SOLAR

ENERGY
CONVERSION
PRESENTED BY: AYSON & FRIENDS
SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES
There are three primary technologies by which
solar energy is harnessed: photovoltaics (PV),
which directly convert light to electricity;
concentrating solar power (CSP), which uses
heat from the sun (thermal energy) to drive
utility-scale, electric turbines; and solar heating
and cooling (SHC) systems, which collect
thermal energy to provide hot water and air
heating or conditioning.
MEMBERS OF
THE TEAM

Jonathan N. Ayson
(Leader) Harold John D. Aban Ace Russel T. Manguiat
 MEMBERS OF
THE TEAM

Lyna Danica G. Gulangayan Rhyza Yven A. Manalo Abby Joy B. Aventurado

TOPICS FOR TODAY
Solar Technologies Intro

Topic 1: Photovoltaics (PV)

Topic 2: Solar Heating and Cooling

(SHC)

Topic 3: Concentrating Solar Power

(CSP)
 TOPIC 1:
PHOTOVOLTAICS
 TOPIC 1: Photovoltaic (PV)
• Photovoltaics (PV) is the science of direct conversion of light to D.C
electricity, based on the fundamental principle of “photovoltaic
effect”. This phenomenon is exhibited in semiconductor materials.

• Photovoltaic (PV) devices generate electricity directly from sunlight

via an electronic process that occurs naturally in certain types of
material, called semiconductors. Electrons in these materials are freed
by solar energy and can be induced to travel through an electrical
circuit, powering electrical devices or sending electricity to the grid.

• The photovoltaic effect is a physical phenomenon that occurs when

certain materials, such as semiconductors, are exposed to light. It is the
process by which photons (particles of light) are absorbed by a material
and their energy is used to create an electric current.

• PV devices can be used to power anything from small electronics such

as calculators and road signs up to homes and large
commercial businesses.
 TOPIC 1: Photovoltaic (PV)
• Solar cells are devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity.
Solar cells are made of layers of semiconductor materials similar to
those used in computer chips. When sunlight is absorbed by these
materials, the solar energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms,
allowing the electrons to flow through the material to produce
electricity. 
• A solar module, also known as a solar panel, is an assembly of solar
cells that are interconnected and mounted in a frame. The purpose of
a solar module is to generate electrical power by converting sunlight
into usable electricity. The solar cells within a module are connected
in series and/or parallel to increase the voltage and/or current output
of the module. The electrical energy produced by a solar module can
be used directly to power electrical devices or it can be stored in
batteries for later use.
• A solar array is a collection of solar panels that are designed to
convert sunlight into electrical energy. They are typically combined
into modules of about 40 cells; the modules are in turn assembled
into PV arrays up to several meters on a side. These flat-plate PV
arrays can be mounted at a fixed angle facing south, or they can be
mounted on a tracking device that follows the sun, allowing them to
capture more sunlight. 
 TOPIC 1: Photovoltaic (PV)
What are solar panels made of?
Silicon is one of the most important materials used in solar panels,
making up the semiconductors which actually create electricity from solar
energy.  The solar panel manufacturing process brings together six
different components to create a functioning solar panel. These parts
include silicon solar cells, a metal frame, glass sheet, standard 12V wire,
and bus wire. 
• Silicon solar cells convert the Sun’s light into electricity using the
photovoltaic effect. Soldered together in a matrix-like structure
between the glass panels, silicon cells interact with the thin glass
wafer sheet and create an electric charge. 
• A solar panel’s metal frame is useful for many reasons; protecting
against inclement weather conditions or otherwise dangerous
scenarios, and to help mount the solar panel at the desired angle.
• The glass casing sheet is usually 6-7 millimeters thick, and although it
is thin, it plays a big role in protecting the silicon solar cells inside. 
 • Standard 12V wire
A 12V wire helps regulate the amount of energy being transferred into
your inverter, aiding with the sustainability and efficiency of the solar
module.
• Bus wire
Bus wires are used to connect the silicon solar cells in parallel. Bus wires
are covered in a thin layer for easy soldering, and are thick enough to
carry electrical currents.
How do photovoltaic cells work?
A PV cell is made of materials that can absorb photons from the
sun and create an electron flow. When electrons are excited by
photons, a flow of electricity known as a direct current is created. A
solar cell works in three generalized steps:

• PV cells absorb incoming sunlight

The photovoltaic effect starts with sunlight striking a photovoltaic
cell. Solar cells are made of a semiconductor material, usually
silicon, that is treated in such a way that allows it to interact with
the photons that make up sunlight.

• Electrons begin flowing, creating an electrical current

There are two layers of silicon used in photovoltaic technology, and each one
is specially treated (known as “doping”) to create an electric field, meaning
one side has a net positive charge and one has a net negative charge. This
electric field acts as a diode and forces loosened electrons to flow through it
in one direction, generating an electrical current.

• Wires capture the electrical current and combine current from all cells
of a solar panel
Once an electrical current is generated by loose electrons, metal plates on
the sides of each solar cell collect those electrons and transfer them to wires.
At this point, electrons can flow as electricity through the wiring to a 
solar inverter and then throughout your home.
COMPONENTS
OF PV SYSTEM
 Solar PV module
 Battery
 Charge Controller
 Inverter/ Converter
 Mounting structure and tracking device
 Interconnections and other devices
 TOPIC 1: Photovoltaic (PV)
Solar PV module

• The solar cells are interconnected in certain series/parallel

combination to forms modules. These modules are hermetically
sealed for protection against corrosion, moisture, pollution and
weathering. Cells may be connected in parallel to achieve the desired
current and then stacked in series to achieve the desired voltage.
• Solar PV system can produce an output only if sunlight is present. If it
is required to be used during non sunshine hours, a suitable system of
storage batteries will be required.

PV controller

• The PV controller works as a voltage regulator. The primary function of

a controller is to prevent the battery from being overcharged by the
array.
• PV charge controller constantly monitors the battery voltage.
 TOPIC 1: Photovoltaic (PV)
Batteries

• Batteries are often used in PV systems for the purpose of storing

energy produced by the PV array during the day, and to supply it to
electrical loads as needed (during the night and periods of cloudy
weather). Other reasons batteries are used in PV systems are to
operate the PV array near its maximum power point, to power
electrical loads at stable voltages, and to supply surge currents to
electrical loads and inverters.

Inverters/ converters

• It is a device usually solid state, which change the array DC to AC of

suitable voltage, frequency & phase to feed PV generated power into
the power grid or local load.
 TOPIC 2:
Solar Heating and
Cooling Technology
 TOPIC 2:Solar Heating and Cooling
(SHC)
INTRODUCTION:

• Solar heating & cooling (SHC) technologies collect the

thermal energy from the sun and use this heat to provide hot
water, space heating, cooling, and pool heating for residential,
commercial, and industrial applications.
• These technologies displace the need to use electricity or
natural gas.
• The main function of solar system is to convert sun light into
heat. The primary requirements of SHC is to setup the light
collectors with higher efficiency.
• It can also be use as an alternative to solar photovoltaic (PV)
system.
 TOPIC 2:Solar Heating and Cooling
(SHC)
INTRODUCTION:

• Solar heating and cooling systems simply eliminate the need

for electricity to cool or heat the air and water in a home or
business.
 TOPIC 2:Solar Heating and Cooling
(SHC)
INTRODUCTION:

• Solar heating systems can be divided into two groups, passive

solar and active solar heating. In essence, these systems
harvest thermal energy from the sun and utilize the collected
heat for space heating purposes or to heat domestic water.

• Passive solar systems rely on the structure of the building to

collect heat. This could be in the form of a tilt or a roof
orientation that allows for higher solar irradiance.

• Active solar heating systems rely on heat pumps that transfer

the collected heat from the solar collectors to the building.

• In contrast to photovoltaic panels that generate electricity,

thermal solar panels are used to capture energy from the sun
and utilize it to provide the abovementioned commodities.
 SYSTEM
HEATING
Active Heating– This system can be used as
commercial hot water as well as space heat. A
space heat application involves some additional
connecting hardware for space heat distribution
system. Active solar heating system involve
following major components.

• Collectors
• Circulation System
• Storage Tank
• Backup Heating System
• Control System
 SYSTEM
HEATING
Passive Heating– Passive solar heating is the least
costly technique to heat home space. The main
aim of this is to kept out heat in summer and kept
in heat in winter from sunlight. Passive solar
heating also depends on ventilation or windows
provided in buildings or houses.
 Solar cooling is a technology that converts sun light heat energy into
useful cooling of buildings. The process works by using solar heat
collecting and supplied this heat to the thermal cooling system, to
generate chilled water.

A solar combisystem provides both solar space heating and cooling as

well as hot water from a common array of solar thermal collectors,
usually backed up by an auxiliary non-solar heat source.
TOPIC 2: Solar Heating and Cooling
(SHC)
Component of SHC
• Collectors to take the heat from the sun and pass it to a fluid.

• The heat transfer fluid which takes the heat from the elector for use
or storage.

• Heat exchanges to transfer the heat from the fluid to a home’s

domestic water.

• Pumps to move the fluid through the collector and/or the exchanger,
and sometimes to move the domestic water through the other side of
the exchanger.

• Controllers to run the pumps when there is a collector heat available.

Important Components
TOPIC 2: Solar Heating and Cooling
(SHC)

Advantages of SHC over Conventional Methods:

• SHC reduced the conventional heating and cooling cost

up to 35%-40%.
• This system helps by providing employment to establish
SHC system.
• Direct reduction can be made by using SHC system.
• Combination of heating and cooling easily available for
all types of back up heat source.
• Energy sourced easily available in maximum quantity.
• Collectors used can be recyclable.
 TOPIC 3:
Concentrating Solar
Power (CSP)
TOPIC 3: Concentrating Solar Power
(CSP)
INTRODUCTION

• Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technologies use mirrors to

concentrate (focus) the sun's light energy and convert it into heat to
create steam to drive a turbine that generates electrical power.

• CSP technology utilizes focused sunlight. CSP plants generate electric

power by using mirrors to concentrate (focus) the sun's energy and
convert it into high-temperature heat. That heat is then channeled
through a conventional generator.

The plants consist of two parts:

 one that collects solar energy and converts it to heat
 that converts the heat energy to electricity.
 TOPIC 3: Concentrating Solar Power
(CSP)
Component of CSP:

 The Solar Field

-A parabolic trough power plant's solar field consists of a large, modular array of single-axis-
tracking parabolic trough solar collectors. Many parallel rows of these solar collectors span
across the solar field, usually aligned on a north-south horizontal axis. The basic component of a
parabolic trough solar field is the solar collector assembly or SCA. A solar field consists of
hundreds or potentially thousands of solar collector assemblies.
 Thermal Energy Storage
-The availability of efficient and low-cost thermal storage is important for the long-term cost
reduction of trough technology and significantly increases potential market opportunities.
Several thermal energy storage (TES) technologies have been tested and implemented since
1985. 
 The Power Generation System
- A parabolic trough solar power plant uses a large field of collectors to supply thermal
energy to a conventional power plant. Because they use conventional power cycles, parabolic
trough power plants can be hybridized—other fuels can be used to back up the solar power.
Like all power cycles, trough power plants also need a cooling system to transfer waste heat to
the environment.
 SOLAR FIELD
Each solar collector assembly is an
independently tracking, parabolic trough
solar collector composed of the following key
subsystems:
• Concentrator structure
• Mirrors or reflectors
• Linear receiver or heat collection element
• Pump system for the HTF
• Collector balance of system
THERMAL ENERGY
STORE
 The two-tank direct system

 Two-tank indirect system

 Single-tank thermocline system

POWER GENERATING SYSTEM

 Power cycles

• Steam Rankine

• Organic Rankine

• Combined

 Fossil-fired (hybrid) backup

 Wet and dry cooling

3 ALTERNATIVE
TECHNOLOGICAL
APPROACHES (CSP)
 THROUGH SYSTEMS
 POWER TOWER SYSTEMS
 DISH/ENGINE SYSTEMS
 TOPIC 3: Concentrating Solar Power
(CSP)
THROUGH SYSTEMS
• Trough systems use large, U-shaped (parabolic) reflectors (focusing
mirrors) that have oil-filled pipes running along their center, or focal
point.
• The mirrored reflectors are tilted toward the sun, and focus sunlight
on the pipes to heat the oil inside to as much as 750°F. The hot oil is
then used to boil water, which makes steam to run conventional
steam turbines and generators.
 TOPIC 3: Concentrating Solar Power
(CSP)
POWER TOWER SYSTEMS

• Power tower systems also called central receivers, use many large,

flat heliostats (mirrors) to track the sun and focus its rays onto a
receiver.
• The hot fluid can be used immediately to make steam for electricity
generation or stored for later use.
• Molten salt retains heat efficiently, so it can be stored for days before
being converted into electricity.
• That means electricity can be produced during periods of peak need
on cloudy days or even several hours after sunset.
 TOPIC 3: Concentrating Solar Power
(CSP)
DISH/ENGINE SYSTEMS
• Dish/engine systems use mirrored dishes (about 10 times larger than a
backyard satellite dish) to focus and concentrate sunlight onto a
receiver.
• To capture the maximum amount of solar energy, the dish assembly
tracks the sun across the sky. The receiver is integrated into a high-
efficiency "external" combustion engine. The engine has thin tubes
containing hydrogen or helium gas that run along the outside of the
engine's four piston cylinders and open into the cylinders. As
concentrated sunlight falls on the receiver, it heats the gas in the tubes
to very high temperatures, which causes hot gas to expand inside the
cylinders. 
Key requirements
for CSP:
 FINANCING

 AREAS OF HIGH SOLAR RADIATION

 CONTIGIOUS PARCELS OF LAND

 ACCESS TO WATER RESOURCES

 AVAILABLE AND PROXIMATE

TRANSMISSION ACCESS
THANK YOU
 Question 1: The _____________ is a physical phenomenon that
occurs when certain materials, such as semiconductors, are exposed
to light.

Question 2: It is also known as a solar panel, is an assembly of

solar cells that are interconnected and mounted in a frame.
 Question 3: Which of these do NOT belong to the group?
A. Silicon Solar Cells
B. Metal Frame
C. Solar Arrays
D. Glass Casing Sheet

Question 4: It is a process of PV effects which starts with sunlight

striking through PV cells.
 Question 5: A solar technology which collects the thermal energy
from the sun and use this heat to provide hot water.

Question 6: Passive Solar System: Structure of the building to collect heat

Active Solar System:
________________________________
 Question 7: It provides both solar space heating and cooling as well
as hot water from a common array of solar thermal collector.

Question 8: ____________uses large, U-shaped reflectors that have

oil-filled pipes running along their center, or focal point.
 Question 9: What are the 3 main components of CSP?

Question 10: A solar field consists of hundreds or potentially

thousands of SCA. SCA stands for______?
 ANSWERS:
1. Photovoltaic Effect/s
2. Solar Module
3. C. Solar Arrays
4. PV cells absorb incoming sunlight
5. Solar Heating and Cooling/SHC
6. heat pumps that transfer the collected heat from the solar collectors to the building.
7. Solar Combisystem
8. Through System
9. Solar Field, Thermal Energy Storage, Power Generation System
10. Solar Collector Assembly