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15 Life Cycle Analysis for Lithium-ion Battery Production and Processing Introduction

   

Added on  2021-04-21

15 Pages4204 Words498 Views
1Life Cycle Analysis for Lithium-ion Battery Production and Processing1.0IntroductionThe debate on the impact of automotive emissions on environment has been escalating over the past decades. The Olofsson (1) estimates that transportation sector emits 16% of CO2, which needs drastic reduction. Different legislative stipulations have been passed to facilitate the reduction of the emissions: for example, Euro-6 and Euro-VI emissionstipulations for light and heavy vehicles respectively were introduced in 2014 to regulate the emission of NOx among the new models (1). With increasing fear on debilitation of fossil fueland pressing issues of energy security, there is a growing interest on the need to improve energy efficiency. Based on the recent developments from auto industry and the government, Gaines et al (2) observe that batteries are considered to be the most suitable in manufacturing as well as marketing electric-drive cars; both “plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)” andbattery electric vehicles (p.3). According to Gaines et al (2), effective installation of “viable battery systems for electric-driven vehicles” has the efficacy to minimize fossil fuels consumption as well as reducing greenhouse emissions (GHG) (p.3). Nevertheless, so much is yet to be established insofar as electric-drive performance and impacts of batteries on their efficiencies is concerned. Batteries that contain high specific energy and peculiar life cycle remain the fundamental elements that will facilitate successful manufacture of electric-drive vehicles, however. More importantly, scientists consider lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion) to be the main factor that will enhance the penetration of the technology. Nelson et al (3) attest that the nature of electric-drive market is multi-faceted— in terms of engineering execution, consumer preference, and affordability (2).

2 Essentially, the impact of such vehicles on the environmental performance is among the key driving factors towards their developments. On the crux of the matter is emission and energy efficiency of battery cells. However, there are some existential trade-offs that are inevitable when deployment of electric-drive vehicle will be effected. The energy trade-off necessitates quantification in developing conventional cars by lightweight materials, which reflects the balance between extra energy incurred in developing lightweight material and the fuel saved in driving it, due to the reduced weight (3). Like any other product system, the burdens of life-cycle batteries emanates from different life-cycle phases, for example, during production of the material, during production and the usage of the battery, or during battery recycling phase. Adequate information on challenges incurred when developing lithium component materials like iron phosphate, lithium cobalt dioxide, lithium hexafuolorophosphate, and lithium nickel dioxide — including some process information— is still lacking. Due to this absence, estimation of the production energy as well as emissions with regard to the life cycle has been made difficult. This paper provides an overview on the impacts of lithium-ion life cycle batteries. The paper focuses on the burden of battery recycling to the production of active materials, which have not been properly characterized hitherto.1.1GoalThe objective of this paper is to examine the life cycle impacts of Lithium-ion batteries. Special interest is placed on the burden of the production process and recycling process of Li-ion battery cells. Due to the scarcity of materials used in the manufacturing of Li-ion, the paper dissects recycling processes that have the efficacy to underscore energy efficiency and reduce emissions.

31.2Life Cycle AssessmentGenerally, LCA method is used to dissect the environmental consequences of an entire life cycle that involves production of a given product or service (1). The most common areas, according to Olofsson (1) where the knowledge of LCA is applied include “product development, production processes, and waste management” (p.2). The method has become increasingly significant for environmental communication. On product development, LCA is facilitates assessment of potential hotspots of a product life cycle and improves development of eco-design, which provides a springboard to identify “the most optimal design” at the conceptual phase (1). In order to realize the optimal design it is imperative to avoid hazardousmaterials, cut down the energy used in production stage, use light materials and high quality features to encourage weight minimization, and use materials that can be upgraded, repaired, recycled, and reused. 2.0Functional Unit2.1 Rechargeable battery The use of batteries to develop small-scale electric sources and portable devices has been on upward trajectory. Depending on their capacities, batteries can be used to power a variety of electronic devices and automotive. Young (4) observes that the capability of rechargeable battery to store chemical energy and produce electric energy, as well their durability feature has made it more prevalent in today’s society. Olofsson (1) asserts that when battery cell is connected to an external circuit, “oxidation and reduction reactions occurat the negative and positive electrodes respectively” (p.4). Consequently, the electrons flow towards and the external circuit while the ions flow within electrodes via electrolyte. An electric insulator separates the anode and the cathode, and facilitates the flow of electrons to the external circuit only. The insulator also slows down the reaction process when the cell is

4connected to an external source. The pendulum of the amount of energy that the battery has swings from state of charge (SOC) to discharge, depending on how the battery is used (4). 2.2Materials available in Lithium-ion batteries/ componentsLi et al (5) state that LCA is the most appropriate method when it comes to comparingalternative technological systems, since it entails broad assessment of life cycle of a product or a service, including production of materials, service provision, and maintenance. The paperfocuses on quantitative elements of LCA. The paper relies on Gaines et al analysis of GREETZ 2.7 model to examine impact of Lithium-ion batteries. Dunn et al (6) hold that Li-ion batteries have been considered efficient in contemporary as well as future battery technology because they quintessentially have high volumes of energy and gravimetric power. The interplay flow of lithium ions between anode and cathode forms the central basis of Li-ion batteries mechanism. The electrodes are made up of conducting foil. Between the electrodes lies electrolyte. The active component of electrode is made of intercalation materials that have the efficacy to host Li-ions without dismantling their structures. Most chemistries prefer using graphite to make cathode material (4). 2.2.1 Production of active materials2.2.1.1 Lithium CarbonateGenerally, Lithium is extracted from spodumene or brine-lake deposits (2). Due to energy consumption and economic purposes, brine-lake resources are considered to be more efficient and have the capacity to meet the surging demand of for Li-ion automotive batteries.During the extraction process, extensive pumping of brine from brine well “into a solar evaporation pond” occurs and the brine is left to concentrate (2). Once sufficient evaporation and concentration has occurred, pumping of brines to successive ponds follows until crystallization and precipitation of sodium chloride and other salts takes place (4). After

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