Photovoltaic

Question 1

What are some advantages of a PV system?

Answer 1

1. ) ‘Green’ energy
2. ) Saving money long-term
3. ) Having power in an outage

Question 2

What is the main disadvantage of a PV system?

Answer 2

High initial cost to install.

Question 3

What are some factors that have grown the PV industry?

Answer 3

1. ) Government subsidies
2. ) The space race
3. ) Oil crisis
4. ) Environmental reasons.

Question 4

What are the levels of the PV industry?

Answer 4

1. ) Manufacturer
2. ) Integrators
3. ) Installers
4. ) Consumers

Question 5

What are the two main styles of collectors?

Answer 5

Flat Plate and Concentrated

Question 6

Besides solar electricity, what are two other ways that buildings can be designed to utilize the sun?

Answer 6

Architectural lighting and thermal capabilities,

Question 7

How is power generated in a centralized power grid?

Answer 7

By large, utility owned power plants, nuclear or fossil fuel.

Question 8

____ power grid systems usually contain residences that have their own way to create power, such as backup generators, windmills, or PV systems.

Answer 8

Distributed.

Question 9

Ground and building-mounted PV systems would be classified as ____. First use was in residential communication projects.

Answer 9

Terrestrial.

Question 10

PV systems built into satellites would be classified as ____.

Answer 10

Extraterrestrial

Question 11

Other than actual PV equipment, mechanical mounting materials and electrical distribution equipment are referred to as ____.

Answer 11

Balance-of-system.

Question 12

Formula for solar IRRADIANCE.

Answer 12

w/m²

Question 13

Formula for solar IRRADIATION.

Answer 13

wh/m²

Question 14

____ angle is the angle between the sun and directly above a point on Earth.

Answer 14

Zenith

Question 15

____ is the amount of atmosphere that rays must cross through to reach a given point.

Answer 15

Air Mass.

Question 16

What are the four factors that affect air mass?

Answer 16

1. ) Time of day
2. ) Time of year
3. ) Location
4. ) Altitude

Question 17

Optimal tilt angle for a location is the same degree as the ____ of that location.

Answer 17

Latitude

Question 18

____ angle is the angle between true South and where the sun is.

Answer 18

Azimuth

Question 19

A ____ measures global solar irradiance. (Direct + Diffuse)

Answer 19

Pyranometer

Question 20

A ____ measures direct solar irradiation.

Answer 20

Pyrheliometer

Question 21

A ____ emits a certain amount of current per unit of irradiance, for measuring purposes.

Answer 21

Reference Cells

Question 22

____ PV systems require batteries, while ____ systems do not.

Answer 22

Standalone, Interactive

Question 23

What are the three types of energy storage for PV systems?

Answer 23

1. ) Batteries
2. ) Super Capacitors
3. ) Flywheels

Question 24

In an interactive PV system, the inverter operates in ____ with the utility.

Answer 24

Parallel

Question 25

For sizing a stand-alone system, the ____ should be considered first.

Answer 25

Electrical load

Question 26

Any device that changes voltage can be considered power ____.

Answer 26

Conditioning