A method for separating reusable materials of a composite component comprising multiple material layers is presented. The composite component comprises a material layer which absorbs energy of a radiation source and at least one plastics film. With the aid of the radiation source, the composite component is heated in less than a second in an exposure field, with chemical compounds of the plastics material being cleaved, as a result of the heating of the absorbing material layer, in a boundary layer of the at least one plastics film which faces the absorbing material layer, resulting in a creation of gas. Prior to heating, at least one predetermined breaking point is introduced into the plastics film in such a way that the plastics film breaks in a controlled fashion at the predetermined breaking point under the pressure of the created gas.

Embodiments relate to processing materials in recycling of used solar panels. A used solar panel may comprise components manufactured from materials of high purity, that are expensive to prepare from scratch. Examples of such high purity materials can include but are not limited to: metals (silver; copper; tin; lead), photovoltaic material (e.g., precisely doped crystalline silicon; CdTe), and optically transparent materials (e.g., optical glass; plastics). Accordingly, embodiments recover one or more high purity materials from a starting material pre-processed from a used solar module, by using a recycling process comprising multiple successive separation events. Such events can include, but are not limited to: chemical separation (leaching, filtration, precipitation), physical separation (e.g., shredding/sieving), thermal separation (e.g., furnace heating), and/or electrical separation (e.g., electrowinning, electrostatic). Various fractions separated during the recycling process flow, are enriched in valuable materials and hence available for reuse at lower cost relative to materials prepared from scratch.

Embodiments relate to processing materials in recycling of used solar panels. A used solar panel may comprise components manufactured from materials of high purity, that are expensive to prepare from scratch. Examples of such high purity materials can include but are not limited to: metals (silver; copper; tin; lead), photovoltaic material (e.g., precisely doped crystalline silicon; CdTe), and optically transparent materials (e.g., optical glass; plastics). Accordingly, embodiments recover one or more high purity materials from a starting material pre-processed from a used solar module, by using a recycling process comprising multiple successive separation events. Such events can include, but are not limited to: chemical separation (leaching, filtration, precipitation), physical separation (e.g., shredding/sieving), thermal separation (e.g., furnace heating), and/or electrical separation (e.g., electrowinning, electrostatic). Various fractions separated during the recycling process flow, are enriched in valuable materials and hence available for reuse at lower cost relative to materials prepared from scratch.

There is provided a method for processing a solar cell module, including: removing a frame member from a solar cell module to obtain a frame-removed material; crushing the frame-removed material to obtain a crushed material; and electrostatically separating the crushed material, wherein in the electrostatic separation, the crushed material is charged and separated in accordance with density and conductivity.

A thermal decomposition apparatus comprises: a thermal decomposition apparatus mechanism being provided with a thermal decomposition furnace that decomposes a panel having a plastic layer; and a superheated steam generator that generates superheated steam being supplied to the thermal decomposition furnace. A furnace body of the thermal decomposition furnace is provided with an inner wall made of metal having a space for housing the panel, and with an outer wall made of metal enclosing the inner wall. A thermal insulation material layer is provided between the inner wall and the outer wall that encloses the inner wall. A heat storage material layer is provided between the inner wall and the thermal insulation material layer.

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.

Provided is a solar cell module recycling system and a solar cell module recycling method capable of collecting valuable materials and collecting a collection tool efficiently by one processing to reuse the collection tool.

A solar cell module recycling system includes a thermal decomposition furnace configured to thermally decompose a used solar cell module mounted on a collection tool; a module collection conveyor configured to collect the thermally decomposed solar cell module thermally decomposed in the thermal decomposition furnace together with the collection tool; a glass collection conveyor configured to collect plate glass included in the thermally decomposed solar cell module transferred to the module collection conveyor; a valuable material collection unit configured to collect valuable materials other than the plate glass, the valuable materials being included in the thermally decomposed solar cell module; and a tool collection unit configured to collect the collection tool remaining on the module collection conveyor after the plate glass and the valuable materials are collected.

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 glass cover disassembly equipment is configured to disassemble a glass cover of an electronic device from a device body of the electronic device. The electronic device further includes an adhesive layer which bonds the glass cover and the device body. The glass cover disassembly equipment includes a cooling device and a separating device. The cooling device is configured to cool the adhesive layer. The separating device is configured to separate the cooled glass cover and the device body.

A process for recycling contaminated solid material is provided. The process comprises heating the material yielding a solid phase, an oil phase, and a gas phase. Prior to being heated, the material is subjected to a pre-treatment involving a dehalogenation agent (DHA). The gas phase obtained is further subjected to a purification treatment. The DHA agent used is regenerated using a regeneration agent (RGA) and further re-used in the process.