The Chinese language Academy of Science has developed a brand new approach that makes use of non-toxic lemonene as a reagent to manage the diploma of EVA growth in the course of the decapsulation technique of end-of-life photovoltaic modules. The proposed method reportedly achieves the whole delamination of glass and backsheet with out extreme harm to the photo voltaic cells
A bunch of scientists led by the Chinese language Academy of Sciences (CAS) has developed a brand new methodology to detach ethylene-vinyl acetate
(EVA) encapsulant from photo voltaic modules on the finish of their lifecycle.
“Our analysis signifies that controlling the diploma of EVA growth is essential for environment friendly delamination,” the analysis’s lead writer, Dong Wang, advised pv journal. “Primarily based on this, we rigorously chosen pure limonene as a inexperienced solvent. At sure concentrations and temperatures, limonene can induce applicable growth of EVA, effectively breaking the interface bonds with out inflicting extreme growth and damaging the photo voltaic cells. This course of permits the whole delamination of glass.”
Limonene is a chemical discovered within the rind of citrus fruits, similar to lemons, limes, and oranges and, based on the analysis group, facilitates the managed swell of EVA within the decapsulation course of, which in flip prevents cell disruption as a consequence of uneven pressure throughout swell.
“This reagent doesn’t react with EVA chemically, which primarily induces controllable swelling of EVA, creating situations for the environment friendly recycling of the reagent,” Wang additional defined, including that this non-toxic reagent achieves interlayer separation by disrupting the silane teams on the floor of the glass and backsheet involved with EVA.
The scientists performed a sequence of experimental exams in a double-layered glass reactor and a constant-temperature ultrasonic reactor to generate ultrasonic bodily fields. The glass separation fee was decided utilizing the weighing methodology, involving the measurement of glass mass earlier than and after separation with an digital steadiness.
Additionally they used thermogravimetric evaluation (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to investigate the chemical composition and bonding mechanism on the interface between EVA, glass, photo voltaic cells, and backsheet.
The evaluation confirmed that the brand new approach is purportedly in a position to break the bonds within the interfacial adhesive area with out extreme harm to the photo voltaic cells. “This managed swelling proved to be important for environment friendly delamination as evidenced by the diploma of swelling and morphological adjustments.” the teachers said.
“Underneath optimized experimental situations, we had been in a position to absolutely separate the glass and backsheet, enabling the potential for full restoration of crystalline silicon photo voltaic cells,” Wang added, noting that adjusting the focus of the limonene resolution was the important thing to successfully regulate the growth of EVA. “Combining with the bodily area of ultrasound, we speed up solvent penetration and the breaking of cross-links, thereby enhancing separation effectivity.”
The analysis group launched the proposed method within the examine “Efficient decapsulation methodology for photovoltaic modules: Limonene-induced EVA managed swelling below sonication and debonding mechanism evaluation,” printed within the Journal of Cleaner Manufacturing.
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