Condition Monitoring Photovoltaic Energy Systems-based reliability - Research Paper Example

Major PV Modules and Types Solar energy is considered as a major basis of renewable and sustainable power which can be effectively generated through the utilisation of the PV method. The PV system consists of constructing blocks which are also termed as modules or cells that are connected together and is able to transform ‘sunlight into electricity’. According to Chow, PV system generates low Green House Gas (GHG) emission and is also recognised as a clean basis of energy. PV system is developed by assimilating variety of semiconductor materials so as to generate power with high capacity.

There are four major types of PV modules which are ‘crystalline silicon’, ‘polycrystalline’, ‘amorphous silicon module’ and ‘thin-film module’. Every PV modules have diverse efficiencies owing to which the overall performance of these PV modules tend to rely on the ingredients as well as the operating situations based on various factors such as temperature, intensity of solar radioactivity and the inclusive design of the system. Furthermore, the orientation and location of PV array also creates a significant impact on the electricity production capacity through the usage of solar energy depending on the weather conditions.

The four major types of PV modules, i.e. crystalline silicon, polycrystalline, amorphous silicon and thin film (Chow, “Modeling Urban Solar Energy with High Spatiotemporal Resolution”). As stated by Mangersnes, Crystalline PV modules are frequently specified as being the most reliable component of the PV system. This presumable reliability is demonstrated through its large warranty periods. Crystalline Silicon PV is the most extensively used PV technology. It is developed through solar cells made by ‘crystalline silicon’.

This type of cells is equipped with high level of affectivity and thus is also regarded as an interesting technology. In general, there are two kinds of solar cells which are ‘mono-crystalline silicon’ and ‘multi-crystalline silicon’. Mono-crystalline silicon is developed by cutting wafers from high clarity single crystal lump. Similarly, the multi-crystalline silicon is developed by cutting a cast tablet of silicon into blocks and wafers. In general, mono-crystalline silicon cells have much higher effectiveness in comparison to multi-crystalline silicon solar cells.

The crystal type module usually applied for this technology is iron glass which is combined with anti-reflective layer, to make sure that the maximum solar radioactivity spreads to the crystalline solar cells and thus the energy generating capacity can be enhanced (Mangersnes, “Back-contacted Back-junction Silicon Solar Cells”). Polycrystalline PV modules include small silicon glass pieces. Polycrystalline is generally used for developing gate constituents in semiconductor devices. Polycrystalline modules are most commonly used for generating electricity, as it is considered to be quite inexpensive in comparison with other PV modules.

The reason for polycrystalline modules to be inexpensive is owing to its production procedure. In the production process of polycrystalline, the melted silicon is dispensed into a cast rather than into one single crystal. The components of polycrystallin