SOLAR PANEL

TECHNICAL
SEMINAR
SOLAR ENERGY AND SOLAR
PANEL
 WHAT IS SOLAR ENERGY...?
Solar energy is radient heat and light from the sun
that is harnessed Using a range of ever-evolving
technologies such as solar
heating,photovoltaics,solar thermal energy,solar
architecture And artificial photosynthisis.
HOW MUCH SOLAR
ENERGY…

• About half the incoming solar energy reaches the Earth's

SOLAR ENERGY AS A
RESOURCE…
Solar Energy is increasingly being used as a resource in the following areas:

 Architecture and Urban Planning

 Agriculture and Horticulture

 Heating, Cooling and Ventilation

 Cooking

 Fuel Production

 Electricity Generation
 PRODUCING ELECTRICITY
USING SOLAR ENERGY…
Solar Energy can be used to generate electricity in 2 ways:

 Thermal Solar Energy:

Using solar energy for heating fluids which can be used as a heat source or

to run turbines to generate electricity.

 Photovoltaic Solar Energy:

Using solar energy for the direct generation of electricity using photovoltaic

phenomenon.
PHOTOVOLATIC ENERGY…
Photovoltaic comes from the words photo, meaning light, and
volt, a measurement of electricity.
Photovoltaic Electricity is obtained by
using photovoltaic system.
A basic photovoltaic system consists of four
components: Solar Panel, Battery, Regulator
and the load.
SOLAR PANEL
 SOLAR PANEL
 Solar Panel is an indispensable component of this system.

 Solar Panel is responsible to collect solar radiations and transform it into

electrical energy.
 Solar Panel is an array of several solar cells (Photovoltaic cells).

 The arrays can be formed by connecting them in parallel or

series connection depending upon the energy

required.
SOLAR PANEL MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES

The most common solar technology is crystalline Si. Its two types
are: Mono- Si and Poly- Si.
Mono-Si: Crystal Lattice of entire
Sample is continuous.
Poly-Si: Composed of many crystallites
of varying size and orientation.
 MONO-SI PANEL AND POLY-SI
PANEL

Mono-Si Panel Poly-Si Panel

 SOLAR PANEL MANUFACTURING
TECHNOLOGIES
Mono-Si Solar Panels:
 Mono-Si is manufactured by Czochralski Process.
 SOLAR PANEL MANUFACTURING
TECHNOLOGIES
 Since they are cut from single crystal, they gives the module a uniform appearance.
Advantages:

 Highest efficient module till now with efficiency

between 13 to 21%.

 Commonly available in the market.

 Greater heat resistance.

 Acquire small area where ever placed.

Disadvantages:

 More expensive to produce.

 SOLAR PANEL MANUFACTURING
TECHNOLOGIES
Poly-Si Solar Panels:

Polycrystalline (or multicrystalline) modules are composed of a number of different crystals, fused

together to make a single cell.

Poly-Si solar panels have a non-uniform texture due to visible crystal grain present due to manufacturing

process.
Advantages: Disadvantages:
 Good efficiency between 14 to 16%.  Not as efficient as Mono-Si.

 Cost effective manufacture.  Large amount of Si.

 Commonly Available in the market.
 DIFFERENCE B/W MONO-SI &
POLY-SI
Mono-Si solar cells are of dark color and
the corners of the cells are usually missing
whereas poly-Si panels are of dark or
light blue color. The difference between
the structure is only due to their
manufacturing process.
 SOLAR PANEL MANUFACTURING
TECHNOLOGIES
Thin Film Solar Panels:
 Made by depositing one or more thin layers (thin film) of photovoltaic material on
a
substrate.
Thin Film technology depend upon the type of material
used to dope the substrate.
Cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium
selenide (CIGS) and amorphous silicon (A-Si) are three
thin-film technologies often used as outdoor
photovoltaic solar power production.
 SOLAR PANEL MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES

Amorphous-Si Panels:
Non-crystalline allotrope of Si with no definite arrangement
of atoms.
Advantages:
 Partially shade tolerant
 More effective in hotter climate
 Uses less silicon - low embodied energy
 No aluminum frame - low embodied energy
Disadvantages:
Less efficient with efficiency between 6 to 12% .
Less popular - harder to replace.
 Takes up more space for same output .
 New technology - less proven reliability.
 COMPARISION OF MON0-SI,POLY-SI AND THIN FLIM
PLANES
Mono-Si Panels Poly-Si Panels Thin Film Panels
1. Most efficient with max. 1. Less efficient with 1. Least efficient with max.
efficiency of 21%. efficiency of 16% (max.) efficiency of 12%.
2. Manufactured from single 2. Manufactured by fusing 2. Manufactured by depositing 1
Si crystal. different crystals of Si. or more layers of PV material on
substrate.
3. Performance best at 3. Performance best at 3. Performance best at high
standard temperature. moderately high temperature. temperatures.
4. Requires least area for a 4. Requires less area for a 4. Requires large area for a
given power. given power. given power.
5. Large amount of Si hence, 5. Large amount of Si hence, 4. Low amount of Si used hence,
high embodied energy. high Embodied energy. low embodied energy.
6. Performance degrades in 6. Performance degrades in 5. Performance less affected
low-sunlight conditions. low-sunlight conditions. by low-sunlight conditions.
7. Cost/watt: 1.589 USD 7. 1.418 USD 7. 0.67 USD
8. Largest Manufacturer: 8. Suntech (China) 8. First Solar (USA)
Sunpower (USA)
 WHAT IS SOLAR CELL ?
⚫ A structure that converts solar energy directly to DC electric energy.
 It supplies a voltage and a current to a resistive load
(light, battery, motor).
Power = Current x Voltage=Current2 x R= Voltage2/R
⚫ It is like a battery because it supplies DC power.
⚫ It is not like a battery because the voltage
supplied by the cell changes with changes in the
resistance of the load.
 SILICON SOLAR CELL

Principle p-n Junction Diode:

The operation of a photovoltaic (PV) cell requires 3 basic attributes:
The absorption of light, generating either electron-hole pairs or
excitons.
The separation of charge carriers of opposite types.
The separate extraction of those carriers to an external circuit.

Ref. Soft Condensed Matter physics group in

univ. of Queenland
SILICON SOLAR CELL
WORKING
 HOW A PANEL CREATED ?

Panel wiring diagram connecting cells

 An individual PV cell typically produces 0.6 watts and are

joined in an array to produce the required power.
 SOLAR CELL SPECIFICATIONS
 Mechanical Specifications:
1.Solar Cell Type: Defines the type of module or cell used in the module.
e.g.- Mono-Si, Poly-Si or Thin Film.
Design Implication: This determines the class of conversion efficiency of
the module.

2. Cell Dimension (in inches/mm.): Defines the size of cell used in the
module.
e.g.- 125(l) 125 mm(b) (5 inches).
Design Implication: This determines the output power of a single solar
cell.

3.Module Dimension (in inches/mm.): Defines the size of the panel.

e.g.- 1580 (l) 808 (b) 35 (h) mm.
Design Implication: Determines the number of cells accommodated
in the module.
Across length: 1580/125 = 12.64 ~ 12 [least integer].
Across breadth: 808/125 = 6.4 ~ 6.
This means number of cell be 72 (6*12).
 SOLAR PANEL
SPECIFICATIONS
 Mechanical Specifications:
4. Module Weight (in kgs./lbs.): Defines the weight of the module.
e.g.- 15.5 kgs. (34.1 lbs.)
Design Implication: Determines the maximum number of panels which can be installed.

5.Glazing or front Glass: Defines the type and width of the front glass used.
e.g.- 3.2 mm (0.13 inches) tempered glass.
Design Implication: Width determines the strength of the covering. The type of
glass used
depends upon thermal insulation requirements or strength requirement.

6.Frame: Defines the type of frame used in the module.

e.g.- Anodized aluminium alloy
Design Implication: Frame material is chosen so that it can
Withstand the environmental effects such as corrosion,
hard Impact, etc.
 SOLAR PANEL
SPECIFICATIONS
 Mechanical Specifications:
7.Output Cables: Defines the type of cables and sometimes their dimensions provided at
output to connect with connector specifications.
e.g.- H+S RADOX® SMART cable 4.0 mm2 of length 1000 mm (39.4 inches) with
RADOX® SOLAR integrated twist locking connectors.
Design Implication: The rating of the cable is as per rating of the PV module and
of optimum length generally required by the customers.

8. Junction Box: Defines the protection level of electrical casing at the back of
panel. Also
includes the no. of bypass diodes (if used).
e.g.- IP67 rated with 3 bypass diodes.

Submitted by: MORAMSHETTI

ARAVIND
 SOLAR PANEL
SPECIFICATIONS
 Electrical specifications:
1.Peak Power (W): Defines the maximum power of the panel.
e.g.- P: 195 W
Design Implication:

2.Optimum operating Voltage: Defines the highest operating voltage of panel at the
maximum power at STC.
e.g.- Vmp: 36.6V
Design Implication: Determines the number of panels required in series.

3.Optimum operating current: Defines the highest operating current of panel at the
maximum power at STC.
e.g.- Imp: 5.33A
Design Implication: Determines the wire gauge.
Used to calculate the voltage drops across the modules or cells.
 SOLAR PANEL
SPECIFICATIONS
 Electrical Specs:
4.Open Circuit Voltage: Defines the output voltage when no load is
connected under STC. e.g.- Voc : 45.4V
Design Implication: Determines the maximum
possible voltage. Determines the maximum
number of modules in series.

5. Short Circuit Current: Defines the protection

level of electrical casing at the back of
panel. Also includes the no. of bypass diodes (if
used).
e.g.- Isc: 5.69A
Design Implication: Determines the current rating of fuse which is General I-V curve
to be used for protection.
Determines the conductor size.
 SOLAR PANEL
SPECIFICATIONS
 Electrical Specifications:
6. I-V Characteristics: Defines the current and voltage variation for the panel.
Also shows I-V characteristics for different irradiance.
e.g.-

Variation in I-V characteristics with Irradiance

Design Implication: This parameter determines the module current and voltage for
a particular value of irradiance.
This can be used to obtain the output voltage at the lowest irradiance for a region.
 SOLAR PANEL
SPECIFICATIONS
 Electrical Specifications:
7.Module Efficiency: Defines the conversion efficiency given by a given module (which is
generally lesser than the single solar cell used in the module).
e.g.- 15.3%
Design Implication: This parameter helps in solving the problem of choosing a module.

8.Operating Temperature: Defines the range of temperature for which the module can
function.
e.g.- -40 C to 85 C
Design Implication: Determines the temperature range for the environment in which
the panel can be kept.

9.Max. Series Fuse Rating: Defines the max. current which can be handled by the module
without damage.
e.g.- 15 A
Design Implication: This defines the rating of fuse to be used with the module.
 SOLAR PANEL
 ElectricalSPECIFICATIONS
Specifications:
10. Power Tolerance: Defines the range of power deviation from its stated power ratings
due to change in its operating condition. It is defined in %.
e.g.- 0/+5 %
Design Implication: This parameter determines the upper limit for power of a module.

11. Parameters defined under NOCT: These parameters are same as defined under STC
conditions with different values.

Difference between STC and NOCT:

STC (Standard Test Conditions):
Irradiance 1000 W/m2, Module temperature 25 C, Air Mass=1.5

NOCT(Nominal Operating Cell Temperature):

Irradiance 800 W/m2, Ambient temperature 20 C, Wind speed 1 m/s
 SOLAR PANEL
 ElectricalSPECIFICATIONS
Specifications:
12. Temperature Coefficients: These coefficients are defined to show the possible rate of
change of values under varying module temperature and irradiance.
Design Implication: These parameters can be
used to calculate the power, current and
voltage of the module.
Temperature Coefficient of Voc can also be
used to determine the maximum panel
voltage at the lowest expected temperature.

 Packing Configuration:

Pieces per pallet: Number of modules per

box.
Pallet per container: Number of boxes per
container.
Pieces per container: Number of modules
per container.
 HOW TO CHOOSE A SOLAR PANEL?

Critical parameters to be considered for solar panel evaluation:

1. Selecting the right technology : The selection of solar panel technology

generally
depends on space available for installation and the overall cost of the system.
3. Selecting the right manufacturer for better warranty.
4. Check operating specifications beyond STC ratings
5. Negative Tolerance can lead to a lower system
performance and reduced capacity
6.Solar Panel efficiency under different conditions
and over time.
 HOW TO DESIGN A PV OFF-GRID SYSTEM?
1. Collect some data viz. Latitude of the location, and solar irradiance (one for
every month).
2. Calculation of total solar energy.
3. Estimate the required electrical energy on a monthly/weekly basis (in kwh):
Required Energy= Equipment Wattage X Usage Time.
4. Calculate the system size using the data from ‘worst month’ which can be as
follows:
a) The current requirement will decide the number of panels required.
b) The days of autonomy decides the storage capacity of the system i.e. the number
of
batteries required.