The invention relates to a pyrolysis furnace suitable for batchwise treatment, for breaking down photovoltaic modules, said pyrolysis furnace comprising: - a pyrolysis enclosure, isolated from the outside by a leaktight door; - a post-combustion chamber fluidically connected to the pyrolysis enclosure; - heating means for the pyrolysis enclosure and for the post-combustion chamber; - at least a first and a second location in the pyrolysis enclosure; - at least a first and a second removable support that are configured to support a plurality of photovoltaic modules and are arranged respectively in the first location and the second location; - a neutral gas distribution system designed to inject said neutral gas into the pyrolysis enclosure and to maintain a preliminary temperature at the second location that is lower than a pyrolysis temperature applied at the first location. The invention also relates to a pyrolysis method.
C10B 49/02 - Destructive distillation of solid carbonaceous materials by direct heating with heat-carrying agents including the partial combustion of the solid material to be treated with hot gases or vapours, e.g. hot gases obtained by partial combustion of the charge
C10B 53/07 - Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form of synthetic polymeric materials, e.g. tyres
B09B 3/40 - Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless involving thermal treatment, e.g. evaporation
B29B 17/02 - Separating plastics from other materials
C22B 7/00 - Working-up raw materials other than ores, e.g. scrap, to produce non-ferrous metals or compounds thereof
C22B 11/02 - Obtaining noble metals by dry processes
F23G 5/02 - Methods or apparatus, e.g. incinerators, specially adapted for combustion of waste or low-grade fuels including pretreatment
F23G 5/16 - Methods or apparatus, e.g. incinerators, specially adapted for combustion of waste or low-grade fuels including supplementary heating including secondary combustion in a separate combustion chamber
2.
SUPPORT FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES FOR TREATING THE MODULES IN A PYROLYSIS FURNACE
The invention relates to a support (500) for photovoltaic modules (100), the support being intended to enter a pyrolysis furnace, and the support comprising: - a loading compartment (510), formed by a plurality of frames (511) creating spaces (512) between them, and allowing at least one photovoltaic module (100) to be held in each space (512); - a receptacle (520) comprising: * a tank having side walls (521), a bottom (522) and a main opening (523), the tank being intended to collect fragments of mineral materials from the photovoltaic modules once pyrolysis has been applied, the side walls being provided with secondary openings (524) to allow the gases present in the pyrolysis furnace to circulate; * support regions at the main opening to support the loading compartment (510) when it is arranged over the tank.
The invention relates to a pyrolysis method for breaking down photovoltaic modules, said method comprising different thermal phases and taking place in a pyrolysis enclosure having an internal atmosphere that is isolated from the outside, the thermal phases being as follows: - a pyrolysis phase, referred to as the first phase, during which polymers included in the photovoltaic modules are decomposed into pyrolysis gases, said gases passing from the pyrolysis enclosure to a post-combustion chamber in order to be incinerated therein; - an oxidation phase, referred to as the second phase, after the first phase, for oxidising the carbonaceous residues generated during the pyrolysis phase. According to the method of the invention, a temperature sensor measures a temperature in the post-combustion chamber, referred to as the central temperature, and a carbon monoxide sensor measures the carbon monoxide concentration in the pyrolysis enclosure. The second phase is not initiated until at least one of the following two conditions is met: - condition one: the difference between the central temperature and a target temperature is below a predefined threshold temperature difference; - condition two: the carbon monoxide concentration in the pyrolysis enclosure is below a predefined threshold concentration.
C10B 49/02 - Destructive distillation of solid carbonaceous materials by direct heating with heat-carrying agents including the partial combustion of the solid material to be treated with hot gases or vapours, e.g. hot gases obtained by partial combustion of the charge
C10B 53/07 - Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form of synthetic polymeric materials, e.g. tyres
B09B 3/40 - Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless involving thermal treatment, e.g. evaporation
F23G 5/027 - Methods or apparatus, e.g. incinerators, specially adapted for combustion of waste or low-grade fuels including pretreatment pyrolising or gasifying
F23G 7/06 - Methods or apparatus, e.g. incinerators, specially adapted for combustion of specific waste or low grade fuels, e.g. chemicals of waste gases or noxious gases, e.g. exhaust gases
F23L 7/00 - Supplying non-combustible liquids or gases, other than air, to the fire, e.g. oxygen, steam
4.
METHOD FOR THE EMERGENCY STOPPAGE OF A PYROLYSIS SEQUENCE IN A FURNACE FOR BREAKING DOWN PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES
The invention relates to a furnace (1) for recycling photovoltaic modules (100), said furnace comprising a pyrolysis enclosure (2), a post-combustion chamber (3), a first circuit (411) and a second circuit (412) for distributing a combustible gas and an oxidizing gas, which circuits are connected to the enclosure (2), a third, neutral gas distribution circuit (6) designed to inject said gas into the enclosure (2), a fourth, water distribution circuit (7) designed to inject the water into the enclosure (2), a temperature sensor (32) for measuring what is referred to as the outlet temperature of the chamber (3), a pressure sensor (29) for measuring a pressure referred to as the internal pressure of the enclosure (2), and a controller (C) designed to control the injection of neutral gas by the third distribution circuit (6) on the basis of the outlet temperature and to control the injection of water by the fourth distribution circuit (7) on the basis of the internal pressure.
C10B 49/02 - Destructive distillation of solid carbonaceous materials by direct heating with heat-carrying agents including the partial combustion of the solid material to be treated with hot gases or vapours, e.g. hot gases obtained by partial combustion of the charge
B09B 3/40 - Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless involving thermal treatment, e.g. evaporation
B29B 17/02 - Separating plastics from other materials
C10B 53/07 - Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form of synthetic polymeric materials, e.g. tyres
C22B 7/00 - Working-up raw materials other than ores, e.g. scrap, to produce non-ferrous metals or compounds thereof
C22B 11/02 - Obtaining noble metals by dry processes
F23G 5/027 - Methods or apparatus, e.g. incinerators, specially adapted for combustion of waste or low-grade fuels including pretreatment pyrolising or gasifying
F23G 7/06 - Methods or apparatus, e.g. incinerators, specially adapted for combustion of specific waste or low grade fuels, e.g. chemicals of waste gases or noxious gases, e.g. exhaust gases
F23N 5/20 - Systems for controlling combustion with a time programme acting through electrical means, e.g. using time-delay relays
5.
PYROLYSIS METHOD FOR BREAKING DOWN PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES
C10B 49/02 - Destructive distillation of solid carbonaceous materials by direct heating with heat-carrying agents including the partial combustion of the solid material to be treated with hot gases or vapours, e.g. hot gases obtained by partial combustion of the charge
C10B 53/07 - Destructive distillation, specially adapted for particular solid raw materials or solid raw materials in special form of synthetic polymeric materials, e.g. tyres
B09B 3/40 - Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless involving thermal treatment, e.g. evaporation
B29B 17/02 - Separating plastics from other materials
C22B 7/00 - Working-up raw materials other than ores, e.g. scrap, to produce non-ferrous metals or compounds thereof
C22B 11/02 - Obtaining noble metals by dry processes
F23G 5/027 - Methods or apparatus, e.g. incinerators, specially adapted for combustion of waste or low-grade fuels including pretreatment pyrolising or gasifying
F23G 7/06 - Methods or apparatus, e.g. incinerators, specially adapted for combustion of specific waste or low grade fuels, e.g. chemicals of waste gases or noxious gases, e.g. exhaust gases
F23N 5/20 - Systems for controlling combustion with a time programme acting through electrical means, e.g. using time-delay relays
6.
METHOD FOR FILTERING AN EFFLUENT IN A PROCESS FOR RECYCLING PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
The invention relates to a method for filtering an effluent, comprising the following steps: a) supplying the effluent, referred to as first basic effluent, having a pH of greater than 12, comprising water, aluminum in the form of sodium aluminate(s), and silver in the form of solid fragments, b) acidifying the first effluent by adding hydrochloric acid, to form an acidic first solution with a pH of less than or equal to 4, wherein the aluminum is in the form of aluminum chloride, soluble in said first solution, c) filtering the first solution to recover the solid silver fragments on the one hand, and the filtered first solution on the other hand, d) neutralizing the filtered first solution, by adding sodium hydroxide, to form a second solution with a pH of between 6.5 and 8.5, wherein the aluminum is in the form of aluminum hydroxide, e) filtering the second solution to recover aluminum salts in solid form on the one hand, and the filtered second solution on the other hand.
The invention relates to a method for recycling silicon ingot cutting waste comprising the following steps: a) recovering a first sludge, derived from said waste, formed by an aqueous mixture comprising silicon particles and organic species, but free of abrasive carbide-type particles; the first sludge having an initial weight percentage of organic species, b) chemically treating the first sludge so as to reduce the initial weight percentage of organic species and form a second sludge having a residual weight percentage of organic species of between 0.8% and 2%; c) drying and associated granulation of the second sludge, by heating under vacuum and stirring, to form granules including the silicon particles and the organic species, said granules having dimensions with an average value of greater than or equal to 150 µm and a moisture content of less than or equal to 2%; d) introducing the granules into a liquid silicon casting ladle, at the outlet of a silica reduction furnace, to help with the cooling of the liquid silicon to a refining temperature and/or to a casting temperature.
METHOD FOR MECHANICALLY SEPARATING DIFFERENT SEMICONDUCTOR, INSULATING OR METAL MATERIALS FROM A COMPONENT OR MODULE, FOR EXAMPLE A PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE, IN ORDER TO RECYCLE SAME
The invention relates to a method for mechanically separating different materials from an electronic module at end of life, the method comprising: a) providing a mixture of first (101) and second (103) elements, in the form of pieces, each piece having three dimensions in an orthonormal frame of reference, the first elements (101) having at least one dimension of the order of millimeters and the second elements (103) having dimensions smaller than 500 μm and at least one dimension smaller than 50 μm; b) arranging the first and second elements in a trough (1); c) spatially separating the first (101) and second (102) elements toward a downstream end (14a) and an upstream end (13a), respectively, by applying a mechanical vibration to the trough (1), which is inclined by an angle (α) of between 10° and 30°.
B07B 1/28 - Moving screens not otherwise provided for, e.g. swinging, reciprocating, rocking, tilting, or wobbling screens
B07B 13/00 - Grading or sorting solid materials by dry methods, not otherwise provided forSorting articles otherwise than by indirectly controlled devices
B07B 13/11 - Grading or sorting solid materials by dry methods, not otherwise provided forSorting articles otherwise than by indirectly controlled devices using momentum effects involving travel of particles over surfaces which separate by centrifugal force or by relative friction between particles and such surfaces, e.g. helical sorters
H01L 31/18 - Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
9.
Method for recycling silver present on a photovoltaic cell
A method for recycling silver present on a photovoltaic cell comprising: —a step a) of supplying a photovoltaic cell including—a support substrate made of silicon, —an upper layer of doped silicon arranged on the support substrate, —a plurality of silver lines arranged on the upper layer, —at least one anti-reflective layer arranged on the upper layer and adjacent to the silver lines; —a step b) of etching the anti-reflective layer by immersing the photovoltaic cell in an acid solution; —a step c) of etching the upper layer by immersing the photovoltaic cell without an anti-reflective layer in a basic solution, leading to the separation of the silver lines; —a step d) of drying the assembly formed by the support substrate and the separated silver lines; —a step e) of extracting the silver lines in the solid state.
A treatment method for purifying silicon microparticles contained in waste resulting from the cutting of ingots with a diamond wire comprises: a) providing a contaminated slurry, resulting from the waste, formed by an aqueous mixture comprising the silicon microparticles, organic species and metal contaminants; b) adding a dilute hydrogen peroxide solution to the contaminated slurry, in order to form a first mixture, and stirring the first mixture; c) solid/liquid separation of the first mixture in order to obtain, on the one hand, a first purified slurry and, on the other hand, a first liquid loaded with organic species and metal contaminants.
B01D 21/00 - Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation
B01D 21/26 - Separation of sediment aided by centrifugal force
B28D 7/02 - Accessories specially adapted for use with machines or devices of the other groups of this subclass for removing or laying dust, e.g. by spraying liquidsAccessories specially adapted for use with machines or devices of the other groups of this subclass for cooling work
C02F 11/121 - Treatment of sludgeDevices therefor by de-watering, drying or thickening by mechanical de-watering
C02F 11/13 - Treatment of sludgeDevices therefor by de-watering, drying or thickening by heating
C02F 103/16 - Nature of the water, waste water, sewage or sludge to be treated from metallurgical processes, i.e. from the production, refining or treatment of metals, e.g. galvanic wastes
11.
Silicon granules for the preparation of trichlorosilane and associated production method
A silicon granule, in particular, for the preparation of trichlorosilane, having a size of between 10 and 500 microns, and comprising: dopants in a weight fraction of less than 5 ppm; at least one co-catalyst selected from copper, iron, aluminum and calcium, in a weight fraction of between 1 and 2500 ppm; and metallic impurities, with exclusion of the at least one co-catalyst, in a weight fraction of less than 50 ppm.
The invention relates to a method for recycling silver present on a photovoltaic cell (10), comprising: - a step a) of supplying a photovoltaic cell (10) comprising: - a support substrate (1) made of silicon, - an upper layer (2) of doped silicon arranged on the support substrate (1), - a plurality of silver lines (3) arranged on the upper layer (2), - at least one anti-reflective layer (4) arranged on the upper layer (2) and adjacent to the silver lines (3), - a step b) of etching the anti-reflective layer (4) by immersing the photovoltaic cell (10) in an acid solution, - a step c) of etching the upper layer (2) by immersing the photovoltaic cell without an anti-reflective layer in a basic solution, leading to the separation of the silver lines (3), - a step d) of drying the assembly formed by the support substrate (1) and the separated silver lines (3), - a step e) of extracting the silver lines (3) in the solid state.
The invention relates to a treatment process for purifying silicon microparticles contained in waste resulting from the cutting of ingots with a diamond wire, comprising: a) providing a contaminated slurry, resulting from said waste, formed by an aqueous mixture comprising the silicon microparticles, organic species and metal contaminants; b) adding a dilute hydrogen peroxide solution to the contaminated slurry, in order to form a first mixture, and stirring the first mixture; c) solid/liquid separation of the first mixture in order to obtain, on the one hand, a first purified slurry and, on the other hand, a first liquid loaded with organic species and metal contaminants.
The invention relates to a silicon granule, in particular for the preparation of trichlorosilane, having a size of between 10 and 500 microns, and comprising: • dopants in a weight fraction of less than 5 ppm; • at least one cocatalyst selected from copper, iron, aluminum and calcium, in a weight fraction of between 1 and 2500 ppm; • metallic impurities, with exclusion of the at least one cocatalyst, in a weight fraction of less than 50 ppm.
B01J 8/34 - Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particlesApparatus for such processes with fluidised particles according to "fluidised-bed" technique with stationary packing material in the fluidised bed, e.g. bricks, wire rings, baffles
B01J 8/24 - Chemical or physical processes in general, conducted in the presence of fluids and solid particlesApparatus for such processes with fluidised particles according to "fluidised-bed" technique
patents
