SCI 1901E - Energy
Chapter 12: Electricity from Solar Energy
Lesson notes:
Earlier in the course, we discussed the use of solar energy for domestic hot water heating and space heating. In this lesson we will examine three other ways that solar energy can be used to produce energy. Solar cells, wind machines and solar thermal electric facilities all convert solar energy to electrical energy.
Objectives:
1. Be able to describe and explain the photoelectric effect.
2. Be able to describe how a p-n junction can act as a solar cell to produce electrical energy.
3. Be able to explain show how solar cells can be joined in arrays to produce higher voltage or current outputs.
4. Be able to describe with the components of a wind energy system.
5. Be able to perform calculations relating the power output of a wind energy system to wind speed and blade diameter.
6. Be able to describe how solar thermal electric facilities use solar energy to produce electrical energy.
Vocabulary:
photovoltaic generation
n and p type semiconductors
doping
horizontal and vertical axis wind machines
Homework:
Text errata:
Page 390, second line of last paragraph: The statement: "Normally there are no free electrons in silicon, and, therefore, silicon is a reasonably good insulator" is misleading. Even the purest silicon that can be manufactured contains enough impurity atoms to allow conduction of electricity. Even if absolutely pure silicon were achievable, at normal room temperatures, silicon will conduct electricity. Only at low temperatures in absolutely pure material would silicon act as an insulator.
Page 400, in the last line of the section titled, Pumping Water: Change "... four 40-W arrays" to "... five 40-W arrays." Five arrays excees the requirement, but four arrays do not meet the requirement.
Additional sources of information:
The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency an Renewable Energy Network maintains a Web site that provides information on photovoltaics.
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network maintained by the U.S. Department of Energy provides a report on the Million Solar Roofs Initiative.
Sandia National Laboratories provides a Web site providing information on the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (some really nice photos of the facility).
A site devoted to wind energy is provided by the Danish Wind Turbine Manufacturer's Association. Click on the flag of Great Britain to rea in English.
The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory's National Wind Technology Center provides information on wind energy.
Additional information on wind energy is provided by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
Last update: April 02, 2009