METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION OF SOLID METALLIC AND / OR INORGANIC MATERIAL FROM ORGANIC-POLYMERIC MATERIAL DERIVED FROM THE RECYCLING TREATMENT OF PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES

Description

International Class: B03B 00 / 00 Description of the invention entitled: "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION OF SOLID METALLIC AND / OR INORGANIC MATERIAL FROM 5 ORGANIC-POLYMERIC MATERIAL DERIVED FROM "PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES RECYCLING TREATMENT" on behalf of ECOWETECH SRL, of Italian nationality with registered office in Via Marconi 29, - 35010 San Pietro In Gu (PD) dep. the at no. 10 * * * * * SCOPE OF APPLICATION The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the separation of solid metallic and / or inorganic material from material organic-polymeric resulting from the recycling of modules 15 photovoltaic systems. STATE OF THE ART Photovoltaic panels, i.e. optoelectronic devices, are well known. composed of photovoltaic modules, which in turn are made up of cells photovoltaic, capable of converting solar energy into electrical energy 20 through the photovoltaic effect, typically used as generators. These panels are generally made of a sandwich of various materials, including glass and polymeric material, with interposed photovoltaic strings typically composed, in turn, of conductive photovoltaic cells, the latter electrically connected to each other by conductive tapes 25 composed of metallic material, usually called “ribbons”. These multi-material sandwiches are generally subjected to a hot lamination to compact the layers and define the module photovoltaic itself, which undergoes subsequent finishing operations, framing and electronic connections, to carry out his notes 5 features. The use of such devices is increasingly widespread due to the pressing energy demand and to lower energy costs. The imposition of a circular economy system, necessary for the aim of ensuring a low environmental impact (with regards to 10 particular commodity products in large-scale distribution), involves however the need to introduce optimizations in the processing of modules end-of-life photovoltaics. At the end of its life, or due to external factors that have compromised it integrity or use, or due to construction defects, the modules must 15 be treated appropriately to obtain the purest materials possible for re-issuance and reuse as raw material for subsequent productions. However, one of the major limitations in recycling modules is the use of technologies that obtain poorly purified material, or material 20 purified with high environmental and energy impact methodologies that they in turn create by-products to be treated and disposed of. When implementing known recycling methods it is common to find polymeric fractions mixed with metallic and / or inorganic fractions high value, which are currently not separated and extracted in a 25 appropriate. There is therefore a need to perfect a method and an apparatus for the separation of metallic and / or inorganic materials from materials organic-polymeric resulting from module recycling treatments photovoltaic systems that can overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the 5 technique. In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide I point out a method for the separation of metallic and / or inorganic materials from organic-polymeric materials resulting from recycling treatments of photovoltaic modules, which have low energy and environmental impact and 10 allows for optimal waste reduction. A further aim of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient apparatus for the separation of metallic materials and / or inorganic from organic-polymeric materials resulting from treatments of recycling of photovoltaic modules. 15 To overcome the drawbacks of the known art and to obtain these and further purposes and advantages, the Applicant has studied, tested and the present invention was created. EXHIBITION OF THE FINDING The present invention is expressed and characterized in the claims 20 independent. Dependent claims exhibit other characteristics of the present invention or variants of the main solution idea. In accordance with the above purposes, a method according to the present invention for the separation of solid metallic and / or inorganic material from material organic-polymeric resulting from recycling treatments of at least one 25 photovoltaic modules, includes: - at least a first phase of obtaining a granular mixture formed by said solid metallic and / or inorganic material and said organic-polymeric material resulting from recycling treatments of at least one photovoltaic module and 5 - at least a second phase of introduction of said granular mixture inside a sedimentation tank equipped with a system of agitation, in order to carry out at least an initial separation of recycled materials that are extracted from the said tank sedimentation. 10 The solid metallic and / or inorganic material and the organic material- polymeric resulting from recycling treatments of said at least one module photovoltaic are both solid. Thanks to this method, it is possible to obtain in a simple and effective a clear separation of solid metallic material and / or 15 inorganic having a specific weight higher than that of the fluid process, from organic-polymeric material with a specific weight lower than that of the process fluid, resulting from treatments recycling of at least one photovoltaic module. The method is also low energy and environmental impact and allows for an optimal reduction of 20 discards. According to a further aspect of the invention, the method comprises a further phase of sending a flow of material coming out of said tank sedimentation towards a flotation tank, from which they are additional recovered materials were extracted. 25 According to a further aspect of the invention, said first materials of recovery are subjected to a drying phase. According to a further aspect of the invention, said further materials also of recovery are subjected to a drying phase. A further object of the invention is an apparatus for the implementation of a 5 method as defined above, comprising at least one tank of sedimentation equipped with a stirring system so as to carry out at least an initial separation of recycled materials which are extracted from the said sedimentation tank. According to a further aspect of the invention, said apparatus comprises 10 at least one flotation tank placed downstream of said tank sedimentation, from which further materials are extracted recovery. ILLUSTRATION OF DRAWINGS These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of this invention 15 will become clear from the following description of embodiments, provided by way of example, not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings in which: - Fig. 1 is an exemplary view of a photovoltaic module; - fig. 2 is an exemplary section of the various layers it is composed of 20 a double-glass module of the photovoltaic module; - Fig. 3 is an exemplary flowchart of this method for the separation of metallic and / or inorganic solids from material organic-polymeric resulting from the recycling of modules photovoltaic; 25 - Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a sedimentation tank with agitation system; - Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a flotation tank. Please note that in this description the phraseology and the terminology used, as well as the figures of the attached drawings also for 5 as described have the sole function of illustrating and explaining better the present finding having a non-limiting exemplary function of the found itself, the scope of protection being defined by the For ease of understanding, identical reference numbers are 10 states used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the figures. It should be understood that elements and characteristics of a form of realization can be conveniently combined or incorporated in other embodiments without further specification. DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS 15 We will now refer in detail to the possible forms of embodiment of the invention, of which one or more examples are illustrated in the attached figures as a non-limiting example. Also the phraseology and terminology used here is for illustrative purposes only limiting. 20 With reference to the attached drawings, see in particular, fig. 1 and fig. 2, purely by way of example, a typical photovoltaic module (11) generally comprises a series of layered components: a frame (12), for example in aluminium or other material, a rear glass or backsheet (13), an encapsulating layer (14) in ethylene copolymer 25 vinyl acetate (EVA) or similar, a matrix (15) of photovoltaic cells, a another encapsulating layer (16) and a front glass (17). The photovoltaic cells of the matrix (15) are based on doped silicon through various materials depending on the type of technology that the module photovoltaic adopts. These photovoltaic cells are electrically 5 connected to each other by a plurality of conductive tracks (ribbons), usually made of copper covered with a tin and lead alloy, tin and silver, tin lead and silver or other, depending on the technology adopted by the module manufacturer. The latter define the circuit through which electrical energy is conveyed to the 10 normal management electronics, of a substantially known and non-known type illustrated. With particular reference to fig. 3 and fig. 4, an apparatus (10) according to the present invention, it is applied within the recycling process of photovoltaic modules such as the one in fig. 1, or others. First of all 15 place, for example through a crushing, grinding phase, crushing, pulverizing or similar, a mixture M of is obtained components of the photovoltaic module (11), from which grains of appropriate granulometry. The granulometry of said mixture M is between approximately 2 mm and approximately 0.060 mm. This mixture M is composed of 20 of materials distinguishable between: materials with a specific weight greater than that of the process fluid and materials with a lower specific weight compared to that of the process fluid, i.e. the fluid used in a subsequent sedimentation phase. In particular, among the materials with a specific weight higher than that of the process fluid are identified 25 metals, polymers and other inorganic compounds, consistent with the variability of technologies present on the photovoltaic market. The apparatus (10) comprises a sedimentation tank (18) equipped with a special stirring system (19) designed to impart a vortex motion, advantageously at variable speed, to the mixture M 5 which is fed to the said sedimentation tank (18). Inside the sedimentation tank (18) there is a special supernatant removal system (21) which feeds said supernatant to a flotation tank (20) located downstream and forming part of the apparatus (10). 10 The sedimentation tank (18) is sized so as to be able to accommodate the correct proportions of material, that is for example liquid to be added to the M mixture, as needed of the plant. To ensure the effectiveness of the process, it is it is necessary that the sizing takes into account the need for 15 to ensure a macroscopic motion of the mixture M, in order to allow the liquid to wet all dust particles, regardless of the granulometry. It is important to take into account that macroscopic powders they could create a waterproof layer, or agglomerates, which may compromise the correct progress of the process. 20 In particular, the said agitation system (19) allows the creation of a slow but also vortical macroscopic motion, in order to exploit for the process the different specific weights of the materials that make up the molecules, in order to implement a separation of the different materials for then proceed to the recovery of the materials of interest. First materials of 25 R1 recovery, composed of materials with a higher specific weight compared to that of the process fluid, which therefore constitute the precipitate, are extracted from the bottom of the sedimentation tank (18) and possibly dried. Furthermore, said surface material removal system (21) can 5 be, for example, a recovery screw or, always for the purpose for example, a mechanical skimming and / or removal system. From said removal system (21) then a flow F1 is created supernatant material lighter than the extracted R1 material, which it is then sent to the said flotation tank (20). 10 In said flotation tank (20) air A is blown into the mixture M1 obtained from the supernatant flow F1 coming from the tank sedimentation (18). Essentially, there is a flotation phase wherein said air A is blown into the mixture M1 in position suitable for the process to induce agitation and allow further 15 particles of plastic material to come to the surface, to prevent them from being incorporated by heavier material and which are therefore dragged onto the bottom. In the flotation tank (20) there are therefore decantation phases and flotation of the M1 mixture. From the flotation tank (20) a flow of fluid F2 is obtained 20 supernatant after flotation, which is compacted and dried. The liquid in the process, for example inside the tank sedimentation (18) and / or flotation tank (20), is treated for then be reinstated into the process. Again for example purposes, the treatment of the process liquid 25 can occur through a sequential filtration system so as to separate any suspended solids and / or reverse osmosis. Said flotation tank (20) includes a removal system mechanical, or foaming, or overflowing. The flotation tank (20) also collects material from 5 R2 recovery, such as metallic and inorganic particles, which can be treated for drying and desiccation, thus obtaining a clean separation from organic-polymer particles. Drying can take place, for example, through one or more of the following modes: direct heating, e.g. UV, or 10 by forced convection using a blast of hot air, or dehydration by dehydrator, in combination with agitation mechanics to allow the drying process to spread over the entire thickness, or via a conveyor belt system or even by blowing hot air once the material has settled 15 on a fine mesh grill. It is clear that the method and apparatus for the separation of solids metallic and / or inorganic from organic-polymeric material derived from recycling treatment of photovoltaic modules described so far can changes and / or additions of parts can be made, without this leaving 20 from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with with reference to some specific examples, an expert in the field will be able to to realize other equivalent forms of method and apparatus for the separation of metallic and / or inorganic solids from organic material- 25 polymeric resulting from the recycling of photovoltaic modules, having the characteristics expressed in the claims and therefore all falling within the scope of protection defined by them. In the following claims, the references in brackets have the only for ease of reading and should not be considered as 5 factors limiting the scope of protection defined by the claims same.

Claims

1. Method for separating solid metallic and / or inorganic material from organic-polymeric material resulting from the recycling treatment of at least one photovoltaic module (11), characterised by the fact that it comprises at least a first phase of obtaining a granular mixture formed by said solid metallic and / or inorganic material and said organic-polymeric material and at least a second phase of introducing said granular mixture into a sedimentation tank (18) equipped with a stirring system (19) in order to carry out at least a first separation of first recovery materials (R1) which are extracted from said sedimentation tank (18).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a further phase of sending a flow (F1) of material exiting from said sedimentation tank (18) towards a flotation tank (20), from which further recovery materials (R2) are extracted.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said first recovered materials (R1) are subjected to a drying phase.

4. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that said further recovered materials (R2) are subjected to a drying phase.

5. Apparatus (10) for implementing a method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least one sedimentation tank (18) provided with a stirring system (19) so as to carry out at least a first separation of first recovery materials (R1) which are extracted from said sedimentation tank (18).

6. Apparatus (10) according to claim 5, characterised in that 5 comprises at least one flotation tank (20) placed downstream of said sedimentation tank (18), from which further recovery materials (R2) are extracted.