Project participation
of RWTH Aachen, Campus-Boulevard 30, 52074 Aachen, represented by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Achim Kampker
The chair PEM investigates the entire process of battery cell production with a focus on the challenges in the processes and at their interfaces. The focus of this research are the challenge of quality and measurement technology as well as the integrative improvement of production technologies. In order to gain a profound understanding of the interactions between external environmental conditions and the production processes formation and ageing, the OptiZellForm project is developing and constructing a special device which is adapted to the cell geometry of the project partner MEET and has an actuator and force sensors for applying and measuring specific mechanical loads. A large number of thermal sensors are used to obtain additional data on heat generation and distribution within the cell. With the help of this device, systematic tests are to be carried out and cause-effect relationships broken down.
The Institute of Metallurgical Process Engineering and Metal Recycling is engaged in applied research in the fields of extractive metallurgy (both pyro- and hydrometallurgy), metal refining and electrolysis as well as the recycling of metals from diverse waste streams. Within this framework, processes with optimized use of resources and under consideration of critical waste streams are designed and further developed. Due to the growing public and political interests in battery recycling, the IME has systematically investigated optimal pyro- and hydrometallurgical recycling concepts for all standard battery systems since 1999. Within the ProZell cluster, the IME is represented in the sub-project InnoRec. The task of the IME in this project is the development of thermal and pyrometallurgical recycling of LIBs. This includes the thermal pre-treatment by pyrolysis and the research of an early stage recovery of lithium. This offers the potential of a higher recovery yield than with conventional process routes, as the cross-contamination of lithium in the individual product streams is prevented. Afterwards follows the optimization of the melting process.