Title: Implementation of parametric design philosophy into industrial production line simulation for c-Si PV modules

Authors: Meletios G. Rentoumis; Ilias Athanailidis; Pavlos Koulouridakis; Yiannis A. Katsigiannis; Nikolaos Bilalis

Addresses: Technical University of Crete, University Campus, Kounoupidiana, 73100, Crete, Greece ' Technical University of Crete, University Campus, Kounoupidiana, 73100, Crete, Greece ' Technical University of Crete, University Campus, Kounoupidiana, 73100, Crete, Greece ' Technical University of Crete, University Campus, Kounoupidiana, 73100, Crete, Greece ' Technical University of Crete, University Campus, Kounoupidiana, 73100, Crete, Greece

Abstract: Power generation from photovoltaic (PV) cells is a well-established and promising technology that takes full advantage of solar energy, which is a renewable energy source. Although numerous methods of PV recycling have been proposed worldwide, Greece has not taken any serious corresponding action until now. Moreover, estimations expect that the overall quantity of c-Si PV waste in Europe will reach 3,500,000 tons until 2040 (Bio Intelligence Service, 2011) while in Greece, until 2038 the amount will be in the range of 264,000 tons (Katsigiannis et al., 2014). As a result, it is essential to propose a unified management of PV end-of-life (EOL) process, in order to achieve a successful recovery of materials such as silicon, aluminium, silver and glass. The scope of this paper is the simulation of an integrated c-Si PV recycling process with the use of CATIA software. The design of this recycling process is parametric, in order to allow the location and sizing configuration of each machine and installation type that can be used.

Keywords: end-of-life products; EOL; photovoltaic cells; recycling; machine design; parametric design; simulation; c-Si PV modules; crystalline silicon; solar energy; solar power; Greece; PV recyling; materials recovery.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDSS.2016.081739

International Journal of Decision Support Systems, 2016 Vol.2 No.1/2/3, pp.168 - 180

Received: 05 Nov 2015
Accepted: 27 Dec 2015
Published online: 24 Jan 2017 *

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