User:Hgalaxy/sandbox/Solar panels
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solar panels - solar photovoltaics
- REDIRECT alveissolar.blogspot.com
Solar panels are used to convert solar radiations into electricity. Solar panels consist of a number of solar cells. Each solar cell delivers about 0.5 volts. When these solar cells are connected in series, the voltages add up to a large enough value to charge a solar battery bank or by transformed into alternating current by a solar inverter
.
There two main types of solar panel;
Monocrystalline solar panels:
the cells of monocrystalline solar panels are made of single crystals of silicon. This can be identified by the uniformity of the color of the cells.
Monocrystalline cells are made from a thin slice or
wafer cut from a single large crystal of silicon. The cells are then doped and the fine current collecting wires printed on or in the surface of the cell. Generally monocrystalline cells have the highest efficiency, but this comes at a price. this type of cell takes more energy to make than any other, and so has a greater energy payback period, though this is usually still within five years.
Solar.
(read more from manufacturers website)
Polycrystalline solar panels:
made by combining silicon crystals to make the cells. The color is usually not uniform
Monocrystalline solar panels are superior to polycrystalline solar panels because the monocrystalline solar panels absorb more energy per square millimeter than their polycrystalline counterparts.
Special type of solar panels
Solar roof tiles
made to blend with the corrugated roof of buildings
Amorphous/thin film solar panels
This type of solar panel is made to be able to fit in any surface and is easy to mount and less heavy but less efficient
Amorphous/thin film panels involve deposition of very thin films of silicon or other materials directly onto a substrate such as glass or stainless steel. This technique produces a cell with a lower efficiency than the cut wafer varieties, but has the advantage of eliminating the need for inter-cell connections and heavy glass and aluminum frames. Thus they are easy to move around and easy to mount on any surface. some amorphous or thin film solar panels acheive efficiency of about 22.6%
transparent solar panels:
this type of solar panel makes it possible for solar panels to be placed on top of smartphone screens,wind screen of vehicles.The panels are said to be extremely affordable with the application of a thin plastic material able to harvest light is obvious (car windows, smartphones displays, and home windows immediately come to mind or even the body of skyscrapers). The only real downside is in the efficiency of the panels which are only able to capture somewhere around 1% of the light that passes through them. .
Surfaces where solar panels can be placed
Solar panels are being modified for different applications so that they can fit in many varied surfaces to supply the energy need in that area and also blend seamlessly to where ever it is being used. Such as
solar panel on Cars/ vehicles
the panels blend in with the roof of the car and does not bring any cause for concern.
solar panel on Communication satellites
solar panel on buildings Buildings
The solar panels serve the energy need of the buildings and even adds to its aesthetics.
solar panel on Airplanes
solar panel on Electronic devices like smartphones and calculators
These are micro solar panels providing little amounts of energy just for the electronic devices they are placed on
solar panel on Sea vessels
solar panel on Public structures
solar panel on Clothing
These are made of flexible solar cells. These types of solar cells can provide small amounts of energy enough for charging smartphones, pda etc ...
References
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