High-Pressure Water-Jet Separation for Composite Recycling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recycling methods for multilayer composite materials, such as photovoltaic modules, are inefficient and environmentally harmful, leading to the loss of valuable materials and non-compliance with recycling quotas due to high energy consumption and incomplete separation of layers.
Innovation Solution
A method using high-pressure water jets to cut and lift off layers from a substrate without heating, allowing for the separation and individualization of valuable materials like semiconductors and metals, using rotating nozzles to achieve precise cutting and lifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal treatment (pyrolysis) is used to separate multilayer composite materials, then the layers can be separated, but very high energy input is required and cooling steps are additionally required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal treatment (thermal system) with high-pressure water jet cutting (mechanical system). The high-pressure water jet physically cuts through the multilayer composite materials and adhesive layers without heating, thereby separating the layers mechanically instead of thermally. This substitution eliminates the need for high energy input and subsequent cooling steps while maintaining effective separation.
2Productivity
If simple crushing and sorting processes are used, then recycling rate of 80% can be met, but valuable materials such as rare metals and silicon are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by using high-pressure water jets to cut and separate the multilayer composite material into individual layers and components. This precise segmentation allows valuable materials such as silicon, rare metals, and plastics to be separated from the glass substrate and other layers, enabling targeted recycling of each material type rather than simple crushing that mixes all materials together.
3Manufacturing precision
If high-pressure water jets with rotating nozzles are used, then precise cutting and lifting of layers is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the rotating nozzle system to perform multiple functions: cutting through hard layers, cutting through soft layers, and lifting separated layers. The same high-pressure water jet system with rotating nozzles adapts to different material types and separation requirements, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices while maintaining high cutting precision across various multilayer composite structures.
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
The method effectively separates multilayer systems without damaging the substrate, enabling efficient recycling of valuable materials and achieving high-quality secondary raw materials, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
one or more layers of the multilayer composite material to be separated are cut with at least one high-pressure water jet and lifted off and individualized
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for separating multilayer composite material in which valuable material is located between two layers of the multilayer composite material, in particular in the form of photovoltaic modules (PV), TFT, OLED, or LCD displays, consisting of at least one lower hard layer (1) and at least one soft layer (2, 3) located thereon, wherein one or more layers of the multilayer composite material to be separated is cut in layers or as a whole using at least one high-pressure water jet and is then raised and individualized, and one or more nozzles which discharge the high-pressure water jet are rotated by means of a rotatable nozzle head (DK) about a rotational axis (L) of the nozzle head (DK) while at the same time the nozzle head (DK) and the multilayer composite material are moved relative to each other such that the valuable materials lie freely individually or on the separated layers after the separation process. The device has at least one nozzle (D1, D2) for discharging at least one respective high-pressure water jet, and at least one nozzle head (DK) has a nozzle (DK) arranged outside of the rotational axis of the nozzle head (DK).