Basic principles of operation and applications of Photovoltaic or Solar Cells

Leaving Cert Engineering 2008 Special Topic

Presented by Dr Alan Kavanagh and Eoin Fitzgerald Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology
Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology
Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Why Should we consider Solar Energy?

Why Solar ?

1 TW =
1x1012 W

One Kettle = 1kW = 1x103 W

Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Domestic supply = 15kW

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Physical Science of Solar Energy

Sunlight Energy is converted to electricity Uses Solar Cells or Photovoltaics (PVs) Limitless Energy Clean
Physical Science Of Solar Energy

Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

The Sun
Sun gives off energy in the form of solar radiation Surface temperature ? 5,000oC Distance form earth = 150 x 106 km 1,000,000 earths can fit into the sun On a bright day the sun shines approx 1kW of energy per m2 onto the surface
Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Black dot is the Earth

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

How can this energy be captured ?

Radiated energy from sun has to be captured Then converted into electricity by the Photovoltaic effect Use special panels called Photovoltaic (PV) Cells These cells make up Solar Panels

Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Photons and Semiconductors

Energy from the sun hits the surface of the cell, in the form of Photons Photons :Energy in the form of light and electromagnetic radiation , no charge and no mass. PV cell is a semiconductor made from a crystalline silicon (Si) material. Semiconductor materials (Si and Ge) have a conductivity in-between conductors and insulators
Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology
Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

PV Cell construction
1) 2) 3) 4) Low Iron Glass Polymer layer (EVA) Anti-reflective coating PV Cell consisting of
a) b) c) d) Contact for electricity Emitter (n-type Si) Base (p-type Si) Contact
1 2 3 a

n-type Silicon - - - - - - - - - - - + + + + + + + + + + + + p-type Silicon

c d 5

5) Back polymer layer

Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Converting Light into Electricity

Photons reach emitter layer Energy releases electrons from silicon Electrons (-) are attracted to base region (+) Holes (+) in the base are then attracted to emitter region This is a flow of electricity Electricity will flow through the two contacts Same principle as a diode
Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

n-type Silicon - - - - - - - - - - - + + + + + + + + + + + + p-type Silicon

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

PV Cell Animation
Taken from U.S. Department of Energy
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/video/pv4.mov

Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Solar Panel Construction

One PV Cell is approx 150mm in diameter In bright sunshine it produces 0.4V d.c. One Module is an array of approx 30 cells Connected together in series/parallel for desired voltage Life span is about 25 yrs Cost varies 300 - 600 per m2
Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology
Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Solar Panel Ratings

Max voltage in single PV Cell is approx 0.4V (D.C.) Current depends on sun intensity Max of 2.5A Average voltage from a module is 20V (D.C.)

Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Performance of Solar Panels

Various factors effect power o/p from panels Shade or Clouds Panel position or angle Active panels can track the sun Temperature and solar irradiance variations Air gap required for cooling Partial shading will reduce performance and can cause damage
Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology
Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Domestic Solar Panels

Panels connected to inverter This changes DC to AC Fed into Distribution Board Can supply domestic needs (e.g. hot water) Or feed into main grid
Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology
Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Types of Solar Panels

1) Monocrystalline
Uniform Blue Colour Oldest and most efficient PV cell Production process is slow and expensive 20 Year guarantee (usually for 80% rated Watts) BP Solar, Siemens

Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

2/ Polycrystalline
Module efficiency ~ 9 - 13% Irregular blue colour Less expensive to produce due to simpler manufacturing process Advantage over monocrystalline is that it is less likely to be damaged when it is partly shaded 20 Year guarantee (usually for 80% rated Watts) Solarex, Kyocera
Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology
Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

3/ Amorphous Silicon
Low Module efficiencies Only 3 - 10% Production process considerably less expensive than crystalline cells Light and flexible, so can meet a range of applications 10 year guarantee Unisolar, Intersolar
Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology
Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Facts about Renewable Energy and Solar Panels (www.sei.ie)

In 2007, renewable energy sources met about 2% of Irelands total energy consumption. (85,000 MW) EU policy targets an increase in the contribution of renewables to 12% or Europes total energy by 2010. A correctly sized solar panel system to provide an annual average of 60% of a building's hot water requirements. Government Grant through Greener Homes Scheme of 300 per m2 up to 6m2
Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology
Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Solar Cells have many applications

Large Scale
Solar Fields that supply energy to electrical Grids Large Corporation Companies Large Scale Housing Units Suburbia Towns and Villages
Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Solar Cells have many applications

Medium Scale
Farming Domestic Housing Small scale companies

Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Solar Cells have many applications

Small Scale
Everything from Calculators to Parking meters

Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Solar Cells have many applications

Cool Applications
NASA Systems Alternative Housing School Bag Solar Car Racing

Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Future Solar Cells in Action

Solar Fields

Solar Race

Solar Towers

Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells

Thank you for your time

Engineering@LIT Limerick Institute of Technology

Leaving Cert 2008 Topic - PV Cells