A solar panel disassembling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure separates a glass plate of a solar panel and a film layer bonded to the glass plate from each other. The solar panel disassembling apparatus includes a supply module that stands and fixes the solar panel such that a bond line between the glass plate and the film layer is exposed upward and downward and that moves the solar panel in a parallel direction parallel to a bonding surface between the glass plate and the film layer, and a wire-shaped cutting blade that is disposed in front of the solar panel in a movement direction of the solar panel to have a distance from the supply module, is disposed in parallel to the bonding surface, and separates the glass plate and the film layer from each other.

A method for recovering metallic materials from crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules. The method includes removing aluminium frames and junction boxes from the photovoltaic modules to provide photovoltaic sandwich structures. The method further includes shredding the photovoltaic sandwich structures to form photovoltaic sandwich structure particles and electrostatically separating the photovoltaic sandwich structure particles into a first fraction and a second fraction with an electrostatic separator. The method further includes feeding at least a portion of the second fraction to an electrostatic separator for one or more subsequent electrostatic separations into the first and second fractions, wherein the first fraction includes less than 5 percent by weight of total polymer particles and is substantially free of glass particles.

A removing device for removing a junction box from a solar cell module includes a carriage mechanism and a removing mechanism mounted on a frame mechanism. The removing mechanism includes a seat regulating module, an aligning and holding seat module and a removing seat which is moved by the seat regulating module toward a back plate of a solar panel unit, and a removing driving module which drives movement of the removing seat toward the junction box along the back plate of the solar panel unit so as to move a cutting edge of the removing sear into a juncture between the junction box and the back plate and remove the junction box. An automatic removing process is performed, and damage to the solar panel unit is prevented.

A removing apparatus for removing frame parts from a solar panel of a solar cell module includes a transporting mechanism, a panel fixing mechanism and a removing mechanism mounted on a frame mechanism. The panel fixing mechanism is operable to move the solar cell module upwardly away from the transporting mechanism and to be retainingly connected with the solar panel. The removing mechanism is disposed above the transporting mechanism, and includes removing modules respectively registered with the frame parts. Each removing module is driven to sequentially thrust and remove two ends of the corresponding frame part from the solar panel. Deformation of the frame parts during the removing process is prevented.

There is provided a solar panel disassembling apparatus. The solar panel disassembling apparatus includes: a first fixing plate and a second fixing plate that hold both surfaces of the solar panel, respectively, in a state of having a distance from each other without coming into close contact with each other such that bond lines at a perimeter of the bonding surface are exposed: a moving unit that moves the first fixing plate and the second fixing plate in a parallel direction parallel to the bonding surface; and a wire-shaped cutting blade that is disposed in front of the solar panel in a movement direction of the solar panel to be parallel to the bonding surface and cuts the bonding surface, while passing through the bond line exposed toward the front between the first fixing plate and the second fixing plate.

A recycling process for exhausted, end-of-life solar panels achieves substantial recovery of silicon and silver, as well as other materials, from a recycling stream of discarded solar panels. Agitation and shredding of the solar panels yield a granular mass, which can be separated by particle size to yield the silicon rich solar cell material. Leaching with a strong base such as sodium hydroxide draws the silicon into the leach solution. Filtration of the leach solution draws off the silicon-rich solution and allows filtration of other valuable materials such as silver. Addition of an acid such as hydrochloric acid to the leach solution then precipitates the silicon into a nano silica powder of in the form of high purity silicon dioxide. The high purity silicon dioxide provides raw materials for recycled solar panels, lithium-ion batteries and other uses depending on the purity.

Disclosed is an apparatus that is configured to separate the frame of a solar panel from the body of the solar panel. The apparatus includes first and second plates that are configured to clamp the body between them. Separating at least a portion of the frame from the body is achieved through the use of one or more separation elements that are collectively configured and arranged to progressively push on a side of the frame.

A recycling device is adapted for recycling a solar panel, and includes a carriage module, at least one recycling module that is operable to conduct a physical recycling process for recycling the solar panel, and a recycling driving module. The at least one recycling module is operable to move from a cutter-retraction position, in which the at least one recycling module is distal from the carriage module, to a cutter-extension position, in which the at least one recycling module is proximate to the carriage module and abuts against the solar panel. When the at least one recycling module is in the cutter-extension position, the recycling driving module is operable to drive the at least one recycling module to move in a processing direction so that the at least one recycling module is further movable between a first position and a second position to conduct the physical recycling process.

A variety of techniques, performed alone or in various combination(s), may be employed to process used solar modules for disposal and/or recycling. Particular embodiments may leverage weaker adhesion between internal layers of a used module, than between internal layer(s) of the used module adhered to glass (e.g., front and/or back glass sheets). This difference in adhesive strength may allow the application of mechanical energy for delamination. Embodiments may also apply temperature change in the service of delamination. Specific embodiments may involve chemical processing in the form of leaching for the recovery of material. Certain embodiments may introduce chemical reactant(s) and/or solvents (e.g., under pressure) in the form of fluid(s) to permeate through polymeric layers of a module and reach solar module internal module layers formed by vapor deposition. Some embodiments may be particularly suited to the recycling of used CdTe solar modules.

A solar panel disassembling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure separates a glass plate of a solar panel and a film layer bonded to the glass plate from each other. The solar panel disassembling apparatus includes a supply module that stands and fixes the solar panel such that a bond line between the glass plate and the film layer is exposed upward and downward and that moves the solar panel in a parallel direction parallel to a bonding surface between the glass plate and the film layer, and a wire-shaped cutting blade that is disposed in front of the solar panel in a movement direction of the solar panel to have a distance from the supply module, is disposed in parallel to the bonding surface, and separates the glass plate and the film layer from each other.