Saturday, September 8, 2018
Solar Energy Production
THE PRODUCTION OF SOLAR ENERGY
Energy Technology that Africans Need
Solar
power is a source of renewable energy that helps to minimize the energy bills
that one could inquire by using other sources of energy (Jacobson, &
Delucchi, 2011). It's an alternative source of energy production. The solar
panels work by converting the sun's rays into electricity which can be used to
power homes, businesses, hotels, schools
and any other places that require a lighting or power system. The energy source
is arguably the cheapest energy source of energy production with no
environmental pollution involved. Furthermore, the solar energy helps to reduce
the electricity bills as well as minimizing the utility rates. Solar energy is
produced directly using sunlight whereby the silicon cell s are excited by
utilizing the photons of light from the sun or indirectly by using the concentrated
number of solar panels (Jacobson,& Delucchi, 2011). The solar energy is,
therefore, can be generated as thermal or photovoltaic. Energy production
varies among different countries depending on the most reliable source of
energy available (Patel, 2005).
Below are Forms of Solar Energy Production:
Thermal
Solar Energy
Thermal
solar energy is being produced indirectly by concentrating sunlight on certain
solar concentrators which will help to convert light to heat(Jacobson,&
Delucchi,2011 ).Light is concentrated by use of mirrors and a number of lenses.
The energy produced is free from carbon and therefore reduces the environmental
pollution; therefore, it's a renewable source of energy. Once the heat has been
produced, its used in the steam generators which helps to produce the
electricity which is then supplied and used in industries, hotels and other
places that requires the energy source to power them. The energy produced can
be stored as well. The solar concentrators operate by use of Fresnel lenses in
order to increase the surface area of sunlight which is then applied to a
single cell individually. The lenses create a visualization of magnifying
lenses. The concentrated light I then used to generate electricity from the steam
generators (Jacobson,& Delucchi,2011 ). A number of techniques are
therefore employed in order to capture and reflect sufficient amount of sun's
rays as well as focusing it.
Solar
Energy Technology
Solar
energy technologies are categorized as either passive or active depending on
the process by which it captures light. (Solangi, Islam, Saidur, Rahim, &
Fayaz, 2011)With increased in technology, solar energy has been produced by
using the mirror technique which reflects light which is converted into energy
(Solangi, Islam, Saidur, Rahim, & Fayaz, 2011). The technology has enabled
scientists to produce solar energy in two forms the photovoltaic solar energy
production and the thermal solar energy production (Solangi, Islam, Saidur,
Rahim, & Fayaz 2011). Technologies that have been employed in order to
accomplish the solar energy production projects include the architecture and
planning and urban planning method.
Architecture
and Urban Planning Method
The
buildings that have been designed are basically influenced by the sunlight
direction(Solangi, Islam, Saidur, Rahim, & Fayaz 2011). The technology is
relevant in that it helps to reduce shading effects while carrying out an
installation process to prevent shading while on the other hand, maximizing the
amount of light absorbed by the solar panels in order to increase the amount of
electric energy to be produced. (Solangi, Islam, Saidur, Rahim, & Fayaz
2011).Geographical location affects the solar energy potential since the
regions that are located near the equator, receive greater light than those far
from the equator.
Photovoltaic
Solar Energy
This
emerged from a pure niche market which was used as a form of small-scale in the
application as becoming a mainstream electricity source (Mills 2004).. The
method employs a photoelectric effect whereby light is directly converted into
Electricity. According to Han, Mol, and Zhang, 2008, Photovoltaic solar energy
remains to one of the most arguable sources of electricity from sunlight. It is
a direct form of solar energy production. The system is made up of four
components the roof system, solar panels, inverter and net meter. The
photovoltaic cells are easy to maintain and cheap with no emission of
greenhouse gas making it environmental friendly source of energy production.
Lastly, the photovoltaics are capable of following the direction of the sound
hence maximizing the amount of light that can be absorbed.
The
Roof System
The
roof is used to place the solar panels and other solar systems. Based on the
type of installation done, solar panels are placed in un-shaded areas in order
to maximize the amount of light that can be trapped. Shading could be far from
trees or other materials that would bring destruction (Mills 2004). However
specialized installation contractors use solar pathfinders in order to identify
the areas that are shaded before an installation can be done. Installation is
also based on the angle of orientation and the angle of inclination since roofs
constructed are never the same. A large amount of light is concentrated by
using a specific angle of the Pv tracking systems.
The
solar panels also referred to as modules are made up of photovoltaic cells
produced from silicon, which then converts sunlight into energy source or
electricity other than heat (Mills 2004). As indicated by Mills 2004, the
photovoltaic cells consist of both the positive and negative charges. The
photons play a role in knocking the electrons in the silicon cell. The negative
charges, therefore, get attracted to the other side of the silicon cells thus
creating an electric voltage which is then collected and channeled to the
required areas. The solar panels are aligned in series in order to create the
photovoltaic arrays. Furthermore, the combiner boxes have a number of fuses
that help to protect the module cables. The type of current that is generated
at this point is a direct current which is later transformed into alternating
current which is later used in homes, industries as well as other places that
require the source of electricity in order to carry out their daily
undertakings successfully (Mills 2004).
Solar
Heating Systems
The
solar panels are capable of concentrating heat from the sun (Han,
Mol,&Zhang,2008). The liquid is then circulated through the collectors which
are then channeled to the water tanks where it is preserved for use at home
(Mills 2004). The system contains evacuated tube collectors and glazed flat collectors,
which stores hot water (Han, Mol, & Zhang, 2008).
Inverter
The
inverter is placed closer to the modules./The role of the inviter is to convert
the direct current to alternate current. The inverter, net meter, and the
electric production meter are also aligned with the energy produced by the
solar electric system.
Net
meter
Once
power has been generated, the net meter helps to regulate the amount of power
that is supplied to building, houses, industries and other places of work. They
are automated to switch off and on depending on the availability of power
present or absent.
Disadvantages and Advantages of
Solar Energy
Its
capable of converting a little amount of light received. Moreover, the system
is unable to produce electricity in presence of fog cloudiness and smog hence
remains to be a non-reliable source of energy. Its advantages are about the
reduction of environmental pollution, and facilitate the minimization rate of
electricity bills we could overwhelmed of.
Uses of Solar Energy
Water
Treatment
Saline
or brackish water can be generated using the solar distillation method. (Han,
Mol,& Zhang, 2008). The first scenario was put in place in the year 1872
after a solar distillation project was put in place by the Arab Alchemists in
the 16th century at the Chilean mining town. The solar energy is used for
disinfection and purification of water by use of solar energy to kill microbial
organisms that are present in water. An electrolytic process is used to
disinfect the water whereby the electric energy produced is passed through the
water to be disinfected in order to make it free from micro-organisms.
Horticulture
and Agriculture
This
is timed planting cycles and tailored string direction that have been developed
in order to exploit the amount of plant production. Greenhouses are capable of
converting solar luminosity into heat which is used to enhance the growth of
plants and maximize acquiesces for crops that is not palatable for certain
temperatures.
Conclusion
Solar energy power remains to be one of the most
convenient sources of power considering that it helps to minimize the rates of
electricity bills. It’s one of the cheapest sources of energy. Moreover, it is a renewable source of energy which is free
from air pollution hence increased installation should be enhanced in order to
minimize the rates of environmental pollution. Increased job opportunities can
be achieved whereby well-skilled personnel are employed to take part in
installation and solar energy production all over. Therefore, there is need for solar energy entrepreneurship in Africa Nations.
Yisa R. Oladimeji
Signed
CEO of Adamsbravo EcoTech Intl
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