Structural analysis of a mobile device for the End-of-Life treatment of photovoltaic panels

A prototype system for the treatment of photovoltaic panels is presented; it is designed to be transported within the limits of ordinary freight transport vehicles. All the systems included in the plant have been organized in a production line mounted in three containers. Due to functional reasons, the containers have been design and built specifically for these use, providing the necessary integration between the installed machinery and of auxiliary systems such as dust collection system, sound insulation and vibration absorbers. For the verification of resistance and stiffness of the system - which differs from regular freight containers - an adaptation of suitable standards is proposed. After the definition of appropriate loads for the case study, the structures of the containers are analyzed using Finite Elements software. The analysis shows that due to the characteristics of the application the structure is not suitable for general containers use, but - considering the limitations of the application in terms of transportation needs - the results can be considered acceptable.