Over the last two decades, the use of photovoltaic panels for the production of electricity has increased significantly, which leads to the need to solve the problems concerning the decommissioning and disposal of the panels and the development of appropriate technologies for their recycling. One of the key steps in this process is the separation of the tempered glass layer. Various technologies and devices are known for separating the glass of the solar panel by cutting it with a knife, as well as other instruments, with the different methods being based on mechanical, chemical, and thermal processes and accordingly having their own advantages and disadvantages. This article proposes an innovative approach for the mechanical delamination of solar panels using a metal wire heated by Joule heating, with the potential to become an energy-efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly method. This publication presents results from experiments using this type of tool to separate the layers of solar panels. Photos from a thermal camera are presented, showing the heat distribution in the panel and the reached operating temperature of the heated metal wire, necessary to soften the EVA bonding layer.

In the last two decades the use of photovoltaic panels for the production of electricity has increased significantly, which leads to the need to solve the problems related to the end-of-life disposal of the panels and the development of appropriate technologies for their recycling. One of the key steps in this process is the separation of the tempered glass layer. Various technologies and devices are known for separating the glass of the solar panel by cutting with a knife, as well as other instruments, with the different methods being based on mechanical, chemical and thermal processes and accordingly having their own advantages and disadvantages. This article proposes an innovative approach for mechanical delamination of solar panels using a metal wire heated by Joule heating, with the potential to become an energy-efficient, economical and environmentally friendly method. The publication presents results from experiments using this type of tool to separate the layers of solar panels. Photos from a thermal camera are presented, showing the heat distribution in the panel and the reached operating temperature of the heated metal wire, necessary to soften the EVA bonding layer.

The chapter proposes and analyzes a differential variable transmission (DVT) with a wide range of regulation satisfying, relatively small part of the input power to be transmitted by the friction joints, and a high mechanical efficiency and lack of “circulating” power are determined. To meet these requirements, it is to connect a classic variable transmission (CVT) as a closing unit in a differential gear mechanism with externally-internally engaging wheels and guide (AI—planetary gear) has been proposed. The transmission, as well as the conditions for the lack of “circulating” power, is determined. The synthesis of a friction variator with theoretically zero geometric sliding between the working surfaces when changing the transmission ratio is introduced, that is, the adjustment takes place with centroid rolling. The working surfaces are obtained by rotating the centroid pairs around their axes, provided that their point of intersection always lies on the common tangent of the two contours. With the help of elements of differential geometry, the first order system equations have been derived and solved in an analytical form, whose integrals uniquely define the centroid pairs.

The subject of this study is the dynamic analysis of the energy flow in the transient mode of the movement of the vehicle with a kinetic accumulator, implemented with a purely mechanical transmission. The elements of which include—a flywheel, planetary gears with two degrees of freedom, some ordinary gears, a friction mechanism with a variable transmission ratio (CVT), and a certain number of brake clutches, etc. A control algorithm is proposed; the differential equations of motion are derived and solved. The effectiveness and applicability of such a purely mechanical transmission for accumulating and realizing energy during braking and accelerating of the electro-mobile are proven, in which it is possible to extend the range by up to 12–14%.