Module 2

Part D Applications of Solar

Energy
Introduction

Direct Absorption of solar radiation, space heating

Thermal and cooling
Application

Solar
General Solar thermal method, Thermal electric
Electric
Category conversion, Solar PV cell, Wind energy
Application

Energy from
Organic matter from agricultural, forest,
biomass and
animal residue, aquatic plants, etc.
bio-gas
 Direct Solar energy applications

Solar Agriculture
water Space Solar and process
heating cooling cooking heat
Solar
pumping Solar
production of
hydrogen
Solar
Thermal
distillation
Electric
Conversion
Photovoltaic Solar
green Space
house heating
Solar Water heating

 Basic elements of solar water heater are:

i. Flat plate collector
ii. Storage tank
iii. Circulation system and auxiliary heating system
iv. Control of the system
 Commercial designs of solar water heater are:
i. Natural circulation solar water heater (pressurized)
ii. Natural circulation solar water heater (Non-pressurized)
iii. Forced circulation solar water heater
Solar Water heating
Solar distillation

 Saline water into distilled water using solar

energy.
 Solar still can be used from few families to
community use.
 Operating efficiency is 65%.
 The quantity of water produced depends on
solar intensity, design and atmospheric
conditions.
 Other factors are wind speed, humidity, sky
conditions, glass cover inclination, insulation of
base, etc.
Solar distillation
Solar Cooking

 Scarcity of fuel for cooking and health

hazards forced to find alternative cooking
techniques.
 Three types of design are available:
 Flat plate type (upto 160oC)
 Multi reflector type (upto 250oC)
 Parabolic dish concentrator type (upto 450 oC)
 Meat – 1 to 4 hr, Vegetables – 0.5 to 2.5 hr.,
Dals – 1.5 to 2 hr., Rice – 0.5 to 2 hr.
 Best time is 11 am to 2 pm.
 Solar Cooking

Concentrating type cooker

Box type of cooker

Reflector type of cooker
 Solar PV Cells

 Direct conversion of solar energy into electrical energy by photovoltaic effect.

 Device which converts sunlight to electricity by means of photovoltaic effect is called as solar
cells.

(State
Highway)

(Silver)
(National Highway)
Cell Structure
Silicon to module
Basic info

 Solar cell consists of single crystal of silicon into which doping material is diffused to form a semi-
conductor.
 Operating temperature of 28oC and efficiency of 10% with the size of cell as 2 cm * 2 cm.
 Silicon is available abundantly but difficult to extract and refine and cost of cell is high.
 Several other materials like cadmium sulphide, Cds/Cu 2S cells.
 From small to large power plants, it can be used.
 PV system consist of
 Solar cell array, Load leveller, Storage system, Tracking system
Solar cell

 Photovoltaic effect can be described easily for

p-n junction in a semiconductor.
 Silicon – four valance electrons
 Doping from one side by a five valence
electron material like arsenic or phosphorus, it
becomes n-type semiconductor.
 Other side is doped with three valence
electron like boron, then it is p-type
semiconductor.
Basic Photovoltaic system for power
generation

 Solar array
 A blocking diode
 Battery Storage
 Inverter/Converter
 Appropriate switches and circuit
breakers
Applications of solar photovoltaic system

 Water pumping set for micro irrigation and drinking water supply
 Radio beacons for ship navigation at ports
 Community radio and television sets
 Cathodic protection of oil pipes
 Weather monitoring
 Railway signalling equipment's
 Battery charging
 Street lighting
 Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages: Disadvantages:
 Direct room temperature conversion of light to  High cost
electricity through a solid state device
 No insolation at night
 Absence of moving parts
 Unattended for long periods in space
 Low maintenance cost is low
 Not pollution
 Long effective life
 Easy to fabricate
 High power to weight ratio
Self learning applications

Following applications shall be a self learning topics:

1. Agricultural and Industrial process heat
2. Solar pumping
3. Solar Greenhouses