Solar Panel Milling Modules for Compact Physical Recycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current recycling methods for solar cell modules, such as chemical and thermal processes, face challenges like environmental pollution, energy waste, and potential damage to components, while physical recycling processes require large devices to handle entire solar cell modules.
Innovation Solution
A recycling device that employs a physical recycling process, specifically milling or grinding, to recycle solar panels by sequentially processing the back plate, adhesive, and silicon plates, using a modular design with multiple recycling modules to efficiently handle and process the solar panel components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemical process is used to recycle solar panel, then recycling effectiveness is improved, but environmental pollution increases due to liquid chemical waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical processes with physical mechanical processes (milling, grinding, crushing) to recycle solar panel materials. The recycling device uses a milling mechanism with rotating milling teeth to mechanically break down the solar panel structure and separate materials, eliminating the need for chemical solvents and avoiding liquid chemical waste pollution while maintaining effective recycling of glass, metal, and semiconductor materials.
2Reliability
If thermal process is used to recycle solar panel, then recycling effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases due to heat dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes thermal recycling processes with mechanical recycling processes. Instead of using heat to separate and recycle materials, the device employs a milling mechanism that mechanically breaks down the solar panel structure through rotating milling teeth, significantly reducing energy consumption by avoiding heat generation and dissipation while achieving effective material separation and recycling.
3Reliability
If thermal process is used to recycle solar panel, then recycling effectiveness is improved, but component damage occurs leading to toxic gas generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal processes with mechanical milling processes to avoid excessive heating that could damage solar panel components. The milling mechanism gently breaks down the structure through mechanical action, preventing the generation of toxic gases from overheated materials while maintaining effective recycling of glass, metal, and semiconductor components.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If physical recycling process is used to handle entire solar cell module, then environmental impact is reduced, but device size increases requiring large equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the solar panel into smaller processable sections. The feeding mechanism includes a feeding guide and cutting mechanism that segments the solar panel into manageable pieces before they enter the milling chamber. This allows the recycling device to be compact while still handling entire solar modules, as the large-area panels are divided into smaller segments that can be processed by a smaller milling mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent processes solar panels by converting them from a two-dimensional large-area structure into a three-dimensional processed material form. The milling mechanism transforms the flat solar panel into granulated or powdered material that can be easily separated and recycled, effectively reducing the spatial footprint required for processing while maintaining environmental benefits.
5Loss of substance
If physical recycling process is used to handle entire solar cell module, then material reuse is enabled, but equipment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the recycling device into distinct functional modules: a feeding mechanism for loading and guiding solar panels, a milling mechanism for mechanical breakdown, and a separation mechanism for material classification. This modular segmentation enables efficient material reuse while keeping each component relatively simple and manageable, avoiding the complexity that would arise from attempting to process entire modules in a single complex unit.
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 recycling device effectively recycles solar panel components in a controlled and efficient manner, reducing environmental impact and energy consumption, while allowing for the reuse of materials and minimizing the size of the recycling equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a suction module (53) mounted to the moving seat (513)... each of the suction modules (53) being operable to suck a surface of the solar panel (900) to fix the solar panel (900) in position
Implementation Method 2
recycle the solar panel (900) by conducting a physical recycling process for recycling the back plate (903), the adhesive (904), and the silicon plates (902) of the solar panel (900)... specifically milling or grinding
Data Source
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AI summary
A recycling device (200) is adapted for recycling a solar panel (900), and includes a carriage module (46), at least one recycling module (52) that is operable to conduct a physical recycling process for recycling the solar panel (900), and a recycling driving module (51). The at least one recycling module (52) is operable to move from a cutter-retraction position, in which the at least one recycling module (52) is distal from the carriage module (46), to a cutter-extension position, in which the at least one recycling module (52) is proximate to the carriage module (46). When the at least one recycling module (52) is in the cutter-extension position, the recycling driving module (51) is operable to drive the at least one recycling module (52) to move so that the at least one recycling module (52) is further movable between a first position and a second position.