Systems and methods for disassembling a battery module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12148901-B2
Application number	US-202117464429-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2021
Priority date	Sep 1, 2021
Publication date	Nov 19, 2024
Grant date	Nov 19, 2024

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided herein for disassembling a battery system. Further, systems and methods are provided herein for a battery apparatus configured for disassembly of a battery system. In addition, systems and methods are provided herein for preparing a battery system including a first plurality of members bonded with a first adhesive and a second plurality of members bonded with a second adhesive for disassembly of the battery system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for disassembling a battery system, the method comprising:
preparing the battery system for treatment, wherein the battery system comprises a first adhesive that bonds a first plurality of members, and a second adhesive that bonds a second plurality of members;
submerging the battery system in a bath of a dielectric mixture to at least partially break the first adhesive and the second adhesive;
allowing the dielectric mixture to penetrate the first adhesive and the second adhesive to reach a penetration threshold;
in response to the dielectric mixture penetration exceeding the penetration threshold, removing the battery system from the bath of the dielectric mixture; and
disassembling the first plurality of members and the second plurality of members.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery system further comprises a third adhesive bonding a third plurality of members, wherein the method further comprises:
treating the battery system with the dielectric mixture to further break down the third adhesive, and
disassembling the third plurality of members.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first adhesive, the second adhesive, and the third adhesive comprise different adhesives.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each of the first adhesive, the second adhesive, and the third adhesive comprises one or more of a thermal adhesive, a high strength adhesive, or a UV adhesive.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of the first adhesive, the second adhesive, and the third adhesive is a acrylic adhesive.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric mixture comprises synthetic esters and/or natural esters.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first adhesive bonds the first plurality of members comprising a first side of a carrier to a plurality of battery cells; and
the second adhesive bonds the second plurality of members comprising a sidewall to the plurality of battery cells.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery system maintains an electric charge while the battery system is being treated with the dielectric mixture.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein submerging the battery system in the bath of the dielectric mixture comprises:
submerging the battery system in the bath of the dielectric mixture for a predetermined period; and
removing the battery system from the bath.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
agitating the dielectric mixture by sonication while the battery system is submerged in the bath of the dielectric mixture; and
heating the dielectric mixture to a predetermined temperature.

11. A method for disassembling a battery system, the method comprising:
preparing the battery system for treatment, wherein the battery system comprises a first adhesive that bonds a first plurality of members, and a second adhesive that bonds a second plurality of members;
submerging the battery system in a bath of a dielectric mixture to at least partially break the first adhesive and the second adhesive;
monitoring hardness of the first adhesive and the second adhesive; in response to the hardness of the first adhesive and the second adhesive falling below a hardness threshold, removing the battery system from the bath of the dielectric mixture; and
disassembling the first plurality of members and the second plurality of members.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the battery system further comprises a third adhesive bonding a third plurality of members, wherein the method further comprises:
treating the battery system with the dielectric mixture to further break down the third adhesive, and
disassembling the third plurality of members.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first adhesive, the second adhesive, and the third adhesive comprise different adhesives.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the first adhesive, the second adhesive, and the third adhesive comprises one or more of a thermal adhesive, a high strength adhesive, or a UV adhesive.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein each of the first adhesive, the second adhesive, and the third adhesive is a acrylic adhesive.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dielectric mixture comprises synthetic esters and/or natural esters.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the first adhesive bonds the first plurality of members comprising a first side of a carrier to a plurality of battery cells; and
the second adhesive bonds the second plurality of members comprising a sidewall to the plurality of battery cells.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the battery system maintains an electric charge while the battery system is being treated with the dielectric mixture.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
agitating the dielectric mixture by sonication while the battery system is submerged in the bath of the dielectric mixture; and
heating the dielectric mixture to a predetermined temperature.

20. An apparatus for disassembling a battery module, comprising:
a conveyor configured to transport the battery module, wherein the battery module comprises a first adhesive that bonds a first plurality of members and a second different adhesive that bonds a second plurality of members;
a container system containing a dielectric mixture to break the first adhesive and the second adhesive, wherein the container system comprises:
a container for holding the dielectric mixture;
a sonifier configured to agitate by sonication the dielectric mixture in the container while the battery module is submerged in a bath of the dielectric mixture; and
a heater configured to heat the dielectric mixture to a predetermined temperature; control circuitry configured to cause the conveyor to:
submerge the battery module in the dielectric mixture to at least partially break the first adhesive and the second adhesive;
allow the dielectric mixture to penetrate the first adhesive and the second adhesive to reach a penetration threshold; and
in response to the dielectric mixture penetration exceeding the penetration threshold, remove the battery module from the bath of the dielectric mixture; and

a disassembly conveyor configured to receive the battery module for disassembling of the battery module after the battery module is removed from the bath.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Cournoyer Travis

Classifications

• H01M10/02

  Details (of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00) · CPC title

• H01M2220/20

  Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M10/0525

  Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries · CPC title

• Y02W30/84

  Recycling of batteries or fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M10/54 Primary

  Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators · CPC title