Numerical simulation of a cyclone separator to recycle the active components of waste lithium batteries

In this paper, cyclone separator is proposed for the first time to separate particles according density, and it applied recovery of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) from spent battery materials time. The effect flow field on motion injected in a studied by means computational fluid dynamics (CFD). It found that there classification phenomenon caused difference particle densities separation process simulated accordingly. results show 60% LiFePO4 original feed can be separated after 7 separations, mass purity 91%, with 7% Al 2% Fe under instantaneous surface injection conditions. Compared feed, LFP effectively recycled. After 15 efficiency increases 76%. Under continuous conditions, 61.22% 20 purities products are 92.53% LFP, 6.92% Al, 0.44% 0.11% Cu. traditional method, new method has advantages low energy consumption, cost, theoretically no pollution, great development potential.