Learn more about solar energy through the Department of Energy: It’s a bit cloudy
Interest in solar power as an energy source rises and goes along the tax credits to promote their growth. Because I basically am a child of my heart, I kid visualization of Energy’s Energy Information Administration for more information.
Energy Information Administration (EIA) that was created by Congress in 1977, is a statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Energy. “Our mission is to promote a policy-neutral data, forecasts and analysis to sound policies, efficient markets and public understanding regarding energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.”
Home Energy Children begin in a friendly atmosphere in a way that even I could understand:
The sun has produced energy for billions of years. Solar energy is the sun’s rays (solar radiation) that reach the earth.
Some of this solar energy into heat which is converted to heat water and interior architecture.
So far, so good.
Solar energy can be converted to electricity in two ways:
Change sunlight directly into electricity – Photovoltaic (PV devices) or “solar cells”. Photovoltaic systems are often in remote areas not connected to the network. They are also for watches, calculators, and lighted signs used on the roads.
Solar Power Plants – indirectly generate electricity when the heat from solar collectors, a fluid, the steam is used for the heat energy generated in order. Of the 15 known solar units, generating electricity in the United States at the end of 2006, 10 of them in California and five in Arizona. No statistics on solar systems that are less than one megawatt of electricity, the small solar power plants will produce a number of other states collected.
With childlike wonder I still depressed and wanted to learn more about energy efficiency, can contribute to renewable solar energy to fossil fuels is (half of them from the burning of coal, which in turn have the 104 tons of mercury per year, we the pleasure of breathing , eating and drinking).
So they dug in the photovoltaic field. Without warning or adequate disclosure, the top energy-The guy took me back to school for my PhD in electronics. (Guys: Seriously, do you really think the side of your child’s child-friendly?)
With quick google I found an online university enrolled, and studied day and night for 4 weeks, all I’ve got my doctorate, and now I’m happy to give this kid-friendly explanation of solar energy.
We will shed light on the photovoltaic and the three types of solar power plants.
Photovoltaic solar energy
Photovoltaics is the conversion of sunlight into electricity. A photovoltaic cell, commonly called a solar cell or photovoltaic technology is used to convert solar energy directly into electrical energy. The solar cell is a non-mechanical device usually made from silicon alloys.
Sunlight photons. The photons have an energy. Crushed by the solar cell absorbs a photon and some of them. Another train immediately, like basketballs or go through the ghosts.The absorbed photons hit electrons out of place. The electrons are things that electricity is made. The electrons at the surface of the sun’s surface cell.This movement creates an imbalance. If you connect a cable from the solar cell to an external battery, you have a way of the flow of electrons in follow.That battery power.
A single solar cell will power the computer and curiosity, but not much else. 1 or 2 watts, it is necessary to connect a lot of things together to get the flow of the real juice. This is known as a matrix, and thus may have many cells as you can afford it. Certainly, a case the more you spend, the more you save.
Stuck in a place where the sun do not shine
The sunlight is constant – the clouds and fog are not. The weather significantly affect the amount of solar energy by a photovoltaic generator and receive performance tour. PV modules are the latest technology to about 10 percent efficient in converting sunlight. Further research is underway to increase this efficiency by 20 percent.
AC / DC conversion
The battery pack collects the direct current (DC). You need to alternating current (AC) through the traffic lights. Semiconductor devices called inverters convert direct current to alternating current. Problem solved.
Summary of photovoltaics: solar photovoltaic cells, or the slings and arrows of outrageous absorb photons from the sun, which pushes the electrons to the cell surface, where shops in circulation by a wire, a battery. To the investor to break the usable energy from the battery. However, the efficacy of 10%, suction dramatically in dimly lit areas at all times, as in Sweden in November to January, when nearly dark, and lighting his way with the seal of the candles and lamps Ikea emphasis fat.
The next step, the children (and I’ll put it kindly):
Solar Thermal Power Plants
Solar thermal power plants use solar energy to a liquid which is placed in water and turns to steam heat. The steam drives a turbine, which generates a generator to power conventional drives. Solar thermal power generation works essentially the same as fossil fuels, except that instead of using the steam is generated by burning fossil fuels produces steam by the heat collected from sunlight. Solar thermal technologies use concentrator systems due to the high temperatures needed to heat the liquid.
In short, to the replacement of fossil fuels by solar energy generating drive turbines that power.
The three main types of solar systems are:
Parabolic trough
Solar disk and
Solar Tower
Parabolic trough
The most common type of solar parabolic trough power plant is in most solar power plants in the world in the Mojave Desert at Kramer Junction, California used. This plant has been in operation since 1980 and represents the largest share of electricity produced by solar energy industry today.
A parabola is a U-shape, the parabolic trough is like a magnifying glass: they need sun and a focal point for the heat. This in turn is surrounded by all the parabolic trough. The place is heated to 400 degrees Celsius. The parable is the movement of the sun during the day to follow the sun as possible.
The place is full of heated liquid. The liquid flows to heat water and produce steam. The steam drives a turbine, which generates a generator to power conventional drives. Allow the liquid to cool a little and be reheated in the top of the tower to 400 degrees.
The plant is usually designed to operate at full power with solar energy alone given sufficient solar energy. However, all plants are hybrid fuel systems, solar / fossil fuels add capacity for solar radiation during periods of low solar energy. This contradicts the purpose of electricity generation from renewable energy sources, but the scientists think they know what they are doing.
The flat-plate collectors
A solar dish / engine system utilizes concentrating solar collectors that track the sun in two axes, concentrating the energy in the focus of the parabola (the field that comes from the center of it), because it always points the sun.
Ratio of antenna solar concentration is much greater than the parabolic trough, usually more than 2,000 with a working fluid temperature above 750 degrees Celsius. The power generation unit is used with a solar disk at the focal point of the antenna, which makes it very suitable for remote operation, or be found as in the parabolic trough, power assembled from a series of facilities and is in power in one place converted.
The engine in a solar dish / engine converts heat into mechanical energy by compressing the working fluid in the cold, the compressed working fluid, and work to the expansion of the fluid through a turbine or a piston to a production. The engine is mated to an electric generator to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.
Solar Power Tower
A solar tower or central receiver generates electricity from sunlight by focusing concentrated solar energy in a heat exchanger on the tower (receiver) is mounted.
This system uses hundreds of thousands of flat sun-tracking mirrors called heliostats reflect and concentrate solar energy onto a central receiver tower. The energy can be up to 1,500 times the energy of the sun are concentrated. Will be the loss of thermal energy transport minimizes solar energy directly transmitted through the reflection from the heliostats to a single recipient, means a transfer instead of moving a central location, such as with a parabolic mirror. Power towers must be large to be economical. This is a promising technology for large power plants connected to the network. Although the towers of power in the early stages of development in terms of parabolic trough technology, a number of laboratories have built worldwide.
What we learned today
We have learned that solar energy can be used to heat water and interior.
Then we learned that solar energy can be converted into electricity using solar cells and solar thermal power plants. Photovoltaic cells in the form of photons, electrons push. Electrons, seeking a new home, move en masse over a cable to the new country called the battery. Solar thermal power plants by concentrating sunlight transforms heat a liquid and the liquid water into steam, which runs a turbine, the turbine drives an electrical generator is running.
Above all, we have learned that no matter what the label is designed as something for children, does not mean that it is. I think we should kid the Department of Commerce call to the truth in labeling with the Department of Energy site, one of the enemy to push through popular sites like children of humanity. Center and I at the time of applying for a tuition reimbursement from my face in the line for the doctor who was to understand the child side of the energy.
Tags: Solar Energy