| support@alphasolar.com
Solar PanelsSolar panel can describe two kinds of devices – a solar photovoltaic module to convert light into electricity, and a solar thermal collector to heat water or another fluid. In the latter solar energy causes water to circulate though the system of pipes through natural convection and the water is stored in a special tank above the collector. These systems are often used in southern Europe to provide houses with hot water. Production of solar panels is a complicated process, which is why it took so many years to develop affordable yet efficient solar panels using all the progress achieved in semiconductors and photovoltaic design. To make a solar panel crystalline silicon is cut into very small discs less than 1 cm thick, these are later polished to remove any damage from the process of slicing. The next stage is to spread dopants (special materials used to alter an electrical charge) and metal conductors across every such disc. The conductors are spread on a flat sheet and get aligned in a grid-like matrix on the top of the panel. Every solar panel is then protected against any possible damage by bonding a thin layer of cover glass to the top of photovoltaic cell. The panel is then attached to a substrate with the help of special cement with powerful thermally conductive properties that prevents panels from overheating and increases the efficiency of solar cells. In fact, the issue of a panel not overheating is very important, which is why another measure is elevating panels above the surface of the ground to allow airflow beneath to cool the device. There are three different kinds of solar panels (also referred to as PV panels) – amorphous, monocrystalline, polycrystalline. A PV panel is basically a set of silicon cells arranged in a matrix and producing electric power when exposure to sunlight occurs. Among the three types monocrystalline solar panels are by far the most efficient yet the most costly devices made from a single, large crystal. Polycrystalline panels represent blocks of silicon containing many crystals, they are used most commonly, although their efficiency is slightly lower than that of a monocrystalline panel. Amorphous panels involve silicon spread in a thin layer on some surface, typically stainless steel – they are cheaper to produce but because of the larger size of the panel are less efficient than the previous two types. Amorphous solar panels are the cheapest, at the same time you will require larger space, while crystalline panels take up less room and are more efficient; besides, installation cost is lower as not so much hardware is needed. However, amorphous panels are improving very quickly, especially if we take a look at solar panels in which shade-resistant technology is implemented – it means that even if the whole row of cells is shaded the power output will still be gained – although of course it will be reduced. Besides, these panels are less likely to break when being transported. Solar panels can be purchased online and are manufactured by several trustworthy companies, such as Sunwise, Evergreen, Mitsubishi Electric. The panels are usually installed on rooftops or stand-alone facilities – the aim is to get as much sunlight exposure as possible: this will ensure maximal effectiveness of the solar panel around the year. It’s useful to track the position of the sun in the sky during the course of the day and the entire year to choose the best position and angle for the solar panel. Direct sunlight is, of course, most preferable – the array is positioned under the noontime sun and any possible obstructions to the sunlight should be removed in advance – you need to track the path of the sun over the course of the day to understand whether something is getting in the way of the direct light. It’s important to keep in mind that when installing such a system one needs to watch out for pets and children, placing the panels in an open area away from trees so that there is some clearance between the panel and the surface of the earth. Article
"Solar Panels" (c) AlphaSolar.com More Articles: Facts
about solar 2009 (c) AlphaSolar.com |