Page 68 from: Recycling International July issue | 2022 + TOP 100!
Recycling batteries – efficient
use of valuable raw materials
The new partnership between battery specialist RET and recycling solution
specialist Barradas aims to recycle end-of-life lithium-ion batteries (LIB) using
innovative technologies and to preserve resources for a green future.
inserted via a sluice system and fed to
the upstream BRS 4CUT, which
ensures optimum particle size. The
BRS 4CUT is designed for the size
reduction of various input materials.
The size of the output material is
determined by means of a quick-
change screen basket. The machine is
designed for highest torques and
maximum throughput rates. Due to its
particularly robust design, the
machine is not susceptible to break-
down.
The intelligent Barradas ICS control
system permanently monitors the
machine parameters and always
ensures optimum shredding results
through automatic adjustment.
The RET vacuum dryers are double-
walled horizontal paddle dryers in
which the volatile organic battery
electrolyte is evaporated. The power-
ful vacuum system allows drying to
take place at particularly low tempera-
tures. Based on the process parame-
ters, the system automatically sets the
necessary residence time while achiev-
ing ideal drying results and low inert
gas consumption.
The evaporated electrolytes are con-
densed out by multi-stage heat
exchangers and filled in liquid form.
The downstream exhaust air purifica-
tion system already exceeds the future
emission limits required by the EU.
• Step 3: The final step of battery
recycling is the mechanical separation
of the crushed and dried materials.
LIB traction batteries made of high-
performance lithium-ion cells, form
the basis of modern energy supply.
Solar energy, hydro and wind power,
geothermal energy, e-mobility, artifi-
cial intelligence, communications and
many more technologies will in the
future be based on lithium storage
systems.
‘Our core technologies in battery
recycling are able to treat those haz-
ardous materials without leaving any
residues,’ say Rui Barradas, CEO of
Barradas and Claas Reckelberg, CEO
of RET . ‘Ultimately, we help recyclers
extract valuable raw materials with the
highest degree of purity.’
Battery recyclers are no exception.
Thanks to the developed process tech-
nology, battery ingredients such as
cobalt, lithium, nickel and copper can
be refined and recovered extremely
efficiently while reducing energy costs.
‘Through the LIB recycling process
designed by us and equipped with
our components, all chemistries
including NCA, NMC, LFP, LCO and
LMO can go back into the loop,’ the
partners point out. Cells of all hous-
ing materials, such as aluminium,
steel, plastic or pouch as well as vari-
ous housing formats, are suitable for
its technologies – with almost no size
limitation.
‘Providing customised solutions
according to the specifications and
wishes of our customers is our top pri-
ority,’ the entrepreneur says. ‘That’s
why we offer a wide range of options
and focus on realising individual con-
cepts.’
A THREE-STEP PROCESS
The partners have defined three stag-
es in the LIB process:
• Step 1: LIB must be electrically dis-
charged before further recycling to
ensure operational and process safety
as well as optimal product quality. All
versions of RET discharge are based
on the latest and safest high-voltage
discharge technology for LIB storage
and modules.
The discharge capacity of the system
is freely definable by the number of
channels installed and their capacity
at different voltage levels. In installa-
tions with many channels, each indi-
vidual channel can be operated com-
pletely independently of all others.
Due to the bi-directional design,
power can be converted with high
efficiency from the batteries to the
local net and vice versa. The power
taken from the batteries thus has the
effect of directly reducing consump-
tion.
All parameters of the discharge can
be clearly adjusted on the touch-
screen based control. The operator
can create parametric recipes for the
discharge and diagnostics of different
battery systems and save the record-
ed log data. The discharge systems
are designed for seamless integration
into incoming testing and disassembly
of battery systems.
• Step 2: Batteries must be dried after
discharge to separate the combustible
electrolyte. LIB to be processed are Team Barradas and RET Output examples
68-69_techexpertbarradas.indd 68 06-07-2022 13:58
