Solar Photovoltaic Panels

Solar Photovoltaic Panels

A Solar panel is designed to absorb the sun's rays as a source of energy for generating electricity or heating.

A photovoltaic system, (also called PV system or solar power system) is a power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaic.

The term solar panel is normally used for a photo-voltaic (PV) module.

The most common application of solar energy collection outside agriculture is solar water heating systems.

[Photovoltaic means process of converting light (photons) to electricity (voltage)]

In our society, there is an installation of solar energy Roof top system having 100 KW capacity.

Efficiency:

Each module is rated by its DC (Direct Current) output power under Standard Test Conditions (STC). Power typically ranges from 100 to 365 Watts (W). The efficiency of a module determines the area of a module given the same rated output – an 8% efficient 230 W module will have twice the area of a 16% efficient 230 W module. Some commercially available solar modules exceed 24% efficiency.

Theory and Construction:

Most modules are rigid, but semi-flexible ones based on thin-film cells are also available.
The cells are connected electrically in series, one to another to the desired voltage, and then in parallel to increase amperage (related to current).
The wattage of the module is the mathematical product of the voltage and the amperage of the module (P= V X I).
Solar panels use metal frames consisting of racking components, brackets, reflector shapes, and troughs to better support the panel structure.

Technology:

Most solar modules are currently produced from crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells made of multicrystalline and monocrystalline silicon.
Emerging, third generation solar technologies use advanced thin-film cells. They produce a relatively high-efficiency conversion for the low cost compared to other solar technologies.
Also, high-cost, high-efficiency, and close-packed rectangular Multi-Junction (MJ) cells [MJ-cells are compound semiconductors and made of gallium arsenide (GaAs) and other semiconductor materials.] are preferably used in solar panels on spacecraft, as they offer the highest ratio of generated power per kilogram lifted into space.
Another emerging PV technology using MJ-cells is Concentrator Photovoltaics (CPV).

Mounting and Tracking:

There are 2 types of mounting:

· Ground Mounting Photovoltaic System.

· Roof Mounting Photovoltaic System

Solar trackers increase the energy produced per module at the cost of mechanical complexity and increased need for maintenance. They sense the direction of the Sun and tilt or rotate the modules as needed for maximum exposure to the light.

Applications:

There are many practical applications for the use of solar panels or photovoltaics. In health care solar panels can be used to refrigerate medical supplies. It can also be used for infrastructure. PV modules are used in photovoltaic systems and include a large variety of electric devices such as:

· Photovoltaic power stations

· Rooftop solar PV systems

· Standalone PV systems

· Solar hybrid power systems

· Concentrated photovoltaics

· Solar planes

· Solar-powered water purification

· Solar-pumped lasers

· Solar vehicles

· Solar panels on spacecrafts and space stations

Recycling:

Most parts of a solar module can be recycled including up to 95% of certain semiconductor materials or the glass as well as large amounts of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Recycling possibilities depend on the kind of technology used in the modules.

Maintenance:

Cells must be protected from mechanical damage and moisture.
A dirty solar panel can reduce its power capabilities by up to 30% in high dust/pollen or desert areas.

Gallery: