S&L's Mixers: Driving the Growth of Photovoltaic Materials and New Energy

Photovoltaic materials, also referred to as solar cell materials, possess the remarkable ability to directly convert solar energy into electrical energy. They are applicable to various types such as monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and amorphous silicon. Currently, China holds the position as the world's largest producer of photovoltaic modules. Since 2018, the demand for upstream raw materials in the photovoltaic industry has been on a continuous upward trend. As one of the crucial processing equipment for these upstream photovoltaic materials, the demand for mixers has gradually increased over the years. Particularly after the outbreak of the pandemic, Chinese manufacturers of photovoltaic raw materials have been expanding their production capacities and setting higher standards for mixer equipment.

Since 2015, S&L has been supplying mixing equipment to photovoltaic material manufacturers, which is used for tasks like mixing POE and EVA particles as well as spray coating of chemical liquids. During the mixing process, heating and thermal insulation are necessary to achieve a uniform blend of liquids and pellets. At present, the majority of S&L's photovoltaic customers opt for the Double-screw Conical mixer DSH Series. This mixer consists of a single conical vessel, a driving unit, and two internal mixing screws. Through the revolution and rotation of the driving unit, the double-screw agitator lifts the materials from the bottom upwards, creating a tumbling motion as the materials fall freely. Additionally, a jacket can be designed outside the vessel for either heating or cooling purposes. Liquid spraying pipes and nozzles can be optionally installed on the top cover when needed.

Advantages

High Loading Capacity: It can accommodate a large amount of materials.

Vertical Design: Enables clean discharge without any residue left in the mixer.

Gentle Mixing: Performs the mixing process gently, preventing any reduction in particle size.

Simple Structure: Features an uncomplicated design, which is easy to operate and maintain.

User Case

FIRST Material, as the first photovoltaic materials manufacturer to use S&L mixers, has already purchased nearly 30 units of the Double-screw Conical mixers from S&L. S&L has also made improvements and optimizations to its mixing equipment based on the customer's usage experience. When it comes to mixing photovoltaic raw materials, the following aspects require special attention:

Sufficient Gap: The gap between the screw agitator and the mixer body must be adequate for granular materials. Otherwise, the friction and vibration of the materials may lead to a reduction in particle size.

Jacket Design: In the design of the jacket, it is advisable to incorporate a diversion design inside the jacket. This ensures that the materials inside the vessel are heated evenly and avoids the issue of uneven heating, such as the upper part being cooler and the lower part being hotter.

Liquid Addition: The addition of liquid is a crucial step in the process. Given that the liquid is highly corrosive, corrosion-resistant materials should be used for the liquid injection pipe and the sealing components. Moreover, due to the requirement of a large liquid spraying volume, a nozzle with a large spraying capacity needs to be selected.

Strengthened Transmission: Considering the high resistance of the materials, especially after the addition of liquid, S&L has adopted a strengthened transmission system. By separating the revolution motor from the rotation motor and having the agitator driven by dual motors, the load pressure on the motor is reduced.

Summary

In recent years, China has been in the stage of new energy reform and innovation. Clean energy is strongly supported and promoted by the country as a replacement for heavily polluting and high-consumption energy sources. Since 2019, an increasing number of high-quality enterprises have been involved in the production and research & development of photovoltaic materials. China has now become the world's largest producer of photovoltaic raw materials and photovoltaic modules, with S&L's mixers playing an important role in facilitating the processing of these materials and contributing to the growth of the new energy sector.