近日，美国能源部（DOE）向阿克伦大学（UA）提供了200万美元的资助，作为推动电动汽车（EV）电池回收的国家努力的一部分。 2024年10月31日，拜登-哈里斯政府宣布了近4500万美元的资金，旨在降低与回收电动汽车电池相关的成本。
UA’s College of Engineering and Polymer Science (CEPS) will receive $2 million from the DOE, matched by an additional $2 million in cost-sharing support. 詹姆斯·伊根博士, assistant professor of polymer science and polymer engineering, serves as the lead principal investigator and is joined by co-principal investigators Ajay Mahajan博士, associate dean for research, and Siamak Farhad博士, former professor of mechanical engineering. 在搬到诺克斯维尔的田纳西大学之前，Farhad最初设想了这个项目，并且仍然积极参与该项目。
回收塑胶及高聚物
bet365官网 project, titled “Development, demonstration and integration with the battery recycling plant — an efficient separation and recycling of plastics and composite polymers from EV battery packs,” will involve three local industry partners: Schaeffler, Alterra and a startup company, Black Mass Recycling, to scale the project.
“We have spent almost two years laying the groundwork for this grant by redefining our focus areas, reinvigorating our research center and fostering a dynamic environment for research and innovation,” said Mahajan. “I am proud of our faculty for reimagining a world where we are creating advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, materials science, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, health care and many other areas.”
Mahajan explained the project’s process. “We take end-of-life EV batteries from manufacturers, separate and recycle the plastics at UA (TRL4), then hand off the materials to a partner company to scale the operation to TRL7, which means producing pellets that battery manufacturers can use to create new battery packs.”
技术准备水平（trl）是在项目的获取阶段评估技术成熟度的一种方法。 TRL是在技术准备评估（TRA）期间确定的，该评估检查了项目概念、技术需求和演示的技术能力。 trl基于1到9的等级，其中9代表最成熟的技术。
Motaz哈桑, a Ph.D. student working in Dr. Mahajan’s lab, highlighted the role of advanced robotics in this effort. “We are driving advancements in auxiliary plastic recycling through a cutting-edge system featuring a robotic arm, working in tandem with infrared and ultrasonic sensors and guided by a camera performing image processing along a conveyor belt assembly line. 这种创新的方法证明了高效塑料分离的概念，同时为电动汽车电池的新回收工艺铺平了道路。”
影响创新
Beyond EV battery recycling, Hassan also emphasized UA’s broader contributions to innovation. 与此同时，自主系统实验室（ASL）正在引领生物医学和机械领域的创新，为微创医疗程序开发优化的鼓室造瘘管和肾结石筐。 许多学生正在研究为太空服务操作量身定制的机器人系统，并在零重力条件下进行验证。 bet365官网se systems integrate cutting-edge autonomous
navigation, precise localization techniques and adaptive intelligent technologies to ensure reliable and efficient performance in dynamic space environments. With expertise in control systems, microcontroller programming and robotics, ASL collaborates with
government, commercial and academic partners to advance transformative technologies for a wide range of industries."
为新角色重新培训
这种伙伴关系不仅注重教育学生，而且注重重新培训和提高现有员工的技能。
“再技能”指的是为工人提供新的技能，以适应可能逐渐淘汰的工作，而“技能提升”则是指让那些已经在职的人获得额外的专业知识，以在目前的岗位上取得进步。 这两种方法对于确保劳动力做好充分准备，以应对电池回收和可持续制造等新兴产业带来的挑战至关重要。
In addition to the educational benefits for students, the grant will enable current industry workers to gain new capabilities, ensuring that Ohio’s workforce remains competitive in an increasingly sustainable energy economy.
“This DOE grant will not only help create a new industry but will also offer research and educational opportunities for individuals across all backgrounds and experiences,” added 克雷格·门泽默博士, dean of the College of Engineering and Polymer Science. “It aligns perfectly with our mission to reskill and retool our industrial workforce.”