Solar energy

Question 1

What is the sun primarily composed of

Answer 1

hydrogen and helium

Question 2

What is solar energy

Answer 2

harnessing the suns energy through photovoltaic cells (convert light directly into electricity) or through solar thermal system (convert solar radiation into thermal energy)

Question 3

What is the economical benefit of solar energy

Answer 3

Over time, solar energy systems can offer low operational costs due to minimal maintenance and no fuel costs

Question 4

What is the environmental benefits of solar energy

Answer 4

Reduces GHG and mitigates climate change

Question 5

What are the 3 advantages of solar energy

Answer 5

economic benefit, environmental benefit, and renewable and abundant

Question 6

Fill in the blanks:
Renewable and Abundant: Solar energy, harnessed from the sun,
provides a limitless, __________ resource, essential for reducing
global reliance on ________ _______.

Answer 6

renewable
fossil fuels

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of solar energy

Answer 7

High initial cost, Storage costs, intermittency issues

Question 8

What are intermittency issues

Answer 8

Solar energy is not available at night and is less efficient during cloudy or rainy days, presenting challenges for consistent energy supply

Question 9

Describe why storage costs are an issue for solar energy

Answer 9

Storing solar energy for use during non-sunny periods involves costly solutions

Question 10

What are types of solar energy applications

Answer 10

Photovoltaic
lighting
Thermal
photochemical and biochemical

Question 11

What are types of solar technologies

Answer 11

Solar collectors, photovoltaic systems, passive solar applications

Question 12

What are types of devices commonly used for collecting solar radiation and converting it to useful heat

Answer 12

heliostats
concentrating collectors
Flat-plate collector

Question 13

What is the purpose and application of flat-plate collectors

Answer 13

convert solar energy into usable heat
Produces hot water for residential and commercial use

Question 14

When is the peak use for flat-plate solar collectors

Answer 14

summer

Question 15

Where are flat-plate solar collectors most widely used

Answer 15

Asia and Europe because they have a lot of sunny days

Question 16

What is the difference/meaning of the solar water heating system using a thermosyphon system or active closed loop system

Answer 16

The thermosyphon system operates on natural circulation whereas the active closed loop system uses anti-freeze and a pump

Question 17

What are the key components of a flat-plate collector

Answer 17

Glazing, absorber plate, flow tubes, and insulation

Question 18

What is the absorber plate usually made of

Answer 18

coper, steel, aluminum

Question 19

Fill in the blanks:
Benefits of flat plate collector: __________ absorption of solar energy, minimal ______ loss

Answer 19

effective

heat

Question 20

Define concentrating solar collectors

Answer 20

devices that concentrate sunlight onto a small area, increasing the power per unit area and hence the temperature

Question 21

Fill in the blanks:
The importance of concentrating solar collectors is that they are primarily used for _________ power production and high-____________ industrial processes

Answer 21

electrical

temperature

Question 22

What are the types of concentrating collectors

Answer 22

Parabolic troughs, parabolic dishes, heliostat field collectors, and Fresnel reflectors

Question 23

What does the concentration ratio impact

Answer 23

temperature and efficiency

Question 24

Why does the concentrating solar collector have a high efficiency

Answer 24

from intense heat focus

Question 25

The concentrating solar collectors are mainly used for electricity but they can also be used for…

Answer 25

heating, cooling, and desalination

Question 26

What are the challenges of the concentrating solar collector

Answer 26

high cost, sunlight dependance, environmental impact (Use large areas of land)

Question 27

How do photovoltaic cells work (basic definition)

Answer 27

Convert sunlight directly into electricity using semiconducting materials

Question 28

What are the semiconducting materials that can be used in PV cells

Answer 28

Silicon, Germanium, Gallium, Arsenide

Question 29

How many layers of semiconductors do photovoltaic cells consist of

Answer 29

2

Question 30

Which semiconducting material is most commonly used

Answer 30

silicon

Question 31

how does the sunlight create electrical current from PV cells

Answer 31

Sunlight striking the cell generates electron-hole pairs, creating an electrical current

Question 32

What drives the current in a PV cell

Answer 32

built in electric field at the junction between layers drives the current

Question 33

What are the 3 types of PV cells

Answer 33

Monocrystalline cells
polycrystalline cells
Thin-film cells

Question 34

What are the applications of Photovoltaic cells

Answer 34

building integration for aesthetic and utility
powers remote areas, no grid needed
large scale farms supply grid electricity

Question 35

What is a passive solar design

Answer 35

uses building elements to harness solar energy. It can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs

Question 36

What are types of passive solar designs

Answer 36

Trombe wall and solar heat gain through windows

Question 37

Describe the utility of a Trombe wall

Answer 37

it is built from heat absorbing materials to collect solar energy and radiate heat indoors.

typically behind a glass panel

Question 38

Describe the utility of solar heat gain through windows

Answer 38

proper design ensures balanced indoor temperatures. windows maximize winter heat gain and minimize summer heat.
To accomplish this glazing and shading is critical