How they work solar panels

Solar panels make electricity almost free.

The Sun is and always will be! Perhaps this is too bold a statement but it's true. At least from the point of view of humanity. And it will explode after how many millions of years, but by the time we get off this planet or themselves, or in the form of ashes which I will scatter in space, another huge stone, swept down on our blue ball. It is because of such stability of the Sun it can and should be used for energy. People have long learned how to do it and now continue to improve the technology of solar energy. But how does it work solar panels, batteries and generally how to turn light into electricity inside the socket?

When were solar panels

Solar battery invented quite a long time. The first effect of converting light into electricity was discovered by Alexander Edmond Becquerel in 1842. To create the first prototype took almost one hundred years.

1948, on March 25, Italian photochemic Giacomo Luigi Chemical was able to do what we now use and develop. 10 years later in 1958, the technology was first tested in space as part of the power of the American satellite named ”vanguard-1”. The satellite was launched on 17 March, and on may 15 of that year, this achievement was repeated in the Soviet Union (unit ”Sputnik-3”). That is, the technology has begun to be applied in different countries almost simultaneously.

the Use of solar panels in space — a common practice.

Such structures are used in space so far, as an important source of energy. And they use the Land for homes and even entire cities. Also, for greater autonomy.

How work solar panels

It is Worth to clarify a little bit that the concept ”solar battery” is not correct. Precisely correct, but not relevant to the systems of power we are talking about. Battery there is normal, but receives energy from solar panel, which convert to electricity the light of the sun.

The basis of solar panels are photovoltaic cells that are placed inside the overall frame. To create such cells commonly used silicon, but may use other semiconductors.

The Energy produced in the moment when the sun's rays and heats it. As a result, inside the semiconductor releases electrons. Under the influence of an electric field, the electrons begin to move more orderly, which leads to the appearance of an electric current.

looks like a solar panel.

In order to obtain electricity, it is necessary to connect contacts to both sides of the solar cell. As a result, he will begin to feed electricity to the connected consumer or just the recharged battery, which will give electricity to the grid when needed.

on the basis of Model 3

The Main emphasis is on silicon is due to its crystalline characteristics. However, pure silicon itself is is a poor conductor and change the properties to it is an extremely small amount of impurities to improve its conductivity. Basically the number of impurities include phosphorus.

semiconductors generate electricity?

A Semiconductor is a material in which atoms either have extra electrons (n-type) or not enough (p-type). That is, the semiconductor consists of two layers with different conductivity.

As the cathode in such a scheme is used the n-layer. The anode is the p-layer. That is, the electrons from the first layer can go in the second. The transition is due to the knocking out of electrons by photons of light. One photon knocks out one electron. Then they passed through the battery, get back in the n-layer and everything goes in a circle.

When the energy is depleted, it starts in a circle, and the light is always on.

In today's solar panels as the semiconductor used is silicon, and it all started with Selena. Selenium showed a very low efficiency — no more than one percent — and he immediately began to look for a replacement. Now the silicon as a whole meets the requirements of the industry, but he has one significant drawback.

Processing and purification of silicon to bring it to that form in which it can be used, is a rather costly procedure. To reduce are experimenting with the alternatives — copper, indium, Galiya and cadmium.

the Efficiency of solar panels

Have silicon another negative is not as important as cost, but which also must be fought. The fact that the silicon is very highly reflective and because of this element produces less electricity.

Even hang as many panels, it is necessary to ensure proper operation. Including to deal with the reflection of light.

In order to reduce such losses, are coated with a special anti-reflective coating. In addition to this layer, it is necessary to use a protective layer which allows the item to be more durable and to resist not only rain and dust, but even the falling branches of small size.When installed on the roof of the house is very important.

the Sun -power! It should be used!

Despite General satisfaction with the technology and constant struggle for improvement, the contemporary solar panels you still have to go. At the moment mass produced panels which recycle up to 20 percent of the light falling on them. But there are more modern panels that are still ”brought to mind” — they can process up to 40 percent of the world.

In General, solar energy is cool! And remember, even in this «scorching» the sun, the system will work.