Partial dismantling device of photovoltaic module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10913072-B2
Application number	US-201715808018-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2017
Priority date	Nov 11, 2016
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

Disclosed is a partial dismantling device of a photovoltaic module capable of classifying and collecting the photovoltaic module for recycling the photovoltaic module which includes: a transfer unit for transferring a photovoltaic module; a grind unit provided with a plurality of grinders in multiple levels, to grind the element layers of a grinding region into particles of collectible forms; and a suction unit provided with a plurality of inhalers respectively corresponding to the plurality of grinders, to classify the particles pulverized by the grind unit and to inhale the same.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A partial dismantling device for a photovoltaic module, comprising:
a transfer device for transferring a photovoltaic module;
a grind device provided with a plurality of grinders placed at different heights, to grind element layers of a grinding region into particles of collectible forms; and
a suction device provided with a plurality of inhalers respectively corresponding to the plurality of grinders, to classify particles pulverized by the grind device and to inhale the pulverized particles,
wherein the plurality of grinders are disposed to be spaced apart from each other,
wherein each of the plurality of grinders grinds a different portion of the grinding region,
wherein the different portions are disposed at different heights from the transfer device,
wherein the plurality of grinders comprises:
a first grinder for grinding at least a part of a back sheet layer adhered to an upper portion of the photovoltaic module; and
a second grinder for grinding at least a part of a cell layer coupled to a lower portion of the back sheet layer,
wherein the second grinder grinds the at least a part of the cell layer at a height higher than a glass substrate forming a lower portion of the photovoltaic module, so as to leave an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) film on a top of the glass substrate, and
wherein the plurality of inhalers comprise:
a first inhaler for inhaling the at least a part of the back sheet layer particles and EVA film particles pulverized by the first grinder; and
a second inhaler for inhaling the at least a part of the cell layer particles including copper ribbon particles, cell integrated element particles, and EVA film particles pulverized by the second grinder.

2. The partial dismantling device for the photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,
further comprising a sensor device for distinguishing grinding heights of the photovoltaic module, wherein the sensor device measures heights of the back sheet layer of the photovoltaic module and the cell layer coupled to a lower portion of the back sheet layer, the sensor device being arranged at a periphery of a region on which the photovoltaic module is arranged within the transfer device.

3. The partial dismantling device for the photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,
further comprising a sensor device for distinguishing grinding heights of the photovoltaic module, wherein the sensor device defines the grinding region as the back sheet layer of the photovoltaic module and the cell layer coupled to a lower portion of the back sheet layer, the sensor device being positioned above the transfer device.

4. The partial dismantling device for the photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,
further comprising a sensor device for distinguishing grinding heights of the photovoltaic module, wherein the sensor device defines the grinding region by measuring a height of a lower glass substrate among the element layers of the photovoltaic module.

5. The partial dismantling device for the photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,
wherein a cooler cools down frictional heat generated when the grind device grinds the element layers of the grinding region into the particles of collectible forms.

6. The partial dismantling device for the photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the cell layer has an unevenly shaped surface, and the first grinder simultaneously grinds the back sheet layer and a part of the EVA film in contact with the lower portion of the back sheet layer, so that no part of the back sheet layer remains in recessed portions of the cell layer.

7. The partial dismantling device for the photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,
further comprising a sensor device to set a lower surface of the first grinder and a lower surface of the second grinder to be spaced apart by a distance smaller than a height of the cell layer.

8. The partial dismantling device for the photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second grinder grinds the at least a part of the cell layer to allow collection of a mix of the copper ribbon particles immersed in the cell layer, cell integrated element particles, and the EVA film particles in the cell layer.

9. The partial dismantling device for the photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,
further comprising a classifying device for classifying the particles pulverized by the second grinder, wherein the classifying device comprises:
a first cyclone for extracting the EVA film particles among the particles inhaled by the second inhaler, and discharging the copper ribbon particles and the cell integrated element particles; and
a second cyclone connected to an outlet of the first cyclone for classifying the copper ribbon particles and the cell integrated element particles.

10. The partial dismantling device for the photovoltaic module of according to claim 1 ,
further comprising a sensor device for distinguishing grinding heights of the photovoltaic module, wherein
the sensor device measures a height of the glass substrate of the photovoltaic module,
the first grinder grinds the EVA film arranged on the glass substrate to leave the glass substrate.

11. The partial dismantling device for the photovoltaic module according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor device,
wherein the sensor device defines a first height as a height from a top surface of the transfer device to a top surface of the cell layer, and
wherein the sensor device sets the first grinder not to grind a cell integrated element corresponding to the cell integrated element particles, and a copper ribbon corresponding to the copper ribbon particles, while removing a portion of the EVA film on an upper part of the cell layer, and
wherein the sensor device defines a second height as a height from the top surface of the transfer device to a top surface of the glass substrate, and
wherein the sensor device sets the second height such that a predefined thickness of a lower portion of the EVA film is left on the upper part of the cell layer to protect the glass substrate.

Assignees

• Korea Inst Energy Res

Inventors

• Lee Jin-Seok
• Ahn Young-Soo
• Kang Gi-Hwan

Classifications

• Y02W30/52

  Mechanical processing of waste for the recovery of materials, e.g. crushing, shredding, separation or disassembly · CPC title

• Y02W30/82

  Recycling of waste of electrical or electronic equipment [WEEE] · CPC title

• H10F71/00

  Manufacture or treatment of devices covered by this subclass (patterning processes to connect thin photovoltaic cells in integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells H10F19/33; manufacture or treatment of encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells H10F19/80; manufacture or treatment of integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one element in which radiation controls the flow of current H10F39/00) · CPC title

• H10F19/80

  Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells · CPC title

• H10F71/139

  using temporary substrates · CPC title