System and method for processing an end-of-life or reduced performance energy storage and/or conversion device using a supercritical fluid
A method of refurbishing a lithium-containing energy storage and/or conversion device is disclosed, wherein the energy storage and/or conversion device includes electrodes and an electrolyte, and wherein the method includes substantially removing the electrolyte from the energy storage and/or conversion device, substantially removing waste products from surfaces of the electrodes, and adding a new quantity of electrolyte to the energy storage and/or conversion device.
1. A method of processing an energy storage and/or conversion device, comprising:
discharging the energy storage and/or conversion device;
removing an electrolyte from the energy storage and/or conversion device by extraction via a supercritical fluid; and
adding a new quantity of electrolyte to the energy storage and/or conversion device after removing waste products from the energy storage and/or conversion device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein discharging the energy storage and/or conversion device includes placing the energy storage and/or conversion device in an electrically conductive fluid.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein discharging the energy storage and/or conversion device includes discharging the energy storage and/or conversion device via external circuitry.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the electrolyte from the energy storage and/or conversion device includes removing at least a portion of the electrolyte with a centrifuge before exposing the device to the supercritical fluid.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the electrolyte from the energy storage and/or conversion device includes removing the electrolyte with a supercritical fluid using static extraction.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the supercritical fluid comprises supercritical carbon dioxide.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the supercritical fluid comprises an aprotic moiety.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage and/or conversion device comprises a battery.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the battery is for at least one of an electric vehicle and a hybrid electric vehicle.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising recharging the energy storage and/or conversion device after adding a new quantity of electrolyte.
11. A method of refurbishing a used lithium-containing energy storage and/or conversion device, the energy storage and/or conversion device including electrodes and an electrolyte, the method comprising:
removing at least a portion of the used electrolyte from the energy storage and/or conversion device with a supercritical fluid; and
adding a new quantity of electrolyte to the energy storage and/or conversion device after removal of at least a portion of the used electrolyte.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising discharging the energy storage and/or conversion device before removing the electrolyte.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein discharging the energy storage and/or conversion device includes placing the energy storage and/or conversion device in an electrically conductive fluid.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein placing the energy storage and/or conversion device in an electrically conductive fluid includes placing the energy storage and/or conversion device in an aqueous salt solution.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein discharging the energy storage and/or conversion device includes discharging the energy storage and/or conversion device via external electrical circuitry.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein discharging the energy storage and/or conversion device includes exposing the energy storage and/or conversion device to carbon dioxide thereby causing the production of oxalate within the energy storage and/or conversion device.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein removing at least a portion of the electrolyte includes removing at least some of the electrolyte by centrifuging the energy storage and/or conversion device.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein removing at least a portion of the electrolyte includes removing at least some of the electrolyte by exposing the electrolyte to a supercritical fluid using a static extraction.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the supercritical fluid comprises supercritical carbon dioxide.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising charging the energy storage and/or conversion device after adding a new quantity of electrolyte to the energy storage and/or conversion device.
21. In a hybrid electric or electric vehicle, a method of rejuvenating a battery having reduced performance, the method comprising:
discharging the battery;
removing electrolyte from the battery with a supercritical fluid;
adding a new quantity of electrolyte to the battery; and
recharging the battery.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the electrolyte is removed via extraction with a fluid comprising supercritical carbon dioxide.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the electrolyte from the energy storage and/or conversion device includes removing the electrolyte with a supercritical fluid using dynamic extraction.
24. The method of claim 11 , wherein removing at least a portion of the electrolyte includes removing at least some of the electrolyte by exposing the electrolyte to a supercritical fluid using a dynamic extraction.