Recycling of Glass from Solar Modules

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses recycle glass from used solar modules. Particular embodiments combine optical interrogation such as X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) with computer-controlled dispensing, in order to obtain refined glass having substantially uniform properties. Such glass properties can include but are not limited to one or more of: ⋅elemental content (e.g., Iron), ⋅optical transmittance, ⋅physical resilience (e.g., resistance to weather damage), and ⋅texture—e.g., to assist in forming an anti-reflective coating (ARC) and/or encapsulant adhesion. Such optical interrogation is combined with computer-controlled dispensing that regulates the release of glass material through a gate, until one or more specific criterion are met.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.