System and process for recovery of cadmium telluride (CdTe) from system components used in the manufacture of photovoltaic (PV) modules
AssigneePrimestar Solar, Inc.
InventorChristopher Rathweg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and associated process are provided for recovering cadmium telluride (CdTe) that has plated onto components, such as components used in the manufacture of photovoltaic (PV) modules. The system includes a vacuum oven configured for maintaining a vacuum and being heated to a temperature effective for sublimating CdTe off of components placed within the oven. A collection member is disposed so that sublimated CdTe generated in the oven diffuses to the collection member. The collection member is maintained at a temperature effective for causing the sublimated CdTe to plate thereon. The collection member is subsequently processed to collect the plated CdTe.
Claims11
A process for recovering cadmium telluride (CdTe) that has plated onto components, the process comprising:
- locating the components in a vacuum oven;
- drawing a vacuum and heating the oven to raise the temperature in the oven to levels effective for sublimating the CdTe off of the components;
- maintaining temperature and vacuum conditions within the oven at levels effective for preventing the sublimated CdTe from plating onto internal components of the oven;
- allowing the sublimated CdTe generated in the oven diffusing to a collection member that is maintained at a temperature effective for causing the sublimated CdTe to plate thereon;
- and,
- removing the plated CdTe from the collection member.
A process for recovering cadmium telluride (CdTe) that has plated onto components, the process comprising:
- locating the components in a vacuum oven;
- drawing a vacuum and heating the oven to raise the temperature in the oven to levels effective for sublimating the CdTe off of the components;
- maintaining temperature and vacuum conditions within the oven at levels effective for preventing the sublimated CdTe from plating onto internal components of the oven;
- allowing the sublimated CdTe generated in the oven diffusing to a collection member that is maintained at a temperature effective for causing the sublimated CdTe to plate thereon;
- removing the plated CdTe from the collection member;
- and
- further comprising actively cooling the collection member with a recirculating cooling medium.
A process for recovering cadmium telluride (CdTe) that has plated onto components, the process comprising:
- locating the components in a vacuum oven;
- drawing a vacuum and heating the oven to raise the temperature in the oven to levels effective for sublimating the CdTe off of the components;
- maintaining temperature and vacuum conditions within the oven at levels effective for preventing the sublimated CdTe from plating onto internal components of the oven;
- allowing the sublimated CdTe generated in the oven diffusing to a collection member that is maintained at a temperature effective for causing the sublimated CdTe to plate thereon;
- removing the plated CdTe from the collection member;
- and
- further comprising mechanically agitating or deforming the collection member to cause the plated CdTe to flake off of the collection member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.