JP2012038521A - Cell discharge facility - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cell discharge facility capable of uniformly and reliably discharging many cells when discharging the cells.SOLUTION: The facility for discharging cells C by immersing the cells C in a liquid comprises: an immersion tub 14 storing the liquid in which the cells C are immersed; and a cell retaining unit 11 provided in the immersion tub 14 and capable of retaining the cells C. The cell retaining unit 11 comprises: a cell retaining member 12 formed of a mesh member and capable of retaining the cells C; and a support member 13 which supports the bottom surface 12a of the cell retaining member 12 while the bottom surface 12a is floated from the bottom surface of the immersion tub 14. It is possible that any of the cells C retained by the cell retaining unit 11 is surrounded by reduced product materials s. Accordingly, without regard to a period having passed after the start of the discharge or the positions of the cells in the cell retaining unit 11, the discharge levels of the respective cells can be nearly uniformed, which enables efficient discharge.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery discharge facility. More specifically, the present invention relates to a battery discharge facility used for a process of discharging electricity remaining in a battery when the used battery is recycled.

Many used valuable metals (nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper, lithium, etc.) are used in used batteries (hereinafter referred to as waste batteries), so the recycling process involves dismantling the used batteries and collecting valuable metals. Is done.
Even if there is no power for driving the device, there is a possibility that a certain amount of power remains in the waste battery. For this reason, if the positive electrode and negative electrode of the battery are short-circuited during disassembly of the battery in the recycling process, a large current flows in the battery to generate heat and ignite, or ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate There is a risk of causing trouble such as bumping of an electrolyte such as methyl ethyl carbonate.

  Therefore, in order to prevent the above problems from occurring, the remaining power is reduced by discharging the remaining power before disassembling the waste battery. When such treatment is performed, it is not practical to reduce the remaining electric power by discharging the waste battery individually. Therefore, conventionally, a solution of a conductive material such as water (discharge liquid) ) And the like, and a method of discharging a waste battery by short-circuiting between electrodes via a conductive material has been proposed (Patent Document 1).

However, in the above method, the iron material constituting the battery outer shell in the vicinity of the positive electrode of the battery immersed in the discharge liquid tends to emit electrons to the positive electrode during discharge to be ionized and melt, There is a phenomenon that it becomes a solid precipitate and sinks to the bottom of the container.
When such a solid precipitate is formed, depending on the position of the battery immersed in the discharge liquid, a large amount of solid precipitate accumulates, and the electrical conductivity of the discharge liquid near the battery deteriorates due to the effect of the deposited solid precipitate, There is a possibility that polarization will occur. If such a phenomenon occurs, the discharge current discharged from the battery is weakened, and a battery that cannot be discharged sufficiently is generated.
If the discharge liquid is stirred and flowed, the problem that a large amount of solid precipitate is deposited locally can be prevented, and the variation in discharge due to the position of the battery can be suppressed to some extent, but even if the discharge liquid is stirred, However, it is impossible to completely eliminate the area where the cells are dense and the stagnation occurs. And if it is going to automate stirring of a discharge liquid, the problem that apparatus structures, such as an immersion tank in which a discharge liquid is immersed, will become large also arises.

It is also considered to solve the above problem by using a sulfuric acid aqueous solution that is a discharge liquid that hardly causes solid precipitation (Patent Document 2).
However, in this method, since the pH of the discharge liquid is lowered by adding sulfuric acid to the discharge liquid, the occurrence of solid precipitation can be suppressed, but the solubility of various metal components in the form of oxide is also increased. Then, in the subsequent process of the discharge treatment, even if trying to extract metal components such as nickel, cobalt, manganese and the like to be recycled with high yield, there is a problem that these metal components are eluted in the discharge liquid and the recovery efficiency is lowered. Arise. Furthermore, the discharge solution having a high acid concentration has a high electric conductivity, and discharge is excessively advanced, and there is a risk of excessive heat generation.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-306394 Japanese Patent No. 345769

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery discharge facility that can uniformly and reliably discharge a large number of batteries when discharging the batteries.

The discharge facility for the battery of the first invention is a facility for performing a discharge treatment by immersing the battery in a liquid, provided in the immersion tank containing the liquid in which the battery is immersed, A battery holding part capable of holding a plurality of the batteries, wherein the battery holding part is formed of a net-like member, the battery holding member capable of holding the plurality of batteries, and the bottom surface of the battery holding member And a support member that supports the substrate in a state of floating from the bottom surface of the immersion tank.
The battery discharge facility according to a second aspect is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the support member includes a position adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting a distance between a bottom surface of the battery holding member and a bottom surface of the immersion tank. To do.
In the battery discharge facility according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, a plurality of the battery holding portions are provided in the immersion bath, and the plurality of battery holding portions are provided on a bottom surface of the immersion bath. In the direction of approaching and separating from each other, they are arranged so as to be aligned with each other.

According to the first invention, if a plurality of batteries are held in the battery holding part, a plurality of batteries can be discharged simultaneously. Moreover, since the battery holding part is formed of a net-like member, the product generated during the discharge treatment can be allowed to pass through the battery holding part and be precipitated on the bottom surface of the immersion tank. That is, the product generated during the discharge process can be separated from the battery. Moreover, since the bottom surface of the battery holding part is supported by the support member in a state where it floats from the bottom surface of the immersion tank, the battery can be prevented from coming into contact with the product precipitated on the bottom surface of the immersion tank. Then, in a plurality of batteries held in the battery holding part, it is possible to reduce the amount of products around any battery, so that the elapsed time from the start of the discharge process and the position of the battery on the battery holding part can be set. Regardless, the state of the battery can be maintained substantially the same. Therefore, the discharge level of each battery can be made substantially uniform, and the discharge treatment can be performed efficiently.
According to the second invention, even if the amount of sediment precipitated on the bottom surface of the dipping bath increases, if the position of the battery holding portion is changed according to the amount of sediment by the position adjusting mechanism, the battery is precipitated. It is possible to prevent problems such as being buried in things.
According to the third aspect of the invention, since the discharge process can be performed simultaneously with the plurality of battery holding units, the processing efficiency can be improved. Moreover, if the battery that has undergone the discharge treatment is accommodated in the battery holding part far from the bottom of the immersion tank, and the battery having a short processing time is accommodated in the battery holding part close to the bottom of the immersion tank, In a battery held in a nearby battery holding part, it is possible to prevent a decrease in discharge efficiency due to a product generated during discharge treatment of the upper battery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is schematic explanatory drawing of the discharge equipment 10 of the battery of this embodiment, Comprising: (A) is explanatory drawing of the state which has arrange | positioned the battery holding member 12 of the battery holding part 11 in the bottom part vicinity of the immersion tank 14, (B) These are explanatory drawings of the state which made the battery holding member 12 of the battery holding part 11 spaced apart from the bottom part of the immersion tank 14. FIG. (A) is a schematic explanatory diagram of a battery discharge facility having a plurality of stages of battery holding portions 11A, 11B, and (B) is a schematic explanatory diagram of a battery discharge facility having a plurality of stages of battery holding members 12A, 12B. is there.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The battery discharge facility of the present invention is a discharge facility that discharges remaining power by immersing a used battery in a liquid, and even when a plurality of batteries are processed simultaneously, the discharge state of each battery is in a uniform state. It is characterized by having a structure that can be.

The battery processed by the battery discharge facility of the present invention may be a general single battery, a battery pack in which a plurality of battery cells are packaged in a case, a battery cell taken out from the battery pack, or the like. There is no particular limitation as long as it can be discharged by being immersed in a liquid.
The liquid in which the battery is immersed is a solution of a conductive salt such as sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, or potassium chloride, or an acid solution such as sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid. The liquid is not particularly limited as long as it is a liquid that can cause discharge of residual power. Hereinafter, the liquid in which the battery is immersed is referred to as a discharge liquid.

(Description of battery discharge facility of the present invention)
As shown in FIG. 1, the battery discharge facility 10 of the present invention includes a battery holding unit 11 that houses a battery C, and an immersion tank 14 that houses a discharge liquid AL.

(Description of immersion tank 14)
First, the immersion tank 14 is a hollow container that can contain the discharge liquid AL. For example, a cylindrical container (for example, a drum can) having an opening at the upper end can be used for the immersion tank 14.
The immersion tank 14 is preferably made of a material that does not cause damage such as corrosion even if it contains the discharge liquid AL, such as stainless steel, titanium, FRP, polyethylene, polypropylene, PFA, PTFE, or the like. However, even if the material of the container is corroded by the discharge liquid AL, the discharge liquid AL can be stored during the period during which the discharge treatment of the battery C is performed (for example, 4 hours). If it exists, it is possible to employ | adopt as the immersion tank 14. FIG.

(Description of the battery holding unit 11)
The battery holding unit 11 includes a battery holding member 12 that houses the battery C, and a support member 13 for attaching the battery holding member 12 to the immersion tank 14.

  The battery holding member 12 is a bowl-shaped member that is entirely formed of a net-like material whose eyes are smaller than the diameter and length of the battery C. That is, the battery holding member 12 can store the battery C therein, and when the battery C is immersed in the discharge liquid AL of the immersion tank 14, the battery C is immersed in the discharge liquid AL. The product s such as iron hydroxide or nickel hydroxide formed in contact with the battery C and the discharge liquid AL can be removed from the battery holding member 12. It is what.

Note that the battery holding member 12 may be formed of a material other than a net-like material as long as it has a function as described above. For example, the battery holding member 12 may be formed of a punching plate in which relatively large through holes are formed at a fine pitch, a lattice-shaped member, a woven fabric, or the like.
The material of the battery holding member 12 is not particularly limited. However, if the battery holding member 12 is made of a material having no conductivity (for example, FRP, polypropylene, acrylic, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyurethane, PFA, PTFE, etc.), the electrode of the battery C can be used. Even if it contacts, it can prevent that a short circuit generate | occur | produces.

(Description of the battery holding unit 11)
As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of support members 13, 13 are attached to the battery holding member 12.
Each support member 13 is formed by forming a hook portion 13b on a rod-shaped member 13a, and one end of the rod-shaped member 13a (the lower end in FIG. 1, hereinafter referred to as the lower end of the rod-shaped member 13a) is fixed to the battery holding member 12. Yes.
A hook portion 13b that can engage with the upper end of the dipping bath 14 is provided at the other end of the rod-shaped member 13a (the upper end in FIG. 1 and hereinafter referred to as the upper end of the rod-shaped member 13a).
The rod-shaped member 13a is formed such that the distance L from the upper end (that is, the position of the hook portion 13b) to the bottom portion 12a of the battery holding member 12 is shorter than the depth Dp of the immersion tank 14. .

Since it is the above structure, if the battery C is accommodated in the battery holding member 12 of the battery holding part 11, and this battery holding member 12 is immersed in the immersion tank 14 in which the discharge liquid AL was accommodated, the battery C will be inserted. It can be immersed in the discharge liquid AL.
The battery holding member 12 can be fixed to the dipping tank 14 by hooking the hook parts 13b, 13b of the pair of support members 13, 13 in the battery holding part 11 to the upper end of the dipping tank 14. Then, the battery C can be immersed in the discharge liquid AL until the discharge of all the batteries C accommodated in the battery holding member 12 is completed.

Here, when the battery C is immersed in the discharge liquid AL, a product s is formed when the electric power of the battery C is discharged. However, since the battery holding member 12 has a net shape, The battery holding member 12 can be detached, and the product s can be precipitated at the bottom of the immersion tank 14. That is, the product s can be separated from the battery C in the battery holding member 12.
In addition, the distance L from the upper end of the rod-like member 13a to the bottom 12a of the battery holding member 12 is formed to be shorter than the depth Dp of the immersion tank 14. For this reason, when the hook portions 13b, 13b of the pair of support members 13, 13 are hooked on the upper end of the immersion bath 14, the bottom portion 12a of the battery holding member 12 is arranged so as to float from the bottom surface of the immersion bath 14. Established. Then, even when the battery holding unit 11 is immersed in the discharge liquid AL of the immersion tank 14, the product s precipitated on the bottom of the immersion tank 14 and the battery C of the battery holding member 12 are in contact with each other. Battery C can be kept away from product s.
Then, it can prevent that the malfunction arises in the discharge process of the battery C resulting from presence of the product s. In addition, since the product s can be precipitated, the battery C accommodated in the battery holding member 12 of the battery holding unit 11 can be in a state in which almost no precipitate is present in any battery C. .
Therefore, since any battery C can be maintained in substantially the same state, regardless of the elapsed time from the start of processing and the position of the battery in the battery holding member 12, the discharge level of each battery C can be adjusted uniformly, and the discharge process Can be performed efficiently.

(Height adjustment mechanism)
In the discharge process, a new discharge liquid AL may be used every time when a new battery C is processed. However, the total amount of the used discharge liquid AL is obtained by using the discharge liquid AL for a plurality of discharge processes. That is, it is preferable to reduce the total amount of the discharge liquid AL to be discarded.

  Here, when the discharge liquid AL is used for a plurality of discharge treatments, the amount of the product s deposited on the bottom of the immersion bath 14 increases, and the hook portions 13b and 13b of the pair of support members 13 and 13 are attached. In the state where it is hooked on the upper end of the immersion tank 14, the bottom portion 12 a of the battery holding member 12 may come into contact with the product s deposited on the bottom of the immersion tank 14.

  Therefore, when the discharge liquid AL is used for a plurality of discharge treatments, the height of the bottom 12a of the battery holding member 12 can be adjusted in a state where the battery holding part 11 is attached to the immersion tank 14. It is preferable. That is, when the battery holding part 11 is attached to the immersion tank 14, the bottom 12 a of the battery holding member 12 approaches the bottom surface of the immersion tank 14, and the bottom 12 a of the battery holding member 12 is connected to the bottom surface of the immersion tank 14. It is preferable that it is possible to be in a state separated from each other and in any state.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, an intermediate hook portion 13c is provided between the hook portion 13b and the battery holding member 12 in the rod-shaped member 13a. Then, when the hook portions 13c, 13c of the pair of support members 13, 13 are hooked on the upper end of the immersion bath 14, the bottom portion of the battery holding member 12 is compared with the case where the hook portions 13b, 13b are hooked on the upper end of the immersion bath 14. The distance from 12a to the bottom of the immersion bath 14 can be increased. Then, even if the amount of the accumulated product s increases, the battery C in the battery holding member 12 and the product s can be prevented from contacting each other (FIG. 1B).

  In addition, the method of adjusting the distance from the bottom part 12a of the battery holding member 12 to the bottom of the immersion tank 14 in a state where the battery holding part 11 is attached to the immersion tank 14 is not limited to the above-described method, and various methods are adopted. can do. For example, if a rod-shaped member 13a that can be expanded and contracted and fixed at a desired length is adopted, the length of the rod-shaped member 13a is adjusted so that the distance from the bottom 12a of the battery holding member 12 to the bottom of the immersion tank 14 is increased. It becomes possible to adjust.

(Multi-stage arrangement)
Further, if a plurality of battery holding portions 11 having different lengths of the rod-shaped members 13a are provided, a plurality of battery holding members 12 of the battery holding portions 11 are arranged along the depth direction of the immersion tank 14. Is also possible (FIG. 2A). Then, since the discharge process can be performed simultaneously by the plurality of battery holding units 11, the processing efficiency can be improved.

Further, when the battery holding member 12 of the battery holding unit 11 is arranged in a plurality of stages, the battery C that has undergone the discharge process is accommodated in the battery holding unit 11A far from the bottom surface of the immersion tank 14, and the battery C having a short processing time is accommodated. It is preferable to accommodate the battery holder 11B close to the bottom surface of the immersion tank 14 and perform a discharge treatment.
A large amount of product s generated in the discharge process is generated in the initial stage of the discharge process with a large amount of residual power. However, since the battery C that has undergone the discharge process is located in the upper stage, the discharge of the battery is accompanied. The generated product s is not deposited on the lower battery C, and a decrease in discharge efficiency due to the product s can be prevented.

Furthermore, since a large amount of hydrogen gas g generated during the discharge process is also generated at the initial stage of the discharge process, if the battery C having a short processing time is accommodated in the battery holding part 11B close to the bottom surface of the immersion bath 14, it is generated. The stirring effect of the discharge liquid AL by the hydrogen gas g thus obtained can be obtained efficiently.
In addition, the hydrogen gas g generated from the battery C in the battery holder 11B stirs the discharge liquid AL in the vicinity of the battery C in the battery holder 11A that has undergone the discharge process, and the battery C contacts the discharge liquid AL. Efficiency can be improved. Then, the discharge of the battery C in which the discharge is progressing can be promoted, and the discharge processing efficiency can be improved.

In addition, the battery holding member 11 is smaller than the dipping bath 14 as the battery holding unit 11, and the distance from the bottom 12 a of the battery holding member 12 to the bottom of the dipping bath 14 in a state attached to the dipping bath 14 is adjusted. If it is possible, the position of the battery holding member 12 can be changed even during the discharge process.
For example, the battery C disposed at the bottom of the immersion tank 14 that is easily affected by the product s is moved to the upper part of the immersion tank 14 that is less affected by the product s from the middle of the discharge treatment, so that the discharge is relatively low. It is possible to make it easy to proceed. Then, even when the discharge process is performed simultaneously by the plurality of battery holding units 11, the discharge levels of all the batteries C can be made substantially uniform.

  If the position of the battery holding member 12 is not changed during the discharge process, the battery holding unit 11 includes a plurality of stages of battery holding members 12A and 12B as shown in FIG. It may be a thing.

  In FIG. 2, the case where two battery holding portions 11 are provided and the battery holding portion 11 having two battery holding members 12 have been described. However, the number of battery holding portions 11 and the number of stages where the battery holding members 12 are provided are as follows. It is not particularly limited, and may be three or more stages.

(Other)
In the above example, the case where the battery holding unit 11 houses the battery C in the bowl-shaped battery holding member 12 has been described, but the battery holding part 11 does not necessarily have a bowl-shaped member. For example, a net-like plate may be disposed in the dipping tank 14, and the battery C may be placed thereon to be discharged.

  The battery discharge facility of the present invention is suitable as a facility for simultaneously discharging a large amount of lithium ion batteries, battery packs, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Battery discharge equipment 11 Battery holding part 12 Battery holding member 13 Support member 14 Immersion tank s Product g Hydrogen gas AL Discharge liquid

Claims (3)

It is a facility for performing a discharge treatment by immersing a battery in a liquid,
An immersion tank containing a liquid in which the battery is immersed;
A battery holder provided in the immersion tank and capable of holding a plurality of the batteries,
The battery holder is
A battery holding member that is formed by a net-like member and can hold the plurality of batteries;
A battery discharge facility comprising: a support member that supports the bottom surface of the battery holding member in a state of floating from the bottom surface of the immersion tank. The support member is
The battery discharge facility according to claim 1, further comprising a position adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting a distance between a bottom surface of the battery holding member and a bottom surface of the immersion tank. A plurality of the battery holding portions are provided in the immersion tank,
The plurality of battery holding portions are
3. The battery discharge facility according to claim 1, wherein the battery discharge equipment is arranged so as to be aligned with each other in a direction approaching and separating from a bottom surface of the immersion bath.

Images