|
How Do Solar Panels Work?
We are all aware that solar panel produces energy and electricity that powers our appliances at home. Sometimes, we can see them mounted on top of our roof and is used in water heating system, likewise large farms also uses solar panels as an auxiliary and supplementary source of energy when there is less wind that generates their windmills, we also see these panels mounted on street lights, this system harnesses the light energy, converts and stores it during the day and uses the stored energy to light up the lamp during the night. And most commonly, we see these little panels mounted on our solar powered calculators, isn’t it? But how do solar panels work? What are the circuitry and technology involved by this powerful tool?
The solar panels which are widely used for home use or on those calculators and other little stuff you see are made up of solar cells. These solar cells are then made up of photovoltaic materials, also called modules, which are group of cells that are electrically connected, attached and joined together in a frame. These are the frames you can see that are individually grouped together in a panel.
These photovoltaic cells are made up of silicon semiconductors. Basically, when these silicon semiconductors are stricken by light coming from the sun, a certain part and segment of this light is absorbed ad confined within the silicon semiconductor. In this process, the energy which the light has is engaged and transferred to the semiconductor. This absorbed energy makes the electrons suspended on the silicon semiconductor to move in a certain direction and this makes a current. By placing metal contacts both on the bottom and top of each frame of the photovoltaic field, the current is captured for external storage and use in the form of electricity. This energy harnessed and converted can power up appliances given that the current is large enough to meet the demands of a certain appliance. This is the process which happens when light energy from the sun hits our solar panels.
It is the basic process on how our solar panels work but we must maintain and install it where it directly faces the sun. Even though we are used to know that the light coming from the sun is the source of its power, we must note that only 15% of the sun’s light energy is being utilized by our solar panels. We must understand that the light coming from the sun is composed of different electromagnetic spectrum and thus only the wavelengths of those who have a strong electromagnetic spectrum can produce current of the electrons. And this is the very reason why we must consider the correct placement of the solar panels. Optimally, a place unobstructed by trees, buildings, and other sources of shade is the ideal place for installation of our solar panel. This ensures that the light energy emitted by the sun is confined by the solar panel.
It is not enough that we just place it in a place conducive to light energy confinement. Since pollutants and dirt fragments are always present in the air and can accumulate to the crystal surface of the solar panel, it will be helpful to regularly clean and wipe off dirt from the crystal surface because these dirt blocks of the light energy coming from the sun more particularly the wavelengths which has stronger electromagnetic spectrum.
Understanding how solar panels work to produce energy and electricity will be helpful to maintain it in its optimum state and gain the very benefits solar panels has to offer.
|
