TY - JOUR A1 - Agea Blanco, Boris A1 - Meyer, Christian A1 - Müller, Ralf A1 - Günster, Jens T1 - Sand erosion of solar glass: Specific energy uptake, total transmittance, and module efficiency JF - International Journal of Energy Research N2 - Surface roughness, R Z , normal transmittance, Τ N , total transmittance, Τ T , and photovoltaic (PV) module efficiency, η S , were measured for commercial solar glass plates and PV test modules identically sandblasted with different loads of quartz sand (200 – 400 μ m), impact inclination angles, and sand particle speed. Measured data are presented versus the specific energy uptake during sand blasting, E (J/m2). Cracks, adhering particles, and scratch ‐ like textures probably caused by plastic flow phenomena could be observed after sand blasting. Their characteristic size was much smaller than that of sand particles. After blasting and subsequent cleaning, the glass surface was still covered with adhering glass particles. These particles, cracks, and scratch ‐ like textures could not be removed by cleaning. For sand blasting with α = 30° inclination angle and E = 30 000 J/m2, normal transmittance, total transmittance, and relative module efficiency decreased by 29%, 2% and ∽ 2%, respectively. This finding indicates that diffusive transmission of light substantially contributes to PV module efficiency and that the module efficiency decrease caused by sand erosion can be better estimated from total than by normal transmittance measurements. KW - Transmittance KW - Efficiency KW - Photovoltaic modules KW - Roughness KW - Sand blasting PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/er.3930 SN - 1099-114X SN - 0363-907X VL - 42 IS - 3 SP - 1298 EP - 1307 PB - Wiley & Sons, Ltd. AN - OPUS4-44157 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Simon, Franz-Georg A1 - Holm, Olaf A1 - Berger, Wolfgang T1 - Resource recovery from urban stock, the example of cadmium and tellurium from thin film module recycling JF - Waste Management N2 - Raw material supply is essential for all industrial activities. The use of secondary raw material gains more importance since ore grade in primary production is decreasing. Meanwhile urban stock contains considerable amounts of various elements. Photovoltaic (PV) generating systems are part of the urban stock and recycling technologies for PV thin film modules with CdTe as semiconductor are needed because cadmium could cause hazardous environmental impact and tellurium is a scarce element where future supply might be constrained. The paper describes a sequence of mechanical processing techniques for end-of-life PV thin film modules consisting of sandblasting and flotation. Separation of the semiconductor material from the glass surface was possible, however, enrichment and yield of valuables in the flotation step were non-satisfying. Nevertheless, recovery of valuable metals from urban stock is a viable method for the extension of the availability of limited natural resources. KW - Flotation KW - Cadmium KW - Tellurium KW - Thin film technology KW - Sand blasting PY - 2013 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2012.12.025 SN - 0956-053X VL - 33 IS - 4 SP - 942 EP - 947 PB - Pergamon Press CY - New York, NY AN - OPUS4-29312 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -