Photovoltaic module recycling, a physical and a chemical recovery process

Azeumo, Maurianne Flore; Germana, Conte; Ippolito, Nicolò Maria; Medici, Franco; Piga, L.; Settimio, Santilli

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2019.01.035

“…Several methods that have been previously employed to remove the EVA layers are dissolution using nitric acid 42 , organic solvents 43–45 , shockwave recycling 46,47 or thermal decomposition 48 ; primarily in the form of pyrolysis due to the lack of chemical oxidation or burn damage on the glass, semiconductor and metal layers 42,49 . According to the international energy agency (IEA) 2018 report, the chemical/thermal treatment of PV modules is superior to that of mechanical methods 50 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of the energy recovery potential of waste Photovoltaic (PV) modules

Farrell

¹

,

Osman

²

,

Zhang

³

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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Global exponential increase in levels of Photovoltaic (PV) module waste is an increasing concern. The purpose of this study is to investigate if there is energy value in the polymers contained within first-generation crystalline silicon (c-Si) PV modules to help contribute positively to recycling rates and the circular economy. One such thermochemical conversion method that appeals to this application is pyrolysis. As c-Si PV modules are made up of glass, metal, semiconductor and polymer layers; pyrolysis has potential not to promote chemical oxidation of any of these layers to help aid delamination and subsequently, recovery. Herein, we analysed both used polymers taken from a deconstructed used PV module and virgin-grade polymers prior to manufacture to determine if any properties or thermal behaviours had changed. The calorific values of the used and virgin-grade Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) encapsulant were found to be high, unchanged and comparable to that of biodiesel at 39.51 and 39.87 MJ.Kg −1 , respectively. This result signifies that there is energy value within used modules. As such, this study has assessed the pyrolysis behaviour of PV cells and has indicated the energy recovery potential within the used polymers found in c-Si PV modules.

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“…The percentage detachment considers the combined detachment of the glass, EVA and silicon PV cell from the back-sheet. A similar approach was utilized by Azeumo and colleagues, in which the back-sheet mass was evaluated based on the specific surface density of the back-sheet material (7). The result obtained from our tests was a back-sheet specific surface density of 0.72 g/cm 3 .The mass of the back-sheet (assumed to remain constant throughout the EVA dissolution process) was subtracted from the mass obtained before and after the EVA dissolution to obtain the initial (mi) and final (mf) mass of the other PV sheet section constituents.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lifetime of PV modules is affected by factors such as thermal stress induced breakage of interconnecting wires and encapsulant deterioration (5) (6). As the utilization of PV systems continues to grow, an exponential increase in the number of end-of-life PV modules is predicted (7). Consequently, this has brought about the notion of exploring recycling processes for end-of-life PV modules.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Investigation of the Recovery of Silicon Photovoltaic Cells by Application of an Organic Solvent Method

Heninger¹,

Subramanian²

2020

Preprint

0

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The treatment of photovoltaic (PV) waste is gaining traction the world over, with the recovery of valuable materials from end-of-life, or damaged and out-of-spec polycrystalline silicon PV modules. These materials are a focus of recycling. However, the current recycling practices usually involve excessive damage to PV cells that could otherwise be reused if extracted undamaged. The ability to extract undamaged PV cells, capable of reuse, would serve to further reduce the carbon footprint and cost associated with PV module manufacturing. This study focuses on the recovery of silicon PV cells from end-of-life PV modules by application of an organic solvent method. Herein, recovery tests were carried out in which silicon PV cells were recovered relatively undamaged with the application of hexane as solvent. XRD measurements showed that the recovered PV cells could be used in the fabrication of new PV modules.

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“…The lifetime of PV modules is affected by factors such as thermal stress induced breakage of interconnecting wires and encapsulant deterioration (5) (6). As the utilization of PV systems continues to grow, an exponential increase in the number of end-of-life PV modules is predicted (7). Consequently, this has brought about the notion of exploring recycling processes for end-of-life PV modules.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Investigation of the Recovery of Silicon Photovoltaic Cells by Application of an Organic Solvent Method

Tembo

¹

,

Heninger²,

Subramanian

³

2021

ECS J. Solid State Sci. Technol.

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The treatment of photovoltaic (PV) waste is gaining traction the world over, with the recovery of valuable materials from end-of-life, or damaged and out-of-spec polycrystalline silicon PV modules. These materials are a focus of recycling. However, the current recycling practices usually involve excessive damage to PV cells that could otherwise be reused if extracted undamaged. The ability to extract undamaged PV cells, capable of reuse, would serve to further reduce the carbon footprint and cost associated with PV module manufacturing. This study focuses on the recovery of silicon PV cells from end-of-life PV modules by application of an organic solvent method. Herein, recovery tests were carried out in which silicon PV cells were recovered relatively undamaged with the application of hexane as solvent. XRD measurements showed that the recovered PV cells could be used in the fabrication of new PV modules.

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Photovoltaic module recycling, a physical and a chemical recovery process

Cited by 125 publications

References 30 publications

Assessment of the energy recovery potential of waste Photovoltaic (PV) modules

Assessment of the energy recovery potential of waste Photovoltaic (PV) modules

An Investigation of the Recovery of Silicon Photovoltaic Cells by Application of an Organic Solvent Method

An Investigation of the Recovery of Silicon Photovoltaic Cells by Application of an Organic Solvent Method

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