SOLAR ENERGY

Solar radiation
• Solar Radiation is radiant energy emitted by the sun, particularly
electromagnetic energy.
• About half of the radiation is in the visible short-wave part of the
electromagnetic spectrum. The other half is mostly in the near-infrared
part, with some in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum.

• Direct Radiation
• Diffuse Radiation
The energy radiated from the sun is electromagnetic waves reaching the
planet earth in three spectral regions;
i) Ultraviolet 6.4 % ( ≤ 0.38 μm),
ii) Visible 48.0 % (0.38 μm < < 0.78 μm), and
iii) Infrared 45.6 % ( ≥ 0.78 μm) of total energy.
Radiation Measurement
There are several factors on which this energy is dependent. They are
as follows :
 Latitude and longitude of the geographical location.
 Climatic conditions such as presence of clouds, water vapor etc.
 Time of the day.
 Time of the year.
 Angle of tilt.
 Collector design.
Solar Thermal Power Plant
These collectors are classified into two types. They are follows,
 Non-concentrating or flat plate solar collector
 Concentrating type solar collector.
Flat Plate Solar Collector
Flat plate solar collector (Non- concentrating) are convenient
particularly for space and service water heating where temperature
below about 90 °C are adequate. Flat plate can collect and absorb both
direct and diffuse solar radiation. They are consequently partially
effective even on cloudy days when there is no radiation. Flat plate
collectors are mainly divided into
 Liquid heating collector
 Air heating
 Evacuated tubular collector.
Liquid Heating Collector
Solar Air Heater
Evacuated Tubular Collector
Solar Concentrating Collector (Focusing Type)
It may classified as,
 Parabolic trough collector
 Minor strip reflector
 Fresnel lens collector
 Compound parabolic concentrator.
Parabolic Trough Collector
Mirror Strip Reflector
Fresnel Lens Collector
Compound Parabolic Concentrator
Thermal Energy Storage System
Thermal energy storage captures heat from a hot fluid, and stores the
energy for later use.
The primary components in a thermal energy storage consists of the
following : Storage medium, heat transfer fluid, and the insulation.
 The heat transfer fluid captures heat from solar irradiation, and
transfers portion of the heat to the storage medium.
 When the heat transfer fluid goes cold after sunset, the storage
medium replaces the sun as a heat source and heats the fluid.
Phase Changing Materials (PCM)
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power Systems
Solar PV Power Generation
A basic photovoltaic system integrated with the utility grid. It contains
of the following elements,
 Solar array
 Blocking diode
 Battery storage
 Inverter/converter
 switches and circuit breakers.
Types of Solar PV Power Generation
• Standalone Power system
• Central Power system or Grid connected system
• Hybrid system.
Standalone Power System
Grid Connected System
Hybrid System
Photovoltaic Cell Concepts
Types of Solar Module
Monocrystalline solar panels :
The most efficient and expensive solar panels are made with
Monocrystalline cells. These solar cells use very pure silicon and
involve a complicated crystal growth process. Long silicon rods are
produced which are cut into slices of 4 mm thick discs or wafers which
are then processed into individual cells that are wired together in the
solar panel.
Polycrystalline solar panels :
Often called Multi-crystalline, solar panels made with Polycrystalline cells
are a little less expensive and slightly less efficient than Monocrystalline
cells because the cells are not grown in single crystals but in a large block
of many crystals which gives them that striking shattered glass
appearance. Like Monocrystalline cells, they are also then sliced into
wafers to produce the individual cells that make up the solar panel.
Amorphous solar panels :
These are not really crystals, but a thin layer of silicon deposited on a base
material such as metal or glass to create the solar panel. These Amorphous
solar panels are much cheaper, but their energy efficiency is also much
less so more square footage is required to produce the same amount of
power as the Monocrystalline or Polycrystalline type of solar panel.
Solar Panel
1. PV panel is collection of modules physically and electrically grouped
together.
2. Most PV panels have 30 to 36 cells connected in series.
3. Each cell produces about 0.5 V in sunlight, so the panel produce 15 V to
18 V. these panels are designed to charge 12 V batteries.
4. The current depends on the size of each cell and the solar radiation
intensity.
5. The current is the same in every cell because cells are connected in
series.
6. Most PV array use an inverter to convert the DC power produced by the
modules into alternating current that can plug into the existing
infrastructure to power lights, motors and other loads.
PV Module I-V Characteristics
Short Circuit Current of Solar Cell
The maximum current that a solar cell can deliver without harming its
own consumption. It is measured by short circuiting the terminals of the
cell at most optimized condition of the cell for producing maximum
output.
Open Circuit Voltage of Solar Cell
It is measured by measuring voltage across the terminals of the cell
when no load is connected to the cell.
This voltage depends upon the techniques of manufacturing and
temperature but not fairly on the intensity of light and area of exposed
surface.
Normally open circuit voltage of solar cell nearly equal to 0.5 to 0.6
volt. It is normally denoted by Voc.
Series and Parallel Connections of a Solar Cell
Applications
• Generation of electricity.
• Heat the water in the outdoor or indoor pools.
• Under floor heating or radiators.
• Obtaining sanitary hot water. It is used to heat domestic water for showering,
washing dishes, washing hands, etc. These systems are regularly used to heat
residential water in the summer period. During the winter period this system
begins to fulfill a task of supporting the main heat system
• Operating refrigeration appliances. Thermal solar energy can also be used for
cooling buildings (air conditioning) or in industrial processes (cooling).
• Agricultural product dryers.
• Industrial use, for example, in solar ovens.
• Cooling by solar energy
• Desalination using solar energy.
Advantages of solar energy
1. It is free from pollution.
2. The plant requires little maintenance or help after set up.
3. It is economical.
4. They collect solar energy optically and transfer it to a single receiver
thus minimizing thermal energy transport requirement.
5. Concentration ratio is 300 to 1500 and are highly efficient both in
collecting energy and in converting energy.
Disadvantages of solar energy
1. It is available only by day and not when the sky is cloudy, thereby
reducing the chances of it being totally reliable and requiring storage
facilities.
2. It needs back up power plant to be kept hot and not to replace solar
power stations they stop producing energy.
3. Keeping back up plants hot includes an energy cost which includes
coal burning
4. Places located at high altitudes or those that are often cloudy are not
targets for solar power use.