How Solar Energy Can Be Used to Produce Electricity - Coursework Example

Running Head: Solar Energy Solar Energy [Institute’s Solar Energy Introduction Before producing electri through solar energy, there haves to be some type of solar cell or panel. The solar panels are composed of a semi-conductive material, most commonly silicon. The semi-conductive material holds electrons. When photons present in the sunrays hit the solar cells, the electrons take in this solar energy, converting them into transmission electrons. If the energy of these photons is sufficiently high, then the electrons are capable to turn free, and take an electric charge by means of a circuit to the target (Chiras, p. 48, 2009). Two key issues cause the lessening in effectiveness: 1. The cell is not functioning to its complete potential, such as a few electrons might be lost, 2. The second issue is while the electrons discharge heat, the panel as well turns hot, hindering in other phases of the solar cells. The additional solar cells held in a solar panel, or solar arrangement, indicates the more amount of electricity produced. An additional aspect that has an effect on solar panel effectiveness is locality. Apparently, in the areas closer to the equator, a somewhat enhanced output would be obtained with a given cell; however, solar cells must always be in front of the sun light, and have no objects obstructing the sunrays (Archer & Hill, p. 29, 2001). A large amount of solar energy is accumulated by photovoltaic cells. The suns rays have heat as well as emission. As soon as the rays strike the surface of the silicon cells, they generate a discharge of electrons that wander without restraint. The cells are planned to guide these wandering electrons into an electric field that runs in a single way, making it a current. Metal links on the top as well as on the base of the cells lets the electricity to be utilized on the outside. The majority of photovoltaic cells can generate twenty-two percent of the energy absorbed for external utilization. This electricity must be converted into a functional current ahead of application. Inverters boxes transfer solar electricity from ‘direct current’ (DC) to ‘alternating current’ (AC). These inverters can be lined with the customary electrical cabling of a residence or commercial structure so that solar energy can be directly linked (Archer & Hill, p. 51, 2001). There are two types of approaches to produce electricity from the sun. First one is photovoltaic (PV) and second is solar-thermal technologies. Primarily expanded for the space program more than thirty years ago, PV depends on chemical reactions to produce electricity. PV cells are tiny, cube formed semiconductors created in thin coating covers from silicon as well as other conductive materials. As soon as sunlight hits the PV cell, chemical reactions discharge electrons, producing electric current. The little current from individual PV cells, which are fixed within units, can supply electricity to individual residences along with businesses or can be used in the mass electricity network. Solar-thermal technologies are comparatively a customary electricity producing technology. They make use of the suns high temperature to produce steam to force an electric originator (Komp, p. 22, 1995). Two other solar-thermal technologies are approaching business category. Parabolic dish systems focus sunbeams to heat gaseous hydrogen or helium or liquid sodium to generate under pressure gas or steam to force a turbine to create electricity. Fundamental receiver arrangements mark mirrors that reproduce sunlight on to a bigger tower packed with fluid that as soon as warmed produces steam to drive a turbine. Environmental Impacts They want large terrain when built as grid-linked central location arrangements, which can affect current ecological units. However, for the most part PV systems arrive in the type of dispersed arrangements that utilize small or no terrain since the panels are fixed on buildings. Developing PV cells entails the creation of a few dangerous substances. However, proper management of these little amounts of dangerous substance lessens threats of exposure to human beings as well as to the surroundings (Lincoln, p. 61, 1998). Similar to PV, solar-thermal equipments produce zero air productions, by means of a number of discharges are produced in the production of both technologies. Water utilized for solar thermal plants is like quantities required for a comparably volume coal or nuclear foliage. Residential Use Solar energy is becoming more common as a most important supply of energy for recently built residences in addition to preexisting ones. Solar panels can be located on top of residences, by means of particular inverters that are lined into the customary power grid. If extra solar energy is gathered as compared to what is used, these inverters can drive it to the grid and maybe create cash for the client. Furthermore, there are solar arrays that are connected to light fixtures. The panels take in energy all through the daylight hours and charge batteries. The batteries are timed to power the lights as soon as the sun sets (Perlin, p. 109, 2002). Commercial Use A number of business factories utilize solar energy to power huge divisions of their functions. For example, The Kettle Corporation, manufacturer of Kettle brand chips, utilizes more than six hundred panels to produce more than one hundred and twenty thousand kilowatts of energy for their industrial units. The website of the company states that it decreases carbon dioxide discharges by sixty-five tons per annum (Archer & Hill, p. 38, 2001). Solar Space Satellites are amid the earliest commercial creations that utilize solar energy. As the satellites are instigated into space, their solar panels spread out and utilize the suns energy to control their functions. A previous NASA manager states that solar satellites could be made to gather solar energy and beam them to earth like wireless radio waves that can be obtained by transmitters within big towns. The transmitters would subsequently put in that energy to the current power grid (Komp, p. 67, 1995). Conclusively, the paper has discussed in detail about the methodology and process that can allow utilization of solar energy to produce electricity. It is anticipation that the paper will be beneficial for readers, especially students in better understanding of the topic. References Archer, Mary D. & Hill, Robert. (2001). Clean Electricity from Photovoltaics (Series on Photoconversion of Solar Energy. World Scientific Publishing Company. Chiras, Daniel D. (2009). Power from the Sun: A Practical Guide to Solar Electricity. New Society Publishers. Komp, Richard J. (1995). Practical Photovoltaics: Electricity from Solar Cells. Aatec Publications. Lincoln, Frances. (1998). the Solar Chimney: Electricity from the Sun. Edition Axel Menges. Perlin, John. (2002). From Space to Earth: The Story of Solar Electricity. Harvard University Press. Read More