Newly Developed Robotics Recycling of LCD Displays ... · Dr. Lisa O’Donoghue, CEO, Votechnik...

Newly Developed Robotics Recycling of LCD Displays Emerging from the EC funded ReVolv Pilot Action

Dr. Lisa O’Donoghue, CEO, Votechnik

lisa.odonoghue@Votechnik.com

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 info@revolvproject.eu 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

info@revolvproject.eu