Delamination of used solar module

Abstract

Delamination of a solar module (for, e.g., purposes of recycling) may be achieved by applying a rotating member(s) against surface(s) of a used solar module. In certain embodiments, the rotating member may comprise a straight router bit, which may be applied under computer control. Successive application of rotating member(s) at different heights, may afford the collection of different materials. According to one particular embodiment, a rotating router bit may be applied first against a polymer backsheet, and then at a different height against other materials comprising metals and PV material such as crystalline silicon. Collection of resulting fractions produced by delamination at different heights, can produce material (e.g., metals, silicon) of relatively high purity and suitable for reuse.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.