Patents by Inventor Karel Verscheure

Karel Verscheure has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8840702
    Abstract: The invention concerns a recycling process for recovery of metals from Li-ion batteries. More particularly, an autogeneous process is disclosed for the recovery of Co from Li-ion batteries also containing Al and C, comprising the steps of: —providing a bath furnace equipped with means for 02 injection; —providing a metallurgical charge comprising CaO as a slag former, and Li-ion batteries; —feeding said metallurgical charge to the furnace while injecting O2, whereby at least part of the Co is reduced and collected in a metallic phase; —separating the slag from the metallic phase by tapping; characterized in that the fraction of Li-ion batteries, expressed as weight % of the metallurgical charge, is at least equal to 153%?3.5 (Al %+0.6 C %), Al % and C % being the weight % of Al and C in the batteries, thereby enabling to operate the smelt reduction process in autogeneous conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Umlcore
    Inventors: Karel Verscheure, Mieke Campforts, Maurits Van Camp
  • Publication number: 20120240729
    Abstract: The invention concerns a recycling process for recovery of metals from Li-ion batteries. More particularly, an autogeneous process is disclosed for the recovery of Co from Li-ion batteries also containing Al and C, comprising the steps of: —providing a bath furnace equipped with means for O2 injection; —providing a metallurgical charge comprising CaO as a slag former, and Li-ion batteries; —feeding said metallurgical charge to the furnace while injecting O2, whereby at least part of the Co is reduced and collected in a metallic phase; —separating the slag from the metallic phase by tapping; characterized in that the fraction of Li-ion batteries, expressed as weight % of the metallurgical charge, is at least equal to 153%?3.5 (Al %+0.6 C %), Al % and C % being the weight % of Al and C in the batteries, thereby enabling to operate the smelt reduction process in autogeneous conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Karel Verscheure, Mieke Campforts, Maurits Van Camp