Potential health and safety hazards associated with the production of cadmium telluride, copper indium diselenide, and zinc phosphide photovoltaic cells
In large-scale manufacture of cadmium telluride, copper indium diselenide, and zinc phosphide photovoltaic cells, the materials and equipment used may present potential health and safety hazards to workers and the public. These hazards were identified by reviewing data on process materials, availability of control technology, biomedical effects, and health and environmental standards. Quantitative estimates of material inputs and outputs, and control technology costs for selected processes were based on preliminary engineering designs for hypothetical 10-MWp/yr photovoltaic cell production facilities. In the fabrication of these devices, unusually large quantities of some toxic gases may be used; large demands for phosphine and hydrogen selenide are of special concern. Because projected usage of these materials is much larger than the current one, a thorough evaluation of engineering controls will be needed before the technologies are commercialized. These materials could also present occupational health hazards. Some management options to reduce occupational exposures to these materials are presented. Although specific federal and state regulations have not been promulgated for emissions from the photovoltaic industry, prudent engineering practice should be applied to all waste streams - solid, atmospheric, or liquid - containing toxic pollutants to limit discharges of these materials. Control costs for most atmospheric waste streams should not be large (<0.01 cent per watt); for phosphine, however, costs are potentially much larger (4.4 cents per watt). Some processes may also produce large quantities of solid waste defined as toxic or hazardous under US Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. Disposal costs for these materials are presented.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- OSTI ID:
- 5064201
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-51832; ON: DE86003122
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
140400* -- Solar Energy-- Environmental Aspects
140501 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CADMIUM TELLURIDE SOLAR CELLS
COPPER SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC SHOCK
EQUIPMENT
FIRE HAZARDS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MANUFACTURING
PHOSPHINES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
RF SYSTEMS
SAFETY
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
ZINC PHOSPHIDE SOLAR CELLS