KR102640334B1 - Sealant removing apparatus using laser and sealant removing method using laser - Google Patents

Abstract

A sealant removal device using a laser that can prevent deformation of the backsheet layer through a cooling structure and a sealant removal method using a laser are provided. The sealant removal device using a laser includes a stage module for seating the waste solar panel, a laser module for irradiating laser light directed in one direction to the sealant attached to the glass plate surface of the waste solar panel, and a glass plate for the waste solar panel. It includes a cooling module that sprays coolant on the bonded backsheet layer.

Description

Sealant removal apparatus using laser and sealant removal method using laser}

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for removing sealant attached to a waste solar panel. More specifically, the sealant can be removed cleanly using a laser, and damage to the backsheet layer can be prevented through temperature control. This relates to a sealant removal device using a laser and a sealant removal method using a laser.

Solar panels are generally formed in a multi-layer structure. For example, a solar panel may be formed by stacking a protective glass plate and a backsheet layer, which is a type of film layer in which solar cells sealed with an encapsulant and a backsheet are bonded. These solar panels are protected by having their edges wrapped with a metal frame.

This structure is useful for extending the lifespan of solar cells and modularizing devices, but it also increases the process when disposing of solar panels. In other words, the solar panel disposal process includes several processes that disassemble the panel into parts, and these processes are very important for component recycling.

For example, waste solar panels can be disassembled through a process to dismantle the metal frame and a peeling process to separate the glass plate from the backsheet layer. Among these processes, the process of peeling off the back sheet layer attached to the glass plate with a scraper (e.g., Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0094258, etc.) is considered important.

However, during the peeling process, as the scraper cuts the cut surface, the pressure of the scraper is transmitted to the glass plate. If the surface of the glass plate is uneven due to sealant (adhesive applied to seal the space between the frame and the glass plate, etc.) or foreign substances, the pressure may This may cause problems such as damage to the glass plate.

In particular, the sealant is not easy to process because it was glued between the frame and the glass plate, and even if it is treated in a separate process, it is difficult to remove due to the material (it is made of adhesive material, so it is not easy to remove) or the location (it is arranged narrowly and long around the edge of the glass plate where the frame was). This has become a problem when disposing of solar panels because it is difficult to completely scrape and remove it.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0094258, (July 29, 2021)

The technical problem of the present invention is to solve this problem, and to provide a sealant removal device that can effectively remove the sealant attached to waste solar panels when processing waste solar panels, and to achieve a sealant removal effect using a laser. The aim is to provide a sealant removal device using a greatly enhanced laser. In addition, the present invention provides a sealant removal device using a laser that prevents damage to the back sheet layer through temperature control and makes recycling of the back sheet layer very smooth. Additionally, a sealant removal method using a laser is also provided.

The technical problem of the present invention is not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

The sealant removal device using a laser according to the present invention includes a stage module for seating a waste solar panel; A laser module that irradiates laser light directed in one direction to the sealant attached to the surface of the glass plate of the waste solar panel; And a cooling module that sprays coolant onto the back sheet layer bonded to the glass plate of the waste solar panel.

The cooling module may control the coolant so that the temperature of the back sheet layer does not exceed the melting point of the resin forming the back sheet layer.

The cooling module may spray the coolant at a position overlapping the irradiation point of the laser light on the back sheet layer, which is the opposite side of the glass plate to which the laser light is irradiated.

It may further include a temperature measuring unit that measures the temperature of the back sheet layer at a position overlapping with the irradiation point of the laser light.

The temperature measuring unit may be formed as a non-contact temperature measuring device.

It may further include an aiming module that adjusts the position of the laser module with respect to the stage module to aim the laser light toward the edge of the glass plate on which the sealant is applied.

It may further include a transfer module that moves at least one of the laser module and the stage module to move the laser light parallel to the surface of the glass plate with respect to the glass plate.

The coolant may be composed of a fluid sprayed through a nozzle.

It may further include a focus control unit disposed on the laser module and focusing the laser light to create a focus of the laser light above the surface of the glass plate.

The sealant removal device of the present invention includes a stage module for seating a waste solar panel with a back sheet layer and a glass plate attached so that the front surface of the glass plate is exposed; And a laser module that irradiates laser light to the sealant attached to the front of the glass plate to burn and remove the sealant, and the glass plate formed on the opposite side of the backsheet layer with the backsheet layer and the glass plate attached. The entire surface can be treated evenly.

The sealant is formed along the edge of the front surface of the glass plate, and the laser module can be moved by a transfer module so that the irradiation point of the laser light overlaps the edge.

The sealant removal method using a laser according to the present invention includes the steps of (a) arranging a waste solar panel with a back sheet layer and a glass plate attached so that the front surface of the glass plate is exposed; and (b) irradiating laser light to the sealant attached to the front of the glass plate to burn and remove the sealant, wherein the backsheet layer and the glass plate are formed on the opposite side of the backsheet layer while attached. The entire surface of the glass plate can be treated uniformly.

In step (b), when the laser light is irradiated, a coolant is sprayed onto the back sheet layer to control the temperature of the back sheet layer so that it does not exceed the melting point of the resin forming the back sheet layer.

According to the present invention, the surface of the glass plate can be treated very uniformly before the peeling process during disassembly of waste solar panels. At our center, the glass plate and back sheet layer of a waste solar panel are bonded together and only the sealant attached to the front of the glass plate is removed. In particular, since sealant and other foreign substances are removed by burning them with a laser, the surface of the glass plate is treated very cleanly and evenly. Therefore, the problem of glass being broken due to unevenness of the glass plate in the subsequent process can be effectively solved. In addition, since the sealant is removed by burning it with a laser, the effect of reducing residue and simplifying the process can be achieved at the same time. Moreover, since deformation of the backsheet layer can be prevented by controlling the temperature of the backsheet layer during laser processing, it is very convenient to disassemble and recycle the backsheet layer in subsequent processes.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sealant removal device using a laser according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the stage module before seating the waste solar panel in the sealant removal device of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an operational diagram showing the process of placing a waste solar panel in the sealant removal device of Figure 1 and removing the sealant.
Figure 4 is a graph showing the effect of controlling the temperature of the backsheet layer by the cooling module in the process of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an operational diagram showing the method of moving the laser irradiation position during the sealant removal process of Figure 3.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments described in detail below along with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms, and the present embodiments are only provided to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to provide common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to fully inform those who have the scope of the invention, and the invention is merely defined by the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, a sealant removal device using a laser and a sealant removal method using a laser according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The method is explained based on the contents of the device after the device description.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sealant removal device using a laser according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sealant removal device of Figure 1 before seating a waste solar panel on the stage module.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the sealant removal device 1 (hereinafter referred to as sealant removal device) using a laser according to the present invention includes a stage module 100 on which a waste solar panel A is mounted and a stage module 100. ) includes a laser module 200 disposed adjacent to the The laser module 200 irradiates a laser beam directed in one direction (see L in FIG. 3) onto the surface of the glass plate A1 of the waste solar panel A to burn and remove the sealant B attached to the glass plate A1. do. The surface corresponds to the front side of the glass plate A1. The back sheet layer (A2) is attached to the rear side of the glass plate.

At this time, the sealant removal device 1 can use the cooling module 300 to control the temperature of the back sheet layer A2 so that the back sheet layer A2 is not overheated. By spraying the coolant (see C in FIG. 3) with the cooling module 300 to sufficiently lower the temperature of the back sheet layer (A2), the laser light or laser light incident on the glass plate (A1) burns the sealant (B) and is generated. It is possible to prevent the back sheet layer (A2) from being deformed by heat. Therefore, while treating the surface of the glass plate A1 with laser light, the back sheet layer A2 bonded to the glass plate A1 can be protected from being deformed.

The sealant removal device 1 of the present invention is configured as follows. The sealant removal device (1) is a stage module (100) that seats the waste solar panel (A), and a laser directed in one direction to the sealant (B) attached to the surface of the glass plate (A1) of the waste solar panel (A). A coolant (see C in FIG. 3) is sprayed onto the laser module 200 that irradiates light (see L in FIG. 3), and the backsheet layer (A2) bonded to the glass plate (A1) of the waste solar panel (A). It includes a cooling module 300 that does.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the cooling module 300 can control the coolant so that the temperature of the back sheet layer (A2) does not exceed the melting point of the resin forming the back sheet layer (A2). Additionally, the cooling module 300 may spray coolant at a position overlapping the irradiation point of the laser light on the back sheet layer A2, which is the opposite side of the glass plate A1 to which the laser light is irradiated. Through this, it is possible to efficiently control the temperature and prevent deformation of the back sheet layer (A2) using a sophisticated cooling method that takes into account the material of the back sheet layer (A2) and the point of incidence of the laser light.

In addition, the sealant removal device 1 includes an aiming module 210 that adjusts the position of the laser module 200 with respect to the stage module 100 and aims the laser beam toward the edge of the glass plate A1 with the sealant B on it. It may further include a transfer module 400 that moves at least one of the laser module 200 and the stage module 100 to move the laser light parallel to the surface of the glass plate A1 with respect to the glass plate A1. It may further include. Therefore, the sealant (B) can be removed accurately and conveniently by changing the position of the laser beam or moving the laser beam.

Hereinafter, the configuration and effects of the present invention will be described in more detail based on an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the stage module 100 may be formed as a planar structure with an empty interior. The stage module 100 is configured to seat the waste solar panel (A) and can be modified in various ways within such limits, so the drawing is only illustrative. To illustrate, the stage module 100 may have a structure including a movable frame 110 formed to surround the waste solar panel (A) by connecting square bars, etc. The movable frame 110 has an accommodating space inside, and the accommodating space is open to expose the front (side with the glass plate) and rear (side with the back sheet layer) excluding the sides of the waste solar panel (A). It can be. In this example, the stage module 100 can support the waste solar panel (A) using a plurality of locking protrusions (112) that protrude from the movable frame 110 and hang on the waste solar panel (A). (Refer to Figure 2 - the dotted line is the location where the waste solar panel is installed).

The stage module 100 can be modified into various forms that can seat the waste solar panel (A), so it does not need to be limited to the drawing. The arrangement of the stage module 100 does not need to be limited to the horizontal direction as shown in the drawing, and can also be arranged vertically. The stage module 100 is preferably placed between the laser module 200 and the cooling module 300.

A brief explanation of the waste solar panel (A) is as follows. The waste solar panel (A) may have a glass plate (A1) formed on the front and a back sheet layer (A2) formed on the back. The front side of the glass plate (A1) is exposed, and the back side is bonded to the back sheet layer (A2). The waste solar panel (A) is placed on the stage module (100) so that the glass plate (A1) faces the laser module (200). When the laser module 200 is located above the stage module 100 as in this embodiment, the waste solar panel (A) can be seated on the stage module 100 so that the front side where the glass plate (A1) is located is facing upward. there is.

The waste solar panel (A) is formed in a layered structure in which a glass plate (A1) and a backsheet layer (A2) are laminated (see enlarged views of FIGS. 1 and 2). The backsheet layer (A2) may be a type of film layer in which a solar cell sealed with an encapsulant and a backsheet are bonded, and is bonded to the glass plate (A1). The back sheet layer (A2) can be peeled off from the glass plate (A1) in a later peeling process, and the present invention provides uniformity of the surface of the glass plate (A1) located on the opposite side of the back sheet layer (A2) (i.e., the entire surface of the glass plate) before the peeling process. Can be used for processing. That is, the sealant (B) and/or other foreign substances attached to the surface of the glass plate (A1) can be removed by the present invention.

The waste solar panel (A) of the present invention may have the metal frame (not shown) attached to protect the side (edge portion) disassembled, and therefore the glass plate (A1) and the metal frame (not shown) may be dismantled. The sealant (B) that had been applied may remain along the edge of the surface of the glass plate (A1). The sealant (B) is made of a viscous resin and is fixed to the surface of the glass plate (A1) in a hardened state, making the surface uneven, so it needs to be removed.

The laser module 200 radiates laser light (see L in FIG. 3) directed in one direction to the sealant (B) attached to the surface of the glass plate (A1) of the waste solar panel (A). When the laser light hits the sealant (B), the sealant (B) is burned and removed, so it is processed more quickly and leaves no residue than removal methods such as scraping the sealant (B).

The laser module 200 is located adjacent to the stage module 100 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and may be arranged to face the glass plate A1 of the waste solar panel A. When the glass plate A1 faces upward as in this embodiment, the laser module 200 may be located above the waste solar panel A. The laser module 200 has a light emitting portion 201 formed at the end from which laser light is emitted, and the light emitting portion 201 may be directed toward the glass plate A1. The laser module 200 includes an oscillator (not shown) that generates laser light, and the output can be adjusted through appropriate control. Since the shape or structure of the laser module 200 does not need to be particularly limited as long as it can irradiate laser light, the drawings are illustrative.

In this embodiment, the laser module 200 may be combined with the aiming module 210. The aiming module 210 adjusts the position of the laser module 200 with respect to the stage module 100 to aim the laser light emitted by the laser module 200 toward the edge of the glass plate A1 with the sealant B on it. You can. For example, the aiming module 210 may be formed in a structure including a two-axis linear guide that can move the laser module 200 in at least two axes directions perpendicular to each other, and thereby adjust the position of the laser module 200. It is possible to freely adjust at least on a plane parallel to the surface of the waste solar panel (A) (see Figure 1).

However, this is only an example, and the aiming module 210 does not need to be limited as such, and various types of structures capable of position conversion (e.g., 3-axis linear guide, robot arm with joints, etc.) can be used to configure the aiming module 210. ) can be formed. The aiming module 210 can also be modified into various forms by adjusting the position of the laser module 200 to change the irradiation position of the laser light, so there is no need to limit the understanding to the drawings.

The cooling module 300 sprays coolant (see C in FIG. 3) on the back sheet layer (A2) joined to the glass plate (A1) of the waste solar panel (A). The cooling module 300 may include a nozzle structure (see 301 in FIG. 2) capable of spraying coolant, and the coolant may be composed of a fluid sprayed through the nozzle 301. The fluid may be a liquid and/or a gas, and the gas may include various types of air such as room temperature air and/or cooled air.

Therefore, a pipe structure (not shown) that receives the coolant sprayed through the nozzle 301 may also be placed in the cooling module 300. For example, coolant may be supplied to the cooling module 300 by an external pressurizing device (pump, etc.). The coolant may be one or two or more fluids selectively or in combination, and such fluids may be at room temperature or may include a fluid cooled to a temperature lower than room temperature. Therefore, the temperature of the back sheet layer (A2) is adjusted by controlling the type and/or temperature and/or injection amount of the coolant sprayed through the cooling module 300 (not shown, but can be adjusted with a valve formed in the pipe or cooling module, etc.). You can control it. Since the cooling module 300 can also be modified in various ways, detailed structures are omitted from the drawings.

The cooling module 300 may be arranged to face the backsheet layer (A2) of the waste solar panel (A) so that the nozzle 301 faces the backsheet layer (A2). Therefore, with the stage module 100 in between, the laser module 200 faces the glass plate A1, and the cooling module 300 faces the backsheet layer A2. The laser module 200 and the cooling module 300 face each other. They can be placed facing each other (see Figure 2). This arrangement is advantageous for intensively cooling the area around the temperature rise point by spraying the coolant in the reverse direction to the irradiation point of the laser beam. Operations related to this will be described in more detail later.

In this embodiment, the cooling module 300 may be coupled to the position control module 310. The position control module 310 may serve to adjust the coolant injection position of the cooling module 300 to any position on the back sheet layer (A2). For example, the position control module 310 may be formed in a form corresponding to the above-described aiming module 210 and, like the aiming module 210, can move the cooling module 300 in at least two axes perpendicular to each other. It can be formed into a structure including a two-axis linear guide, etc. Therefore, the cooling module 300 can also freely change its position at least on a plane parallel to the surface of the waste solar panel (A).

However, since this is also an example, the position control module 310 does not need to be limited as such, and various types of structures capable of position conversion (e.g., 3-axis linear guide, robot arm with joints, etc.) can be used to create another position. A position control module 310 can be formed. The position control module 310 can be modified into various forms that can change the coolant injection position by adjusting the position of the cooling module 300, so it does not need to be limited to the drawings.

The sealant removal device 1 may include a transfer module 400. The transfer module 400 moves at least one of the laser module 200 and the stage module 100 to direct the laser light irradiated by the laser module 200 parallel to the surface of the glass plate A1 of the waste solar panel A. It is moved in parallel with respect to the glass plate (A1) (see the operation diagram in FIG. 5). Therefore, after setting the irradiation position of the laser light with the above-described aiming module 210, the laser light is moved in parallel with respect to the glass plate A1 with the transfer module 400, and the sealant B attached in a straight line is automatically removed. can do.

For example, the transfer module 400 may be formed in a structure that moves the stage module 100. For example, as in this embodiment, the stage module 100 may include a movable frame 110, and the transfer module 400 may be configured to move the movable frame 110. For example, the transfer module 400 is in contact with the movable frame 110 and transmits power to the driving roller (see 410 in FIG. 2) to move the movable frame 110 in parallel in the longitudinal direction and to the driving roller 410 to rotate it. It may be formed in a form including a motor (see 420 in FIG. 2).

For example, the movable frame 110 can be slidably coupled to the guide bar 111 disposed in the longitudinal direction of the waste solar panel (A), and therefore, when the drive roller 410 rotates, the guide bar 111 It can move in parallel in the forward and reverse directions. In this way, the stage module 100 can move and automatically change the irradiation position of the laser light. Additionally, the injection location of the coolant can be changed automatically. In this way, if the stage module 100 is moved, the laser module 200 and the cooling module 300 are fixed and only the stage module 100 is moved in parallel, so that the irradiation position of the laser light and the injection position of the coolant can be changed at the same time, which is structurally advantageous. You can.

However, there is no need to be limited as such, and it is possible to move the laser module 200 instead of the stage module 100 or to move the stage module 100 and the laser module 200 simultaneously (in opposite directions to each other). However, when moving the laser module 200, it is desirable to move the cooling module 300 together with the laser module 200 so that the irradiation position of the laser light and the coolant injection position change together. The transfer module 400 can also be modified into various forms, so there is no need to be limited to the drawings.

Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the sealant removal device 1 may further include a temperature measuring unit 500. The temperature measuring unit 500 may be disposed to measure the temperature of the back sheet layer (A2), and in particular, measures the temperature of the back sheet layer (A2) at a position overlapping with the irradiation point of the laser light emitted from the laser module 200. It can be formed to be measurable. Preferably, the temperature measuring unit 500 may be formed as a non-contact temperature measuring device, for example, as a thermal imaging camera.

However, if possible, it is possible to use a contact-type temperature measuring device (temperature sensor, etc.), so there is no need to limit the understanding to this embodiment.

The thermal imaging camera can capture the entire backsheet layer (A2) while being spaced away from the waste solar panel (A), and its center is aligned with the center of the waste solar panel (A). They can be configured to move together. As in this embodiment, when the stage module 100 moves and the waste solar panel (A) moves in parallel, the temperature measuring unit 500 also moves parallel with the waste solar panel (A) and moves the back sheet layer (A2). It can be configured to measure temperature. For example, the temperature measuring unit 500 may be movably coupled to a linear guide 510 or the like.

Therefore, using the temperature measuring unit 500, the temperature change and distribution of the back sheet layer (A2) is continuously detected by zone or coordinates (e.g., coordinates using the horizontal and vertical positions of the waste solar panel as ordered pairs) and in real time. It can be figured out. By using this temperature measuring unit 500, the temperature of the backsheet layer (A2) can be controlled more precisely by adjusting the coolant of the cooling module 300, and through this, sufficient coolant is sprayed even while the laser light is continuously irradiated. As a result, the temperature of the back sheet layer (A2) can be maintained below a certain limit temperature at which deformation of the back sheet layer (A2) does not occur.

That is, the cooling module 300 can control the coolant so that the temperature of the back sheet layer (A2) does not exceed the melting point of the resin forming the back sheet layer (A2). Additionally, the cooling module 300 is irradiated with laser light. The temperature of the back sheet layer (A2) can be controlled more effectively and precisely by spraying coolant at a position that overlaps the irradiation point of the laser light on the back sheet layer (A2), which is the opposite side of the glass plate (A1). Hereinafter, the operating method of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

Figure 3 is an operational diagram showing the process of placing a waste solar panel in the sealant removal device of Figure 1 and removing the sealant, and Figure 4 shows the effect of controlling the temperature of the backsheet layer by the cooling module in the process of Figure 3. It is a graph, and FIG. 5 is an operational diagram showing the method of moving the laser irradiation position during the sealant removal process of FIG. 3.

Figure 3 illustrates a method of removing sealant (B) using laser light (L). As shown in Figure 3, the waste solar panel (A) is seated on the stage module 100, the laser module 200 is operated, and the laser light (L) is irradiated to the sealant (B) attached to the surface of the glass plate (A1). You can. The laser light (L) can be controlled to an output level sufficient to remove the sealant (B). Therefore, when the laser light (L) contacts the sealant (B), the sealant (B) is heated by the laser light (L). It can be removed by burning. Since the glass plate (A1) is made of a different material from the sealant (B) and has a higher melting point, there may be substantially no effect from the laser light (L). Therefore, as shown in Figure 3, only the sealant (B) can be cleanly removed from the glass plate (A1).

The waste solar panel (A) can be placed on the stage module 100 manually or automatically (a conveyor, etc. can be used), and after the waste solar panel (A) is placed on the stage module 100, the aiming module By manipulating 210, the laser module 200 can be placed toward the edge of the glass plate A1 to which the sealant B is attached. When the position is adjusted and the laser module 200 is operated as shown in FIG. 3, the laser light (L) is irradiated to the sealant (B) and only the sealant (B) can be removed.

At this time, the coolant (C) is sprayed into the cooling module 300 to lower the temperature of the back sheet layer (A2). For example, when the laser light (L) is irradiated, the heat generated as the sealant (B) burns at the irradiation point of the laser light (L) and the glass plate ( The temperature of the backsheet layer (A2) bonded to A1) may also increase. The present invention solves this problem by using the cooling module 300 to centrally cool the backsheet layer at least locally.

The cooling module 300 is disposed in a position corresponding to the laser module 200 with the waste solar panel A in between as shown in FIG. 3 and can spray the coolant C in the opposite direction of the laser light L. . That is, the cooling module 300 is located at a position that overlaps the irradiation point of the laser light (L) on the back sheet layer (A2), which is the opposite side of the glass plate (A1) to which the laser light (L) is irradiated (see a dotted line). Spray coolant (C) on. Therefore, thermal diffusion occurring around the irradiation point of the laser light (L), which is a heat source, can be resolved very effectively.

That is, the cooling module 300 concentrates and sprays the coolant (C) in the exact opposite direction to the position where the laser light (L) is irradiated from the other side of the laser module 200, so heat is dissipated through the coolant (C) and the laser light (L) is irradiated. ) Blocks heat transfer to the outside of the irradiation point. Through this, the temperature of the entire back sheet layer (A2) can be controlled so as not to exceed the melting point of the resin forming the back sheet layer (A2).

The position of the cooling module 300 can be accurately adjusted using the position control module 310, and the injection point of the coolant (C) precisely overlaps the irradiation point of the laser light (L) using the position control module 310. After adjusting to position (a), coolant (C) can be sprayed.

Moreover, the temperature measuring unit 500 can continuously determine the overall temperature of the back sheet layer (A2) and the local temperature of the back sheet layer (A2) at the position (a) overlapping with the laser beam (L) irradiation point. According to the measurement results of (500), the injection amount and temperature of the coolant (C) can be controlled correspondingly. The temperature measuring unit 500 can display the measurement results on a monitor (not shown), etc., and can also transmit them to a control unit (not shown) consisting of an electronic control device (e.g., programmable logic controller (PLC)). Therefore, the cooling module 300 can automatically adjust the injection amount and/or temperature of the coolant C so that the measured temperature does not exceed a specific temperature under the control of the control unit. Of course, it can also be adjusted by manual operation by the user.

In Figure 4, the injection amount of the coolant (C) and the temperature change of the backsheet layer (A2) are graphically illustrated. For example, from the point at which the laser light (L) begins to be irradiated (t1), the temperature at the position (see a in Figure 3) overlapping with the laser light (L) irradiation point of the backsheet layer (A2) may begin to rise. there is. Correspondingly, the cooling module 300 may also be controlled to start spraying the coolant (C) from the start point (t1) of irradiation of the laser light (L) and gradually increase the spray amount.

The injection amount of the coolant (C) may continue to increase, for example, until the temperature rise of the back sheet layer (A2) decreases (e.g., the inflection point of the temperature graph) (t2), and the temperature rise begins to decrease. Afterwards, it can remain constant. This control can be performed, for example, through automatic control using the differential value of temperature change. As a result, the temperature of the backsheet layer (A2) can be maintained below a certain limit temperature and the laser light (L) can be maintained. Even if irradiation continues, it may not rise after a certain point (t3) or may be controlled to fall. Through this, the temperature of the back sheet layer (A2) can be maintained at a temperature that does not exceed the melting point of the resin forming the back sheet layer (A2).

Since the backsheet layer (A2) is a type of film layer containing parts made of resin such as the above-mentioned encapsulant and backsheet, it has the problem of easily melting or deforming when overheated. However, through precise temperature control using the coolant (C), Substantial deformation can be eliminated by maintaining the temperature below the melting point of the resin forming the backsheet layer (A2). Therefore, it is possible to cleanly treat the surface of the glass plate (A1) using the laser light (L) while preserving the back sheet layer (A2) in its original form.

This temperature control can be performed focusing on the backsheet layer (A2) at the point where the coolant (C) is sprayed at the point (a) overlapping with the point where the laser light (L) is irradiated, and through this, it can be transferred to another point. The temperature of the back sheet layer (A2) can be lowered more effectively by dissipating heat at the irradiation point of the laser light (L) before the heat spreads. Since there is no heat source (laser light) at other points of the backsheet layer (A2), the temperature is bound to be lower at the same time, so in this way, the temperature of the entire backsheet layer (A2) can be maintained below the melting point. .

In this embodiment, control using the injection amount of the coolant (C) as a variable has been described as an example, but as described above, the coolant (C) strongly sprays room temperature air, and then cooled air of a lower temperature or another coolant. Since it is possible to control the temperature by changing it to a fluid and spraying it, or by spraying a mixture of them, a substantially equivalent effect can be obtained through control using the injection amount and temperature of the coolant (C) as variables. For example, using a lower temperature coolant (C) may provide the benefit of reducing the coolant (C) injection volume. The temperature of the backsheet layer (A2) can be maintained below the melting point by applying various control methods.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5, the sealant removal device 1 has no problem even if it removes the sealant B for a relatively long time while moving the laser light L in parallel along the glass plate A1. In other words, when the laser light (L) is irradiated, the temperature is lowered with the coolant (C) to prevent deformation of the back sheet layer (A2), thereby preserving the back sheet layer (A2) and protecting the edge and/or other surfaces of the glass plate (A1). Sealant (B) or other foreign substances attached to the point can be removed with laser light (L).

The laser light (L) can be moved in parallel along the glass plate (A1) by, for example, moving the stage module (100) using the transfer module (400). As shown, by operating the transfer module 400 and moving the stage module 100 to one side, the irradiation position of the laser light (L) and the injection position of the coolant (C) of the cooling module 300 can be changed at the same time. Since the relative position between the laser module 200 and the cooling module 300 does not change, the coolant (C) is continuously sprayed at the position (a) that overlaps the laser light (L) irradiation point even during movement. Therefore, the temperature control described above is also very smooth. Since the temperature measuring unit 500 moves with the waste solar panel (A) along the linear guide 510 described above and measures the temperature, the temperature measurement is also smooth. In this way, the sealant (B) attached to the glass plate (A1) can be removed very effectively while moving the laser light (L) in parallel using the transfer module (400).

In addition, the sealant removal device 1 can control the focus of the laser light L to reduce the amount of laser light L transmitted through the glass plate A1. For example, the sealant removal device 1 is disposed on the laser module 200 and includes a focus control unit 202 that focuses the laser light L and creates a focus of the laser light L above the surface of the glass plate A1. may include. Although shown briefly, for example, the focus control unit 202 may be formed as an optical system that can change the position of the focus by focusing the laser light (L), and may be implemented in an appropriate form within such limits to change the position of the focus using a sealant. (B) It is also possible to precisely control the formation on the image. The focus control unit 202 may be disposed at the end of the light emitting unit 201 of the laser module 200.

In this way, the sealant (B) and other foreign substances on the surface of the glass plate (A1) can be burned and removed very effectively with the laser light (L), and at the same time, the back sheet layer (A2) can be prevented from being deformed through temperature control. there is. Therefore, not only can the surface of the glass plate (A1) be treated cleanly, but recycling of the back sheet layer (A2) can also be achieved very smoothly.

In one aspect, the sealant removal device 1 of the present invention also has the following features. The sealant removal device (1) is applied to the flattening process of the entire glass plate before peeling the backsheet layer (A2) of the waste solar panel (A), and is therefore performed with the backsheet layer (A2) and the glass plate (A1) bonded. . That is, the sealant removal device 1 removes the waste solar panel A with the back sheet layer A2 and the glass plate A1 attached (e.g., with only the metal frame and junction box described above disassembled). It includes a stage module 100 that seats the glass plate (A1) so that the front side is exposed, and a laser module (200) that burns and removes the sealant (B) attached to the front side of the glass plate (A1) by irradiating laser light. , With the backsheet layer (A2) and the glass plate (A1) attached, the entire surface of the glass plate (A1) formed on the opposite side of the backsheet layer (A2) can be treated evenly.

At this time, the sealant (B) is formed along the edge of the front surface of the glass plate (A1), and the laser module 200 can be moved by the transfer module 400 so that the laser light irradiation point overlaps the edge. This configuration can be confirmed from the previously described embodiments, and this configuration is also not excluded from the technical idea of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the sealant removal method using a laser according to the present invention will be described in detail. Since the sealant removal method of the present invention can be substantially performed using the sealant removal device 1 described above, repeated description of matters that can be understood from the above description will be omitted. The sealant removal method may include the following steps:

First, the waste solar panel (A) with the back sheet layer (A2) and the glass plate (A1) attached is placed so that the front of the glass plate (A1) is exposed [step (a)]. These steps are shown in Figures 1 and 2, so please refer to the above description for details.

Afterwards, laser light is irradiated to the sealant (B) attached to the front of the glass plate (A1) to burn and remove the sealant [step (b)]. These steps are shown in Figures 3 to 5, so please refer to the foregoing description for details. In this way, with the backsheet layer (A2) and the glass plate (A1) attached, the entire surface of the glass plate (A1) formed on the opposite side of the backsheet layer (A2) can be treated uniformly.

At this time, in step (b) above, when irradiating laser light, coolant (C) is sprayed onto the back sheet layer (A2) to control the temperature of the back sheet layer (A2) so that it does not exceed the melting point of the resin forming the back sheet layer. there is. Therefore, deformation of the backsheet layer can be prevented. Since this is shown in FIG. 4, etc., please refer to the above description for details. In this way, the entire surface of the glass plate is treated uniformly with a laser, while the backsheet layer on the opposite side is protected from deformation and can be separated and recycled by peeling off the backsheet layer through a subsequent process.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical idea or essential features. You will be able to understand it. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

1: Sealant removal device using laser
100: stage module 110: movable frame
111: Guide bar 112: Locking jaw
200: Laser module 201: Light emitting unit
202: Focus control unit 210: Aiming module
300: Cooling module 301: Nozzle
310: Position control module 400: Transfer module
410: Drive roller 420: Motor
500: Temperature measuring unit 510: Linear guide
A: Waste solar panel A1: Glass plate
A2: Backsheet layer B: Sealant
L: Laser light C: Coolant

Claims (13)

Stage module for seating waste solar panels;
A laser module that irradiates laser light directed in one direction to the sealant attached to the surface of the glass plate of the waste solar panel; and
It includes a cooling module that sprays coolant on the back sheet layer bonded to the glass plate of the waste solar panel when the laser light is irradiated,
The cooling module is,
The coolant is controlled to prevent deformation of the backsheet layer by controlling the temperature of the backsheet layer so that it does not exceed the melting point of the resin forming the backsheet layer, and the opposite side of the glass plate to which the laser light is irradiated is the A sealant removal device using a laser that sprays the coolant at a position overlapping the irradiation point of the laser light on the backsheet layer. delete delete According to paragraph 1,
A sealant removal device using a laser further comprising a temperature measuring unit that measures the temperature of the back sheet layer at a position overlapping with the irradiation point of the laser light. According to clause 4,
A sealant removal device using a laser in which the temperature measuring unit is formed as a non-contact temperature measuring device. In paragraph 1
A sealant removal device using a laser further comprising an aiming module that adjusts the position of the laser module with respect to the stage module to aim the laser light toward the edge of the glass plate on which the sealant is buried. According to clause 6,
A sealant removal device using a laser further comprising a transfer module that moves at least one of the laser module and the stage module to move the laser light parallel to the surface of the glass plate with respect to the glass plate. According to paragraph 1,
A sealant removal device using a laser, wherein the coolant is a fluid sprayed through a nozzle. According to paragraph 1,
A sealant removal device using a laser further comprising a focus control unit disposed on the laser module and focusing the laser light to create a focus of the laser light above the surface of the glass plate. A stage module that seats the waste solar panel with the back sheet layer and the glass plate attached so that the front surface of the glass plate is exposed; and
Including a laser module that radiates laser light to the sealant attached to the front of the glass plate to burn and remove the sealant,
With the backsheet layer and the glass plate attached, the entire surface of the glass plate formed on the opposite side of the backsheet layer is treated uniformly,
A focus control unit disposed on the laser module and focusing the laser light to create a focus of the laser light above the surface of the glass plate to reduce the amount of laser light transmitted through the glass plate,
It further includes a cooling module that sprays coolant on the back sheet layer bonded to the glass plate of the waste solar panel when the laser light is irradiated,
The cooling module is a sealant removal device using a laser that controls the coolant to prevent deformation of the backsheet layer by controlling the temperature of the backsheet layer so that it does not exceed the melting point of the resin forming the backsheet layer. According to clause 10,
The sealant is formed along the edge of the front surface of the glass plate, and the laser module is moved by a transfer module so that the irradiation point of the laser light overlaps the edge. (a) placing a waste solar panel with a back sheet layer and a glass plate attached so that the front surface of the glass plate is exposed; and
(b) irradiating laser light to the sealant attached to the front of the glass plate to burn and remove the sealant,
With the backsheet layer and the glass plate attached, the entire surface of the glass plate formed on the opposite side of the backsheet layer is treated uniformly,
In step (b) above,
When irradiating the laser light, a coolant is sprayed onto the backsheet layer to control the temperature of the backsheet layer so that it does not exceed the melting point of the resin forming the backsheet layer to prevent deformation of the backsheet layer, and the laser A sealant removal method using a laser in which the coolant is sprayed at a position overlapping the irradiation point of the laser light on the back sheet layer, which is the opposite side of the glass plate to which the light is irradiated. delete

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