Methods for recycling photovoltaic modules and their impact on environment and raw material extraction
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Date
2017-12-11
Authors
Strachala, Dávid
Hylský, Josef
Vaněk, Jiří
Fafilek, Günter
Jandová, Kristýna
0000-0002-3062-3116Advisor
Referee
Mark
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Acta Montanistica Slovaca
Abstract
This work deals with methods of recycling of photovoltaic modules and evaluates contribution of recycling to the environment and reduction of raw materials extraction. The article describes the materials needed to manufacture photovoltaic modules and energy intensity of production processes. Three methods of recycling were used - thermal, chemical and mechanical. The experiments have shown that the recycling of PV modules by thermal method is more advantageous than using a chemical method. The length of the process is significantly shorter and there are lower financial costs. The disadvantage of thermal treatment is the formation of emission gases during evaporation of the EVA copolymer and also a risk of waffer damage. In mechanical recycling process it is very important to know which technologies and devices are suitable to creation of crushed material. If the PV modules are bigger than 1 x 1 m, it was necessary to divide them into two parts because the chain crusher must be able to crush the pieces as effectively as possible. From the entire mechanical recycling process it can be seen that the silver-containing crushed material up to 0.07 % is not economically advantageous to process chemically. The silver content does not cover the cost of basic operations during recycling process. Based on obtained data was also theoretically calculated the amount of saved material due to PV module recycling until year 2025. Recycling could save up to 351 500 tons of glass, 51 500 tons of aluminum, 13 567 silicon and 425 tons of silver.
This work deals with methods of recycling of photovoltaic modules and evaluates contribution of recycling to the environment and reduction of raw materials extraction. The article describes the materials needed to manufacture photovoltaic modules and energy intensity of production processes. Three methods of recycling were used - thermal, chemical and mechanical. The experiments have shown that the recycling of PV modules by thermal method is more advantageous than using a chemical method. The length of the process is significantly shorter and there are lower financial costs. The disadvantage of thermal treatment is the formation of emission gases during evaporation of the EVA copolymer and also a risk of waffer damage. In mechanical recycling process it is very important to know which technologies and devices are suitable to creation of crushed material. If the PV modules are bigger than 1 x 1 m, it was necessary to divide them into two parts because the chain crusher must be able to crush the pieces as effectively as possible. From the entire mechanical recycling process it can be seen that the silver-containing crushed material up to 0.07 % is not economically advantageous to process chemically. The silver content does not cover the cost of basic operations during recycling process. Based on obtained data was also theoretically calculated the amount of saved material due to PV module recycling until year 2025. Recycling could save up to 351 500 tons of glass, 51 500 tons of aluminum, 13 567 silicon and 425 tons of silver.
This work deals with methods of recycling of photovoltaic modules and evaluates contribution of recycling to the environment and reduction of raw materials extraction. The article describes the materials needed to manufacture photovoltaic modules and energy intensity of production processes. Three methods of recycling were used - thermal, chemical and mechanical. The experiments have shown that the recycling of PV modules by thermal method is more advantageous than using a chemical method. The length of the process is significantly shorter and there are lower financial costs. The disadvantage of thermal treatment is the formation of emission gases during evaporation of the EVA copolymer and also a risk of waffer damage. In mechanical recycling process it is very important to know which technologies and devices are suitable to creation of crushed material. If the PV modules are bigger than 1 x 1 m, it was necessary to divide them into two parts because the chain crusher must be able to crush the pieces as effectively as possible. From the entire mechanical recycling process it can be seen that the silver-containing crushed material up to 0.07 % is not economically advantageous to process chemically. The silver content does not cover the cost of basic operations during recycling process. Based on obtained data was also theoretically calculated the amount of saved material due to PV module recycling until year 2025. Recycling could save up to 351 500 tons of glass, 51 500 tons of aluminum, 13 567 silicon and 425 tons of silver.
Description
Keywords
Photovoltaic module recycling, environmental impacts of photovoltaics, thermal recycling of PV modules, chemical recycling of PV modules, mechanical recycling of PV modules., Photovoltaic module recycling, environmental impacts of photovoltaics, thermal recycling of PV modules, chemical recycling of PV modules, mechanical recycling of PV modules.
Citation
Acta Montanistica Slovaca. 2017, vol. 22, issue 3, p. 257-269.
https://actamont.tuke.sk/pdf/2017/n3/4strachala.pdf
https://actamont.tuke.sk/pdf/2017/n3/4strachala.pdf
Document type
Peer-reviewed
Document version
Published version
Date of access to the full text
Language of document
en