How solar panel collects the energy from the sun and generates electricity?
The components of solar energy system
Solar panels collect the photons radiated from the sun and transform it into electricity so that it could be sent to electronic devices or the electric grid. Arrays of photovoltaic cells generally receive the energy from the sun and transform it into electrical energy. An inverter is utilized to transform the electricity generated by the photovoltaic array into a format that can be used to supply power to most devices and keep the voltage level steady. Finally, the power can be delivered to the electrical gridiron or directly to a house, business or other location for instant use. Some electrical systems are capable to shift the array of cells to the best position to receive the energy from the sun.
Photovoltaic arrays
Photovoltaic (PV) arrays are made of PV cells. These PV cells jointly make a group to deliver more energy than a single cell could supply. PV cells are constituted of specially treated silicon which contain both positive and negative side so that it could transmit electricity easily. The cell is then connected to several other cells with metal connectors and forms a group. That group of cells is then attached to a frame to provide support, which creates a PV module. Then the modules jointly together build a PV array which contains a single electrical output to make connection to the remaining system.
Inverters
The energy produced using the PV array is direct current (DC) electricity. But there are many electronic devices which don’t need direct current (DC), they require alternating current (AC) electricity. Therefore, the supplied direct current (DC) returns back to electrical network. The solar arrays are not able to produce a steady amount of electricity due to difference in the amount of light striking the PV cells. The inverter and transformer convert the amount and type of electrical power delivered by the system to resolve these problems. The inverter can not only change DC power into AC power, but it can also keep the voltage level supplied by the solar system steady.
Photovoltaic Array Controllers
The amount of electrical energy produced by the PV cells depends on the amount of sunlight falling on them. That’s why the output generated by the solar system is affected by the location of the PV array in respect to the sun. The solar system requires a solar tracker and array controllers which are capable to increase the capacity of the energy generation system. The solar tracker has light sensors that pursue the location of the sun and the controllers can position the PV arrays depending the output from the solar tracker so that the highest possible amount of solar power could be produced.
Supplying Solar Power
When PV array produce electricity, it is changed into a usable format so that it could be utilized to electrical devices. The solar power system needs to be installed to supply power directly to any electrical devices which is connected to it.
Since the new generation battaries are around the corner.The solar energy is becoming more and more reliable.Very nice article :)
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Photovoltaic panels are not the only way of generating energy by using sunlight. Another option is concentrated solar power. Mirrors are used to concentrate the sunlight in a single point (usually at the top of a tower) and then the heat is used to boil water which powers a turbine, like a fuel or coal power plant. Source
The image of solar photovoltaic array controllers is incorrect. Those are solar water heaters, the article source is wrong. Searching for solar water heater in Google Images proves it
Photovoltaic cells is a great invention. Upvoted this nice article :)
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Nice article! Solar energy provide a very nice way to complement to more standardly used sources of energy, and it is cool that some money (although not enough) is still going into such researches. We need to diversify our sources of energy!
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