This has become an issue as more and more solar panels reach end of life viability or need to be replaced based on better tech available or damaged. (Storms, hail, wind etc)
The ugly truth is that a lot of broken or redundant panels are getting to landfill around the world, an unacceptable outcome for one of the big green solutions in solving the need for zero carbon emission energy generation.
The VIS machine is a unique solution to this as we are able to uniquely recycle the panels due to the fact that core components of the panel are non responsive to the aero acoustic forces. As per the process shown below, the panel backing and all embedded wiring and plastics are unaffected as the glass and resin layers are exploded apart and processed into ultra-fine material that has value in concrete and further glass manufacture. Some of the recycling solutions currently used grind the panel up into a "dirty glass" to recycle but this is far more limited in recycling application (and financial value) as the individual components in a panel are not separated and pure and the VIS machine solution does not have this problem. There are increasingly solar panel recycilng solutions where companies put some of the materials into an autoclave system to extract valuable components and get it to pure form. The VIS machine is a solution to these companies as well due to producing an ultra-fine glass/resin powder up front and making sure that they immediately have the backing and metal separated to go into their autoclave process.
The aero acoustic forces applied in the VIS machine literally explode particles apart. There are very complex forces in play to cause this effect and it means that we are able to achieve ultra fine materials processing without any direct mechanical impact or there being any residue from mechanical impact tools commonly used. Not all materials respond to these forces however, there is little impact on plastics, formed metals and paper.
Through using the fact that some components within a material do not respond to aero acoustic forces in the VIS machine, we have been able to create new options for recycling materials where there were only expensive energy-intensive options to break down materials to seperate components so that they could be recycled. In some cases we have now provided a solution for recycling where components in materials can be efficiently seperated where this was not possible before.
The aluminium frame and all external wiring is removed and the panels are punched into squares that can fit through the VIS machine inlet pipe.
The materials that don't respond to the aero acoustic forces in the solar panel pass through with little effect. This means that the silica rich "paper" as well as embedded metal wiring and plastics can be physically separated once the VIS machine has processed the panels and enables them to be recycled without the glass and resin. This is a key step forward and will assist in streamlining all current processes being used to recycle solar panels.
The glass and resin is exploded apart from the unresponsive materials and milled at the same time. The output is an ultra-fine product that can be used in concrete mixes or in the manufacturing of new glass.
