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APPLICATION AND CASE STUDY

OF SOLAR CELLS

NIKUNJ KAVADIA(080110119011)

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Current Applications and

Development

mostoftheeighties and early ninetiesthemajor marketsfor solar panels were remote area power supplies andconsumer products (watches,toys and calculators).However in themid nineties a major effort was launched to

develop buildingintegrated solar panelsfor grid connectedapplications. Rooftop PV is now drivingthe developmentofthemarketin Japan, Europe and the USA. Japan currentlyhas a programthat aimsto build 70,000 solar homes,installing 400MW ofPV by 2000 and installing 4600MW by2010. In Europeseveral countries aresupportingthe

construction ofsolar homes, withthe European parliamentproposing a 1,000MW scheme. In the USA, PresidentClinton announced a Solar Roofs Program,that aimstoinstall solar panelson onemillion roofsin America by 2010.

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Other Applications of SOLAR CELL

Cathodic Protection SystemsCathodic protection is a method ofprotectingmetal structuresfrom corrosion. Itis applicableto bridges, pipelines, buildings,tanks, wells andrailway lines. To achieve cathodic protection asmall negativevoltageis applied tothemetalstructure and this preventsitfromoxidising orrusting. The positiveterminal ofthesourceis

connected to a sacrificial anodethatisgenerally apieceofscrap metal, which corrodesinstead ofthestructure. Photovoltaic solar cells areoftenused in remote locationsto providethisvoltage.

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Electric Fences

Electric fences are widely used in agricultureto preventstock or predatorsfromenteringor leaving an enclosedfield. Thesefencesusually haveoneor two 'live' wiresthat

aremaintained at about 500 volts DC. Thesegive a painful,butharmlessshock to any animal thattouchesthem. Thisisgenerally sufficientto preventstock from pushingthemover. Thesefences are alsoused in wildlifeenclosures andsecure areas. They require a highvoltage butvery littlecurrent and they areoften located in remote areas where

the costofelectric power ishigh. These requirements canbemet by a photovoltaic systeminvolvingsolar cells, apower conditioner and a battery.

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Remote Lighting Systems

Lightingisoften required at remote locations wherethe costofpower istoohighto consider usingthegrid.Such applicationsincludesecurity lighting, navigation

aids (eg buoys and beacons),illuminated road signs,railway crossingsigns and village lighting. Solar cellsaresuited tosuch applications, although a storagebattery is always required in suchsystems. They usuallyconsistofa PV panel plus a storage battery, power

conditioner and a low voltage,highefficiency DCfluorescent lamp. Thesesystems arevery popular inremote areas,especially in developing countries andthisisoneofthemajor applicationsofsolar cells.

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Remote lightingsystem

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Solar Powered Water Pumping

There aremorethan 10,000 solar powered water pumpsin useinthe world today. They are widely used on farms and outbackstationsin Australia tosupply water to livestock. In developingcountriesthey areused extensively to pump water from wells and

riverstovillagesfor domestic consumption and irrigation ofcrops. Atypical PV-powered pumpingsystem consistsofa PV array thatpowers an electric motor, which drives a pump. The water isoftenpumped fromtheground or streaminto a storagetank thatprovides a gravity feed. Noenergy storageis needed for thesesystems. PV powered pumpingsystems are widely availablefrom

agricultural equipmentsuppliers and they are a cost-effectivealternativeto agricultural wind turbinesfor remote area watersupply

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Rural ElectrificationStorage batteries are widely used in remote areasto provide lowvoltageelectrical power for lighting and communications as well asfor vehicles. A PV powered battery chargingsystemusually consistsofa small PV array plus a charge controller. Thesesystems are

widely used in rural electrification projectsin developing countries. Water Treatment Systems

In remote areaselectric power isoften used to disinfector purifydrinking water. Photovoltaic cells areused to power a strongultraviolet lightthat can beused to kill bacteria in drinking water.This can be combined with a solar powered water pumpingsystem.

Desalination ofbrackish water can be achieved via PV poweredreverseosmosissystems. These areused in arid partsofAustralia toproducefresh water from artesian supplies

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SOLAR CASE STUDY

Hardesty (Midtown Multi-ServiceCenter)

Details: -Multipurpose building located in southcentral Tucson serving police and

water departments.

-Building alsofeatures water harvestingand daylighting.

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FINANCIAL DETAILS

System costincluding design and

construction - $55,546.

$10,000 rebatefrom TEP. Life cycle costofenergy

$.031/kWh.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Operational December 2003.

48 BP 140 solar panels

generating 6.7 kW DC, 5.4 kW AC.

Xantrex PV 10208 inverter.

Estimated annual energy production-10,000kWh.

Annual costsavings approximately $800.00. Greenhousegas reduction approximately 9.6

metric tons CO2 annually.