Embodiments relate to one or more techniques that may be employed alone or in combination, in the refurbishment or recycling of used solar modules. In certain approaches, a (heated) wire may be used to cut through one or more layers (e.g., front encapsulant, back encapsulant, both front and back encapsulant, backsheet) of a solar module that is being recycled or refurbished. Some approaches may employ testing of a used solar module, alone or in combination with information (e.g., as part of a received package) regarding parameters of a used solar module such as panel size, width, length, height, thickness of glass, or others. According to specific embodiments, used solar modules may be subjected to various cleaning processes at one or more points during refurbishment/recycling.

A multi-region twin-shaft cutting system for chopping material, comprising: two shafts which are arranged substantially parallel and are driven in an opposed manner, wherein each shaft is in each case surrounded by a roll body; a multiplicity of supporting elements, wherein each supporting element is fitted substantially radially around the roll body, wherein each supporting element preferably has a shaft-shaped, symmetrical or asymmetrical circumferential line; a multiplicity of severing elements which are, in particular, of disc- and/or plate-like design and are each fitted symmetrically or asymmetrically substantially tangentially to the circumferential region of the supporting elements; wherein the supporting elements are arranged at a distance around the roll bodies in such a manner that in each case one severing element on one supporting element of the one shaft can engage between two directly adjacent supporting elements of the other shaft; wherein, for each shaft, mating severing elements are fitted in each case between two directly adjacent supporting elements of said shaft, on the roll body of the shaft, said mating severing elements being fitted in a corresponding manner to the severing elements of the other shaft such that the severing elements of the other shaft, on opposed engagement in the intermediate space between the two directly adjacent supporting elements of the one shaft, at least partially operate counter to the corresponding mating severing elements, in particular in a cutting and/or breaking manner, such that the material is chopped.

An apparatus for in-place recycling of materials that form part of a roadway pavement with agglomerated aggregates in a bituminous composition, includes a load-bearing structure suitable for driving on the pavement in a direction of travel and carries, from the front to the rear in the direction of travel, a transverse milling machine for milling the pavement to a defined depth and width to produce milling debris, a mixing device for mixing the milling debris with a binding composition, and a spreading sub-assembly for distributing the milling debris/binding composition mixture across the milled pavement. The apparatus further includes a crusher with blades, between the milling machine and the mixing device, open on the bottom, for crushing the milling debris. In one embodiment, the crusher and the mixing device are located in a single unit. The application also relates to a crusher for milling debris from roadway pavements.

A disposal system includes a sink; a disposal unit located under the sink and connected in fluid communication with a drain of the sink; a control unit configured to operate the disposal unit; and means for detecting an unintended object that passes through the drain of the sink and enters the disposal unit, resulting in stopping operation of the disposal unit. The means for detecting an unintended object that enters the disposal unit resulting in stopping operation of the disposal unit comprises a sensor and associated circuitry that detects an unintended object and triggers the control unit to stop operation. In different preferred embodiments the sensor respectively includes a capacitive sensor; a capacitive plate; magnetic shielding surrounding the disposal unit in the area of the sensor; a double D coil arrangement; a concentric detection coil for detecting magnetic ringdown; an ultrasonic sensor; a microphone; and combinations thereof.

A wasted carpet and felt scrap recycling apparatus is provided. The waste carpet and felt scrap recycling apparatus includes a feeding unit that feeds a cut scrap while forming a feeding path and a supply unit that is connected to the feeding path and supplies the scrap that passed the feeding unit along the feeding path while pressing the scrap. A separation unit is spaced apart from the supply unit, and provides a frictional force to one surface of the scrap supplied from the supply unit through rotation of the supply unit and separates the scrap into fiber and recycled material.

The invention discloses a system for squeezing, smashing and winnowing municipal solid waste (MSW). The system comprises a primary squeezing and smashing, device and a secondary smashing and winnowing device. The system of the invention has good effect m squeezing, smashing and winnowing, can greatly reduce the water content of MSW and efficiently separate the MSW into combustible matters and non-combustible matters, so as to facilitate further subsequent utilization of the municipal waste; moreover, an upper jaw of a jaw crusher is connected with a spring device, so that the squeezing pressure, smashing effect and processing capacity of the jaw crusher can be adjusted according to the amount of the MSW. In addition, the system of the invention is further provided with emergency brake switches, spring protection devices and a sieve, so as to ensure the stability and the reliability of the system.

A method for comminuting kitchen waste and/or food residues includes receiving kitchen waste and/or food residues in a funnel, a base of which is provided with a grinding unit for comminuting the kitchen waste and/or food residues and which is connected by the grinding unit via a product line to a pump for pumping away comminuted kitchen waste and/or food residues, and pumping away the kitchen waste and/or food residues comminuted by the grinding unit. Prior to the pumping-away step, precomminution of the kitchen waste and/or food residues located in the funnel is carried out in the funnel by means of a precomminution unit projecting into the funnel. A correspondingly designed device for implementing the method is also described.

Embodiments disclosed herein provide an organic matter processing apparatus and method for the use thereof to convert organic matter into a ground and selectively dried product. This can be accomplished using a bucket assembly that can grind, paddle, and heat organic matter contained therein. An algorithm is used to control the conversion of organic input to organic output by progressing through processing states based, in part, on time windows, runtimes, and sensor data. Motor operation can be observed to promote efficient grinding of the organic matter contained in the bucket assembly.

An apparatus for waste recycling that is suitable for residence building level in both volume and rate of supply of waste with a waste disposal and treatment container having the following parts: waste eliminator comprising a thermally and acoustically insulating casing with odour insulating raw waste receiving space; all-purpose shredder and crusher; crushed and/or shredded waste conveyor; liquid waste purifier; gasification plasma reactor; gas conveyor and purifier; slag collector; re-hydration means for re-hydrating solid waste in the gasification plasma reactor; and safety means. Each one of these parts is organized in fluid communication with its neighbor parts.

A method for treating a liquid (16) that contains chippings in a collecting basin (10), in which the liquid (16) is sucked from the bottom (12) of the collecting basin (10) by a chopper (18, 18) that is immersed in the liquid and has a rotating cutting wheel (32), and the liquid is directly recirculated into the collecting basin when the chippings have been chopped by the chopper.