University of Washington

Electrical Engineering Dept.

EE351
Quiz 4 7/29/11
Summer Quarter 2011

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1) Complete the sentence: We connect solar cells in series to increase voltage... and in
parallel to increase current...

2) A solar panel consists of 4 parallel columns of PV cells. Each column has 10 PV cells in
series. Each cell produces 2W at 0.5V. The purchase price of the panel is $93.49
a) Compute the voltage and current of each column.
Vcolumn =10*0.5 = 5V
Icolumn = 2/0.5 = 4A
b) Compute the total voltage and current of the solar panel.
4 columns in parallel have the same voltage: Vpanel = 5V
Total current for 4 columns in parallel = 4*Icolumn = 4*4 = 16A
c) If the expected operational life of this panel is 20 years, compute its expected $/kWh rate.
Assume the panel generates electricity for 8 hours a day.
Total kWh generation = (20yr)(365days)(8hr)(2W)(40cells) = 4672kWh
Cost per kWh = 93.49/4672 = 0.02 $/kWh

3) An area located near the equator has the following parameters.

dt =0.82; p =0.92; wa =0.06
The solar power density measured at 11:00 AM is 890 W/m2, compute the solar power
density at 4:00 PM.
( t t o ) 2

max = o cos(dt wa)p = 1353cos(0)[0.82-0.06](0.92) = 946.02W/m

11AM = max*EXP[-(t-to)2 / 22]
890 = 946.02*EXP[-(11-12)2 / 2 2]
= 2.86
4PM = 946.02*EXP[-(16-12)2 / 2(2.86)2] = 356.23 W/m2

max e

2 2

o cos dt wa p