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PV License > Definitions > Flashcards

Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

________ is a solar energy technology that uses the unique properties of certain semiconductors to directly convert solar radiation into electricity.

A

Photovoltaics

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2
Q

A _______ is an electrical system consisting of a PV module array and other electrical components needed to convert solar energy into electricity usable by loads.

A

photovoltaic (PV) system

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3
Q

_______ is a system in which many smaller power-generating systems create electrical power near the point of consumption.

A

Distributed generation

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4
Q

A _______ is an electrical or structural component, aside from a major component, that is required to complete a PV system.

A

balance-of-system (BOS) component

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5
Q

An _______ is a business that designs, builds, and installs complete PV systems for particular applications by matching components from various manufacturers.

A

integrator

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6
Q

_______ is an organization, office, or individual designated by local government with legal powers to administer, interpret, and enforce building codes.

A

Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)

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7
Q

A _______ is a device designed to absorb solar radiation and convert it to another form, usually heat or electricity.

A

solar energy collector

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8
Q

A _______ is a solar energy collector that absorbs solar energy on a flat surface without concentrating it, and can utilize solar radiation directly from the sun as well as radiation that is reflected or scattered by clouds and other surfaces.

A

flat-plate collector

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9
Q

A _______ is a solar energy collector that enhances solar energy by focusing it on a smaller area through reflective surfaces or lenses.

A

concentrating collector

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10
Q

_______ is a technology that uses mirrors and lenses to reflect and concentrate solar radiation from a large area onto a small area.

A

Concentrating solar power (CSP)

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11
Q

_______ is energy that eminates from a source in the form of waves or particles

A

Radiation

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12
Q

_______ is the power of solar radiation per unit area.

A

Solar irradiance

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13
Q

_______ is the total amount of solar energy accumulated on an area over time.

A

Solar irradiation

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14
Q

______ is solar radiation just outside Earth’s atmosphere.

A

Extraterrestrial solar radiation

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15
Q

The _______ is the average extraterrestrial solar power (irradiance) at a distance of 1AU from the sun, which has a value of approximately 1366 W/m2.

A

solar constant

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16
Q

______ is radiation in the form of waves with electric and magnetic properties.

A

Electromagnetic radiation

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17
Q

The _______ is the range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, based on wavelength.

A

Electromagnetic spectrum

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18
Q

_______ is all of the solar radiation reaching Earth’s surface and is the sum of direct and diffuse radiation.

A

Total global radiation

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19
Q

______ is solar radiation directly from the sun that reaches Earth’s surface without scattering.

A

Direct radiation

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20
Q

______ is solar radiation that is scattered by the atmosphere and clouds.

A

Diffuse radiation

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21
Q

______ is the point in the sky directly overhead a particular location.

A

Zenith

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22
Q

The ______ is the angle between the sun and the zenith.

A

zenith angle

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23
Q

______ is a representation of the relative thickness of atmosphere that solar radiation must pass through to reach a point on Earth’s surface.

A

Air mass (AM)

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24
Q

______ is solar radiation reaching the surface of the Earth.

A

Terrestrial solar radiation

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25
Q

______ is an estimate of maximum terrestrial solar irradiance around solar noon at sea level and has a generally accepted value of 1000 W/m2.

A

Peak sun

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26
Q

______ is the number of hours required for a day’s total solar irradiation to accumulate at peak sun condition.

A

Peak sun hours

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27
Q

______ is the solar energy that reaches Earth’s surface over the course of a day.

A

Insolation

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28
Q

A ______ is an encapsulated PV cell that outputs a known amount of electrical current per unit of solar irradiance.

A

reference cell

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29
Q

The ______ is the plane of Earth’s orbit around the sun.

A

ecliptic plane

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30
Q

The ______ is the plane containing Earth’s equator and extending outward into space.

A

equatorial plane

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31
Q

______ is the angle between the equatorial plane and rays of the sun.

A

Solar declination

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32
Q

A ______ is Earth’s orbital position when solar declination is at its minimum or maximum.

A

solstice

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33
Q

An ______ is Earth’s orbital position when solar declination is zero.

A

equinox

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34
Q

______ is a timescale based on the apparent motion of the sun crossing a local meridian.

A

Solar time

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35
Q

A ______ is a plane formed by due north-south longitude line through a location on Earth and projected out into space.

A

meridian

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36
Q

______ is the moment when the sun crosses a local meridian and is at its highest position of the day.

A

Solar noon

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37
Q

______ is a timescale based on the apparent motion of the sun crossing standard meridians.

A

Standard time

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38
Q

A ______ is a meridian located at a multiple of 15 degrees east or west of zero longitude.

A

standard meridian

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39
Q

The ______ is the difference between solar time and standard time at a standard meridian.

A

Equation of Time

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40
Q

An ______ is a diagram of solar declination against the Equation of Time.

A

Analemma

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41
Q

The ______ is the vertical angle between the sun and the horizon.

A

solar altitude angle

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42
Q

The ______ is the horizontal angle between a reference direction (typically due south in the Northern Hemisphere) and the sun.

A

solar azimuth angle

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43
Q

The ______ is the area of sky between sun paths for summer and winter solstice.

A

solar window

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44
Q

The ______ is the angle between the sun’s rays and a line perpendicular to the array surface

A

incidence angle

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45
Q

The ______ is the verticle angle between horizontal and the array surface.

A

array tilt angle

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46
Q

The ______is the horizontal angle between a reference direction and the direction an array surface faces.

A

array azimuth angle

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47
Q

______ is the angle between the direction a compass needle points (towards magnetic north) and true geographic north.

A

Magnetic declination

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48
Q

A ______ is a device that regulates battery charge by controlling the charging voltage and/or current from a DC power source, such as a PV array.

A

charge controller

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49
Q

A ______ is a device that converts AC power to DC power.

A

rectifier

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50
Q

A ______ is a device that combines a rectifier with filters, transformers, and other components to condition DC power for the purpose of battery charging.

A

charger

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51
Q

A ______ is a device that converts DC power from one voltage to another.

A

DC-DC converter

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52
Q

A ______ is a device or circuit that uses electronics to continually adjust the load on a PV device under changing temperature and irradiance conditions to keep it operating at its maximum power point.

A

maximum power point tracker

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53
Q

A ______ is a device that compresses and burns a fuel-air mixture, which expands and spins a turbine.

A

gas turbine

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54
Q

A ______ is an electrochemical device that uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce DC electricity, with water and heat as byproducts.

A

fuel cell

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55
Q

An ______ is an electrochemical device that uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen

A

electrolyzer

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56
Q

A ______ is a type of PV system that operates autonomously and supplies power to electrical loads independently of the electric utility.

A

stand-alone PV system

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57
Q

A ______ is a type of stand-alone system where the output of a PV module or array is directly connected to a DC load.

A

direct-coupled PV system

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58
Q

A ______ is a type of stand-alone system that uses no active control systems to protect the battery, except through careful design and component sizing.

A

self-regulating PV system

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59
Q

A ______ is a PV system that operates in parallel with and is connected to the electrical utility grid.

A

utility-interactive

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60
Q

______ is a metering arrangement where any excess energy exported to the utility is subtracted from the amount of energy imported from it.

A

Net metering

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61
Q

______ is the arrangement that measures energy exported to and imported from the utility grid separately.

A

Dual metering

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62
Q

______ is the undesirable condition where a distributed-generation power source, such as a PV system, continues to transfer power to the utility grid during a utility outage.

A

Islanding

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63
Q

A ______ is a PV system that can operate in either utility-interactive or stand-alone mode and uses battery storage.

A

bimodal system

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64
Q

A ______ is a stand-alone system that includes two or more distributed energy sources.

A

hybrid system

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65
Q

A ______ is a hybrid system that combines DC power output from all energy sources, including the PV array, for charging the battery bank.

A

DC bus hybrid system

66
Q

A ______ is a hybrid system that supplies the loads with AC power from multiple energy sources.

A

Ac bus hybrid system

67
Q

A _____ is a semiconductor device that converts solar radiation into direct current electricity.

A

photovoltaic cell

68
Q

______ is the process of adding small amounts of impurity elements to semiconductors to alter their electrical properties.

A

Doping

69
Q

A ______ is a semiconductor that has electron voids.

A

P-type semiconductor

70
Q

A ______ is a semiconductor that has free electrons.

A

N-Type semiconductor

71
Q

A ____ is a unit of electromagnetic radiation.

A

photon

72
Q

A ______ is a cell that maximizes efficiency by using layers of individual cells that each respond to different wavelengths of solar energy.

A

multifunction cell

73
Q

A ______ is a module-like PV device with its entire substrate coated in thin layers of semiconductor material using chemical vapor deposition techniques, and then laser-scribed to delineate individual cells and make electrical connections between cells.

A

thin-film module

74
Q

A _____ is a cell that relies on chemical processes to produce electricity from light, rather than using semiconductors.

A

photoelectrochemical cell

75
Q

A _____ is a thin, flat disk or rectangle of base semiconductor material.

A

wafer

76
Q

A ______ is a silicon wafer made from a single silicon crystal grown in the form of a cylindrical ingot.

A

monocrystalline wafer

77
Q

A ______ is a silicone wafer made from a cast silicon ingot that is composed of many silicon crystals.

A

polycrystalline wafer

78
Q

A ______ is a silicone wafer made by drawing a thin strip from a molten silicone mixture.

A

ribbon wafer

79
Q

The ______ is the basic electrical output profile of a PV device.

A

current-voltage (I-V) characteristic

80
Q

An ______ is the graphic representation of all possible voltage and current operating points for a PV device at a specific operating condition.

A

I-V curve

81
Q

(V oc) stands for ______

A

open-circuit Voltage

82
Q

(I sc) stands for ______

A

short-circuit current

83
Q

(P mp) stands for ______

A

maximum power point

84
Q

(V mp) stands for ______

A

maximum power voltage

85
Q

(I mp) stands for ______

A

maximum power current

86
Q

_____ is the ratio of maximum power to the product of the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current.

A

Fill factor (FF)

87
Q

_____ is the ratio of power input to power output.

A

Efficiency

88
Q

The ______ is the coefficient for estimating the rise in cell temperature above ambient temperature due to solar irradiance.

A

temperature-rise coefficient

89
Q

A ______ is the rate of change in voltage, current, or power output from a PV device due to changing cell temperature.

A

temperature coefficient

90
Q

A ______ is a PV device consisting of a number of individual cells connected electrically, laminated, encapsulated, and packaged into a frame.

A

module

91
Q

An ______ is a complete PV power-generating unit consisting of a number of individual electrically and mechanically integrated modules with structural supports, trackers or other components.

A

array

92
Q

______ is the condition of a PV device operating at negative (reverse) voltage.

A

Reverse bias

93
Q

A ______ is a diode used to pass current around,rather than through, a group of PV cells.

A

bypass diode

94
Q

______ is the minimum reverse-bias voltage that results in a rapid increase in current through an electronic device.

A

breakdown voltage

95
Q

A ______ is the basic unit in a battery that stores electrical energy in chemical bonds and delivers this energy through chemical reaction.

A

battery cell

96
Q

A ______ is an electrode consisting of active material supported by a grid framework.

A

plate

97
Q

______ is the chemically reactive compound on a battery cell plate.

A

Active material

98
Q

The ______ is a metal framework that supports the activeaterial of a battery cell and conducts electricity.

A

grid

99
Q

______ is the conducting medium that allows the transfer of ions between battery cell plates.

A

Electrolyte

100
Q

______ is an open-circuit condition where essentially no electrical or chemical changes are occurring.

A

Steady-state

101
Q

_____ is the measure of the electrical energy storage potential of a cell or battery.

A

Capacity

102
Q

______ is the process of a cell or battery converting chemical energy to electrical energy and delivering current.

A

Discharging

103
Q

The ______ is the minimum battery voltage specified by the manufacturer that establishes the battery capacity at a specific discharge rate.

A

cutoff voltage

104
Q

The ______ is the percentage of energy remaining in a battery compared to the fully charged capacity.

A

state of charge (SOC)

105
Q

______ is the percentage of withdrawn energy in a battery compared to the fully charged capacity.

A

Depth of discharge (DOD)

106
Q

______ is the amount of time a fully charged battery system can supply power to system loads without further charging.

A

Autonomy

107
Q

A ______ is a battery discharge followed by a charge.

A

cycle

108
Q

______ is a battery charging at a relatively high charge rate that charges the battery up to a regulation voltage, resulting in a state of about 80% to 90% charge.

A

Bulk charging

109
Q

______ is battery charging following bulk charging that reduces the charge current to maintain the battery voltage at a regulation voltage for a certain period.

A

Absorption charging

110
Q

______ is battery charging at a low charge rate that maintains full battery charge by counteracting self-discharge.

A

Float charging

111
Q

______ is current-limited battery charging to a voltage higher than bulk charging voltage, which brings each cell to a full state of charge.

A

Equalizing charging

112
Q

______ is the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen gases as a battery charges.

A

Gassing

113
Q

______ is the ratio of applied charge to the resulting increase in battery charge.

A

Overcharge

114
Q

______ is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of water.

A

Specific gravity

115
Q

_____ is the growth of lead sulfate crystals on the positive plate of a lead-acid battery.

A

Sulfication

116
Q

______ is a condition of flooded lead-acid cells in which the specific gravity of the electrolyte is greater at the bottom than at the top.

A

Stratification

117
Q

A _____ is a battery that can store and deliver electrical energy but cannot be recharged.

A

primary battery

118
Q

A ______ is a battery that can store and deliver electrical energy and can be charged by passing a current through it in an opposite direction to the discharge current.

A

secondary battery

119
Q

A ______ is a class of battery designed for repeated deep-discharge cycle service.

A

traction battery

120
Q

A ______ is a class of battery designed primarily for shallow-discharge cycle service.

A

starting, lighting, and ignition (SLI) battery

121
Q

A ______ is a class of battery designed for occasional deep-discharge limited-cycle service.

A

stationary battery

122
Q

A ______ is a vent cap that reduces electrolyte loss from an open-vent flooded battery by recombinant vented gases into water.

A

catalytic recombination cap (CRC)

123
Q

A ______ is a device that regulates battery charge by controlling the charging voltage and/or current from a DC power source.

A

charge controller

124
Q

______ is the ratio of the increase in battery charge to the amount of charge applied to the battery.

A

Charge acceptance

125
Q

______ is a charge cycle in which less charge is returned to a battery bank than what was withdrawn on discharge.

A

Deficit charge

126
Q

______ is the condition of a battery state of charge declining to the point where it can no longer supply discharge current at a sufficient voltage without damaging the battery.

A

Overdischarge

127
Q

An ______ is a charge controller that switches the charging current ON and OFF for charge regulation.

A

Interrupting-type charge controller

128
Q

A ______ is a charge controller that limits charging current in a linear or gradual manner with high-speed switching or linear control.

A

Linear-type charge controller

129
Q

A ______ is a charge controller that limits charging current to a battery system by short-circuiting the array.

A

Shunt charge controller

130
Q

A ______ is a charge controller that suspends charging current to a battery system by completely short-circuiting the array.

A

Shunt-interrupting charge controller

131
Q

A ______ is a charge controller that suspends charging current to a battery system by gradually lowering the resistance of a shunt element through which excess current flows.

A

Shunt-linear charge controller

132
Q

A ______ is a charge controller that limits charging current to a battery system by open-circuiting the array.

A

Series charge controller

133
Q

A ______is a charge controller that completely open-circuits the array, suspending current flow into the battery.

A

Series-interrupting charge controller

134
Q

A _____ is a charge controller that limits charging current to a battery system by gradually increasing the resistance of a series element.

A

Series-linear charge controller

135
Q

A ______ is a charge controller that simulates a variable charging current by switching a series element ON and OFF at high frequency and for variable lengths of time.

A

Series-interrupting, pulse-width-modulated charge controller (PWM)

136
Q

A ______ is a charge controller that operates the array at itsaximum power point under a range of operating conditions, as well as regulates battery charging.

A

Maximum powere point tracking (MPPT) charge controller

137
Q

A _____y is a charge controller that regulates charging current to a battery system by diverting excess power to an auxiliary load.

A

diversionary charge controller

138
Q

The _____ is an auxiliary load that is not a critical system load but is always available to utilize the full array power in a useful way to protect a battery from overcharge.

A

diversion load

139
Q

A _____ is a controller with advanced features for managing multiple energy sources.

A

hybrid system controller

140
Q

An _____ is a charge controller that counts the total amount of charge (in ampere-hours) into and out of a battery and regulates charging based on a preset amount of overcharge.

A

ampere-hour integrating charge controller

141
Q

The _____ is the voltage the triggers the onset of battery charge regulation because it is the maximum voltage that a battery is allowed to reach under normal operating conditions.

A

voltage regulation (VR) setpoint

142
Q

The ______ is the voltage at which an interrupting-type charge controller reconnects the array to the battery and resumes charging.

A

array reconnect voltage (ARV) setpoint

143
Q

The ______ is the voltage difference between the voltage regulation (VR) setpoint and the array reconnect voltage (ARC) setpoint.

A

voltage regulation hysteresis (VRH)

144
Q

The ______ is the voltage that triggers the disconnection of system loads to prevent battery overdischarge because it is the minimum voltage a battery is allowed to reach under normal operating conditions.

A

low-voltage disconnect (LVD) setpoint

145
Q

The _____ is the voltage at which a charge controller reconnects loads to the battery system.

A

load reconnect voltage (LRV) setpoint

146
Q

The ______ is the voltage difference between the low-voltage disconnect (LVD) and load reconnect voltage (LRV) setpoints.

A

low-voltage disconnect hysteresis (LVDH)

147
Q

______ is the percentage of time a load is operating.

A

Duty cycle

148
Q

The ______ is the ratio of electrical energy demand to average insulation during a period.

A

critical design ratio

149
Q

The ______ is the month with the highest critical design ratio.

A

critical design month

150
Q

______ is the percentage of time over an average year that a stand alone PV system meets the system load requirements.

A

System availability

151
Q

______ is the amount of time a fully charged battery system can supply power to system loads without further charging.

A

Autonomy

152
Q

The ______ is the portion of load operating power that comes from the battery bank over the course of a day.

A

load fraction

153
Q

______ is the accumulation of dust and dirt on an array surface that shades the array and reduces electrical output.

A

Soiling

154
Q

The ______ is the estimated temperature of aodule operating in a specific mounting system design.

A

installed nominal operating cell temperature (INOCT)

155
Q

A _____y is a fixed array that replaces conventional building materials with specifically designed modules that perform an architectural function in addition to producing power.

A

building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) array

156
Q

A _____ is a calculated structural load used to evaluate the strength of a structure to failure.

A

design load

157
Q

The _____ is the maximum value of a 3 sec gust a 33’ elevation, which is used in wind load calculations.

A

basic wind speed

158
Q

______ is a wind load factor that accounts for the array height and the characteristics of the surrounding terrain.

A

Exposure

159
Q

The ______ is the force required to remove a screw from a material by tensile (pulling) force only.

A

allowable withdrawal load

160
Q

______ is the addition of lumber under a roof surface and between trusses or rafters as supplemental structural support.

A

Blocking

161
Q

_____ is the addition of lumber under a roof surface and across trusses or rafters as supplemental structural support.

A

Spanning

162
Q

______ is an attachment method that relies on the weight of the array, support structure, and ballasting material to hold the array in position.

A

Self-ballasting

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