Solar energy Flashcards
What is the sun primarily composed of
hydrogen and helium
What is solar energy
harnessing the suns energy through photovoltaic cells (convert light directly into electricity) or through solar thermal system (convert solar radiation into thermal energy)
What is the economical benefit of solar energy
Over time, solar energy systems can offer low operational costs due to minimal maintenance and no fuel costs
What is the environmental benefits of solar energy
Reduces GHG and mitigates climate change
What are the 3 advantages of solar energy
economic benefit, environmental benefit, and renewable and abundant
Fill in the blanks:
Renewable and Abundant: Solar energy, harnessed from the sun,
provides a limitless, __________ resource, essential for reducing
global reliance on ________ _______.
renewable
fossil fuels
What are the disadvantages of solar energy
High initial cost, Storage costs, intermittency issues
What are intermittency issues
Solar energy is not available at night and is less efficient during cloudy or rainy days, presenting challenges for consistent energy supply
Describe why storage costs are an issue for solar energy
Storing solar energy for use during non-sunny periods involves costly solutions
What are types of solar energy applications
Photovoltaic
lighting
Thermal
photochemical and biochemical
What are types of solar technologies
Solar collectors, photovoltaic systems, passive solar applications
What are types of devices commonly used for collecting solar radiation and converting it to useful heat
heliostats
concentrating collectors
Flat-plate collector
What is the purpose and application of flat-plate collectors
convert solar energy into usable heat
Produces hot water for residential and commercial use
When is the peak use for flat-plate solar collectors
summer
Where are flat-plate solar collectors most widely used
Asia and Europe because they have a lot of sunny days
What is the difference/meaning of the solar water heating system using a thermosyphon system or active closed loop system
The thermosyphon system operates on natural circulation whereas the active closed loop system uses anti-freeze and a pump
What are the key components of a flat-plate collector
Glazing, absorber plate, flow tubes, and insulation
What is the absorber plate usually made of
coper, steel, aluminum
Fill in the blanks:
Benefits of flat plate collector: __________ absorption of solar energy, minimal ______ loss
effective
heat
Define concentrating solar collectors
devices that concentrate sunlight onto a small area, increasing the power per unit area and hence the temperature
Fill in the blanks:
The importance of concentrating solar collectors is that they are primarily used for _________ power production and high-____________ industrial processes
electrical
temperature
What are the types of concentrating collectors
Parabolic troughs, parabolic dishes, heliostat field collectors, and Fresnel reflectors
What does the concentration ratio impact
temperature and efficiency
Why does the concentrating solar collector have a high efficiency
from intense heat focus
The concentrating solar collectors are mainly used for electricity but they can also be used for…
heating, cooling, and desalination
What are the challenges of the concentrating solar collector
high cost, sunlight dependance, environmental impact (Use large areas of land)
How do photovoltaic cells work (basic definition)
Convert sunlight directly into electricity using semiconducting materials
What are the semiconducting materials that can be used in PV cells
Silicon, Germanium, Gallium, Arsenide
How many layers of semiconductors do photovoltaic cells consist of
2
Which semiconducting material is most commonly used
silicon
how does the sunlight create electrical current from PV cells
Sunlight striking the cell generates electron-hole pairs, creating an electrical current
What drives the current in a PV cell
built in electric field at the junction between layers drives the current
What are the 3 types of PV cells
Monocrystalline cells
polycrystalline cells
Thin-film cells
What are the applications of Photovoltaic cells
building integration for aesthetic and utility
powers remote areas, no grid needed
large scale farms supply grid electricity
What is a passive solar design
uses building elements to harness solar energy. It can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs
What are types of passive solar designs
Trombe wall and solar heat gain through windows
Describe the utility of a Trombe wall
it is built from heat absorbing materials to collect solar energy and radiate heat indoors.
typically behind a glass panel
Describe the utility of solar heat gain through windows
proper design ensures balanced indoor temperatures. windows maximize winter heat gain and minimize summer heat.
To accomplish this glazing and shading is critical
