Applicability of Direct Reuse and Recycled Rare Earth Magnets in Electro-mobility

Abstract

Volatile prices and severe supply-demand issues have led to the development of a significant research area in terms of reuse and recycle of rare earth permanent magnets. Another reason for the proliferation of this research is the increased emphasis on environmental impacts of rare earth material mining which can be substantially reduced by reuse and recycling. This paper develops a methodology and analysis tool to apply direct reuse and recycled rare earth magnets into electromobility. Easy assembly and disassembly of permanent magnets has been presented for a permanent magnet based claw-pole machine so as to directly reuse the recovered magnets. Secondly, utilization of recycled magnets fabricated by hydrogen decrepitation in the claw-pole machine has been analyzed and compared with a machine with virgin magnets. Energy consumption of the machine with virgin and recycled magnet have been evaluated for two vehicle drive cycles and it is observed that the consumption is almost the same for the machine with both magnet types. The results indicate that new age electrical machines for this application of electro-mobility can utilize recycled magnets which in turn lead to lesser impacts on the environment due to reduced mining of new rare earth minerals.

Dismantling of Printed Circuit Boards Enabling Electronic Components Sorting and Their Subsequent Treatment Open Improved Elemental Sustainability Opportunities

“…This is, however, more difficult here, as these alloys oxidize easily in air, hence their covering with a protective coating. Various groups have therefore reported a general process that first performs a hydrogen exposure, which creates a volume expansion of the magnet as metal hydrides are formed [205][206][207][208][209][210]. This allows the casing to break, and the alloy to turn easily into fine powder.…”

Design and Experimental Investigation of a Hybrid Rotor Permanent Magnet Modular Machine with 3D Flux Paths Accounting for Recyclability of Permanent Magnet Material

“…The results showed superior performance when compared with ferrite magnets. Finally, a PM assisted claw pole machine with sintered NdFeB PMs manufactured by the hydrogen decrepitation process is presented in [11]. In addition to the use of recycled PMs, the topology proposed in the study facilitates the direct re-use of the PMs which would be convenient, since additional recycling processes would not be required.…”