CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

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Solar Panel

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We would like to be thankful to Our Lecturer Mr. .. Giving Us this Opportunity to Gain knowledge On Construction Technology

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Solar Panel

TABLE OF CONTENT
ACKNOWLEDGMENT................................................................................................... 1 TABLE OF CONTENT.................................................................................................... 2 1.INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 3 2.SOLAR POWER HISTORY.......................................................................................... 3 3.WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL........................................................................................... 4 4.TYPES OF SOLAR POWER CELLS..............................................................................6 5.HOW SOLAR POWER WORKS................................................................................... 8 6.SOLAR ENERGY FOR BUILDINGS.............................................................................. 9 7.TYPES OF SOLAR PANEL........................................................................................... 9 7.1.Monocrystalline solar cells ................................................................................. 10 7.2.Polycrystalline solar cells.................................................................................... 10 7.3.Amorphous Solar Panels..................................................................................... 11 7.4.Monocrystalline panels ...................................................................................... 12 8.Environmental Impact........................................................................................... 12 9.SOLAR POWER-ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES............................................13 9.1.ADVANTAGES...................................................................................................... 13 9.2.DISADVANTAGES................................................................................................ 14 10.CONCULTION ...................................................................................................... 15 11.REFERANCE......................................................................................................... 16

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Solar Panel

1. INTRODUCTION The sun provides an unlimited resource for power around the world. And more and more people are tapping into that energy for their homes and businesses. Solar power is becoming a positive energy source for many people who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Despite solar powers great potential, few people are actually using it. In srilanka percent of the worlds total energy supply came from solar power also not much implemented This number, however, is expected to increase as solar power becomes more readily available and affordable for more people.

2. SOLAR POWER HISTORY Solar power first came into being in 1958 with its use on the Vanguard I satellite. Using solar power cells as a back-up power source, the Vanguard was ale to continue transmitting for over a year after its chemical battery ran out of power. Because of this achievement, many American and Soviet satellites began using solar power cells as well. However, due to the high prices of creating these cells, solar power was not widely available until the early 1970s. By thenm, however, solar power had become an established source of power for many telecommunications satellites around the world. Due to the 1973 oil crisis, a rapid rise in solar power production was marked throughout the 1970s and 1980s. This higher demand, along with a decrease in production costs, brought down the costs of solar power cells for home and commercial use. Between 1984 through 1996, growth of solar power cells stayed at a moderate 15 percent per year

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3.

WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL

Solar panels collect heat energy from the sun. We call this heat solar thermal energy. A simple example of a solar panel is a closed box with a top made of a transparent material such as glass or plastic.

The sun shines through the glass and heats up the inside of the box. This is the same type of heating that happens to the inside of a car when it sits in the sun. In some cases the inside of the box is painted black so that it absorbs more heat. The heat that is collected inside the box can then be used for several purposes. The most common uses for solar panels is to heat air or water.

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Solar Panel

A system that uses solar thermal energy to heat air is not complex. A transparent top is attached to a box. The box has an inlet pipe for cool air. The cool air can be pushed into the box using a fan. The cool air moves through the inlet pipe into the box. Inside the box the air is warmed by the heat energy from the sun rays. As more cool air is pushed into the box the warm air is forced out the other end of the box through the outlet pipe. The warm air can now be used to heat something like your home. Some very large systems use a solar panel on the roof of a house to heat a whole room. The warm air in that room is then blown through vents to heat the whole house. Solar panels that are designed to heat water work almost the same way as ones designed to heat air. In a simple example there is a pipe that runs through the inside of the box.

The sun rays heat the air inside the box. The heat in the air is transferred to the pipes then the heat in the pipes is transferred to the water. As cool water is pumped into the inlet pipe the warm water is forced out of the outlet pipe. We can now use this warm water for something like a bath or shower. These pictures are only a simple representation of the basic concepts. In practice, solar water and air heaters can be more complex. The terms "Solar Panel" and "Photovoltaic Panel" describe two different devices. We use the terms as follows:

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A Solar Panel collects and utilizes heat energy from the sun. A Photovoltaic Panel transforms light energy into electrical energy.

4. TYPES OF SOLAR POWER CELLS There are several different types of solar power cells, however four are the most commonly used. This includes crystalline silicone, ordinary silicon cells, thin film cells, and concentrator cells. Each has their own unique benefits and drawbacks that make them perfect for different situations.

Figure :1 - solar power cells rystalline silicone cells are the cells most commonly used in solar power plants. These cells are made from two layers, a positive layer and negative layer just like in most semiconductors. An electric field is created between the two layers when photons from the suns light strikes the semiconductors and released electrons. Some of these cells are made from polycrystalline silicon, which smaller silicon cells are put together in large bunches. With these cells efficiency is compromised, though they are much more cost effective to make. Ordinary silicone cells are smaller in size than crystalline cells, and produce less energy. Single silicone cells are often used in watches and calculators because of their size and limited potential.

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However, large modules of silicone cells can be placed together to create larger amounts of energy. With enough cells, one can power their home.

Figure :2 - solar cells circuit

Thin film cells are durable, light-weight solar cells that are easy to assemble. These are some of the most efficient solar panels, with an ability to convert 90 percent of the usable solar energy to electricity when exposed to light. Thin film cells also require less semiconductor materials, making them incredible thin and light-weight. However, despite their durable nature, thin film cells do not easily stand up to nature making them not an ideal choice for homes. Concentrators work like optical lens. Light is concentrated to become increased and used with other solar power types. Concentrators are made from crystalline silicon materials, and can

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produce more energy than other types of cells. However, they are most commonly used in expensive and high tech industries like space and satellites.

5. HOW SOLAR POWER WORKS

Solar power works in an interesting way. It begins with sunlight, a naturally available and powerful resource that we tap into. Sunlight is one of the best sources of power because the sun creates more each day than we can use. It is readily available around the globe and does not deminish from pollution or use. Solar power cells, also known as photovoltaic cells, convert this energy into electricity for our use. Solar panels work similarly to large semiconductors. When the polar panels are exposed to sunlight, the junction diodes convert the energy into usable electricity. Photons from the suns light strike the solar cells, releasing electrons. Then, the electric fields in the solar cells pull these electrons in a directional current. From here, metal contacts in the solar cells turn the flowing electrons into electricity. The more solar cells, and the higher queality of the cells, the more electricity can be produced. Outside factors can affect how well the solar panels work. Shade, cloud cover, and other obstructions and decrease the amount of energy put out by the solar cells. Angle and degree can also affect how much energy the cells are able to use and convert into electricity. This is why many solar panels have dynamic mounts, which allow the panels to move and follow the sun
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across the sky. Doing this allows the cells to get the maximum exposure to sunlight at each moment of the day. Solar power is a growing trend in many parts of the world, as the prices to create and install solar cells continues to decrease. More and more homes and businesses are utilizing solar power for their energy needs. Using solar power decreases the amount of carbon used for traditional power sources, and can lower energy costs.

6. SOLAR ENERGY FOR BUILDINGS presents basic information on solar building design, which includes passive solar heating, ventilation air heating, solar domestic water heating and shading. The article suggests ways to incorporate solar design into multi-unit residential buildings, and provides calculations and examples to show how early design decisions can increase the useable solar energy. This Introduction to Solar Design Issues, presents basic notions of solar design and describes different passive, active and hybrid systems and the solar aspects of design elements, which include window design, cooling and control, and water heating.

7. TYPES OF SOLAR PANEL There are three main types of solar panel in commercial production, all with some advantages and disadvantages. All three are based on silicon semiconductors - the difference being the form that the silicon is in. Panels based on other chemistries are under development: Cadmium telluride and copper indium diselenide panels may well appear in production soon; and also research is being conducted on using the photosynthesis effect that plants use to convert sunlight to useful forms of energy. However, you are unlikely to come across technologies other than silicon for the time being.
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7.1.

Assignment-01

Solar Panel

Monocrystalline solar cells

Figure: 2 These are made from thin wafers of silicon, sliced from large crystals that have been grown under carefully controlled conditions. Typically, the cells are a few inches across, and a number of cells are laid out in a grid to create a panel. Relative to the other types of cells, they have a high efficiency, meaning you will obtain more electricity from a given area of panel. This is useful if you only have a limited area for mounting your panels, or want to keep the installation small for aesthetic reasons. However, growing large crystals of silicon is a difficult and very energy-intensive process, so the production costs for this type of panel have historically been very high. Production methods have improved though, and prices have fallen a great deal over the years, partly driven by competition as other types of panel have been produced

7.2.

Polycrystalline solar cells

Figure: 3

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It is cheaper to produce silicon wafers in polycrystalline form, as the conditions for growth do not need to be as tightly controlled. In this form, a number of interlocking silicon crystals grow together. Panels based on these cells are cheaper per unit area than monocrystalline panels - but they are also less efficient. In terms of pounds-per-watt, there is not a great deal of difference between the panels

7.3.

Amorphous Solar Panels

Figure: 4 The newest type of panel is based on amorphous silicon. Here, the silicon atoms are not ordered in a crystal lattice at all. The production methods are quite different - instead of growing crystals, the silicon is deposited in a very thin layer on to a backing substrate. Sometimes several layers of silicon, doped in slightly different ways to respond to different wavelengths of light, are laid on top of one another to improve the efficiency. The production methods are complex, but less energy intensive than crystalline panels, and prices should come down as panels are mass produced using this process. One advantage of using very thin layers of silicon is that the panels can be made flexible. Panels are available that can be curved to the bend in a roof for example, or even attached to a flexible backing sheet so that they can be rolled up and put away when they are not needed! The disadvantage of amorphous panels is that they are not as efficient per unit area as

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7.4.

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Solar Panel

Monocrystalline panels

Figure: 5 Typically you would need nearly double the panel area for the same power output. Having said that, for a given power rating, they do perform better at low light levels than crystalline panels which is worth having on a dismal winter's day. At least one manufacturer now produces a hybrid panel, where a layer of amorphous silicon is deposited on top of single crystal wafers. This gives some of the advantages (high power, but still efficient at low light levels) - and some of the disadvantages (not flexible and relatively high price) of the different types of panels.

8. Environmental Impact Although Solar energy is considered to be one of the cleanest and renewable sources of energy among the available sources but is has some environmental impacts too. Solar energy uses photovoltaic cells to produce solar power. However, manufacturing the photovoltaic cells to produces that energy requires silicon and produce some waste products. Inappropriate handling of these materials may lead to hazardous exposure to humans and the environment. Installing solar power plants may require large piece of land, which may impact existing ecosystems. Solar energy does not pollute the air when converted to electricity by solar panels. It is found in abundance and does not help in global warming.

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Solar Panel

9. SOLAR POWER-ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES There are many advantages worth considering when it comes to solar energy and everything that it offers. There are many advantages that solar energy has over oil energy. Not only does solar energy benefit your pocketbook, but it also benefits the environment as well. However, there are two sides to everything, and there is a list of solar power disadvantages to accompany the list of advantages.

9.1. ADVANTAGES Solar energy is a completely renewable resource. This means that even when we cannot make use of the suns power because of nighttime or cloudy and stormy days, we can always rely on the sun showing up the very next day as a constant and consistent power source. Oil, which is what most people currently use to power their homes, is not a renewable resource. This means that as soon as the oil is gone, it is gone forever and we will no longer have power or energy. Solar cells make absolutely no noise at all. They do not make a single peep while extracting useful energy from the sun. On the other hand, the giant machines utilized for pumping oil are extremely noisy and therefore very impractical. Solar energy creates absolutely no pollution. This is perhaps the most important advantage that makes solar energy so much more practical than oil. Oil burning releases harmful greenhouses gases, carcinogens and carbon dioxide into our precious air. Very little maintenance is required to keep solar cells running. There are no moving parts in a solar cell, which makes it impossible to really hurt them. Solar cells tend to last a good long time with only an annual cleaning to worry about.

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Solar panels and solar lighting may seem quite expensive when you first purchase it, but in the long run you will find yourself saving quite a great deal of money. After all, it does not cost anything to harness the power of the sun. Unfortunately, paying for oil is an expensive prospect and the cost is still rising consistently. Why pay for expensive energy when you can harness it freely?

Solar powered panels and products are typically extremely easy to install. Wires, cords and power sources are not needed at all, making this an easy prospect to employ.

Solar power technology is improving consistently over time, as people begin to understand all of the benefits offered by this incredible technology. As our oil reserves decline, it is important for us to turn to alternative sources for energy.

9.2. DISADVANTAGES The Solar Cells and Solar Panels that are needed to harness solar energy tend to be very expensive when you first purchase them. Solar power cannot be harnessed during a storm, on a cloudy day or at night. This limits how much power can be saved for future days. Some days you may still need to rely on oil to power your home.

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Solar Panel

10. CONCULTION Solar Energy is the energy that is produced by the sun in the form of heat and light. It is one of the most renewable and readily available source of energy. The fact that it is available in plenty and free and does not belong to anybody makes it one of the most important of the nonconventional sources of energy. Solar energy has been used by people since ancient times by using simple magnifying glasses to concentrate the light of the sun into beams so hot they would cause wood to catch fire. Mainly, Solar energy can be used to convert it into heat energy or it can be converted into electricity. Solar energy can be converted into electricity by means of solar thermal energy and photovoltaic. Through Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) cells, solar radiation gets converted into DC electricity directly. This form of energy can be used to power solar watches, calculators or traffic signals. They are often used in locations that are not connected to electricity grid. Solar heat energy can be used to heat water or space heating which means heating the space inside the building. Solar energy can be broadly categorized as active or passive solar energy depending on how they are captured and utilized. In active solar energy special solar heating equipment is used to convert solar energy to heat energy whereas in passive solar energy the mechanical equipment is not present. Active solar include the use of mechanical equipment like photovoltaic cells, solar thermal collectors or pumps and fans to trap the solar energy. Passive solar technologies convert solar energy to heat energy without use of active mechanical systems. It is mainly the practice of using windows, walls, trees, building placement and other simple techniques to capture or deflect the sun for use. Passive solar heating is a great way to conserve energy and maximizing it's utilization.

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11. REFERANCE

Books i. Peterson First Guide to the Solar System, by Jay M. Pasachoff, Roger T. Peterson

Web ii. iii. iv. http://greenbuildingelements.com (http://s.tt/15cbo) http://www.makeitsolar.com/images/solarcell_circuit_001.gif http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Solar-panels-PV

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