Disassemblability Assessment of Power Electronic Converters for Improved Circularity

Tugce Turkbay Romano (), Li Fang (), Thècle Alix, Maud Rio, Julien Mélot, Fabrice Serrano, Pierre Lefranc, Yves Lembeye, Nicolas Perry and Jean-Christophe Crébier
Additional contact information
Tugce Turkbay Romano: Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, G2ELAB, 38000 Grenoble, France
Li Fang: Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, G2ELAB, 38000 Grenoble, France
Thècle Alix: Arts et Metiers Institute of Technology, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, Hesam Universite, I2M, UMR 5295, F-33400 Talence, France
Maud Rio: Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, G-SCOP, 38000 Grenoble, France
Julien Mélot: Eaton Industries France, 38330 Grenoble, France
Fabrice Serrano: Eaton Industries France, 38330 Grenoble, France
Pierre Lefranc: Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, G2ELAB, 38000 Grenoble, France
Yves Lembeye: Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, G2ELAB, 38000 Grenoble, France
Nicolas Perry: Arts et Metiers Institute of Technology, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, Hesam Universite, I2M, UMR 5295, F-33400 Talence, France
Jean-Christophe Crébier: Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, G2ELAB, 38000 Grenoble, France

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Power Electronics Converters (PEC) play a crucial role in the operation of many modern electrical systems and devices. Despite their widespread use, the lack of an efficient and cost-effective disassembly process can limit their repairability, refurbishability, remanufacturability and, ultimately, recyclability, thus hindering the circularity of products. In order to improve their circularity, it is important to assess their ease of disassembly. Therefore, this paper investigates the applicability of the “ease of Disassembly Metric” (eDiM), which is referenced in the material efficiency standards, Benelux repairability assessment method, and Repair Scoring System (RSS), to analyze the ease of disassembly of energy-related products. After identifying the limitations of the eDiM method, we refined and adapted it to make it more suitable for Printed Circuit Board (PCB)-based PEC, and thus propose a PCB-based disassemblability assessment method allowing the implementation of quantifiable requirements supporting their circularity. This standardized approach, at the PCB level, can improve the circularity of such products by facilitating design enhancements. With this approach, policymakers and designers can contribute more effectively to the transition to a circular economy in PCB electronics, particularly in the field of power electronics.

Keywords: power electronics; circular economy; disassemblability; desoldering; ease of disassembly metric; repairability; printed circuit board (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/11/4712/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/11/4712/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:11:p:4712-:d:1406729

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().