Solar panels are an eco-friendly electric generator.
Solar panels generate electrical power from the sun by converting sunlight to electricity with no moving parts, zero emissions, and no maintenance. The solar panel, the first component of a electric solar energy system, is a collection of individual silicon cells that generate electricity from sunlight.The basic component of a solar panel is solar cell or photovoltaic cell.Solar cell:A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device which generates electricity directly from visible light by means of the photovoltaic effect.
In order to generate useful power, it is necessary to connect a number of cells together to form a solar panel, also known as a photovoltaic module.Photovoltaic effect:What is a solar cell?How does it worksHow much energy can it produce?The photons (light particles) produce an electrical current as they strike the surface of the thin silicon wafers. A single solar cell produces only about 1/2 (.5) of a volt. However, a typical 12 volt panel about 25 inches by 54 inches will contain 36 cells wired in series to produce about 17 volts peak output.
If the solar panel can be configured for 24 volt output, there will be 72 cells so the two 12 volt groups of 36 each can be connected in series.Multiple solar panels can be connected in parallel to increase current capacity (more power) and wired in series to increase voltage for 24, 48, or even higher voltage systems. [pic]Types of solar panels:The 3 basic types of Solar PanelsMonocrystalline 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 .2 to .
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 & slightly less efficient than Monocrystalline cells because the cells are not grown in single crystals but in a large block of many crystals. This is what 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. Amorphous solar panels can even be made into long sheets of roofing material to cover large areas of a south facing roof surface. Shading & Shadows on solar panels When deciding on a location for your solar panels, make sure no shadows will fall on the solar panel array during peak sunlight hours (say, 9am to 4pm). Not only will shading of the solar panels significantly reduce their output, but also could cause damageEfficiency of solar panels:Temperature & Wind loading considerations As previously discussed, you want to mount solar panels in a sunny and non-shaded location to get maximum sun.
But, heat build-up is also a problem. Because the efficiency of solar panels decreases as temperature increases, the solar panel mounting system should allow for spacing around the individual solar panels for air circulation. The idea is to allow air cooling in the hot sun to reduce the temperature of the solar panels. Another consideration is wind loading. By allowing air to flow around the solar panels, not only will they remain cooler, but also the wind resistance of the entire array is less.
Types of Solar Panel Array Mountings :Fixed, Adjustable & TrackingFixed Mounting: panel mountsIf you use the most simple and least expensive type of solar panel mounting system, it will be completely stationary. The solar panels should always face the equatorAdjustable Mounting:The angle of inclination (tilt) of an adjustable solar panel mount can be changed 2 or more times during the year to account for the lower angle of the sun in winter as compared to summer. This will increase overall solar panel output by approximately 25%.Tracking Mounting:Tracking solar panel mounts follow the path of the sun during the day to maximize the solar radiation that the solar panels receive. A single axis tracker tracks the sun east to west and a two-axis tracker tracks the daily east to west movement of the sun and the seasonal declination movement of the sun.
These types of solar panels are efficient but are costly.
