Descrizione del progetto
Superare le sfide del riciclaggio delle batterie agli ioni di litio
La spinta verso l’energia pulita, i veicoli elettrici e i macchinari che dipendono dalle batterie evidenzia il problema emergente delle batterie a fine vita. Entro il 2040, ciò potrebbe comportare un problema significativo, con una stima di 9 milioni di tonnellate all’anno. Purtroppo, molte batterie agli ioni di litio usate, adatte al riutilizzo, vengono scartate, perdendo le opportunità di riciclaggio e di smontaggio automatico. Il progetto REBELION, finanziato dall’UE, intende affrontare le sfide che ostacolano un maggiore riutilizzo, riciclaggio e smantellamento delle batterie agli ioni di litio. Per migliorare l’utilità della seconda vita delle batterie, il progetto introdurrà test rapidi delle batterie, una migliore etichettatura facilitata dalle tecnologie digitali e sistemi di sicurezza potenziati. È importante notare che REBELION esplorerà lo smontaggio automatizzato, attualmente un processo manuale costoso e pericoloso. Questa ricerca determinerà se il riciclaggio efficiente e il riutilizzo possono diventare redditizi attraverso un’automazione efficace dal punto di vista dei costi.
Obiettivo
The increasing e-mobility will trigger a battery waste problem (9Mtons/year by 2040) despite that many of the used LIBs are suited for 2nd-life applications for an additional 10 years, representing an opportunity to diminish energy and raw materials dependencies in Europe.
Technical hurdles are preventing the re-use and recycling of Li-ion batteries. Besides the heterogeneity of the battery stock, assessing their condition for further usage is a slow process performed with equipment not suited for industrial contexts while. Dismantling packs and modules is in addition a costly and slow manual process because its automation faces extremely complex, multi-scale, cluttered and densely packed environments.
REBELION will validate two circular schemes (including Light e-vehicles) to maximise 2nd life utility and domestic applications, enabled by a disruptive fast battery testing based on Electronic Noise Analysis, and an autonomous pack and module disassembly system with re-configuring capabilities for the ongoing battery types and formats. Additionally, a novel labelling system supported with blockchain, digital battery passport and ecolabel technology will provide key information to dismantlers, recyclers, re-manufacturers and users.
Processing large volumes of used batteries increases the risks of thermal runway incidents, requiring thus novel safety protocols and systems. REBELION will add thermal monitoring and the design of a smart container for storage and transportation with thermal and gas sensing layers to monitor the limiting oxygen index and lower explosive limits, and a cooling system that activates when thresholds are surpassed.
REBELION consortium covers all the value chain, including advanced robotic line and car manufacturer, bringing key knowledge, proprietary technology, and pilot validation facilities. The combination of 4 research centres and 7 industrial partners will ensure technology transference from lab to industrial context.
Campo scientifico
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecycling
- natural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectric batteries
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringthermodynamic engineering
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputer securitycryptography
- social sciencessociologyindustrial relationsautomation
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinatore
46022 Valencia
Spagna