EucoLight study discovers technical method for automated detection of types of waste lamps

EucoLight, the European Association of lighting WEEE Compliance Schemes has carried out a successful  study with Fraunhofer IZM on the technical feasibility for the automatic identification of waste lamp types.

The study focused on the technology assessment for the separation of collected End-of-Life (EoL) lamps, more specifically the technical possibilities for separating conventional gas discharge lamps (GDLs) from conventional light-emitting diode (LED) lamps. The project consisted of first a theoretical phase in which technological possibilities for sorting methods were explored and described. Based on this potential analysis, followed the testing phase, concentrating on static and dynamic testing with three promising sorting technologies.

Ultimately however, only two methods, the blue light and electromagnetic induction tests, were considered promising and carried out in detail. Test results showed: The correct detection of non-broken GDLs totalled 100 percent in the electromagnetic alternating field. Broken GDLs cannot light up in the electromagnetic alternating field, since the gas has escaped, which is needed to generate the light in combination with the mercury.

The tests with the electromagnetic coil have also shown that the large chip area of the LED filament lamps can light up due to induction, this should be excluded by employing filters in the Hg and Ar ranges. The correct detection of LED lamps amounted to 60-90 percent with blue light. The recognition rate can be increased by aligning the lamps so that they can be lit directly and with sensitive optical sensors which requires further testing. Since a few GDLs also showed a reaction to the blue light, these exceptions would have to be sorted out manually or via image recognition. The use of filters for certain spectral lines would not be suitable here, since the LEDs and GDLs that light up while being exposed to blue light do not show any difference in emitted wavelengths.

A combination of both methods e.g. integrated in one optical detection lens leads to a promising approach for a practical application; enhanceing existing recycling plants or new designed technologies.

Fraunhofer IZM investigated the success rate of the electromagnetic approach and also recommends combining it with optical detection. Using samples from one of the German lamp treatment plants, it was successfully demonstrated that the combination of sensitive optical sensor, electromagnetic induction and selection via blue light improves the sorting and recycling process not only in terms of quality but also in terms of process speed.

The study is available to the public and can be found at www.eucolight.org/eucolight-publications. Based on the knowledge generated by this study EucoLight hopes to initiate the development of recycling processes to make them more efficient and to gain a high level of materials to be reused.

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About EucoLight

EucoLight is The European association of collection and recycling organisations for WEEE lamps and lighting. On behalf of its members, EucoLight engages with everything related to the WEEE Directive, legislations and standards affecting the collection and recycling of WEEE lighting. Its members collect and recycle, in aggregate,80% of the lamp waste collected in the 19 countries in which they operate. EucoLight is the voice of European WEEE compliance schemes specialised in managing the collection and recycling of WEEE lighting; working to make the circular economy a reality for lighting products. EucoLight has 19 PRO members: AMBILAMP (Spain); Appliances Recycling SA (Greece); Ecolamp (Italy); Ecosystem (France); Ekogaisma (Estonia); Ekolamp s.r.o. (Czech Republic); Ekolamp Slovakia, Ekosij ZEOS (Slovenia); Electrão (Portugal); Electro-Coord (Hungary); ElektroEko (Poland); FLIP (Finland); Lightcycle (Germany); LightRec (Netherlands); LWF (Denmark); Recolamp (Romania); Recolight (UK); Recupel (Belgium); UFH (Austria) and one affiliate member, LightingEurope. Founded mid-2015, EucoLight has quickly embarked into constructive dialogue with relevant stakeholders to provide expertise in the field of management and treatment of WEEE lighting and to promote the positive role of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes on the environment and society.

For more information, visit the EucoLight website www.eucolight.org, follow EucoLight on Twitter (@EucoLight) or contact the Secretary General, Marc Guiraud (marc.guiraud@eucolight.org).

About Fraunhofer IZM
Fraunhofer IZM specializes in industry-oriented applied research. The institute develops assembly and interconnection technology, also known as electronic packaging. Almost invisible and undervalued by many, electronic packaging is at the heart of every electronic application. These technologies connect the individual components, protect components and devices from vibration and moisture, and reliably dissipate heat. Fraunhofer IZM thus ensures that electronic devices continue to function reliably in even the harshest conditions. Modern packaging technologies make developing smaller and smaller products possible. They process ICs thinner than a sheet of paper. The institute, founded in 1993, has a staff of more than 400 and disposes of a lab area of over 8,000 sqm. About 80 percent of the turnover in 2021 was earned through contract research.

* Digitalizing the recycling stream of lamps: Using blue light and electromagnetic induction, lamp waste can be detected with up to 100% accuracy. The investigations were carried out in cooperation with OUT e.V.