the electrical connections between the positive electrodes of the cells of the battery.
• the method 400 comprises a phase 406 of extracting the metallic lithium from the cells.
• the extraction phase 406 comprises a step 408 of positioning the battery in an orientation in which the first border 110 from which the negative electrodes 102 protrude is at a higher level, in a vertical direction, than the second border 112 from which protrude the positive electrodes 104 and the collectors.
• step 408 positions the battery in a vertical orientation, i.e. parallel to the vector of gravity, with the first border 110 from which the negative electrodes protrude upwards.
• the battery is maintained in this orientation throughout the extraction phase 406.
• the extraction phase 406 includes a step 410 of immersing the battery in a treatment liquid, neutral, and denser than liquid lithium.
• the treatment liquid can be a natural or synthetic oil, for example a paraffin oil, comprising the following physico-chemical properties:
• the step 410 of immersion is carried out by immersing the battery in the treatment liquid so that said treatment liquid completely covers the battery.
• This immersion step 410 is particularly advantageous by promoting significant heat exchange between the battery and the treatment liquid, which limits the risks of the battery overheating and the evacuation of the calories generated during a short -circuit and improves heating kinetics.
• the extraction phase 406 further includes the heating step 310 described above, and may optionally include the compression step 312 described above.
• the treatment temperature must not exceed a degradation temperature of the treatment liquid, beyond which the treatment liquid degrades.
• the treatment liquid by exceeding a threshold temperature, would change properties so that the properties stated above are no longer satisfied.
• the degradation temperature of the treatment liquid must be higher by +40° C., and for example between +20° C. and +60° C., relative to the melting temperature of lithium.
• FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of another non-limiting embodiment of a method according to the invention.
• the method 500 includes all the steps of the method 300 of FIGURE 3, respectively of the method 400 of FIGURE 4.
• the method 500 further comprises, prior to the steps of the method 300, respectively of the method 400, a step 502 carrying out an electrical recharging of at least one cell of the battery. Said at least one cell can be partially or totally recharged.
• FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting embodiment of an installation according to the invention.
• the installation 600 shown in FIGURE 6, can be used to implement the method according to the invention, and in particular the methods 300 and 500 of FIGURES 3 and 5.
• the installation 600 makes it possible to extract and recover some or all of the lithium from the cells of a battery comprising solid metallic lithium, such as for example the battery 200 of FIGURE 2.
• the installation 600 comprises an oven 602, filled with an inert gas or placed under vacuum, configured to heat the battery to a treatment temperature, greater than or equal to the melting temperature of the solid metallic lithium present in the cells. , for example 180.5°C or 181°C.
• the installation 600 comprises a pair of clamps 604 to maintain the battery 200 in a vertical position, or at least inclined, in which the first border 110 is positioned below the level of the second border 112.
• Each clamp 604 is movably mounted on a vertical rail 606 so as to move the battery 200 vertically.
• the installation 600 further comprises a pair of rollers 608, having between them a spacing corresponding to the thickness of the battery 200 minus the thickness of the solid layers of metallic lithium.
• the pair of rollers 608 are positioned so that as the grippers 604 are moved upward, the battery 200 passes between the rollers 608 beginning at the second edge 112. Thus, the rollers apply compression to the battery 200, gradually starting with the second border 112 and working towards the first border 110.
• the installation further comprises a receptacle 610 for recovering the molten metallic lithium which flows out of each cell under the effect of gravity.
• the receptacle 610 must be inert with respect to lithium.
• the installation 600 further comprises a means 612 for cutting the electrical connections between the positive electrodes of the battery.
• the cutting means 612 is placed in the oven 602.
• the cutting means 612 can be placed outside the oven 602.
• the cutting means 612 can be placed above the oven 602 or on the side of the oven or even at a distance from the oven 602.
• the cutting means 612 is a cutter provided to cut the electrical connections.
• the battery 200 is arranged between the jaws of the cutter on the side of its second edge, for example thanks to the pliers 604.
• the cutter 612 is then actuated to cut the electrical connections between the positive electrodes of the cells of the battery.
• the cutting means 612 can be shears, a grinder, a laser cutting means, and more generally any suitable cutting means.
• FIGURE 7 is a schematic representation of another non-limiting embodiment of an installation according to the invention.
• the installation 700 shown in FIGURE 7, can be used to implement the method according to the invention, and in particular the methods 400 and 500 of FIGURES 4 and 5.
• Installation 700 includes all elements of installation 600 of FIGURE 6, except for the differences noted below.
• the clamps 604 are configured to orient the battery 200, inclined and preferably vertically, with the first border 110 of the battery 200 above the second border 112.
• the oven 602 does not include a recovery receptacle 610.
• the pair of rollers 608 is positioned above the battery 200 to apply a compression going from the second edge 112 of the battery 200 towards the first edge 110 of the battery 200
• the oven 602 is filled with a treatment liquid 702 completely covering battery 200.
• Treatment liquid 702 is electrically insulating and inert with respect to lithium, and above all denser than molten lithium. This treatment liquid 702, denser than lithium, makes it possible to guide the molten lithium towards the first border 110 so that the molten lithium leaves the battery and is found at the level of the surface of the treatment liquid 702, and is recovered there. .
• the cutting of the electrical connections between the positive electrodes of the cells of the battery can be carried out in different ways.
• FIGURE 8a gives a first embodiment of a cutout of the electrical connections between the positive electrodes of the battery that can be implemented in the present invention.
• the cut is made along a cut line 802 located at the level, and in particular at the limit, of the second border 112, on the side of the cells 100i-100n of the battery 200. Otherwise said, in this example, the cells forming the battery are cut at the level of the second edge of the battery.
• the cutout can be made in the immediate vicinity of the second border 112.
• the cutout can be made at a distance from the second border 112 of less than or equal to 2 mm, or less or equal to 1% of the dimension of the cells between the first border 110 and the second border 112 of the battery 200.
• FIG. 8b gives another exemplary embodiment of a cutout of the electrical connections between the positive electrodes of the battery that can be implemented in the present invention.
• the cut is made along a cut line 804 located at the level, and in particular at the limit, of the second border 112, on the side of the electrical connection wires 202.
• the cells forming the battery are not cut out.
• This exemplary embodiment makes it possible to retain, or not to remove, solid metallic lithium from the battery when the electrical connections between the positive electrodes of the cells are cut, which makes it possible to improve the lithium recovery efficiency. .
• connection wires 202 must be sufficiently close to the second edge 112 so that after the cutting, there is no longer any contact between the positive electrodes.
• composition of each cell may be different from that shown in FIGURE 1.
• the installation according to the invention may comprise other devices than those shown in FIGURES 6 or 7, such as, for example, means for cutting out the electrical connectors of the battery, means for cutting out the overflows on one, or on each, of the borders.
• the clamps 604 can be fixed, and it is the rollers 608, respectively the cutter 612, which can be mobile.
• the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can be applied to batteries with solid or quasi-solid electrolyte not comprising a polymer at the cathode.
• the invention can be applied to any battery having a solid or quasi-solid electrolyte and a stable cathode up to the temperature of the melting point of the solid or quasi-solid electrolyte component.

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• 2021
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