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Battery

Improving Recycling Efficiency of Portable Electronics by Automating Battery Disassembly

Improving Recycling Efficiency of Portable Electronics by Automating Battery Disassembly

This project proposes to develop an automated and integrated battery disassembly process for EOL PCEs using a modular approach, as well as design and develop a component disassembly and battery removal process using a combination of mechanical (e.g., robotic disassembly, water-jet cutting), chemical, and thermal approaches to increase EOL PCE materials recover and processes throughputs

Upon completion, this project will design a prototype system, built and operated to confirm system effectiveness. This project will increase secondary materials by 0.03 million metric tons (MMT) of e-waste, 3.6 PJ energy reduction, 0.180MMTCO2e. Assumptions based on recovery of 20% of 150,000 metric tons per year of PCE discarded.

Project Team:
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Sunnking, University at Buffalo (UB), Iowa State University (ISU)

21-01-RM-5083

Automation for Remanufacturing of Battery Modules

Automation for Remanufacturing of Battery Modules

This project seeks to develop an automation process, enabled by a computer vision system and robotic arms for facilitating routine disassembly and human-in-the-loop, to enable a more flexible, safer, and more efficient LIB disassembly process. Upon completion, this project will deliver the capability to identify damaged and severely degraded modules using electrical test and thermal imaging, a process for high-value assessment of the entire battery pack using electrical tests, and elements for automation of the pack disassembly such as robotic removal of battery pack fasteners. This project will increase recovery of secondary feedstock by 0.198 MMT, save 33PJ of embodied energy, reduce GHG by 2.12 MMT of CO2, based on a doubling of the current reman rate for current EV production of 3.1 million cars.

Project Team:
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), BigBattery

21-01-RM-5039