FUNDAMENTALS OF SOLAR COLLECTION AND THERMAL CONVERSION Flashcards
is a general
term for the electromagnetic radiation
emitted by the sun.
Solar radiation,
can
be captured and turned into useful
forms of energy, such as heat and
electricity, using a variety of
technologies.
Solar radiation
main energy source in our earth
solar radiation
It is the input power source to the
PV Generator
is directionally
fixed, coming from the disk of the Sun.
Direct Radiation
is, then, the
radiation that experienced
scattering processes in the
atmosphere.
Scattered Radiation
is a type of sunshine
recorder.
CAMPBELL-STOKES DAYLIGHT
RECORDER
What did John Francis Campbell invented in 1853?
CAMPBELL-STOKES DAYLIGHT
RECORDER
Who modified the CAMPBELL-STOKES DAYLIGHT
RECORDER in 1879?
Sir George Gabriel Strokes
What are the types of solar radiation?
Direct Radiation and Diffuse Radiation
What does direct radiation means?
Comes directly from the Sun to the
Earth’s surface without being
scattered.
What does diffuse radiation means?
Results from sunlight being
scattered by molecules and
particles in the Earth’s atmosphere.
when does direct radiation occurs?
Occurs when sunlight travels in a
straight path from the Sun to a
specific point
when does diffuse radiation occurs?
Appears as a uniform illumination
from the entire sky, not from a
specific direction.
Direct radiaton Can be focused or concentrated by?
mirrors or lenses
is an instantaneous power density in units of kW/m2.
Solar radiance
is the amount of electromagnetic energy (solar
radiation) incident on the surface of the earth. This refers to the amount
of sunlight shining down on the area under consideration.
Solar insolation
refers to the power per unit area received from the
Sun’s rays at a specific location on the Earth’s surface.
Solar irradiance
It is typically measured in watts per square meter (W/m2) and represents
the amount of solar energy striking a surface.
Solar Radiance
short for “incoming solar radiation,”
Solar Insolation
It is typically measured in kilowatt-hours per square meter per day
(kWh/m2/day) or megajoules per square meter per day (MJ/m2/day).
Solar Insolation
What are the PROPERTIES FOR SEMICONDUCTORS OF SOLAR CELLS
- Atomic Structure
- Doping
- Carrier Concentration
- Transport Properties
a. Drift
b. Diffusion - Recombination and Generation
- Optical Properties
- Carrier Concentration in non Equilibrium
what are the Three distinct arrangements for any material?
1Crystalline, Amorphouse and polycrystalline
what is crytsalline?
Where the atoms are perfectly ordered in a three-
dimensional array.
What is amorphous?
Where the atoms of the material have random order
compared with their original sites in the single crystal
What is polycrystalline?
Where the materials is composed of crystallographic
grains join together by grain boundaries
what is doping?
Introducing impurities into the semiconductor to alter its conductivity by
either increasing (n-type) or decreasing (p-type) the number of charge
carriers.
What is Carrier Concentration?
The density of charge carriers (electrons or holes) present in the
semiconductor material, which significantly influences its electrical behavior.
What are the transportation Properties?
drift and diffusion
What is drift?
Movement of charge carriers in response to an electric field.
What is diffusion?
The tendency of charge carriers to move from regions of higher concentration to regions of lower concentration.
What is Recombination and Generation?
Processes where charge carriers combine (recombination) or are created
(generation), affecting the overall carrier density and hence, the device’s
performance.
what are Optical Properties?
How the semiconductor material interacts with light, including absorption,
reflection, and transmission, crucial for solar cells’ efficiency.
Carrier Concentration in Non-Equilibrium
The concentration of charge carriers when the semiconductor is not in thermal equilibrium, often occurring in operating conditions, impacting
device behavior.
What is solar resource?
Although the solar resource is variable, most of the variability
is predictable based on time of day, time of year, and the angle that sunlight
hits the PV module surface. In fact, the solar resource would be perfectly
predictable based on clear-sky models if not for clouds, which are not as
predictable. So, we typically rely upon a site’s historic climate data rather
than the purely theoretical clear-sky model when assessing the expected
performance of a PV system.
What is age?
PV module efficiency unavoidably degrades at about 0.5% per year.
Failure rates are also higher in later years as the equipment ages.
What is the equation of performance ratio?
actual production/model production (%)
What is performance ratio?
refers to the fraction of the expected power output when
the plant is available.
What is the equation for availability?
(1-downtime)/total time (%)
What is availability?
refers to the percentage of time that the system is operational
and capable of delivering power if the solar resource and the grid are both
working.
Why is proper orientation towards the sun important?
for maximum sunlight exposure.
What is shading management?
● Minimize shading from nearby objects like trees, buildings, or structures
to ensure consistent sunlight exposure on panels.
● Trim vegetation and remove obstructions that cast shadows on the
modules.
what is Cleaning and Maintenance:?
● Regular cleaning of panels to remove dirt, dust, and debris that can
obstruct sunlight absorption.
● Inspection for damage or defects in panels, wiring, and mounting
structures to ensure optimal performance.
Inverter Efficiency:
● Selection of efficient inverters to convert DC electricity generated by the
panels into AC electricity for use in homes or businesses.
● Monitoring inverter performance to identify any issues that may affect
energy production.
What is battery storage?
Installation of battery storage systems to store excess energy generated
during peak sunlight hours for use during periods of low sunlight or high
demand.
● Proper sizing and maintenance of batteries to maximize energy storage
capacity and lifespan.
What is Smart Grid Integration?
● Integration with smart grid technologies to enable bidirectional energy
flow, allowing excess energy to be fed back into the grid or drawn from
the grid as needed.
● Participation in demand response programs to balance energy supply
and demand and optimize system efficiency..
What is Energy Management Software?
● Utilization of energy management software to analyze data, forecast
energy production, and optimize system operation for maximum
efficiency.
● Implementation of predictive maintenance algorithms to identify
potential issues before they impact performance and reliability.
