Maratuly N. Using used or defective household appliances to create spare parts // Science Time. 2021. № 6(90). С. 38-44.

Статья: Maratuly N. 2021-06.pdf

Полный выпуск: Science Time. Выпуск № 6 (2021).pdf

USING USED OR DEFECTIVE HOUSEHOLD

APPLIANCES TO CREATE SPARE PARTS

Maratuly Nurlan,

Field Service Engineer – General

Electric Kazakhstan LLP,

Astana, Kazakhstan

E-mail: nurlan.maratuly.official@gmail.com

Abstract. This article examines in detail the current problem of reusing broken or obsolete household appliances to create functional spare parts. The authors conduct a comprehensive analysis of the environmental, economic and technical aspects of this approach, considering it as a promising direction in the context of growing volumes of electronic waste. Particular attention is paid to practical methods of disassembling, diagnosing and restoring components, as well as criteria for their further use. Based on statistical data and real examples, the effectiveness of this approach for reducing the cost of producing new parts and reducing environmental damage is demonstrated. In conclusion, recommendations are formulated for the implementation of this practice and promising areas for further research in this area.

Introduction

Modern society is faced with the global problem of rapid accumulation of electronic waste, a significant share of which is faulty and obsolete household appliances. According to recent studies, more than 50 million tons of such waste are generated annually in the world, with only a fifth being recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, where hazardous substances contained in electronic components poison the environment. In this situation, reusing working units and parts from obsolete equipment seems to be a reasonable alternative that allows solving environmental and economic problems at the same time.

Technological progress leads to accelerated obsolescence of devices, as a result of which many still functional devices are sent for recycling. However, practice shows that a significant number of components – electric motors, transformers, mechanical units – remain functional even after the failure of the main device. These parts can get a second life by being used to repair other equipment or in new technical projects. This approach is especially relevant in the context of rising prices for electronics and periodic crises in the supply chains of components. The economic feasibility of reusing parts is obvious for small businesses and repair shops. For example, the cost of a refurbished electric motor from a washing machine can be 3-5 times lower than the price of a new analogue. At the same time, the quality of such components is often not inferior to the original ones, especially when it comes to parts from well-known manufacturers. Moreover, some discontinued spare parts can only be found in old devices, which makes their restoration the only option for repair.

However, the process of reusing components is associated with a number of technical difficulties. These include compatibility issues, the need for thorough diagnostics, additional processing of parts and ensuring safety when working with potentially hazardous elements. These aspects require special knowledge, equipment and time, which may limit the widespread use of this method.

The purpose of this study is a comprehensive analysis of the possibilities and limitations of reusing parts from household appliances, the development of practical recommendations for their extraction and use, and an assessment of the prospects for the development of this area in the context of sustainable development and a circular economy.

Environmental Benefits of Reusing

The problem of electronic waste has become a global issue, becoming one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the volume of e-waste increases annually by 3-4%, which significantly exceeds the rate of recycling. In this context, reusing components from household appliances is an effective way to reduce the flow of electronic waste. Each restored and reused device or part thereof means a reduction in the amount of waste ending up in landfills, where they can emit toxic substances for decades.

From an environmental point of view, the recycling of parts can significantly reduce the need for primary resource extraction. For example, the production of new electronic components requires the extraction of rare earth metals, which is associated with large-scale disruption of ecosystems and significant energy costs. According to research, extracting gold and copper from old microcircuits requires 80-90% less energy than their primary extraction and processing of ore. In addition, it reduces the amount of harmful emissions associated with mining and metallurgical production. An important aspect is the prevention of environmental pollution with hazardous substances contained in electronic components. Lead in solders, mercury in backlight lamps, cadmium in batteries – all these elements, if improperly disposed of, end up in the soil and water sources, causing irreparable harm to ecosystems. Reusing parts with subsequent professional disposal of truly hazardous components helps to minimize these risks.

The development of the practice of reusing parts is fully consistent with the principles of the circular economy, which involves the most efficient use of resources throughout their entire life cycle. This approach is supported by international initiatives in the field of sustainable development, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially goal No. 12 "Responsible Consumption and Production". Many developed countries are already introducing legislative measures stimulating the reuse of electronic components.

Thus, the environmental benefits of reusing parts from household appliances are multifaceted and significant. They include reducing the volume of electronic waste, saving natural resources, reducing energy consumption and preventing environmental pollution. These factors make this approach an important element of sustainable development strategies and environmentally responsible production.

Fig. 1

Economic Feasibility of Reusing Parts

From an economic point of view, the practice of reusing components from household appliances demonstrates significant potential for reducing costs at both the individual and industrial levels. Studies show that the cost of reconditioned parts can be 60-80% lower than that of new analogues, while maintaining 70-90% of their original resource. The savings are especially noticeable when working with expensive elements – electric motors, compressors, power supplies, where the difference in price between a new and reconditioned component can reach several hundred dollars.

For small businesses and repair services, creating a database of reconditioned components opens up new opportunities for increasing profitability. For example, a home appliance repair shop can reduce spare parts costs by 30-50% by forming its own fund of parts from faulty devices. At the same time, an important aspect is the systematization of knowledge about the compatibility of components from different manufacturers and models. The development of databases of interchangeability of parts allows to significantly expand the possibilities of their reuse, especially for devices that are no longer in production.

At the macroeconomic level, the development of the component recovery industry can create new markets and jobs. Today, specialized enterprises engaged in professional disassembly, testing and remarketing of electronic components operate in the EU and North America. These companies demonstrate stable growth rates (5-7% per year), which indicates the demand for their services. Moreover, such activities contribute to the development of related industries – repair services, the DIY sector, educational programs on electronics.

However, the economic efficiency of reuse depends on several key factors. Firstly, this is the labor intensity of diagnostics and recovery processes, which requires qualified specialists. Secondly, it is necessary to take into account logistics costs – storage, sorting and transportation of components. Thirdly, the legislative framework regulating the turnover of reconditioned parts is of great importance. In countries where such activities are licensed, the costs of compliance with regulatory requirements can amount to 15-20% of the total cost. The prospects for economic efficiency look particularly promising in the context of the development of automated diagnostics and component sorting technologies. The introduction of computer vision and machine learning systems for assessing the condition of parts can reduce labor costs by 30-40%, making component restoration even more competitive compared to the production of new ones. In addition, the development of platforms for the exchange and sale of restored parts between businesses and individuals creates new economic models in this sector.

Fig. 2

Technical Aspects of Disassembling and Restoring Components

The process of extracting and preparing parts from faulty household appliances requires adherence to a strict technological sequence and consideration of many technical nuances. The first and most important stage is qualified diagnostics, which should include both a visual inspection for mechanical damage and an instrumental check of electrical parameters. For these purposes, specialized equipment is used – multimeters, oscilloscopes, insulation testers, and recently, automated diagnostic stands have been increasingly used, allowing you to quickly assess the condition of the component.

The technology for disassembling devices varies significantly depending on the type of equipment. For example, removing an electric motor from a washing machine requires a completely different approach than dismantling a control board from a microwave oven. The general rule is the need for careful dismantling with minimal damage to both the extracted component and adjacent units. Particular care should be taken when working with elements containing hazardous substances – mercury lamps, capacitors with electrolyte, batteries. Special safety and disposal protocols have been developed for such cases.

The process of restoring parts may include several types of work:

1. Mechanical cleaning and processing (corrosion removal, bearing replacement, threaded connection restoration).

2. Electrical restoration (capacitor replacement, contact resoldering, winding rewinding)

3. Software restoration (microcontroller firmware reflashing, parameter reset)

4. Cosmetic restoration (painting, polishing, decorative element replacement)

Particular attention should be paid to the issues of standardization and labeling of reconditioned components. It is recommended to develop an identification system that includes information on:

1. The original donor device;

2. The restoration operations performed;

3. The remaining resource;

4. Warranty obligations;

5. The features of installation and operation.

A promising direction is the development of universal adapters and transition systems that allow using parts from one device in other models. This is especially relevant for obsolete equipment, when original spare parts are no longer produced. An example is the creation of transition boards for installing modern compressors in old refrigerators or adapters for using engines from different manufacturers in one type of equipment.

Examples of Successful Use of Reconditioned Components

World practice demonstrates many successful examples of the effective use of reconditioned parts from household appliances in various fields. One of the most illustrative is the use of electric motors from washing machines in machine tool building. These motors, which have high power (up to 500-800 W) and reliability, after minor modification are successfully used in homemade turning, milling and grinding machines. Direct drive motors, which can operate in a wide range of speeds and have high torque, are especially valued.

In the field of climate control equipment, the practice of using reconditioned compressors and heat exchangers has become widespread. Statistics show that about 40% of refrigeration equipment repairs in Europe are performed using reconditioned components. At the same time, their reliability is almost as good as new analogues, and the cost is 2-3 times lower. The experience of some companies that specialize in upgrading old compressors by installing modern control systems, which significantly increases their energy efficiency, is interesting. The use of electronic components – control boards, power supplies, displays – deserves special attention. Many workshops successfully repair complex household appliances by replacing faulty modules with refurbished ones. For example, replacing the main board in a dishwasher with a refurbished analogue costs the consumer on average 60% less than installing a new original part. At the same time, professionally refurbished boards show a failure rate of less than 5% during the warranty period. In developing countries, the creation of hybrid devices from parts of various equipment is especially popular. A striking example is:

Autonomous irrigation systems from washing machine pumps

Homemade generators based on vacuum cleaner motors

Lighting systems using transformers from old audio equipment

Homemade inverters based on computer power supplies

The experience of some European countries (Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands) is interesting, where specialized centers for the collection, disassembly and redistribution of household appliance components have been created. These centers cooperate with manufacturers, which allows them to obtain original technical documentation and special testing equipment. Thanks to this, the level of restored components approaches the factory level, and their use is officially permitted even in warranty repairs.

Conclusion

The conducted study convincingly demonstrates that the reuse of components from household appliances is an important direction in solving the environmental and economic challenges of our time. The accumulated data indicate the significant potential of this approach: according to experts, competent organization of recovery and reuse processes can ensure the recycling of up to 30-40% of electronic waste while reducing the cost of producing new components by 15-25%. These indicators are especially relevant in the context of the global desire for sustainable development and a circular economy.

The key areas for further development of this industry should be considered:

1. Improving diagnostic and recovery technologies (implementation of AI systems, automated test benches);

2. Development of international quality standards for reconditioned components;

3. Creation of global databases of parts compatibility;

4. Development of a legislative framework regulating the turnover of reconditioned components;

5. Stimulating consumer demand through educational programs and economic benefits.

The integration of component recovery processes into the concept of "smart cities" and "green economy" has particular potential. Already today, pilot projects are being implemented in some countries (Japan, South Korea, Scandinavian countries) to create local circular economy centers, where the recovery and reuse of electronic components occupies a central place. These centers combine the functions of collection, repair, training and research, creating a comprehensive ecosystem of sustainable consumption.

However, for these practices to be widely adopted, a number of barriers must be overcome, including:

1. Consumer skepticism about remanufactured parts;

2. Lack of unified quality standards;

3. Difficulties with warranty service;

4. Competition with cheap new mass-produced products.

The development of professional communities and associations promoting the idea of ​​reuse can help solve these problems. Educational work aimed at changing consumer stereotypes and demonstrating the real advantages of this approach from both economic and environmental points of view also plays an important role. In the long term, the development of technologies for the restoration and reuse of household appliance components can become an important element of the global resource-saving strategy. This area has every reason to turn from a niche practice into a mass industry, making a significant contribution to solving the problems of sustainable development and the formation of a closed-loop economy.

References:

1. Baldé, C.P., Forti, V., Gray, V., Kuehr, R., & Stegmann, P. (2017). The Global E-waste Monitor 2017. United Nations University (UNU), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and International Solid Waste Association (ISWA). Bonn/Geneva/Vienna.

2. Forti, V., Baldé, C.P., Kuehr, R., & Bel, G. (2020). The Global E-waste Monitor 2020: Quantities, flows and the circular economy potential. United Nations University (UNU)/United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) – co-hosted SCYCLE Programme, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) & International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).

3. European Commission. (2020). Circular Economy Action Plan. COM(2020) 98 final. Brussels.

4. Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2019). Completing the Picture: How the Circular Economy Tackles Climate Change.

5. Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). (2021). Appliance Recycling Data and Trends Report.

6. United Nations Environment Programme. (2019). Waste Crime – Waste Risks: Gaps in Meeting the Global Waste Challenge.

7. European Environment Agency. (2021). Electronics and the circular economy.