JP7072760B2 - Recycling method for solar cell modules and recycling equipment used for them - Google Patents

Description

In the embodiment of the present invention, the solar cell laminate is formed by arranging one or more solar cell unit cells on one side of a glass substrate in a plane and covering them with a resin back sheet. A method for recycling solar cell modules and a recycling device used for removing the aluminum frame mounted in a frame shape on the outer periphery of the solar cell laminate for the purpose of improving the strength of the body or improving workability during the installation work of the gantry. Regarding.

As shown in FIG. 1, the solar cell module is composed of a solar cell laminate 1, a current collecting box 2, and a plurality of aluminum frames 3 divided for each side of the solar cell laminate 1. In the solar cell module recycling process, the current collecting box 2 and the aluminum frame 3 are removed from the solar cell laminate 1 as a pretreatment step, and the solar cell laminate 1 is destroyed and separated as a post-treatment step. Is common. This is because the current collector box 2 and the aluminum frame 3 have a higher resource value (copper, aluminum, etc.) than the solar cell laminate 1, and are easy to separate.

The detailed structure of the solar cell module and the problems in removing the conventional aluminum frame 3 are described below.
In the following drawings, the same parts are numbered the same, and the parts once described are omitted in detail.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a solar cell laminate 1 and an aluminum frame 3 which are a part of the solar cell module shown in FIG. The solar cell laminate 1 is fixed so as to be inserted into the U-shaped portion 4 of the constituent aluminum frame 3, and the organic adhesive 5 or the sealing material filled inside the U-shaped portion 4 is used. Be joined. Further, this solar cell module has an installation portion 6 connected to a stand for installing the solar cell module.

FIG. 3 shows a transmission diagram of an aluminum frame square joint that is a part of the solar cell module. The corner joints of the aluminum frame are joined by a screw 7 (FIG. 3 (a)) or an L-shaped wedge-shaped aluminum member 8 with a barb (FIG. 3 (b)), and the outer circumference as shown in FIG. It has a very high strength several to several tens of times higher than that of the part in the vertical direction of the aluminum frame joint.

As a method of removing the aluminum frame, a method of applying external forces 21 and 22 in the outward direction to the installation portion 6 and the like, and a method of using a dedicated dismantling device are known (Patent Document 1).

The aluminum frame 3 of the solar cell module can be removed from the solar cell laminate 1 by applying external forces 21 and 22 to extrude the aluminum frame 3.

However, when the aluminum frame 3 is removed from the solar cell laminate 1, a large force of several hundred N or more is required at the outer peripheral portion shown in FIG. 2 and a large force of 1 kN or more is required at the reinforced square joint portion shown in FIG. When these forces are applied to the aluminum frame 3 as external forces 21 and 22, a moment is generated in the drawing direction with the U-shaped portion 4 as a fulcrum, and the solar cell laminate 1 is destroyed (FIG. 4A). Here, a cross-sectional view of a detailed structure including the glass substrate 40 of the solar cell laminate 1 is shown in FIG. 4 (b). The structure is such that a solar cell unit cell and a back sheet 41 are laminated on one side of a glass substrate 40. Regarding the destruction of the solar cell laminate 1 here, the problem is that the glass substrate 40 is particularly destroyed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-116363

According to the present invention, the aluminum frame can be removed without damaging the glass substrate of the solar cell laminate by stably applying a force in the removal direction without applying a force in the rotation direction to the aluminum frame. The purpose is to provide a recycling method for a battery module and a recycling device used for the recycling method.

The recycling device for removing the aluminum frame of the solar cell module according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with a glass substrate, and the solar cell laminate and the aluminum frame are joined by using a filler portion having an organic adhesive or a sealing material. It has a clamp part for fixing the solar cell module and an arm tip part of the cutting edge that can move in one dimension along the reference line of the arm and is cut diagonally, and the cutting edge bites into the filler part. It includes an insertable arm unit and a pressure drive unit that moves the arm unit in the one -dimensional direction to remove the aluminum frame from the solar cell laminate while suppressing the rotation of the aluminum frame.

Further, the solar cell module recycling method by removing the aluminum frame of the solar cell module according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a glass base, and the solar cell laminate and the aluminum frame are fillers having an organic adhesive or a sealing material. The filler portion includes the first step of fixing the solar cell module joined by the portion, and the arm portion having the tip portion of the cutting edge that is movable in one dimension along the reference line of the arm and is cut diagonally. In the second step of inserting the arm portion in the direction in which the cutting edge bites into the solar cell, and while suppressing the rotation of the aluminum frame, the arm portion is moved in the one -dimensional direction to move the aluminum frame from the solar cell laminate. It comprises a third step of removal.

Rear view of solar cell module according to the prior art Aluminum frame cross section Aluminum frame joint drawing The figure explaining the destruction of the solar cell laminate by the rotation of an aluminum frame. Schematic diagram (plan view) of the aluminum frame removing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Schematic diagram (side view) of the aluminum frame removing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Enlarged view of the main part of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention Enlarged view of the main part of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention

(First Embodiment)
As this embodiment, the aluminum frame removing device mainly used in the method for recycling the solar cell module of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. Needless to say, this device can be used for methods other than the method for recycling the solar cell module of the present invention.

The apparatus according to the present invention has clamp portions 10 and 11 for placing the solar cell laminate 1 on the workbench 15 and fixing the solar cell laminate 1 so as not to move. Further, the device has an arm portion 12 which is a jig for removing the aluminum frame, and has a pressure drive portion 13 which operates hydraulically in the removal direction (FIG. 5). The pressure drive unit 13 is not limited to the one operated by hydraulic pressure, and may be an electric or mechanical actuator operated by an electric motor or the like. Reference numeral 15 is a workbench on which the solar cell module to be processed is placed.

The clamp portions 10 and 11 are fixing devices for suppressing the movement and rotation of the solar cell laminate 1 of the solar cell module when the aluminum frame is removed. Further, the clamp portions 10 and 11 are at least one point 10 on the center line, preferably two points 11 symmetrical with respect to the direction in which the arm portion 12 moves and on the center line 14 of the arm portion 12 as a reference. It has a structure that can suppress a plurality of points including. As a result, the solar cell laminate 1 can be securely fixed when the aluminum frame is removed, and the rotation of the aluminum frame can be prevented in a positional relationship relative to the solar cell laminate 1.

FIG. 7 shows the arm portion 12, which is an enlarged view in an open state (FIG. 7 (a)). In addition, a state in which the arm portion 12 is closed is also shown (FIG. 7 (b)).
The shape of the arm portion 12 divided into the arm tip portions 17 having a plurality of upper and lower cutting edges is referred to here as a wedge-shaped arm portion 12. Each size of the arm tip portion 17 of the wedge-shaped arm portion 12 will be described (FIG. 7 (b)).

As specific sizes, it is desirable that a = 30 mm to 50 mm, b ≧ 50 mm, and c = a-10 mm to 20 mm. Further, it is desirable that d = 0 to 5 mm. This is due to the following reasons. That is, the U-shaped portion 4 which is the joint portion between the solar cell laminate and the aluminum frame (FIG. 4A) is often shorter on the 40th surface side of the glass substrate than on the 41st surface side of the back sheet (FIG. 4). (b)). This is to secure a large area of the light receiving surface by reducing the bonding area on the 40 surface side of the glass substrate, which is the light receiving surface of the solar cell module, and to lengthen the 41 surface side of the back sheet, which is the back surface side, to secure the bonding area. It is possible to increase the number and secure the strength. Therefore, the arm tip portion 17 of the pull-out arm has a structure in which the 40 -side surface side of the glass substrate is 0 to 5 mm longer, so that the aluminum frame can be pulled out in parallel from the solar cell laminate 1. At this time, even if the actual dimension of the U-shaped portion 4 and the length dimension of the arm tip 17 above and below are slightly different, the arm tip 17 on the 40th surface side of the glass substrate is long, so that the aluminum frame is pulled out. This is because the destruction 9 of the glass substrate 40 due to the rotation of the glass base 40 can be suppressed.

Further, it is desirable that e = 50 to 80 mm. This is because of the sum of the thickness of the solar cell module and the width of the gap between the lower blades. Further, the cutting edge of the arm tip portion is cut diagonally, and this angle θ is also an angle with respect to the one-dimensional direction in which the cutting edge of the arm tip portion bites into the filler portion. It is desirable that this angle θ is 45 ° ≦ θ ≦ 80 °. This is because the lower blade may come off with respect to the upper blade at the tip portion 17 of the arm, which is necessary for the structure of entering the gap of the aluminum frame. In this embodiment, for example, θ is set to 70 °. The material of the cutting edge of the upper blade and the lower blade is, for example, S45C. If the previous material is iron (hardness 4 to 5) compared to the aluminum frame (Mohs hardness comparison (same below), hardness 2.5 to 3.0), there is wear during drawing, so a material with a hardness of 6 or more is desirable. Is.

The arm portion 12 having the wedge-shaped arm tip portion 17 has a structure that closes in the external force 50 direction from the open state via the spring mechanism 70 (FIG. 7 (a)). As shown in FIG. 6, the tip portion 17 of the arm portion 12 bites into the filler 5 formed between the solar cell laminate 1 and the aluminum frame 3 in a closed state.

The apparatus according to the above embodiment has an effect of solving the problem that the glass substrate constituting the light receiving surface of the solar cell laminate is fragile to an external impact and is easily destroyed. Further, when the glass substrate is destroyed, it becomes a small piece of glass during transportation or recycling and is scattered around, so that there is an effect that the problem of ensuring work safety can be solved. Further, the solar cell laminate in which the glass substrate is broken has a property of causing a strong warp with the back sheet on the back surface inside. Therefore, the recycling method, which was originally intended to process a plate-shaped solar cell laminate, is difficult to apply to a rolled solar cell laminate due to warpage, and there is a problem that the processing cost increases. It has the effect of being able to eliminate it.

(Second embodiment)
As an example of the method for recycling the solar cell module, a method for recycling the aluminum frame using the above-mentioned solar cell module recycling device will be described.

First, as a first step, the solar cell laminate 1 of the solar cell module to be processed is securely fixed without rotating (FIG. 6). By using the above aluminum frame recycling device, the solar cell module to be processed is placed and prepared on the workbench 15, and the solar cell laminate 1 is fixed by the clamp 10 to secure the entire solar cell module. Can be fixed to.

Next, as a second step, the arm portion 12 is inserted into the filler portion 5 in close contact with the aluminum frame 3 in the direction in which the cutting edge of the arm portion 17 bites into the filler portion 5 (FIG. 8A). FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which the wedge-shaped arm portion 12 is processing the solar cell module.

In this step, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the arm portion 12 is in close contact with and supports the aluminum frame side surface portion 16 to prevent the aluminum frame 3 from being subjected to a force in the rotational direction, and the aluminum frame 3 is supported. The cutting edge of the wedge-shaped arm portion 12 having the arm tip portion 17 cut diagonally is made to bite into the filler portion 5 so that the claws are hooked on the upper and lower portions 4 and 5 of the U-shaped portion (FIG. 8 (a)). The cutting edge of the arm tip 17 bites into each filler on the front surface and the back surface of the solar cell laminate 1 (FIG. 8 (a)). That is, the solar cell laminate 1 has a front surface and a back surface that opposes the front surface thereof, and a plurality of arm tips divided into upper and lower arms are formed on the front surface and the back surface of the solar cell laminate 1. The cutting edge of the portion 17 can be bitten at the same time (FIG. 8 (a)). The arm portion 12 is in close contact with and supports the side surface portion 16 of the aluminum frame 3 to prevent a force in the rotational direction from being applied, and the upper and lower blades are on the upper and lower U-shaped portions 4 and 5 of the aluminum frame 3. Each of these has such a structure (FIG. 8 (a)). Here, the aluminum of the U-shaped portion is as thin as less than 1 mm, and if a force of several hundred N to 1 kN or more is applied at the time of removal, there is a risk that the arm portion 12 will come off, but the tip of the arm portion 12 By adopting a wedge-shaped structure in which the portion is cut diagonally, this is suppressed by biting into the filler portion.

Finally, as a third step, the aluminum frame 3 is removed by moving the arm portion 12 in the direction in which the upper and lower cutting edges bite into the arm portion 12 while suppressing the rotation of the solar cell laminate. The arm portion 12 is pulled by the pressure drive portion in the direction 50 opposite to the solar cell module, that is, in the direction 50 parallel to the surface of the solar cell laminate 1 (FIG. 8 (b)). The moving direction of the arm portion 12 that bites into the tip portion 17 of the arm portion and the removing direction of the pressure driving portion coincide with each other. Here, it is desirable that the pressure drive unit has a function of a maximum of 2 kN in the removal direction and a drive width of 20 cm or more, whereby the aluminum frame can be reliably removed (FIG. 8 (b)).

In the method of removing the aluminum frame using the apparatus of the present embodiment, when the aluminum frame is removed from the center of each side of the solar cell module, the sun is caused by the distortion of the solar cell laminate caused by the deformation of the aluminum. It is possible to suppress the force acting in the direction of destroying the glass substrate of the battery laminate. Therefore, it is possible to remove the solar cell module clockwise or counterclockwise in order, with the first point being within 30 cm from the square joint on the short side of the solar cell module while suppressing the destruction of the glass substrate.

Even if the solar cell module is a non-rectangular polygon (triangle, trapezoid, pentagon, etc.), the first point is within 30 cm from the square joint on the short side, and the solar cell module can be removed by the same procedure.

According to the present invention, the aluminum frame can be removed without damaging the glass substrate in the pretreatment step in the recycling process of the solar cell module. This makes it possible to stably supply the solar cell laminate to the post-treatment process of the solar cell module for which various recycling methods are being studied.

Further, the device in the present invention is composed of a clamp portion, an arm portion, and a pressure drive portion, but only the pressure drive portion requires an external device (power supply, motor, etc.). Therefore, it is easy to reduce the size and cost of the device, and it is possible to simplify the operation during work.

1 Solar cell laminate 2 Current collector box 3 Aluminum frame 4 U-shaped part of aluminum frame 5 Filling material 6 Installation part for connecting the gantry 7 Fixing screw 8 L-shaped wedge-shaped aluminum member 9 Solar cell laminate by rotating the aluminum frame Destruction part 10 Clamp on the arm straight line 11 Two-point clamp symmetrical to the arm 12 Arm part 13 Pressure drive part 14 Arm reference line 15 Workbench 16 Aluminum frame side part 17 Wedge-shaped arm tip part

Claims (11)

The first step of fixing the solar cell module having a glass substrate and having the solar cell laminate and the aluminum frame bonded using a filler portion having an organic adhesive or a sealing material .
The second step of inserting the arm portion in the direction in which the cutting edge bites into the filler portion of the arm portion having the tip portion of the cutting edge that can be moved in a one-dimensional direction along the reference line of the arm and is cut diagonally.
The third step of moving the arm portion in the one -dimensional direction and removing the aluminum frame from the solar cell laminate while suppressing the rotation of the aluminum frame.
How to recycle solar cell modules. The method for recycling a solar cell module according to claim 1, further comprising a second step of simultaneously biting the cutting edge into the filler portions formed on the front surface and the back surface of the solar cell laminate. The method for recycling a solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the moving direction of the arm portion is the one-dimensional direction parallel to the surface of the solar cell laminate. The method for recycling a solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell module is fixed on a surface opposite to the moving direction of the arm portion and at least on the center line of the arm portion. The solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell module is fixed on two surfaces that are opposite to the moving direction of the arm portion and symmetrical with respect to the center line of the arm portion. Recycling method. The solar cell laminate is a resin back sheet that covers the glass substrate, one or more solar cell unit cells arranged in a plane on one side of the glass substrate, and the one or more solar cell unit cells. And have
The first aspect of claim 1 is that the aluminum frame is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the solar cell laminate in a frame shape and is joined to the solar cell laminate via the filler portion filled inside the aluminum frame. The method of recycling the solar cell module described. A clamp portion comprising a glass substrate and fixing the solar cell module to which the solar cell laminate and the aluminum frame are bonded using a filler portion having an organic adhesive or a sealing material .
An arm portion that has an arm tip portion that can be moved in a one-dimensional direction along the reference line of the arm and is cut diagonally, and that can be inserted into the filler portion in a direction in which the cutting edge bites.
A pressure drive unit that moves the arm portion in the one -dimensional direction to remove the aluminum frame from the solar cell laminate while suppressing the rotation of the aluminum frame.
A solar cell module recycling device equipped with. The recycling device for a solar cell module according to claim 7 , wherein the arm portion has a plurality of arm tip portions that allow the cutting edge to bite into the filler portions formed on the front surface and the back surface of the solar cell laminate. The recycling device for a solar cell module according to claim 7 , wherein the cutting edge has an angle θ with respect to the one-dimensional direction of 45 ° or more and 80 ° or less. The recycling device for a solar cell module according to claim 7 , wherein the clamp portion is arranged in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the arm portion and at least on the center line of the arm portion. The recycling device for a solar cell module according to claim 7 , wherein the clamp portion is arranged at two points that are opposite to the moving direction of the arm portion and symmetrical with respect to the center line of the arm portion.

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