Machine-learning (ML) automation introduces a vital tipping point across technology areas. The accurate sorting of end-of-life batteries is no different, offering advanced sorting systems to separate batteries by various characteristics. The Smart Battery Sorting System from Li Industries leverages this cutting-edge technology to efficiently sort and separate batteries by chemical composition, size, weight, and packaging type. This concept combines industrial cameras, a scale and force sensor, and an element detector to create the integrated ML algorithm. This system feeds end-of-life lithium-ion batteries into direct recycling processes that produce rejuvenated battery materials in a more affordable and environmentally friendly way, helping reach the ultimate goal of a 90% lithium-ion battery recycling rate.
“We believe that our automated battery sorting technology can significantly improve battery sorting capabilities,” said Li Industries team captain David Young. “Our team envisions that improved sorting will enable rapid growth in battery recycling, leading to higher quality recycling outputs, improved levels of lithium-ion battery material recovery, and an overall increase in the number of batteries that are recycled every year.”
Alongside the state-of-the-art ML sorting system, Li Industries has partnered with stakeholders within the battery recovery ecosystem to create an end-to-end solution for the recovery of LIBs. These partnerships with collectors, sorters, and recyclers are vital to improving the sorting process to meet the community’s needs.
Within Phase III of the Prize, the team is working to build a pilot-scale system capable of processing batteries at a rate of 400 kg/hr or 50% of the targeted sorting rate for this system when commercially deployed. Once commercialized, this system is projected to help catalyze consumer electronic lithium-ion batteries recycled today from the current 5% rate to 18% in 2024 and 24% in 2025 through the improved economics of battery sorting and enabling additional battery recovery capabilities such as single stream battery collection.
To learn more about the Smart Battery Sorting System, contact David Young at david.young@li-ind.com or visit www.li-ind.com.
