EP4438182A1 - System and method for comminuting battery cells - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for shredding battery cells, in particular battery or rechargeable battery pouches, is disclosed, comprising a driven mechanical shredding device (1), a feed device (2) for feeding the battery cells to the shredding device (1) at a controllable feed speed, such that the shredding device shreds the supplied battery cells directly at the feed speed, a housing (3) which encloses at least the part (21) of the feed device which faces the shredding device (2) and the shredding device (2), wherein the housing (3) has an inlet (31) via which the batteries can enter the interior (39) of the housing and the housing (3) has an outlet (35) via which the shredded batteries can leave the housing, wherein preferably inlet means (32) are provided in the area of the inlet (31) and outlet means (36) are provided in the area of the outlet (35), which are suitable for to keep the fire caused by ignited battery cells inside (39) of the housing (3). The continuous comminution process according to the invention is safer against fires and allows more effective comminution and separation of the desired black mass than batch-operated processes.

Description

The invention relates to a system and method for shredding battery cells, in particular lithium-ion battery cells. Such systems usually have a mechanical shredding device in the form of a shredder.

With the increasing implementation and distribution of large quantities of lithium-ion battery cells, there is a need for safe, efficient, energy-saving and low-pollutant recycling of the cells, which are often in the form of pouches or round cells. The general trend is for battery cells or pouches to become narrower and longer, and for housings to no longer be used.

To date, there are basically two processes used to recycle lithium-ion battery cells at the end of their life cycle:
Thermal melting of the cell, as described in the UmiCore process (VAL'ES ^™ ), only reveals thermal neutralization. The valuable lithium is lost in the process.

WO 2010149611 A1 discloses mechanical and chemical separation processes for the mechanical shredding of lithium-ion battery cells in particular and the associated hazard potential. The mechanical shredding of the batteries provided takes place in the presence of a metal fire retardant, which is suitable for suppressing or reducing a fire in the batteries; and of a binding agent, which is suitable for binding acids and/or bases. The shredders used cause the battery cells to heat up due to the tearing, crushing and stretching deformations and the associated friction.

Other publications, such as "Recycling of lithium-ion batteries - LithoRec II" reveal the shredding and subsequent vacuum drying in batch operation, which makes the process complex and slow.

The invention is based on the object of creating an improved system and method for crushing battery cells, in particular lithium-ion battery cells.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a system for crushing battery cells, in particular lithium-ion battery cells, which has the features of the main claim. A corresponding method is the subject of the independent claim.

Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the system according to the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

The system according to the invention for shredding battery cells comprises a driven mechanical shredding device. This shreds the battery cells, in particular by cutting them, and can be designed as a milling tool. A feed device, e.g. a conveyor belt, a box feeder and/or bunker belt, is also provided for feeding the battery cells to the shredding device at a controllable feed speed. Since this works with a controllable feed speed, the shredding device can shred the battery cells fed in directly at the feed speed. This means that the battery cells fed in that come into contact with the shredding device are shredded directly at this feed speed; they are figuratively "nibbled away" at this speed. Due to this forced guidance, the cells can be shredded with a controlled, in particular uniform, mass flow, unlike battery cells thrown into a shredder, where irregular large quantities are randomly shredded. According to the invention, however, the cells are preferably held fixed during shredding in order to prevent randomly occurring load peaks, such as those that occur during shredding. Together with the housing and the inlet and outlet means, a fire can be kept inside the housing:
The mass flow in the sense of the invention is not an exact value, but a range, e.g. 4 - 10 kg/min.

Furthermore, a housing encloses the feed device and the shredding device, whereby the housing has an entrance through which the batteries can enter the interior of the housing and the housing has an exit through which the shredded batteries, which thus form the "ground material" in the technical sense, can leave the housing. The housing therefore encloses the danger area and prevents the fire from spreading to the surrounding area, e.g. the battery storage area or the accumulated amount of shredded battery cells, in the event of a fire, which is in any case not very effective due to the small absolute quantities in the danger area.

In principle, it is conceivable that a vacuum is maintained inside the housing via an extraction system so that gases and dusts as well as fires caused by ignited battery cells can be kept inside the housing. Preferably, however, inlet means are provided in the area of the entrance and outlet means are provided in the area of the exit, which are suitable for keeping gases and dusts as well as a fire caused inside the housing by ignited battery cells inside the housing. This effectively separates the potential danger area from the other parts of the system. Inlet means and outlet means are known to the expert and can be used depending on the requirements. The battery cells and the shredded material must be able to pass through the locks and in the event of a fire, the locks must be able to block so that a fire cannot pass through the lock. Possible designs include, for example, multi-door locks; fire protection curtains that hang from the housing ceiling onto the feed device; or revolving doors and portioners, e.g. rotary valves, as well as lock belts.

It is essential that the system is preferably designed in such a way that it works continuously and not in batches. Small interruptions during shredding are possible, e.g. if the battery cells are arranged with smaller intervals on the feed device. Batchwise, on the other hand, means: collecting a quantity of battery cells in a container; acting on this quantity uniformly and simultaneously using the shredder until the entire quantity is shredded; removing the entire quantity from the container; repeating the steps with a new quantity of battery cells. In contrast to known batch-operated grinding processes, the invention carries out continuously operated shredding, which can be dimensioned in such a way that the maximum hazardous quantity of battery cells and grinding material in the shredding device can always be kept below critical limits during operation. This reduces the chemical reaction potential of possible spontaneous oxidation with the risk of explosion and fire. With clever design, comparatively large quantities per hour can be shredded despite small absolute quantities in the danger area at a high feed speed and high cutting rate. Safety measures such as inerting or cooling are not absolutely necessary. In batch-operated grinding processes, the largest possible quantity of battery cells is usually processed per batch. The hazard potential in the batch process in the event of heating/ignition is correspondingly high, which is why complex inerting is required.

Preferably, a control is provided which controls the speed of the feed device and the working speed of the shredding device in such a way that a specified mass of battery cells inside the housing is not exceeded. This ensures that even if the battery cells inside the housing catch fire, the consequences remain manageable, i.e. a fire inside the housing neither damages the system nor can spread from it to the surrounding area, in particular the pouches or ground material stored before or after the inlet or outlet means.

Preferably, a control is provided which controls the speed of the feed device and the working speed of the shredding device such that a defined mass flow is shredded by the shredding device This enables the feed device to be synchronized with the shredding device in order to achieve uniform shredding of the battery cells while maintaining a high throughput that could not be achieved in batch operation. This aspect is discussed in more detail below. A defined mass flow allows an optimal shredding rate, which, based on calculations or experience, is below a shredding rate at which too much thermal energy is generated.

Additional operational safety is achieved if sensors for detecting fires and non-inert atmospheres are provided in the housing, which are connected to the control system in such a way that the feed device is stopped as soon as a fire is detected and fire-extinguishing measures can be initiated, in particular by supplying fire-retardant gases, for example inert gas, N2 / CO2.

Preferably, fire-retardant curtains are provided between the ceiling of the housing and the surface of the feed device as the inlet means and/or portioners, for example a rotary valve, are provided as the outlet means.

If the feed device has means for forcibly feeding the battery cells to the shredding device at a defined speed, in particular at the speed of the feed device, the heat generated during shredding of the battery cells is calculable. Means for forcibly feeding the battery cells, in particular in a geometrically defined orientation, are, for example, form-fitting holders/compartments on the feed device adapted to the geometry of the battery cells or pressure rollers that press the battery cells firmly onto the feed device. The feed device can therefore be a conveyor belt in particular, preferably with a rough surface. The heat generated during shredding of the battery cells is calculable in particular if the other system parameters, which are also described below, are also taken into account. The shredding process can then be carried out in such a way that undesirable chemical reactions due to heating are avoided at an optimized high shredding speed adapted to this. The cells do not jump away when the shredder intervenes, thus preventing randomly occurring load peaks such as those that occur during shredding.

A preferably provided feeding device with quantity control with a first weighing device also helps here. This is designed in such a way that the mass flow of battery cells that is fed to the feed device adheres to a defined mass flow range.

A second weighing device can be provided behind the discharge means to determine the mass flow of battery cells which are discharged from the housing The control system can therefore calculate the number of battery cells in the housing by balancing the mass flow of battery cells fed into and out of the housing. This enables an emergency shutdown or at least an interruption of the supply of further battery cells. Critical material accumulations in terms of chemical reactivity are avoided through continuous balancing. Despite high crushing speeds and high mass throughput, the risk potential remains low because the absolute quantities in the housing remain comparatively small.

Therefore, the control is preferably designed in such a way that if a limit value for the maximum amount of battery cells in the housing is exceeded, the shredding device and feeding device, preferably the loading device, is stopped.

In general, any quantity determination device and quantity limiting device is preferably provided and connected to the control system, which is designed in such a way that the quantity of battery cells in the housing is determined and if a limit value for the maximum quantity of battery cells in the housing is exceeded, the shredding device and feeding device, preferably the loading device, is stopped. In contrast to what is described above, this can also be implemented without balancing weighing at the output and input, e.g. by cameras, optical systems, light barriers, lidar, etc.

Ideally, as many parameters as possible are included in the calculation of the optimal shredding rate. Preferably, the working speed of the shredding device is adapted to the speed of the feed device and/or to the mass flow of battery cells fed to the shredding device, so that the shredding device is operated at the optimal operating point. This is when the shredding rate is as high as possible without the thermal energy input causing the risk of ignition.

The shredding device is preferably designed in such a way that it shreds the battery cells by cutting them and in particular not by tearing or crushing them. Less thermal energy is generated during chip formation than during deformation. The shredding device is preferably designed as a milling cutter, milling roller, single-shaft milling machine, all preferably with hard metal or ceramic plates, preferably indexable plates, or hard metal cutting edges welded firmly to the shaft. The shaft diameter, which defines the rotation of the cutting tool, is preferably greater than or equal to three times the maximum height of the battery cell, seen perpendicular to the plane of the feed device on which the battery cells lie.

According to the invention, pouch cells are preferably used as battery cells. This is a common design of a lithium polymer accumulator with a flexible outer shell. In conventional older cylindrical cells with a solid metal outer shell, the active layers are wrapped around the inner electrode. In contrast, in pouch cells, the stacked or folded active layers are enclosed in a flexible, usually aluminum-based outer film. The open sides of the outer bags are usually thermally welded. Several individual electrical cells can be stacked inside to increase the electrical voltage in series and the capacity and current carrying capacity in parallel. The outer film shell is vacuumed at the end of production, which presses and fixes the cell layers; however, they usually remain flexible. Only the outer connection electrodes leave the bag-shaped cell casing. These cells are therefore easy to shred and contain little solid metal, in particular only the outer connection electrodes made of copper. When shredded, a mixture of plastic films is created, some with metallic electrodes printed on them, and the so-called black mass, which, in addition to the electrolyte liquid, contains or can contain cobalt, lithium, manganese, magnesium and graphite and other ingredients.

Even if not absolutely necessary, a dry ice feed device can be provided. This continuously feeds dry ice to the battery cells on the feed device, especially in the area of the enclosed transition between the feed device and the shredding device. This ensures that the battery cells are cooled, especially during shredding. At the same time, the battery cells and their other pasty contents become brittle. As a side effect, the interior of the housing is flushed by the evaporating CO ₂ in order to keep the O ₂ content in the interior below 10 vol%, preferably below 5 vol%. Fires can thus be prevented or at least greatly limited. On the other hand, it is possible to increase the throughput of the system through targeted, dosed cooling and inerting.

Furthermore, an inert gas supply device can be provided so that inert gas, e.g. N ₂ , CO ₂ , is continuously flushed into the interior of the housing in order to keep the O ₂ content in the interior below 10 vol%, preferably below 5 vol%.

After crushing, a friction washer is preferably provided to wash out black mass, the electrolyte and other components from the crushed batteries or ground material. The ground material is rinsed using rinsing water so that different materials, e.g. foil residues from the pouches, can be separated from the black mass and other components of the batteries. The electrolyte dissolves in the rinsing water and/or is washed out with a large amount of rinsing water, and is therefore no longer flammable. The friction washer is expediently arranged and designed in such a way that the shredded batteries can be fed from the discharge means, preferably via the second weighing device, to the friction washer.

Well-known friction washers are used to wash ground material fractions, e.g. film chips or granules from PET bottles. This involves cleaning and separating the chips/granules from unwanted foreign substances, e.g. dirt, glue, etc. The ground material, i.e. the film chips or granules, is transported to the upper outlet by the rotor shaft of the diagonally arranged friction separator, with the washing process taking place from bottom to top during transport. The foreign substances, on the other hand, are thrown out together with the rinsing water through a fine sieve surrounding the screw shaft and can drain off through a lower rinsing water drain. Additional water can be filled directly into the production room through the lid if required.

According to the invention, the friction washer is used differently than usual: It is not just the fraction of film residues that is cleaned that is important, but also the components in the rinse water, which in the case of batteries includes the black mass containing lithium. The rinse water is therefore subjected to further filtering/sieving.

Since the shredded batteries are fed directly into the friction washer and therefore enter the water, the flammable electrolyte is diluted in comparatively large quantities of rinse water and no longer poses a danger.

All fine particles created during the shredding process, especially those declared to be harmful to health, are bound in the rinsing water.

According to the invention, it was recognized that a friction separator can be used to wash out the black mass without leaving any residue using conditioned (pH value, etc.) rinsing water. This involves separating the hazardous electrolyte, possibly in several stages. The friction separator largely produces a pure coarse fraction that contains no graphite, metal salts or electrolytes of any kind. This coarse fraction, consisting of foils, winding cores and other cell geometry-forming materials, can then be further processed in a dry mechanical process.

Therefore, the friction separator has a rinsing water inlet and a rinsing water outlet for supplying and discharging the rinsing water. Preferably, a filter, preferably a chamber filter press, is connected to the rinsing water outlet, which is arranged and designed in such a way that the discharged rinsing water flows through the filter, The filter is designed in such a way that the black mass and other solid components can be filtered out.

In addition to the actual black mass, the filter filters out other undesirable solid components and, relative to the small particles of the black mass, also larger components, e.g. shredded wires. Therefore, a wet fine sieve device is preferably provided, which is arranged and designed in such a way that the black mass filtered out in the filter and the other solid components undergo wet fine sieving. For this purpose, the wet fine sieve preferably has a sieve hole size of 0.01 mm - 5 mm, preferably 0.1 mm - 1.0 mm, particularly preferably 0.05 mm - 0.5 mm. The black mass obtained in this way is given a higher degree of purity by the wet fine sieving than with conventional dry sieving. Furthermore, no carcinogenic dust is produced.

Finally, a mechanical, thermal or other type of dryer can be provided for drying the black mass, which is arranged and designed such that the black mass separated out in the filter or sieve, preferably in the wet fine sieve device, can be dried.

Preferably, the rinsing water can circulate in the circuit between the friction washer, filter and wet sieve.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine technische Zeichnung der erfindungsgemäßen Anlage zum Zerkleinern von Batteriezellen.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine technische Zeichnung einer nachgelagerten Einrichtung zum Trennen der verschiedenen Bestandteile der mit der erfindungsgemäßen Anlage zerkleinerten Batterien.

The invention is explained below by way of example:

• Fig. 1 shows a technical drawing of the inventive system for shredding battery cells.
• Fig. 2 shows a technical drawing of a downstream device for separating the various components of the batteries shredded with the system according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a technical drawing of the system according to the invention for shredding battery cells. Individual battery cells are fed via a feeding device 6 with quantity control with a first weighing device 61 to a feed device 2 designed as a conveyor belt, so that the mass of battery cells fed in can be monitored and controlled.

A common housing 3 encloses at least the part 21 of the feed device which faces the shredding device 1 and the shredding device 1. The feed device 2 feeds the battery cells to the shredding device 1 at a defined feed speed, such that the shredding device immediately shreds the supplied battery cells at the defined feed speed. There is a forced feed of the cells, which is indicated here by vertical elevations on the top of the conveyor belt 2, which are adapted to the size of the battery cells. adapted compartments for the battery cells - which are shown as a black rectangle as an example. This means that the battery cells are fed in a geometrically defined orientation at the speed of the feed device. Other forced feeding means (not shown) can also be used expediently, e.g. pressure rollers acting from above, guide plates which fix the battery cells on the conveyor belt 2 in the area in which the shredding device 1 acts on the battery cells. The shredding device 1 itself is designed in such a way that it shreds the battery cells by cutting them and is therefore designed as a single-shaft milling machine.

The housing 3 has an inlet 31 through which the feed device 2 extends and via which the batteries reach the interior 39 of the housing.

Below the shredding device 1, the housing 3 has an outlet 35 through which the shredded batteries, i.e. the ground material, leave the housing 3. In the area of the inlet 31, inlet means 32 are provided and in the area of the outlet 35, outlet means 36 are provided, which are suitable for keeping a fire caused by ignited battery cells inside the housing inside 39 of the housing 3. For this purpose, fire-retardant curtains between the ceiling of the housing and the surface of the feed device are provided as inlet means 32 and portioners, here in the form of a rotary valve, are provided as outlet means 36.

From there, the ground material is fed to a second weighing device 7 for determining the mass flow of battery cells that is discharged from the housing 3, so that the control system 4 can calculate the quantity of battery cells in the housing by balancing the mass flow of battery cells fed into and discharged from the housing. The control system 4 ensures that if a limit value for the maximum quantity of battery cells in the housing is exceeded, the loading device 6 is stopped, optionally also the feed device 2, and also optionally also the shredding device 1.

The system therefore shreds the battery cells continuously and not in batches.

In the figures it can be seen that the control 4 is connected in particular to the feed device 2 of the shredding device 1, the weighing devices 61, 7 via lines which are shown in dashed lines, and controls these in such a way that a specified mass and/or mass flow of battery cells in the interior 39 of the housing is not exceeded.

In the present case, sensors 9 for detecting fires are also provided in the housing 3 and connected to the control 4. Thus, the feed device 2 and the The shredding device 1 can be stopped and a fire extinguishing device 5 for supplying fire-retardant gases, for example inert gas / CO2, can be activated as soon as a fire is detected.

As a further precautionary measure against the occurrence of fires, a dry ice feed device 8 is also provided here so that dry ice is continuously fed to the battery cells located on the feed device in the area of the transition between the feed device 2 and the shredding device 1. This cools and embrittles the materials of the battery cells, which promotes shredding. Furthermore, the interior of the housing is flushed by the evaporating CO2.

In addition, an inert gas supply device 5 is provided, which flushes inert gas, e.g. N2, CO2, into the interior of the housing in order to reduce the O2 content in the interior.

Fig. 2 explains the treatment of Fig. 1 shredded battery cells, i.e. the ground material, which are fed via the discharge means 36 and the second weighing device 7 to the friction washer 10 at its base point 15 via the transfer point X:

The friction washer 10 washes black mass, other solid components and the electrolyte from the shredded batteries using rinsing water. For this purpose, the inclined friction separator 10 has several rinsing water inlets 11 distributed along its length and arranged on its upper side for supplying and discharging the rinsing water, and a rinsing water outlet 12 arranged in the bottom area on its underside. In particular, the black mass is separated from coarser or lighter solid components, in particular the film scraps, by the rinsing water in the friction washer. A chamber filter press 20 is connected to the rinsing water outlet 12 so that the drained rinsing water flows through the filter 20 in order to filter out the black mass and the other solid components still present.

A downstream wet fine sieve device (not shown) further sieves the black mass filtered out in filter 20 and the other solid components still present, separates undesirably large particles and thus produces black mass of high quality.

Also not shown is a downstream dryer for drying the black mass.

Claims (15)

Plant for shredding battery cells, in particular battery or accumulator pouches, with a driven mechanical shredding device (1), a feeding device (2) for feeding the battery cells to the shredding device (1) at a controllable feeding speed, such that the shredding device shreds the supplied battery cells directly at the feeding speed, a housing (3) which encloses at least the part (21) of the feed device (2) which faces the shredding device (1) and the shredding device (2), wherein the housing (3) has an entrance (31) through which the batteries can enter the interior (39) of the housing and the housing (3) has an outlet (35) through which the shredded batteries can leave the housing, wherein preferably inlet means (32) are provided in the region of the inlet (31) and outlet means (36) are provided in the region of the outlet (35), which are suitable for keeping a fire caused by ignited battery cells inside the housing (39) of the housing (3). Plant according to claim 1, characterized in that the plant is designed to operate continuously and not in batches. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control (4) is provided which controls the speed of the feed device (2) and the working speed of the shredding device (1) in such a way that a fixed mass of battery cells in the interior (39) of the housing is not exceeded and/or
a control (4) is provided which controls the speed of the feeding device (2) and the working speed of the comminution device (1) such that a fixed mass flow can be comminuted by the comminution device (1). Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that sensors (9) for detecting fires are provided in the housing, which are connected to the control system (4) in such a way that the feeding device and/or the shredding device are stopped and/or a fire extinguishing device (5) for supplying fire-retardant gases, for example inert gas / CO2, is activated as soon as a fire is detected. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that fire-retardant curtains are provided as the introduction means (32) between the ceiling of the housing and the surface of the feed device and/or
portioners, for example a rotary valve, are provided as discharge means (36). Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feeding device (2) has means for forced feeding of the battery cells at a defined speed to the shredding device, wherein preferably the means are such that the battery cells are fed in a geometrically defined orientation, in particular at the speed of the feeding device. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a feeding device (6) with quantity control with a first weighing device (61) is provided such that the mass flow of battery cells which is fed to the feeding device maintains a defined mass flow range, wherein preferably a second weighing device (7) is provided behind the discharge means (36) for determining the mass flow of battery cells which is discharged from the housing (3), so that the control (4) can calculate the quantity of battery cells in the housing by balancing the mass flow of battery cells fed into and discharged from the housing, wherein further preferably the control (4) is designed such that if a limit value for the maximum quantity of battery cells in the housing is exceeded, the loading device (6) is stopped, optionally also the feeding device (2), and further optionally also the shredding device (1) and/or a quantity determination and limiting device (6,61,7) is provided and connected to the control (4), which is designed such that the quantity of battery cells in the housing is determined and, if a limit value for the maximum quantity of battery cells in the housing is exceeded, the loading device (6) is stopped, optionally also the feeding device (2), and further optionally also the shredding device (1). Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the working speed of the shredding device is adapted to the speed of the feeding device and/or to the mass flow of battery cells fed to the shredding device, such that the shredding device is operated at the optimum operating point. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the comminution device (1) is designed such that it commins the battery cells by machining and in particular not by tearing or crushing them, wherein preferably the comminution device (1) is designed as a milling cutter, milling roller or single-shaft milling machine, all preferably with HM or ceramic plates, preferably indexable plates. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a dry ice supply device (8) is provided such that dry ice is continuously supplied to the battery cells located on the supply device, in particular in the area of the transition between the supply device (2) and the shredding device (1), in such a way that the battery cells are cooled, in particular during shredding, the battery cells become brittle, and/or the interior of the housing is flushed by the evaporating CO2 in order to keep the O2 content in the interior (39) below 10 vol%, preferably below 5 vol% and/or
an inert gas supply device (5) is provided such that inert gas, e.g. N2, CO2, is continuously flushed into the interior of the housing in order to keep the O2 content in the interior below 10 vol%, preferably below 5 vol%. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a friction washer (10) is provided for washing out black mass, other solid components and the electrolyte from the shredded batteries by means of rinsing water (19), the friction washer being arranged and designed in such a way is that the shredded batteries can be fed to the friction washer from the outlet (35) of the housing (3), preferably from the discharge means (36), further preferably via the second weighing device (7). Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the friction separator (10) for supplying and discharging the rinsing water has a rinsing water inlet (11) and a rinsing water outlet (12), wherein a filter (20) is connected to the rinsing water outlet (12), which is arranged and designed such that the discharged rinsing water flows through the filter (20), wherein the filter is designed such that the black mass and the other solid components can be filtered out. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a wet fine screening device is provided which is arranged and designed such that the black mass filtered out in the filter (20) and the other solid components undergo a wet fine screening in order to separate the black mass, wherein preferably the wet fine screening device has a screen perforation of 0.01 mm - 5 mm, preferably 0.1 mm - 1.0 mm, in particular preferably 0.05 mm - 0.5 mm. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mechanical, thermal or other type of dryer is provided for drying the black mass, arranged and designed such that the black mass filtered out in the filter (20), preferably in the wet fine sieve device, can be dried. Method for crushing battery cells, in particular battery or accumulator pouches to separate black mass, with the following steps in a continuous process: - forced feeding of battery cells by means of a feeding device (2) to a driven mechanical shredding device (1), - crushing, in particular chipping, the supplied battery cells by the crushing device (1), wherein the crushing device directly crushes the forcibly fed battery cells, wherein the crushing takes place in a housing (3) which encloses at least the part (21) of the feed device (2) which faces the crushing device (1) and the shredding device (2), wherein the housing has inlet means (32) and outlet means (36) to keep a fire caused inside the housing by ignited battery cells inside (39) the housing (3); - preferably continuously: monitoring whether a limit value for the maximum quantity of battery cells in the housing is exceeded and, if the limit value is exceeded: terminating the supply of battery cells to the feed device (2), optionally also to the feed device (2), and further optionally also to the shredding device (1); - preferably continuously: monitoring and controlling the operating speed of the shredding device and the feeding device so that the supplied mass flow of battery cells enables operation of the shredding device at the optimum operating point; - washing out, in particular by means of a friction washer (10), black mass, other solid components and the electrolyte from the batteries crushed in the previous steps by means of rinsing water (19); - filtering the rinsing water with the black mass, the other solid components and the electrolyte in order to filter out the black mass and the other solid components, in particular by means of a filter, preferably a chamber filter press; - wet fine sieving of the black mass filtered out in the filter (20) and the other solid components in order to sieve out the black mass, in particular by means of a wet fine sieving device with a sieve hole size of 0.01 mm - 5 mm, preferably 0.05 mm - 1.0 mm, in particular preferably 0.1 mm - 0.5 mm; - Optional: Drying of the filtered and sieved black mass.

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