Lithium-Ion Batteries: Revolutionizing Portable Power Solutions

0
104

 

A rechargeable battery is a lithium-ion battery, which is commonly referred to as a lithium-ion battery. In a variety of electronics, it’s becoming highly desirable. It’s a type of backup battery that uses lithium ions to store and distribute electrical energy. Lithium-ion batteries are known for their high energy density, which means that they can store a significant amount of energy in a relatively small and light package. The battery is composed of two electrodes, an anode and a cathode. These electrodes are separated by an electrolyte that allows lithium ions to move between them in the charging and discharging process. When the charging process is going on, the lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode, where they are stored and when the battery is draining means is in use, the lithium ions flow back to the cathode. The force of the movement produces an electrical current which is used to drive the machine.

Lithium-Ion Battery Uses:

Lithium-Ion Battery Use Lithium-ion batteries consist of five layers: a negative current collector, an anode that attracts negatively charged ions, an ion-conducting separator, a cathode to attract positively charged ions and a positive current collector. Lithium-ion batteries are used in electric vehicles and for grid-scale energy storage, and power many electronics. Though this power source is expensive, the price of battery storage may be half of today’s cost by 2025, as reported in Scientific American. One factor that could lower the cost of lithium-ion batteries is the popularity of electric vehicles in the United States. Experts in the automotive industry expect that by 2022 electric cars will account for 10.5%. Conventional lithium-ion batteries are designed to carry charge between the cathode and anode by means of an exceptionally combustible liquid electrolyte. Liquid lithium-ion batteries, which are more stable than the new solid state versions undergoing tests, can explode quickly when overheated.

History:

Lithium-Ion History Scientists in the United States invented lithium-ion batteries, but Japanese electronics company Sony Corp. first commercialized them to power personal devices like cassette players and video cameras. Lithium batteries have become indispensable for the power of cell phones, models planes and electric tools. In 2006, Tesla put 6,800 lithium-ion batteries in a sports car, leading to the company’s first car, the Tzero. That’s when the development of plugin hybrid cars started.

Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Technology:

In order to recycle battery materials, they use a combination of mechanical and hydromet­al­lur­gical technology. They are able to recover lithium, cobalt, manganese and nickel from the battery for reuse in the manufacture of new batteries through indus­trial, low CO2 processes. It is safe, sustainable, and efficient to use the optimized battery treatment processes.

The mechanical and hydrometallurgical recycling technologies are combined in to efficient and low CO2 battery recycling processes. The technology has been developed by Fortum and the battery treatment process has been optimised with a view to high safety, sustainability and a high recovery rate.

Mechanical processing:

At Fortum’s Ikaalinen plant in Finland, the lithium-ion batteries are first dismantled and treated by means of an electronic process. We are able to extract plastics, aluminium, copper and black powder by mechanical processing. At Fortum’s plant in Harjavalta, Finland, the black mass of batteries containing critical metals is collected and transported for hydrometallurgical processing. Separate processes are used for the recycling of other recovered materials.

Lithium-Ion Batteries as Waste:

In spite of all these variations, EPA has determined that most lithium-ion batteries on the market are likely to be hazardous waste when they are disposed of, since they can catch fire or explode if not handled properly. The waste codes D001 and D003 are likely to be considered ignitable and reactive hazardous waste carried by most lithium-ion batteries when they are discarded. Please note that if purchased from a trustworthy manufacturer and used properly, lithium-ion batteries are generally safe for use in consumer electronics and electric vehicles. However, fires are common at the end of life, and mismanagement and battery damage make them more likely at this stage. Recycling used lithium-ion batteries and devices containing them will help to address the issues related to Clean Energy Transitions and avoid problems which arise from inappropriate battery.

Different Types of Batteries:

Primary battery: Using primary batteries all the time. These batteries are easy and efficient, but only be using them for one time. They not going to be able to recharge it and replace it with a new one when it runs out of power. Primary batteries are used mostly for remotely operated controls, watches, flashlights and toys.

Second battery: A second battery is one that can be charged and used on a regular basis. To charge these batteries, connect them to a battery charger that is connected to the power source. Compared to the counterpart, they are more environmentally friendly and cost effective as don’t need new batteries on a regular basis. In devices such as smartphones, laptops and electrical cars, manufacturers use secondary battery packs.

Benefits of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Plant

  • Pollution Control
  • Cost Reduction
  • Resource Saving
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Sustainability
  • Employment Creation

Read more reports on semiconductor industry.

BUSINESS INSIDER POST