| Photovoltaics: PV Solar Systems |
How Your PV Solar
System Works
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A photovoltaic cell
is made of a select material which is called a semiconductor. This is
normally silicon. In a standard PV
cell, you have a very thin wafer of silicon. The two sides of the silicon
have very small amounts of impurity on it, which is usually boron or
phosphorous. The impurities makes
one side of the cell give up electrons. This is the electron-donor side.
The impurities on the other side accept electrons. This is the
electron-receiver side. The layer between the
electron-donor side and the electron-receiver side is the cell junction.
The two sides are connected by wires. At a time when the
sun is shining, photons of energy (sunlight) bombard the cell. This
stimulates the electrons on the electron-donor cell side. These electrons
travel through the wire to get to the electron-receiver side. An electric
circuit is created. A PV panel or module
is created when multiple cells are connected. A PV array is created
when multiple PV panels or modules are connected.
Direct current (DC)
electricity is thus generated. Since most of the appliances in our homes
use alternating current (AC), the solar system requires an inverter
to convert DC power into AC power. Electricity is only
generated during daylight--with more electricity generated during
times of intense sunlight. However, the sun does not always shine (such as
night time) or does not shine with intensity (such as cloudy days).
Therefore a storage system is required which supplies electricity when
your home is producing an inadequate supply. You have two choices
for storage:
There are pros and
cons and considerable differences in prices for both systems. Back
to Solar Power Directory For
further information about Renewable
Energy or this area of Texas
contact Terry
Jensen Renewable Energy & Green Services
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