Electrochromic Glass Recycling via Segmentation and Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The recycling of smart windows, which are complex electrochemical structures used in buildings and transportation, poses challenges due to their multi-component nature, making it difficult to recycle them efficiently and minimize environmental impact at the end of their life cycle.
Innovation Solution
A method involving breaking the electrochromic glass windows into pieces and treating them at specific temperatures or in acidic solutions to separate and recover organic components and metal compounds, allowing for the recycling of materials without melting the glass, and subsequent reuse or conversion into new products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If smart windows are disposed of as waste, then the complexity of recycling multi-component structures is avoided, but environmental toxicity and resource loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The smart window is divided into separate components (glass layers, electrochromic layers, interlayers, coatings) that can be processed independently. This segmentation allows each material type to be treated with appropriate recycling methods, reducing environmental toxicity while managing the complexity through systematic separation rather than attempting to process the composite structure as a whole.
Solution Approach 2:
Valuable materials such as metals, electrochromic compounds, and other recoverable components are extracted from the smart window structure. This extraction removes harmful substances from the waste stream and recovers valuable materials, addressing environmental toxicity concerns while the extraction process itself provides a structured approach to managing recycling complexity.
2Loss of substance
If all materials are recovered and reused in the same application, then resource efficiency is maximized, but the complexity of restoring materials to pristine form increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a tiered recovery approach where materials are recovered based on their value and ease of processing. High-value materials like metals are recovered and reused, while lower-value materials may be processed differently. This approach maximizes material recovery rates while avoiding the excessive complexity of restoring all materials to pristine condition for identical reuse applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent accepts that recovered materials may have different properties than virgin materials and adjusts processing parameters accordingly. Rather than requiring all materials to be restored to their original pristine state, the recycling process modifies parameters to achieve sufficient quality for appropriate applications, reducing demanufacturing complexity while maintaining high recovery rates.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If smart windows are designed for easier recycling, then environmental impact is reduced, but manufacturing complexity and cost may increase
Solution Approach 1:
Recycling considerations are incorporated into the smart window design phase through preliminary actions such as selecting materials that are easier to separate and process. The design includes features that facilitate future demanufacturing and recycling, reducing environmental impact while the added design complexity is minimized through careful material selection and structural considerations made early in the design process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the effective recycling of smart windows, reducing waste and environmental toxicity, and allowing for the recovery of valuable materials, thus promoting sustainable practices in the recycling of these energy-efficient products.
Implementation Method 1
heating the said pieces to a temperature lower than the glass transition temperature of the said glass to incinerate the organic components without melting the glass
Implementation Method 2
treating the said pieces in an acidic solution to dissolve metal compounds
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the methods of recycling electrochromic devices and also designing such devices while keeping recyclability in perspective. Recyclability includes recovering of certain materials for re-use within the same application or other applications. Using recycling reduces or eliminates waste stream quantities to be disposed of and/or reduces toxicity of these waste streams.