2016-Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS 2016 Volume 10: Battery, Recycling, Environmental, Mining
| Editors: | Kongoli F, Kumar V, Aifantis K, Pagnanelli F |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2016 |
| Pages: | 220 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-987820-54-6 |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
CD shopping page
Dust hazards and safety measures related to photovoltaic panel recycling
Giuseppe Granata1; Nicola Paltrinieri2; Nicola Mingotti3;1WASEDA UNIVERSITY, Shinjuku, Japan; 2NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPT. OF PRODUCTION AND QUALITY ENGINEERING, Trondheim, Norway; 3UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, BP INSTITUTE, Cambridge CB3 0EZ, United Kingdom (Great Britain);
Type of Paper: Invited
Id Paper: 265
Topic: 7
Abstract:
The employment rate of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for electric generation has increased significantly in recent years. The vast majority of these panels are currently sold in the residential market. As a result of such a recent and rapid diffusion of this new technology, there currently is a relatively low experience of the potential hazards associated with the decommissioning of PV panels. While recycling the materials used in PV panels would be advisable once they reach the end of their lifetime, this should be done in a way which is both environmentally sustainable and safe for human health. Crystalline silicon (monocrystalline and polycrystalline) is predominantly being used as a semiconductor in the industry at the moment, however, thin-film photovoltaic modules using cadmium telluride (CdTe) and amorphous silicon are becoming increasingly popular because of their lower production costs and higher efficiency. Two full-scale PV recycling processes have been implemented so far in Europe, however, none of them is completely automated and the discussion on which is best practice is still the topic of several research studies. The minimum targets of recovery and recycling required by the latest European Guideline (2012/19/EU) are achieved using either: (i) two-blade-rotors crushing followed by thermal treatment, or (ii) two-blade-rotors crushing followed by hammer crushing. Both processes reduce the initial PV panel to fine glass fractions, which can then be re-used as a raw material. However, these processes also create dust, which is harmful to humans if inhaled. For instance, silicosis is produced by inhalation of one of the forms of crystalline silica. It is defined as an occupational lung disease because it is usually diagnosed in combination with activities of sandblasting, quarrying, stone dressing, refractory manufacture or foundry work. Moreover, CdTe is classified as toxic by the related safety data sheets. This contribution aims to investigate the hazards associated with PV panels recycling, in order to lay the foundations for a systematic risk assessment procedure. We analyse the typical properties of the dust which are produced by the different PV panels recycling processes. We then investigate how this dust is transported by ventilation. In doing so, we use the results of a series of studies on the transport of heavy particles through a ventilated space, which were published recently. We quantify the fraction of particles of a mean diameter D<0.1 mm which are vented from the space as opposed to the fraction which sediment within the space. We also investigate how the concentration of the suspension of particles in air changes when the ventilation rate is changed. This will allow assessing the behavior of toxic dust and identifying the most appropriate safety measures, which may range from housekeeping to industrial ventilation. By the present work, we provide information on the recycling process and on the hazardous materials handled within it; we describe the transport of dust and particles in the air and identify the potential scenarios in which the safety of operators is compromised; finally, we define a range of safety measures.
Keywords:
Dust; Photovoltaic; Recycling; Sustainability; Wastes;References:
[1] The Solar Foundation. National Solar Jobs Census 2015. Washington DC, United States: The Solar Foundation, 2016.[2] Fthenakis V, Wang W. Extraction and separation of Cd and Te from cadmium telluride photovoltaic manufacturing scrap. Progress in photovoltaics. 2006;14(4):363-72.
[3] Raugei M, Bargigli S, Ulgiati S. Life cycle assessment and energy pay-back time of advanced photovoltaic modules: CdTe and CIS compared to poly-Si. Energy. 2007;32(8):1310-8.
[4] European Parliament and Council. Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) Brussels, Belgium: European Union, 2012.
[5] European Parliament and Council. Directive 2008/98/EC on waste and repealing certain Directives. Brussels, Belgium: European Union, 2008.
[6] Doi T, Tsuda I, Unagida H, Murata A, Sakuta K, Kurokawa K. Experimental study on PV module recycling with organic solvent method. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 2001;67(1–4):397-403. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0927-0248(00)00308-1.
[7] Fernández LJ, Ferrer R, Aponte DF, Fernández P. Recycling silicon solar cell waste in cement-based systems. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 2011;95(7):1701-6. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2011.01.033.
[8] Klugmann-Radziemska E, Ostrowski P. Chemical treatment of crystalline silicon solar cells as a method of recovering pure silicon from photovoltaic modules. Renewable Energy. 2010;35(8):1751-9. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2009.11.031.
[9] Klugmann-Radziemska E, Ostrowski P, Drabczyk K, Panek P, Szkodo M. Experimental validation of crystalline silicon solar cells recycling by thermal and chemical methods. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 2010;94(12):2275-82. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2010.07.025.
[10] Sasala RA, Bohland J, Smigielski K, editors. Physical and chemical pathways for economic recycling of cadmium telluride thin-film photovoltaic modules. Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1996, Conference Record of the Twenty Fifth IEEE; 1996 13-17 May 1996.
[11] Berger W, Simon F-G, Weimann K, Alsema EA. A novel approach for the recycling of thin film photovoltaic modules. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2010;54(10):711-8. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2009.12.001.
[12] Müller A, Wambach K, Alsema E. Life Cycle Analysis of Solar Module Recycling Process. MRS Online Proceedings Library Archive. 2005;895:0895-G03-07 (6 pages). doi: doi:10.1557/PROC-0895-G03-07.
[13] European Commission DG ENV. Study on photovoltaic panels supplementing the impact assessment for a recast of the WEEE Paris, France: BIO Intelligence Service, 2011.
[14] Granata G, Pagnanelli F, Moscardini E, Havlik T, Toro L. Recycling of photovoltaic panels by physical operations. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 2014;123:239-48. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2014.01.012.
[15] Angus S. Oxford Dictionary of English. 'Oxford University Press'; 2016.
[16] Hollnagel E. Is safety a subject for science? Safety Science. 2014;67:21-4. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2013.07.025.
[17] CCPS (Center for Chemical Process Safety). Guidelines for Hazard Evaluation Procedures. New York, USA: Wiley; 2011.
[18] Paltrinieri N, Tugnoli A, Buston J, Wardman M, Cozzani V. Dynamic Procedure for Atypical Scenarios Identification (DyPASI): A new systematic HAZID tool. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries. 2013;26(4):683-95. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2013.01.006.
[19] Delvosalle C, Fievez C, Pipart A, Debray B. ARAMIS project: A comprehensive methodology for the identification of reference accident scenarios in process industries. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2006;130(3):200-19. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.07.005.
[20] ESPI. Silicon Oxide Material Safety Data Sheet. Ashland, Oregon, USA: Electronic Space Products International,, 1993.
[21] NIOSH - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Silicon Material Safety Data Sheet. Atlanta, Georgia, USA: CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015.
[22] NIOSH - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Cadmium Material Safety Data Sheet. Atlanta, Georgia, USA: CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015.
[23] Burwell SM. 13th Report on Carcinogens. Washington, D.C., United States: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014.
[24] M.L. Marín, A. Jiménez, J. López, J. Vilaplana, Thermal degradation of ethylene (vinylacetate), J. Therm. Anal. 47 (1996) 247–258.
[25] C.L. Beyler, M.M. Hirschler, Thermal decomposition of polymers chapter, in: P.J. Di Nenno (Ed.), SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 3rded.,NFPA,
[26] Center for Desease and Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcsneng/neng0363.html
[27] Center for Desease and Control and Prevention , http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0334.html
[28] Quincy, MA, 2001. Bowley M.W. "Tedlar" PVF transparent films all on synonym list TED014. Buffalo, New York, USA: DuPont, 2004.
[29] Amyotte PR, Eckhoff RK. Dust explosion causation, prevention and mitigation: An overview. Journal of Chemical Health and Safety. 2010;17(1):15-28. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jchas.2009.05.002.
[30] Paltrinieri N, Khan F, Amyotte P, Cozzani V. Dynamic approach to risk management: Application to the Hoeganaes metal dust accidents. Process Safety and Environmental Protection. 2014;92(6):669-79. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2013.11.008.
[31] Leung CC, Yu ITS, Chen W. Silicosis. The Lancet.379(9830):2008-18. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60235-9.
[32] Fubini B, Fenoglio I. Toxic potential of mineral dusts. Elements. 2007;3(6):407-14.
[33] Sklet S. Safety barriers: Definition, classification, and performance. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries. 2006;19(5):494-506. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2005.12.004.
[34] Mingotti N, Woods AW. On the transport of heavy particles through an upward displacement-ventilated space. Journal of Fluid Mechanics. 2015;772:478-507.
[35] ACGIH - American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Industral Ventilation: A Manual of Recommended Practice. Cincinnati, Ohio, USA: ACGIH; 1998.
[36] Goodfellow HD. Industrial ventilation design guidebook: Academic press; 2001.