Beginner’s guide to SOLAR PANELS

September 28, 2020

7 views

4 min read

Solar panels play a vital role in converting the sun’s energy into electricity through a complex process involving sophisticated materials and engineering. By understanding the components and functions of a solar panel, you can make informed decisions about incorporating solar energy into your life.

The Beginner’s Guide to Solar Panels:

If you’re curious about how solar panels work and how they harness the sun’s energy to generate electricity, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive beginner’s guide, we’ll explore the intricate process of solar energy conversion from the source to the end product, as well as the main components and functions of a solar panel.

The Sun and Solar Energy

The sun comprises three main parts: the convective zone, the radiative zone, and the core. The core, where nuclear fusion converts hydrogen into helium, is responsible for almost all of the sun’s heat. This heat is then carried by packets of light known as photons to the Earth. If we could capture all the sun’s energy in one hour, it would surpass the world’s total energy consumption for a whole year.

Solar Panel Invention and Material

Scientists in the late 1800s experimented with various elements like selenium, germanium, gallium, lithium, and cadmium to capture solar energy or photons. In 1954, Bell Labs made a significant breakthrough by creating the first practical solar panel using silicon. Pure silicon is derived from silicon dioxide or sand and undergoes a rigorous purification process. The purified silicon is formed into thin wafers that serve as the base for solar cells.

Why Silicon?

Silicon is chosen for solar panels for several reasons. First, it is a semiconductor, making it an ideal base material for solar cells. Second, its resistivity decreases as temperature rises, allowing electrons to flow more efficiently when exposed to sunlight. Additionally, silicon is the second most abundant material on Earth, making it a cost-effective choice compared to other scarce semiconductor elements like germanium.

Doping and Creating Solar Cells

To form solar cells, silicon wafers are doped with additional elements to provide free electrons. Phosphorus is added to create negative (n-type) doping, while boron is used for positive (p-type) doping. The region where these n and p doped silicon meet creates a depletion region with no free electrons, which is essential for the generation of electricity.

Solar Panel Construction

Solar panels are composed of several layers that work together to convert sunlight into electricity. The middle layer contains solar cells coated with an antireflective titanium dioxide layer to minimize photon loss. On either side of the panel, there’s an Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Film (EVA) that encapsulates and protects the cells. The top side is covered with tempered glass, providing protection against weather and impact. The backsheet acts as a moisture barrier, and a junction box on the back interconnects all the cells. The entire system is enclosed within a lightweight aluminum frame and sealed with silicone for protection against water and dust.

Converting DC to AC

The electricity generated by solar panels is in the form of direct current (DC), suitable for charging batteries or powering individual appliances. However, for household use or selling back to the grid, the DC current must be converted to alternating current (AC) using a solar inverter. Additionally, a charge controller is used to regulate the current flow to batteries, preventing overcharging and discharging when the panel is not in the sun.

Conclusion

Solar panels play a vital role in converting the sun’s energy into electricity through a complex process involving sophisticated materials and engineering. By understanding the components and functions of a solar panel, you can make informed decisions about incorporating solar energy into your life. If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to leave a comment, and don’t forget to like and subscribe to our channel. Thank you for watching!