ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

Name ID No
POWER PLANT ENGINEERING
Biruk Hussen ………………………………………………………. ATR/0329/07
SOLAR POWER PLANT
Year
Kaleab Dita ………………………………………………………….. V
ATR/2183/07
Yeshewaneh Bayesa ……………………………………………. ATR/5307/07
Kaleab Hailu ……………………………………………………….. ATR/9089/08
Gadisa Haile …………………………………………….…………. ATR/9343/07

Submitted to: Mr. Habtamu T.

November 18, 2018
1.1 Introduction
In the ancient time people are fascinated by the sun because people worship the sun as if
it is god. And also farming and agriculture also relied on the sun’s ray to grow and produce
crops. But in the recent years people develop the ability to harness the sun’s awesome power for
their different activity such as producing electricity, to power car, to produce drinking water with
air, to grow different crops, to purify water, and etc.
Solar energy is an energy obtained from radiation emitted by the sun in the form of heat
and light. Solar energy is a renewable and green source of energy because it does not emit
greenhouse gases. The term ‘Solar Power’ is used to describe the conversion of solar energy in to
electricity. It is the conversion of the sunlight energy into electricity for different kinds of use for
daily activity. Solar energy production has become the most attractive energy production because
of its abundance, cheapness, and provides electricity to wide areas.
Solar power generation technologies are important for providing clean and renewable
energy needed in the future because they are cost effective among others. Solar power plants are
totally pollution free and environmental friendly. Traditionally used solar plants are solar thermal
plants. In the future solar power plants can be made easily because they can be made readily
from available materials. Nowadays in many rural areas of Ethiopia different farmers and
societies use solar energy producer material to produce electricity for their daily activity.
Solar power plants system works on the principle that it uses sunlight energy to produce
electrical energy with the help of many mechanical and electrical instruments. The solar power
tower system uses sun tracking mirrors installed that helps to track sunlight into central receiver.
Then this radiation heats the therm-oil that flows inside the receiver to a higher temperature so
that the steam generator can generate electricity. Then this steam is pressurized and enter turbine
to drive generator.
Solar power plants use one of the following two technologies to convert solar enerty in to
electricity:
1. Solar cell (Photovoltaics)
2. Solar thermal

1. Solar cell (Photovoltaics)

A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is a direct conversion of the sun’s electromagnetic radiation
into electric current using the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic (PV) cells employ a solid-state
diode structure with a large area on a silicon wafer. The surface layer is very thin and transparent
so that light can reach the junction region of the silicon sandwich. In that region the photons are
absorbed, releasing charges from their atomic bonds. These charges migrate to the terminals,
raising the potential.
A single cell has an open circuit the voltage of approximately 0.5 volts and a short circuit current
of a few mA. In order to increase both current and voltage, the individual cells are placed into
arrays where cells may be connected in series to raise the voltage and in parallel to raise the
current output of cells.
The array of a photovoltaic power system, or PV system, produces direct current (DC) power
which fluctuates with the sunlight's intensity. For practical use this usually requires conversion to
certain desired voltages or alternating current (AC), through the use of inverters. Multiple solar
cells are connected inside modules. Modules are wired together to form arrays, then tied to an
inverter, which produces power at the desired voltage, and for AC, the desired frequency/phase.
The main component of Solar Power Plant (PLTS) system by using photovoltaic technology is
solar cell.
To make a solar cell, a silicon is doped by a pentavalent impurity converting silicon into p-type
silicon. And similarly, another silicon is doped by a trivalent impurity converting silicon into n-
type silicon. Then these two are combined together one over the other.
Sunlight travels to earth in the form of small energy particles called photons. As sunlight falls
over a solar cell, a large number of photons strike the p-type region of silicon. Electron and hole
pair will get separated after absorbing the energy of photon. The electron travels from p-type
region to n-type region due to the action of electric field at p-n junction. So, this current start
flowing in the circuit for individual solar cell. We combine the current of all the solar cells of a
solar panel, to get a significant output.
Main components
The main components of Solar Power Plant (PLTS) system by using photovoltaic technology
are:
 Solar module – is the heart of the power plant consisting of a number of individual solar
cells.
 Battry – is used to store the excess energy produced during day, to be supplied during
night.
 Inverter – since solar pannels produce Dc current we use invertors to convert then in to
more usable Ac current.
 Transformers – to multiply the voltage and get ready for long distance transmission.

Layout
Figure 1 shows the layout of solar power plant that uses a photovoltaic technology.
 (Photovoltaic cells)

Figure 1. Layout of solar power plant that uses a photovoltaic technology.

2. Solar thermal
Concentrated solar power (CSP), also called "concentrated solar thermal", uses lenses or mirrors
and tracking systems to concentrate sunlight, then use the resulting heat to generate electricity
from conventional steam-driven turbines.
In solar thermal power plant a working fluid is heated by the concentrated sunlight, and is then
used for power generation or energy storage. Thermal storage efficiently allows up to 24-hour
electricity generation.
Solar thermal, energy concentration devices include parabolic mirrors and arrays of focused
mirrors (heliostats). It replaces the boiler part in conventional steam power plants.

Figure 2 Layout of solar thermal power plant.

 Figure 3. Hybrid System (Fossil Fuel Backup)
1.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of a Solar Power Plant
Some of the advantages of using solar power includes:
 Solar energy is a renewable energy
 Solar energy is clean and green energy sources
 Solar energy is a reliable source of energy
 Low maintenance cost
Some of the disadvantages of using solar power includes:
 Solar energy recieved depends on latitude, season, time of the day, and the atmospheric
condition.
 Solar energy is unevenly distributed across the planet.
 Expensive cost of PV cells/ solar concentrators.
 Solar energy storage is expensive.
 Ahuge amount of area is required to collect a reasonable amount of solar energy.
1.3 Site Selection for Solar Power Plant
The following criterias should be considered when selecting a location for solar power plant
installation;
 Latitude – Due to Earth’s spherical shape, the solar rays have more intensity around the
equatorial regions. As we move further away from the equator, the energy density
decreases as the solar rays are distributed around a large geographical region. When it
comes to solar energy, it’s a definite advantage too be closer to the equator.
 Climate – clouds have a big impact on the amount of solar radiation reaching the surface
of the earth. They reflect and absorb asignificant part of the incoming solar radiation.
 Therefore, two sites at the same latitude may have drastically different solar radiation
levels depending on the cloud cover. On average, clouds absorb or scatter about 20% of
the incomming solar radiation.
 Amount of aerosols – aerosols are small particles that float in the atmospere. By
absorbing or deffracting solar radiation, they can act as a filter and decrease the level of
solar radiation reaching the suface. While aerosols degrade the performance of
photovoltaic systems, their impact is more sever on the performance of concentrating
solar applicationns and solar thermal systems.
 Elevation – the distance solar rays have to travel through the atmosphere is less at higher
altitudes. Therefore, there is less atmospheric absorption, and consequently, more solar
radiation as the elevation increases.
 Shading – The immediate surroundings of a project site also has a big impact on the level
of solar radiation reaching solar energy systems. Vegitation, buildings, even certain
landscape features such as hills can block incoming radiation and cast a shadow
drastically reducing the usable solar radiation.
 Availability and intensity of solar radiation.
 Space availability for a large number of solar PV/Concentrators.
 Wind
 Temperature
 Water availability
 Transport facilities
 Availability of human labor