Control of accidental releases of hydrogen selenide and hydrogen sulphide in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells: a feasibility study

Industrial and regulatory communities are concerned about the need to control routine and accidental releases of toxic gases. This paper outlines an approach for evaluating control systems for new technologies when there is only limited experience. The approach is illustrated by identifying and evaluating specific options to control releases of hydrogen selenide (H₂Se) and hydrogen sulphide (H cells. Routine emmisions can be controlled with a system composed of a Venturi scrubber, a packed-bed scrubber, and a carbon adsorption bed. Accidental releases can be controlled by the proper design of a ventillation system combined with either a Venturi and packed-bed scrubber and carbon-a or a containment-scrubbing equipment followed by carbon adsorption. The annualized costs of these controls (≈$0.01/Watt-peak (W_p)), are small compared with current (≈$6/W_p) and projected (≈$1/W_p) production costs. Thus, systems which could control accidental releases of highly toxic H₂Se and H₂S in CuInSe₂ photovoltaic cell manufactu These systems can effectively reduce emmisions of toxic gas to levels needed to protect the health of the public.