Waste solar cell module resource recovery device

Abstract

This invention provides a waste solar cell module resource recovery and recovery device that enables the continuous and rapid recovery and reuse of waste solar cell modules. [Solution] The waste solar cell module resource recovery device is applied to waste solar cell modules that have been discarded, damaged, or have reached the end of their service life. The waste solar cell module includes a solar cell, a glass cover and a plastic backing plate installed on both sides of the solar cell, and a metal outer frame surrounding the solar cell, glass cover and plastic backing plate. The glass cover and plastic backing plate are bonded to the solar cell by a sealing material. The device is equipped with a continuous high-temperature pyrolysis furnace 1, which is divided into a supply operation area 10, a pyrolysis processing area 11, a cooling area 12, and a discharge operation area 13. A chamber 14 is provided in the pyrolysis processing area, and an electric heating device 2 is installed inside the chamber to heat the chamber to a predetermined temperature.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of resource recovery processing technology. In particular, it is a novel design in a waste solar cell module resource recovery device, which does not require the prior removal of the metal outer frame of the waste solar cell module, and can continuously and quickly recover the waste solar cell module into resources for reuse. Moreover, it can eliminate the drawback that in the prior art using a gas heating device as a heat source, the gas heating device needs to introduce oxygen for combustion, thus requiring a relatively large combustion chamber and increasing the overall volume of the device. The present invention relates to a waste solar cell module resource recovery device.

Background Art

[0002] Since 2010, the number of newly installed solar cell modules in the world has increased significantly. In our country, the conversion to green energy and the promotion of a nuclear-free society are also being actively pursued. Currently, solar power generation has become one of the main sources of renewable energy. The lifespan of a solar photovoltaic module reaches over 20 years during normal use. Among alternative energies that enable sustainable development in nature, solar power generation is indeed an important goal. Therefore, the installation of solar cell modules has been promoted in various countries around the world. However, with the rapid increase in the global installation number, it is predicted that a large number of waste solar cell modules will be generated in the near future, and it is inevitable to face the problem of waste treatment of a huge number of solar cell modules in the future. However, currently in the country, there is no appropriate technology for treating waste solar cell modules, and landfill disposal has to be relied on. This not only results in high treatment costs but also increases the burden on the environment. If a recovery plan for waste solar cell modules can be established early and effective solutions and technical countermeasures can be presented, not only can the benefits of a circular economy be created, but the burden on the environment can also be reduced. Also, the lower the recovery processing cost and the higher the selling price of the recovered resources, the more sustainable the operation and development of the solar cell module recycling industry will be together with the solar energy industry.

[0003] Existing solar cell modules primarily consist of solar cells, glass covers and plastic backing plates positioned on both sides of the solar cells, and a metal outer frame (generally an aluminum frame) surrounding the solar cells, glass covers, and plastic backing plates. The glass covers and plastic backing plates are bonded to the solar cells by a encapsulant (ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)), forming a complete photovoltaic module. This EVA encapsulant is the material that tightly adheres the glass covers, solar cells, and plastic backing plates to each other. While EVA offers excellent weather resistance, extending the lifespan of solar cell modules to over 20 years, it presents challenges in processing when recovering and disassembling the modules. Furthermore, conventional technology used gas heating devices as a heat source, but these require a large combustion chamber due to the need for oxygen introduction during combustion, resulting in a large overall volume. In particular, large-capacity waste gas treatment equipment was required. Therefore, the aforementioned shortcomings of conventional waste solar cell module recovery and processing technologies are urgent challenges that the industry must overcome. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a waste solar cell module resource recovery device that eliminates the need to remove the metal outer frame of the waste solar cell module in advance, has the effect of continuously and quickly recovering and reusing waste solar cell modules, and eliminates the drawback of conventional technology that uses a gas heating device as a heat source, which requires a large combustion chamber because the gas heating device needs to introduce oxygen for combustion, resulting in a large overall volume of the device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To solve the above problems, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a waste solar cell module resource recovery device is applied to waste solar cell modules that have been discarded, damaged, or have reached the end of their service life, wherein the waste solar cell module includes a solar cell, a glass cover and a plastic back plate installed on both sides of the solar cell, and a metal outer frame surrounding the solar cell, glass cover and plastic back plate, the glass cover and plastic back plate being bonded to the solar cell by a sealing material, and further comprises a continuous high-temperature pyrolysis furnace, the continuous high-temperature pyrolysis furnace being divided into a supply operation area, a pyrolysis processing area, a cooling area and a discharge operation area, the pyrolysis processing area being provided with a chamber, and the chamber containing an electric heating device The present invention provides a waste solar cell module resource recovery apparatus characterized by the following features: a chamber is installed to heat to a predetermined temperature, and a transmission device is further provided, the transmission device drives a conveyor belt, the conveyor belt is used to transport waste solar cell modules into the chamber, the chamber is in communication with an exhaust gas treatment device, which introduces and treats exhaust gas generated from the sealing material and plastic back plate of the disassembled waste solar cell modules, and discharges it after passing inspection, the conveyor belt, after leaving the chamber, proceeds to a discharge operation area, where the metal outer frame, metal wires, silicon material and glass cover are sequentially removed and recovered, thereby continuously and quickly recovering the resources of the waste solar cell modules for reuse.

[0006] The conveyor belt is preferably a woven conveyor belt.

[0007] It is preferable to send the aforementioned waste solar cell module into a high-temperature pyrolysis furnace and perform pyrolysis using a method in which the glass cover is placed on the underside.

[0008] The aforementioned exhaust gas treatment device is preferably configured to be integrated with the chamber of the high-temperature pyrolysis furnace.

[0009] Preferably, a heat conduction partition is installed between the exhaust gas treatment device and the chamber of the high-temperature pyrolysis furnace, and the thermal energy from the lower chamber is transferred to the upper exhaust gas treatment device via the heat conduction partition, thereby saving energy.

[0010] Preferably, the exhaust gas treatment device is provided with a curved exhaust gas passage, and an electric heating element is provided within the exhaust gas passage.

[0011] Preferably, the electric heating elements in the exhaust gas passage of the aforementioned exhaust gas treatment device are arranged alternately in the upper and lower positions, thereby agitating the introduced exhaust gas and enabling more complete and rapid combustion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The waste solar cell module resource recovery device according to the present invention does not require the prior removal of the metal outer frame of the waste solar cell module, and has the effect of continuously and quickly recovering and reusing the waste solar cell module. Furthermore, it eliminates the drawback of conventional technology that uses a gas heating device as a heat source, which requires a larger combustion chamber because the gas heating device needs to introduce oxygen for combustion, resulting in a large overall volume of the device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a front cross-sectional view showing a waste solar cell module resource recovery device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a front cross-sectional view showing a waste solar cell module resource recovery device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a partial cross-sectional view showing the chamber of a waste solar cell module resource recovery device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] As a technical means for achieving the aforementioned objectives of this invention, an embodiment is described here in conjunction with the drawings. Examiners should be able to gain a better understanding of the structure, features, and effects achieved by this invention from this embodiment.

[0015] A resource recovery device for waste solar cell modules according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied to waste solar cell modules that have been discarded, damaged, or have reached the end of their service life. A waste solar cell module includes a solar cell, a glass cover and a plastic backing plate installed on both sides of the solar cell, and a metal outer frame surrounding the solar cell, glass cover, and plastic backing plate. The glass cover and plastic backing plate are bonded to the solar cell by a sealing material. The aforementioned sealing material is ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA). The current market share of solar cell modules is mainly monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon. Among these, the most widespread solar panel is the crystalline silicon solar panel, and the main component ratios of a standardized crystalline silicon solar cell module are, in descending order: glass cover 67.4-74.2%, metal outer frame (usually aluminum frame) 10.3-17.3%, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer EVA (sealing material) and plastic backing plate 9.6-11.3%, silicon 2.6-3.4%, and other metals such as copper, silver, zinc, and lead 1%. This invention is primarily applied to discarded or completed solar cell modules that have not had their metal outer casings removed. Therefore, the main targets for recovery and material recycling are the metal outer casing, glass cover, silicon material after thermal decomposition of the solar cell, and metal wires (e.g., copper, silver, zinc, lead), while the EVA sealing material and plastic backing plate are removed by thermal decomposition.

[0016] Refer to Figures 1 to 3. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the present invention is applied to discarded, damaged, or decomposed solar cell modules. A discarded solar cell module includes a solar cell, glass covers and plastic backing plates installed on both sides of the solar cell, and a metal outer frame surrounding the solar cell, glass cover, and plastic backing plate. The glass cover and plastic backing plate are bonded to the solar cell by a sealing material. A waste solar cell module resource recovery device according to one embodiment of the present invention further comprises a continuous high-temperature pyrolysis furnace 1. This continuous high-temperature pyrolysis furnace 1 is divided into a supply operation area 10, a pyrolysis processing area 11, a cooling area 12, and a discharge operation area 13. A chamber 14 is provided in the aforementioned pyrolysis processing area 11. An electric heating device 2 is installed inside this chamber 14 to heat the chamber 14 to a predetermined temperature. A waste solar cell module resource recovery device according to one embodiment of the present invention further comprises a transmission device 3. This transmission device 3 drives a conveyor belt 30. The conveyor belt 30 is used to transport the waste solar cell module A into the aforementioned chamber 14. The aforementioned chamber 14 communicates with the waste gas treatment device 4 and introduces and treats the waste gas generated from the sealing material and plastic back plate of the disassembled waste solar cell module A. After passing inspection, it is discharged. After leaving the aforementioned chamber 14, the conveyor belt 30 proceeds to the discharge operation area 13, where the metal outer frame, metal wires, silicon material, and glass cover are sequentially removed and recovered. This allows for the continuous and rapid resource recovery of waste solar cell modules for reuse. Since the aforementioned chamber 14 uses the electric heating device 2 installed in the aforementioned pyrolysis treatment area 11, there is no need to use a gas heating device as a heat source as in conventional technology. Therefore, a large combustion chamber for the gas heating device to introduce oxygen and burn is not required, and this invention can effectively reduce the overall space required for the chamber 14.

[0017] In this invention, the aforementioned conveyor belt 30 is an overlapping weave conveyor belt, which is breathable and can transfer the heat generated by the electric heating device 2 to the upper part of the conveyor belt 30 (an overlapping weave conveyor belt is the densest weave, consisting of left and right spiral wires and rods, and its material may be 304, 310S, 314, 316, NI80, 253MA, galvanized wire, etc., and product applications include hardening furnaces, small surface treatment machines, forging machines, etc.).

[0018] In this invention, the aforementioned waste solar cell modules are fed into a high-temperature pyrolysis furnace for thermal decomposition by placing the glass cover on the bottom. This configuration prevents the thermal decomposition powder (powder remaining after the thermal decomposition of the sealing material and plastic backing plate), metal wires, and silicon material from falling from above.

[0019] In this invention, the aforementioned waste gas treatment device 4 is configured to be integrated with the chamber 14 of the aforementioned high-temperature pyrolysis furnace.

[0020] In this invention, the aforementioned exhaust gas treatment device 4 is provided with a curved exhaust gas passage 40, and an electric heating element 41 is provided in this exhaust gas passage 40. Since there is no need to supply oxygen for combustion using a gas heating element or the like, the overall volume of the exhaust gas treatment device 4 can be effectively reduced.

[0021] In this invention, the electric heating members 41 in the exhaust gas passage 40 of the aforementioned exhaust gas treatment device 4 are arranged alternately, thereby agitating the introduced exhaust gas and enabling more complete and rapid combustion.

[0022] In the present invention, a heat conduction partition wall 42 is installed between the above-described waste gas treatment device 4 and the high-temperature pyrolysis furnace chamber 14, and the heat energy of the lower chamber 14 is transmitted to the waste gas passage 40 of the upper waste gas treatment device 4 through the heat conduction partition wall 42 (in the prior art, a heat insulation layer was formed between the chamber and the waste gas treatment device to prevent heat conduction), thereby saving energy.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0023] 1 Continuous high-temperature pyrolysis furnace 2 Electric heating device 3 Transmission device 4 Waste gas treatment device 10 Supply operation area 11 Pyrolysis treatment area 12 Cooling area 13 Discharge operation area 14 Chamber 30 Conveyor belt 40 Waste gas passage 41 Electric heating member 42 Heat conduction partition wall A Waste solar cell module

Claims

1. A waste solar cell module resource recovery device, Applicable to discarded, damaged, or defunct solar modules. The aforementioned discarded solar cell module includes a solar cell, a glass cover and a plastic backing plate installed on both sides of the solar cell, and a metal outer frame surrounding the solar cell, glass cover and plastic backing plate. The glass cover and plastic back panel are bonded to the solar cell by a sealing material. The system further comprises a continuous high-temperature pyrolysis furnace, which is divided into a supply operation area, a pyrolysis processing area, a cooling area, and a discharge operation area. The pyrolysis processing area is provided with a chamber, and an electric heating device is installed inside the chamber to heat the chamber to a predetermined temperature. A waste solar cell module resource recovery apparatus further comprising a transmission device, the transmission device driving a conveyor belt, the conveyor belt being used to transport waste solar cell modules into the chamber, the chamber communicating with an exhaust gas treatment device, which introduces and treats exhaust gas generated from the sealing material and plastic back plate of the disassembled waste solar cell modules, and discharges it after passing inspection, the conveyor belt then proceeds to a discharge operation area after leaving the chamber, where the metal outer frame, metal wires, silicon material and glass cover are sequentially removed and recovered, thereby enabling continuous and rapid resource recovery of waste solar cell modules for reuse.

2. The waste solar cell module resource recovery apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveyor belt is a woven conveyor belt.

3. The waste solar cell module resource recovery apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the waste solar cell module is fed into a high-temperature pyrolysis furnace and pyrolysis is performed by placing the glass cover on the lower side.

4. The waste solar cell module resource recovery apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the waste gas treatment apparatus is configured to be integrated with the chamber of a high-temperature pyrolysis furnace.

5. The waste solar cell module resource recovery apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that a heat conduction partition is installed between the waste gas treatment apparatus and the chamber of the high-temperature pyrolysis furnace, and the thermal energy of the lower chamber is transferred to the upper waste gas treatment apparatus via the heat conduction partition, thereby saving energy.

6. The aforementioned exhaust gas treatment device is provided with a curved exhaust gas passage, The waste solar cell module resource recovery apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that an electric heating member is provided in the waste gas passage.

7. The waste solar cell module resource recovery apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the electric heating members in the waste gas passage of the waste gas treatment apparatus are arranged alternately in the upper and lower positions, thereby agitating the introduced waste gas and enabling more complete and rapid combustion.

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