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EP-4510062-B1 - METHOD FOR GENERATING RECYCLING RECORD OF SOLAR PANEL AND RECYCLING SYSTEM IMPLEMENTING THE SAME

EP4510062B1EP 4510062 B1EP4510062 B1EP 4510062B1EP-4510062-B1

Inventors

  • FU, YAO-HSIEN
  • HUNG, CHIA-TSUNG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240814

Claims (12)

  1. A method for generating a recycling record of a solar panel, the method implemented by a computer (3) that is connected to a peer-to-peer network, that corresponds to a recycling operator, and that is electrically connected to a dismantling equipment (1), the dismantling equipment (1) being configured to obtain information related to the solar panel and to dismantle the solar panel, the method including: upon the dismantling equipment (1) receiving the solar panel that is provided with an information element, controlling the dismantling equipment (1) to capture the information element, and obtaining product information related to the solar panel based on the information element; controlling the dismantling equipment (1) to dismantle the solar panel and to collect data of dismantling the solar panel; obtaining a recycling result based on the data of dismantling the solar panel; and characterised in that : the dismantling equipment (1) includes a power measurement device (17); generating and storing a recycling record that includes the product information and the recycling result as a block in a distributed ledger of a blockchain managed by the peer-to-peer network; whereby the controlling of the dismantling equipment (1) to dismantle the solar panel includes controlling the power measurement device (17) to detect a power consumption of dismantling the solar panel, and the data of dismantling the solar panel at least includes the power consumption.
  2. The method as claimed in claim 1, the computer (3) communicating, through a communication network (100), with a supplier end device (4) that corresponds to a supplier who provides the solar panel, wherein: the product information at least includes supplier end information that is related to the supplier of the solar panel; and the method further comprises transmitting the recycling record to the supplier end device (4) based on the supplier end information that is related to the supplier.
  3. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2, the dismantling equipment (1) including a weighing unit (16), a first removal device (11) for removing a junction box of the solar panel, a second removal device (12) for removing a frame of the solar panel, a third removal device (13) for removing a back sheet of the solar panel, and a fourth removal device (14) for removing an adhesive layer and a solar cell module of the solar panel, wherein the controlling of the dismantling equipment (1) to dismantle the solar panel includes: controlling the first removal device (11) to remove the junction box of the solar panel, and controlling the weighing unit (16) to detect a first weight before removing the junction box and a second weight after removing the junction box; controlling the second removal device (12) to remove the frame of the solar panel, and controlling the weighing unit (16) to detect a third weight before removing the frame and a fourth weight after removing the frame; controlling the third removal device (13) to remove the back sheet of the solar panel, and controlling the weighing unit (16) to detect a fifth weight before removing the back sheet and a sixth weight after removing the back sheet; and controlling the fourth removal device (14) to remove the adhesive layer and the solar cell module of the solar panel together, and controlling the weighing unit (16) to detect a seventh weight before removing the adhesive layer and the solar cell module, and an eighth weight after removing both of the adhesive layer and the solar cell module; wherein the data of dismantling the solar panel includes the first to eighth weights.
  4. The method as claimed in claim 3, the dismantling equipment (1) further including a separating device (15) for separating the adhesive layer and the solar cell module of the solar panel, wherein the controlling of the dismantling equipment (1) to dismantle the solar panel further includes controlling the separating device (15) to separate the adhesive layer from the solar cell module, and controlling the weighing unit (16) to detect a ninth weight of the adhesive layer and a tenth weight of the solar cell module, and the data of dismantling the solar panel further includes the ninth weight and the tenth weight.
  5. The method as claimed in any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein in obtaining the recycling result, the computer (3) calculates a recycling ratio based on the first to eighth weights, and obtains the recycling result to at least include the recycling ratio.
  6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in obtaining the recycling result, the computer (3) calculates an amount of carbon emissions generated by dismantling the solar panel based on a location of the dismantling equipment (1) and the power consumption, and obtains the recycling result to at least include the power consumption and the amount of carbon emissions.
  7. A recycling system for generating a recycling record of a solar panel, the recycling system adapted to recycle a solar panel that is provided with an information element, the recycling system including: a dismantling equipment (1) configured to obtain information related to the solar panel and to dismantle the solar panel; and a computer (3) connected to a peer-to-peer network, and electrically connected to said dismantling equipment (1), said computer (3) being configured to upon said dismantling equipment (1) receiving the solar panel, control said dismantling equipment (1) to capture the information element, and obtain product information related to the solar panel based on the information element, control said dismantling equipment (1) to dismantle the solar panel and to collect data of dismantling the solar panel, obtain a recycling result based on the data of dismantling the solar panel, and characterised by generating and storing a recycling record that includes the product information and the recycling result as a block in a distributed ledger of a blockchain managed by the peer-to-peer network; whereby said dismantling equipment (1) includes a power measurement device (17); and said computer (3) is further configured to control said power measurement device (17) to detect a power consumption of dismantling the solar panel, and the data of dismantling the solar panel at least includes the power consumption.
  8. The recycling system as claimed in claim 7, the recycling system communicating, through a communication network (100), with a supplier end device (4) that corresponds to a supplier who provides the solar panel, wherein: the product information at least includes supplier end information that is related to the supplier of the solar panel; and said computer (3) is further configured to transmit the recycling record to the supplier end device (4) based on the supplier end information that is related to the supplier.
  9. The recycling system as claimed in any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein: said dismantling equipment (1) includes a weighing unit (16), a first removal device (11) for removing a junction box of the solar panel, a second removal device (12) for removing a frame of the solar panel, a third removal device (13) for removing a back sheet of the solar panel, and a fourth removal device (14) for removing an adhesive layer and a solar cell module of the solar panel; and said computer (3) is further configured to control said first removal device (11) to remove the junction box of the solar panel, and control said weighing unit (16) to detect a first weight before removing the junction box and a second weight after removing the junction box, control said second removal device (12) to remove the frame of the solar panel, and control said weighing unit (16) to detect a third weight before removing the frame and a fourth weight after removing the frame, control said third removal device (13) to remove the back sheet of the solar panel, and control said weighing unit (16) to detect a fifth weight before removing the back sheet and a sixth weight after removing the back sheet, and control said fourth removal device (14) to remove the adhesive layer and the solar cell module of the solar panel together, and control said weighing unit (16) to detect a seventh weight before removing the adhesive layer and the solar cell module together, and an eighth weight after removing both of the adhesive layer and the solar cell module together, wherein the data of dismantling the solar panel includes the first to eighth weights.
  10. The recycling system as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said dismantling equipment (1) further includes a separating device (15) for separating the adhesive layer and the solar cell module of the solar panel; and said computer (3) is further configured to control said separating device (15) to separate the adhesive layer from the solar cell module, and control said weighing unit (16) to detect a ninth weight of the adhesive layer and a tenth weight of the solar cell module, and the data of dismantling the solar panel further includes the ninth weight and the tenth weight.
  11. The recycling system as claimed in any one of claims 9 and 10, wherein said computer (3) is further configured to calculate a recycling ratio based on the first to eighth weights, and to obtain the recycling result to at least include the recycling ratio.
  12. The recycling system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said computer (3) is further configured to calculate an amount of carbon emissions generated by dismantling the solar panel based on a location of said dismantling equipment (1) and the power consumption, and to obtain the recycling result to at least include the power consumption and the amount of carbon emissions.

Description

The disclosure relates to a method for generating a recycling record and a recycling system implementing the same, and more particularly to a method for generating a recycling record of a solar panel and a recycling system implementing the same. As fossil fuel resources are gradually depleted and the greenhouse effect intensifies, renewable energy has become a promising solution for saving the environment and revitalizing the economy. In some areas with sufficient sunlight, there is a continuous supply of solar energy which neither produces environmental pollution nor consumes the Earth's resources. Therefore, solar energy has become an indispensable part of the renewable energy industry. It is noted that publication US 2023/236582 A1 discloses a method for facilitating dismantling of a photovoltaic module includes steps of: obtaining, by an input module, product data of the photovoltaic module from a module information indicator provided on the photovoltaic module; retrieving, by a processor, a product identification code of the photovoltaic module by matching the product data against a database; generating, by an equipment controller, a control command based on the product identification code; and sending, by the equipment controller, the control command to a dismantling equipment to set equipment configuration parameters for the dismantling equipment to dismantle the photovoltaic module. It is noted that publication KR 102 364 178 B1 discloses a method for managing solar cell module history information, which enables accurate identification of the status of solar cell modules and improves the reliability of history information by preventing manipulation or alteration of history information. It is noted that publication US 2022/309476 A1 discloses a method for facilitating verifying a recycling process of a recyclable item. Accordingly, the method may include receiving, using a communication device, a recyclable item identifier of the recyclable item from a device, determining, using a processing device, estimated yield data representing an estimated yield associated with the recyclable item based on the recyclable item identifier, storing, using a storage device, the estimated yield data to a distributed ledger, receiving, using the communication device, actual yield data representing an actual yield associated with at least one product from a yield sensor, and comparing, using the processing device, the actual yield data with the estimated yield data. It is noted that publication US 2021/213573 A1 discloses a management system for a hard drive dismantling system automatically monitors the operation and the output of the dismantling system either remotely or onsite. It is noted that publication CN 114 399 187 A discloses a block chain-based construction waste management method and device, equipment and a storage medium. The method comprises the following steps: acquiring initial construction waste information uploaded by a demolition and construction party, and carrying out uplink storage on the initial construction waste information; received construction waste information uploaded by a waste recycling party is obtained, and the received construction waste information is subjected to uplink storage; judging whether the initial construction waste information and the received construction waste information meet a preset information comparison qualification condition or not; and if yes, obtaining to-be-transacted building material information corresponding to the received building waste information and uploaded by the waste recycling party, and performing uplink storage on the to-be-transacted building material information so as to perform full-life-cycle management on the building waste. However, solar panels that are discarded without proper treatments may be harmful to the environment. Silicon-based solar panels are made of glass, aluminum frames, batteries, etc., which are bonded together using EVA (ethylenevinyl acetate) plastic. Solar panels may be recycled if properly dismantled and sorted; however, there is not yet a reliable and credible supervision mechanism for recycling solar panels. Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a method for generating a recycling record of a solar panel, and a recycling system that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art. According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method for generating a recycling record of a solar panel according to claim 1. According to another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a recycling system for generating a recycling record of a solar panel according to claim 7. Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that various features may not be drawn to scale. Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a recycling system according to an embodiment of