Solar Energy Final2

8/3/2019 Solar Energy Final2

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MOHD MUIZZUDDIN WAHAB 945956 Page 1 of 7

INTRODUCTION

The process of burning fossil fuels always produces greenhouse gases likecarbon dioxide (CO2). This will cause global warming and climate change

1.Through its study in 1981, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

found that the consumption of fossil fuels would increase between 1980 and20302. Scientists keep doing research to find alternative fuels to substitute theseharmful fossil fuels. One of them is by using free solar energy which will convertsolar radiation into electrical energy or heat to run not only vehicles but alsomany home appliances.

WHO WILL USE THE PRODUCT?

Solar energy could benefits the whole society economically. Basically, usershave to learn how to use this product since it involves the generation of electricalenergy or heat which is very dangerous in certain circumstances. Consumers

also have to at least know about the operation of the solar cells so that problemssuch as the need to store solar energy for the usage during the lack of sunradiation may be handled correctly.

HOW WILL THE PRODUCT BE DELIVERED?

Solar energy could be converted or delivered as electrical energy (current) orheat. It is possible to store both. No doses applied to solar energy. The larger thesurface area of the collectors, the more efficient it would be for generatingenergy. However, a bigger size might give rise to other problems like bulkinessand portability.

WHAT FOR?

Generally speaking, solar energy could be use as alternative fuel to fossil fuel. Itcould be converted into electrical energy and heat. Thus, it is suitable for manyapplications such as in heating system and electric appliances.

HOW IT IS PRODUCED?

Electron is the central of chemistry. The two most approachable technologies forsolar energy production are photovoltaic (PV) cells which store electrical energy,and solar-thermal conversion involving heat storage3.

1Electric Vehicle Technology Explained , LARMINIE, James and LOWRY, John (2003) pg 246

2Solar Hydrogen: Moving Beyond Fossil Fuels, OGDEN, Joan M. and WILLIAMS, Robert H. (1989) pg

3Solar Energy: Technology And Applications , WILLIAMS , J.Richard (1974) pg 47-48


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1. PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS

One of the non-fossil energy sources is the PV electricity generation4.

STRUCTURE

The Structure of PV Cells

Silicon is the main semi-conductor material used to produce PV cells5.Nowadays, PV cells are made of mono- or polycrystalline silicon wafersor amorphous silicon films6. PV cells consist of two layers - n-layer andp-layer. N-layer comprises phosphorous which gives the layer excess

free electrons and thus a negative character. P-layer has a positivecharacter as it tends to attract electrons. Both layers are uncharged7 asthey already have equal negative and positive charges that are free tomove to other positions within the layer.

HOW IT WORKS

When both layers come together, electrons of the n-layer will beattracted and flow to the p-layer before they form a p-n junction, stopsfurther electron flows between the layers.

4Energy Efficiency Manual, DONALD R, Wulfinghoff (1999) pg 1267

5Solar Electricity : An Economic Approach To Solar Energy , PALZ , Wolfgang (1978) pg 180

6http://www.total.com/static/en/medias/topic1618/Solar_Energy-21-03-06.pdf

7http://www.need.org/needpdf/infobook_activities/SecInfo/SolarS.pdf


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The Production of Electric Field

N-layer will be positively charged and vice versa. This uneven chargedistribution produces an electrical field between both layers.

Exposure to the sun illumination, would then allow photons to ejectelectrons from the p-n junction to make them free from their atoms. N-layer will subsequently attract these electrons while p-layer repels themaway.

Electrons in the n-layers also repel each other. If a wire is connected to aload, electrons will be able to move from n-layer to the p-layer. Theseflowing electrons represent current that can be used as electrical energy.Electricity can finally be stored in rechargeable batteries.

2. SOLAR-THERMAL CONVERSION

Solar-thermal conversion store heat using high capacity materials likewater, earth and stone8. Two main approaches are the solar furnace andsolar farm. In the solar furnace approach, sunlight is concentrated into asingle heat exchanger. In the latter approach, rays are focused on longpipes which collect the heat by several linear reflectors.

8Passive Solar Buildings. BALCOMB, J. Douglas, (1992) Massachusetts Institute of Technology. pg 6


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In order to maximize the production of solar energy, scientific apparatus can beused. Solar energy collectors must be placed at an open and spacious areawhere the sun rays are not blocked by any building or plant. This will ensure thatthe collector will produce energy at the maximum amount. We can alsodetermine the radiation flux at one area and compare it with the others. Indirectly,

this will enable us to set a solar collector at the best location. Several apparatusto measure fluxes are pyrheliometer, pyranometer, pyrgeometer andpyrradiometer9 which have different usages, depending on the conditions.

Solar energy is a green energy which produces neither air nor water pollution atall. It is environmental-friendly. Cost-wise, it is free except for the installation andmanufacture. A research shows that users could save more in a year onelectricity bills10. People might notice the reliability of solar energy to sun light.However, solar energy can be stored either as electricity or heat. No fuel isneeded by the photovoltaic, thus it is very cost effective11. Furthermore,generating the energy is a silent process. Research also shows that its lifespan

may reach another 50 million years12

.

9Solar Energy Measuring Equipment, WOOD, Byard D. in Solar Energy Engineering, SINGH, A.A.M, (1977) , pg

397-39810

http://www.osa.org/News/policyprograms/specialevents/SolarEnergyCaucus/Powering%20the%20Future%20with%

20Solar%20Energy.pdf11

Plant Engineers Reference Book 2nd Edition, SNOW, Denis. A. (2002) pg 4312

Solar Cells, BACKUS, C.E. (1976)

Pyrheliometer Pyranometer Pyrgeometer Pyrradiometer


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LAWS AND REGULATIONS

With the awareness on the harmful greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, SF6,HFCs,PFCs), many developed countries including the UK, have agreed to the

Kyoto Protocol which aims to reduce the emissions to 5% below than those in1990, by 201213.

In order to achieve the objective of Kyoto Protocol, UK Government hassupported the renewable energy industries including that of solar energy andmicrogeneration. One of the government initiatives is that, anyone who wants toinstall the microgeneration technologies including solar panel (PV cells) andsolar-thermal heating system will be given a grant as financial incentives; up to2 500 for solar panel and 400 for solar-thermal heating system14.

Generally, anything related to solar energy is bound to the Energy Act. Energy

Act 2004 has stated that electricity produced must not exceed 50 kilowatts and45 kilowatts thermal for heat produced15. Government also states in item number4 to 6 of Electricity Act 1989, that any person who would like to generate,transmit and supply electricity to any premise or person must apply for alicense16.

(995 words)

13Sustainable And Environmental Impact Of Renewable Energy Sources, HESTER, R.E. and HARRISON, R.M,(2003) pg 9414

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Energyandwatersaving/Renewableandlowcarbonenergy/D

G_07266015

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/ukpga_20040020_en_116

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1989/ukpga_19890029_en_1


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REFERENCES:

BACKUS, C.E. (1976). Solar Cells. IEEE Press, New York. BALCOMB, J. Douglas. (1992). Passive Solar Buildings. Massachusetts

Institute of Technology. DONALD, R Wulfinghoff. (1999). Energy Efficiency Manual. Energy

Institute Press. HESTER, R.E. and HARRISON, R.M. (2003). Sustainable and

Environmental Impact of Renewable Energy Sources. Royal Society ofChemistry.

LARMINIE, James and LOWRY, John. (2003). Electric VehicleExplained. John Wiley & Sons.

OGDEN, Joan and WILLIAMS, Robert H. (1989). Solar Hydrogen:Moving Beyond Fossil Fuels. World Resources Institute.

PALZ, Wolfgang. (1978). Solar Electricity: An Economic Approach to

Solar Energy. The Butterworth Group. SNOW, Denis A. (2002). Plant Engineers Reference Book 2nd Edition.

Elsevier. WILLIAMS, J Richard (1974). Solar Energy: Technology and

Applications. Ann Arbor Science Publisher, Inc. WOOD, Byard D. (1977). Solar Energy Measuring Equipment, In: Singh

A.A.M. Solar Energy Engineering. Academic Press, Inc. (London) Ltd. Solar Energy; Photovoltaic Technology : Proficiency and Performance.

[online]http://www.total.com/static/en/medias/topic1618/Solar_Energy-21-03-06.pdf [accessed 7th October 2008]

Solar [online]http://www.need.org/needpdf/infobook_activities/SecInfo/SolarS.pdf[accessed 7th October 2008]

Powering the Future with Solar Energy [online]http://www.osa.org/News/policyprograms/specialevents/SolarEnergyCaucus/Powering%20the%20Future%20with%20Solar%20Energy.pdf[accessed 19th October 2008]

Financial Incentives for Generating Your Own Energy for yourHome.[online]http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/Energyandwatersaving/Renewableandlowcarbonenergy/DG_072660 [accessed 19th

October 2008] Electricity Act 1989 [online]

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1989/ukpga_19890029_en_1 [accessed19th October 2008]

Energy Act 2004 [online]http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2004/ukpga_20040020_en_1[accessed19 October 2008]


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PICTURES:

Pyrheliometer :http://www.angstrom.uu.se/om_angstrom/historia.php?lang=en&[accessed 22nd October 2008]

Pyranometer : http://www.novalynx.com/240-8101.html [accessed 22ndOctober 2008]

Pyrgeometer : http://www.cimel.fr/meteo/sens/pyranometer_us.htm[accessed 22nd October 2008]

Pyrradiometer: http://www.novalynx.com/240-8111.html [accessed on 22nd

October 2008]

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Solar Energy Final2