SOLARAWARDS2011 WINNERS
SOLAR Award for Excellence (Product)
The collection efficiency reaches 99.5%, making a significant contribution to lower maintenance costs for solar dryers and firing systems.
Rehm Thermal Oxidiser
A new thermal oxidation process from Rehm Thermal Systems has eliminated the challenge of residue contamination from photovoltaic metallization. In order to minimise maintenance and provide a cleaner process chamber, Rehm has created the Thermal Oxidiser to enhance the performance of its RDS Drying Systems. Thermal oxidation is a process during which the volatile organic constituents and the hydrocarbons (VOCs) in the metallization pastes react with oxygen, and are decomposed.
The goal is to burn the long-chain molecules in the vapour or smoke and transform them into readily volatile, non-condensable substances. These are then easily discharged from the system, to significantly reduce the potential of condensation and in turn, minimise system maintenance.
Due to the arrangement of the heater and the granulate pack in Rehm’s RDS Drying Systems results in a very compact, thermal reactor which requires little additional energy to reduce energy consumption even further. Rehm’s thermal oxidation process involves heating the gas to a temperature greater than 500°C.
The molecules crack at high temperatures and combine with atmospheric oxygen which is present within the system. In order to oxidise hydrocarbons in an energy-efficient manner at low reaction temperatures of approximately 500°C, catalyzers are installed downstream from the heating chamber. This results in a thermal reactor which is dimensioned for solar dryers such that a gas exchanger of greater than 40-fold assures reliable removal of the vapour or smoke which occurs in the process chamber.
Challenge: During the 200°C to 350°C curing process involved in metallization, significant quantities of vapour and smoke are produced which must be reliably exhausted from the process chamber in order to avoid contamination and yield loss. However, since there is a wide variation in paste compositions associated with solar metallization, it is not always possible to customise a suitably effective filter or condenser to manage the released vapour or smoke.
Problem Solved: The introduction of Rehms Thermal Oxidiser uses an innovative thermal oxidation process to reduce emissions from solar dryers and firing systems during the metallization of crystalline solar cells. With the Thermal Oxidiser, emissions remain well below the statutory limitations for emissions of pollutants e.g. TA-Luft, Germanys Clean Air Act.
Noteworthy: In general, thermal oxidation systems can be used for almost all organic pollutants and are thus a very good alternative to condensate discharges. The main advantage over the condensate separation is significantly reduced maintenance costs of solar dryers and firing systems.
Innovation: In general, thermal oxidation systems can be used for almost all organic pollutants and are thus a very good alternative to condensate discharges. The main advantage over the condensate separation is significantly reduced maintenance costs of solar dryers and firing systems.
Customer Benefits: The main advantages of thermal oxidation are: Reduction in maintenance costs, no disposal of condensate Secure compliance with the legal requirements for emissions Universally applicable for various metallisation pastes Proven, broadband method Robust systems engineering Low energy consumption, low operating costs Decreased odour of solar dryers
Note from the Judges: We receive an enormous amount of product releases every year and choosing a winner for this category is always difficult but we try to judge each product based on the job it is to do rather than compare products that some may believe a more vital than others. The most vital things for solar and PV (some areas more than others) is to reduce prices while increasing performance. When this can be done by improving imbedded processes and minimal disruption then all tend to be happier
The winner of this year’s award has found an innovative way to reduce maintenance and therefore downtime with their thermal oxidation process which removes residue contamination problems by burning the long-chain molecules in the vapour or smoke and transforming them into readily volatile, non- condensable substances reducing the need to exhaust material from the process chamber and therefore helping reduce costs.
SOLAR Awards for Excellence (Group)
ITRI was founded in 1973. The then newly appointed Economy Minister believed that Taiwan’s economy could only take off if it
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