JAPAN: Daikin has joined a collaboration to create Japan’s first circular recovery and recycling scheme for rare earth magnets from commercial air conditioner compressors from a Japanese manufacturer.
The collaboration involves Hitachi, which has resource recovery and recycling technologies through its subsidiary Tokyo Eco Recycle, and Shin-Etsu Chemical, a manufacturer and processor of rare earth magnets.
Daikin will collect compressors from its commercial air conditioners, while Tokyo Eco Recycle will be responsible for disassembly, demagnetization, and extraction of rare earth magnets.
Based on technical information provided by Daikin, Tokyo Eco Recycle and Hitachi will combine their established technologies and know-how in the recycling of household compressors with AI-based image recognition technology and robots to improve the efficiency of the dismantling process. The environmental impact will be reduced by using resonant damping demagnetization technology, which does not directly generate CO2.
Although demagnetization has traditionally been performed in electric furnaces, resonant damping demagnetization involves the application of an alternating magnetic field and a gradual decrease in its amplitude.
Ultimately, Shin-Etsu Chemical will manufacture new rare earth magnets using mined rare earth magnets as recycled material.
Full-scale operation is expected to begin in 2027.
https://www.coolingpost.com/world-news/daikin-joins-rare-earth-recycling-scheme/