Newly Developed Robotics Recycling of LCD Displays Emerging from the EC funded ReVolv Pilot Action
Dr. Lisa O’Donoghue, CEO, Votechnik
EC ReVolv Pilot Action
• State of art €1.6M pilot for LCD recycling
• Location: Ireland/Denmark
• Timeframe: 2.5 years
Project Overview
ReVolv Team, Advisory Board and Support Partners
Team and support partners
Advisory board
DanWEEE KMK
University of Limerick
EERA
WEEE Forum ERP
Votechnik Viridor
Allied Automation
EPA Ireland
ABB Asekol
DELL
Cladil
Correns
WEEE Ireland
ReVolv Pilot Action
• The Eco-innovation initiative is one of the measures designed to implement the EU's Eco-innovation Action Plan (EcoAP)
• The Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) manages the eco-innovation initiative on a daily basis on behalf of the European Commission.
• Eco-innovation is about reducing our environmental impact and making better use of resources.
• In doing so the initiative not only helps the EU meet its environmental objectives but also boosts economic growth.
LCD waste and regulatory approaches
WEEE II Directive
• February 2014
• Aug 2015: 65% recycling target
• Aug 2018: 70% Recycling target
• Post Aug 2018: 80% recycling
target
• Bulk targets and don’t take in
account CRM
• Regulatory requirements regarding
LC and CCFL
The European Dimension
Europe 2020 Policy
• Flagship initiative: Resource
Efficiency
• Waste as a resource
• Avoiding risks to supply of
resources
• Rare earths within LCDs
• Classified as Critical Raw
Materials.
The Start Point…
Irish LampRecycling Dept. Of
Environment
Project 1 Machine 1: University of Limerick
Different Approaches
• Not to disassemble the entire the LCD
• But only the components stipulated in the WEEE directive are
removed in an automated process.
• The remainder of the LCDs can then be shred in a high thought put
process.
• The key to such a technology is linked to the ability to remove the
specified components in an equally high through put process.
Machine 1
1
LC panel incision
2
Lift and separate
LC Panel
3
CCFL removal
July 22, 2012 Footer text here 10
Machine 1
Machine 1: LCD Recycling Prototyped
• Developed at university• The prototype machine was successfully run at the
University of Limerick for a 10 month period with a capacity of 36 LCDs per hour.
• The machine predominately processed 32 inch LCDs. • Batch processing of specific sizes on a pallet system.• Design Scale to 80 LCDs/per hour.• Filed for patent (PCT/IE2010/0000072).
Waste Fractions Generated
Contained Hg, Glass,
Phosphorous
mixture
Liquid crystal panel
Diffuser sheets
LCDCarcus
Contained Hg, Glass, Phosphor
mixture
Liquid crystal panel
Diffuser sheets
• Manually recycled
• Shredded
• Tumbled
• Fits in with any process the recycler is using in-house
LCDCarcus
Spin out Company and Machine 2
• Development of Machine 2 began• Votechnik spun out as a company to scale tech• Objectives:
• Review batch processing and achieve sequential processing of different sizes.
• Scale up to 80lcds/hour• New process layout: 4 internal stations and fully
automated
Machine 2: full automation set up
1
LC panel incision
2
LC panel incision
3
Lift and separate LC panel
4
July 22, 2012 Footer text here 19
CCFL removal
July 22, 2012 Footer text here 20
Machine 2
Machine 2
• The machine processed sequentially different sizes. • The machine 2 achieved a capacity of 64 LCDs per
hour. • Design Scale was capable of 80 LCDs/per hour with
optimised timing at each station.• Built in carbon extraction system• Plug and play machine• Variation acceptance: processing different lcd types
70-80%• Patents granting Ireland, Usa and in process for EU,
japan, korea etc…
ReVolv Machine 3
July 22, 2012 Footer text here 22
• Integration of robotics• New technology partners
on board• Objectives:
• High variation acceptance
• High through put rate
• New process layout: 2 internal stations and robotics
ReVolv Machine 31
LC panel removal
2
Lift and separate
LC Panel
3
CCFL removal
July 22, 2012 Footer text here 23
View process
Animation…
Video…
Key Innovative Features of ReVolv Pilot
• Automated high throughput Process
• Safe removal of hazardous components
• Designed for WEEE Directive Compliance
• High processing rate – 60-80LCDs/hour
• Liquid crystal panel removed intact
• Safety - minimises worker exposure to Hg or liquid crystals
• Integrate with existing plant equipment and allow the LCD waste
stream to rejoin the main processing line for volume efficiencies.
ReVolv Machine 3: TRL 8-9
• In manufacture in Ireland• Scheduled completion Q1 2017• Demonstration period at Dan WEEE, Copenhagen, Q2-Q3
2017: invitations to attend at ReVolv Demo’s (Please email [email protected] for invitation)
• International Electronics Recycling Congress booth/stand
WP1 Management
WP2
Scale up Pilot
WP3
Pilot Evaluation
WP4
Exploitation
WP5 Dissemination
ReVolv Pilot
ReVolv Pilot Impact Deliverables
Environmental Benefits of ReVolv Pilot
The Pilot site capable of processing 166,400 LCDs per year
The Pilot site prevents the release of 8000 grams of mercury to the atmosphere per year
The pilot site prevents the release of 3000 grams of liquid crystals to the environment per year