Solar Power Technologies Explained Simply

Solar Power Technologies Explained Simply is a practical and easy-to-read resource for anyone interested in Solar Power. This book discusses everything you need to know about solar power systems and solar cell technologies. There are three major parts to this book: 1. Overview of Solar Power Technologies2. Practical Considerations when Installing Solar Cells3. Advanced Solar Cell Technologies. The first part provides an overview of solar cell technologies. Topics include the basic...
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Solar Power Technologies Explained Simply is a practical and easy-to-read resource for anyone interested in Solar Power. This book discusses everything you need to know about solar power systems and solar cell technologies. There are three major parts to this book: 1. Overview of Solar Power Technologies2. Practical Considerations when Installing Solar Cells3. Advanced Solar Cell Technologies. The first part provides an overview of solar cell technologies. Topics include the basic process of solar cells, processes which limit the efficiency of solar cells, and key terminology. This part of the book also provides an overview of practical issues to consider when using solar power. The second part of the book discusses all of the most important practical considerations when installing a solar power device. Topics include: Electronic Design Choices, Sizing the Array, Orientation, Tilt Angle, and Maintenance. These topics are discussed in detail throughout three chapters.The third major part of this book discusses the most important advanced solar cell technologies. Topics include the reasons for low efficiency in a solar cell, and the basic methods for improving efficiency. Subsequent topics include: thin films, anti-reflective coatings, surface texturing, minority carriers, solar concentrators, and stacking.This book also provides extensive data tables, including: * tilt angle guidelines based on region and season* energy required to excite the materials of most solar cells * several other data tables and illustrations Table of Contents1. Photovoltaic Cells: Basic Concepts a. Introductionb. Advantages of Photovoltaic Cellsc. Basic Process of Photovoltaic Cellsd. Possible Events in a Photovoltaic Cell and Resulting Efficiencye. Electromagnetic Waves and Photovoltaic Cellsf. Inverters: Converting DC to AC 2. Electronic Design Choices a. Introductionb. Material of Semiconductorsc. Joining Cells Electronicallyd. Inverters: Converting DC to ACe. Stand Alone or Grid-Tiedf. Use Now or Store Laterg. Calculating the Size of Array Neededh. Batteries and Solar Power3. Protection and Maintenance a. Material of the protective coating b. Cleaning Schedule and Techniques 4. Orientation to Face the Sun a. Important Points for Array Orientationb. Latitude and Solar Arrayc. Direction: Which Direction is Bestd. Direction: Fixed or Adjustablee. Tilt Angle: Which Tilt Angle is Bestf. Tilt Angle: Fixed or Adjustable g. Schedules for Adjusting Tilt Angle5. Advanced Solar Cell Technologies a. Possible Events in a Solar Cell b. Preventing Electron-Hole Pairs From Recombiningc. Using More of Reflected Wavesd. Using Waves That Travel Through the Celle. Reducing the Energy Lost as Heatf. Stacked Solar Cellsg. Thin Filmsh. Solar Concentrators Used in Conjunction with Solar CellsAppendix Bibliography Index