The depletion of energy resources forces us to look for new sources of energy. In such circumstances, the best solution is to use renewable energy from the sun. A device for converting light energy into electrical energy is called a solar battery. Increasingly, people who care about saving money are thinking about installing solar panels in their homes. In the article, we will understand the types of such batteries, their advantages and disadvantages, and also tell you which shape is best for your home.
Application areas
Solar batteries have found application in many areas of human life. They are used in space stations and in aircraft construction. In France, a solar-powered highway has been built that provides electricity to the street lighting of a small village. In the Mediterranean countries, such batteries are installed on the roofs of houses.to meet the demand for hot water. They are used in electric vehicles and street lamps. Solar-powered lamps are popular in the design of decorative illumination of buildings, sculptures, parks and adjacent areas. Portable devices are equipped with such energy sources: flashlights, calculators, players. South Korea has invented a solar panel that can be placed under human skin to power implants such as a pacemaker.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of solar panels is the use of clean, renewable solar energy. Photocells do not pollute the environment and do not create noise. The design of the battery is quite simple, so that breakdowns are rare. In addition, you can increase the power of the device by increasing the number of panels. Solar panels are durable, their service life is several decades. They do not require special care, it is only necessary to periodically wipe them from dust.
The disadvantages include the complexity of assembling and configuring large systems. Portable batteries do not require adjustment. Solar batteries have a low efficiency, only about 20%. To meet the electricity needs of a small house, it is necessary to install batteries over a large area. The cost of solar panels is still high. This is due to the peculiarities of their production.
Working principle
Most popularSilicon crystals are the material for the manufacture of household solar cells. Silicon wafers are a semiconductor that converts the light energy of the sun into electrical energy. It accumulates in the battery. Solar panels produce direct current. It is suitable for powering LEDs. If the energy of the sun is used to power household electrical appliances, the design should be supplemented with an inverter DC-to-AC inverter. The solar module is covered with tempered glass to protect it from atmospheric agents and dust.
Views
Silicon solar cells come in three types: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous.
Monocrystal panels are made from highly purified silicon under the influence of a temperature of 1400 degrees Celsius. As a result, a crystal with a diameter of 14-20 cm and a length of up to 2 meters is obtained. The crystal is cut into plates 250-300 µm thick and placed on the electrode grid. The efficiency of such panels reaches 19%, household modules boast 14-18%. Due to the complex production technology, monocrystalline solar panels are more expensive than polycrystalline solar panels. In addition, the silicon crystal is a polygon, which is why it will not be possible to completely fill the useful area of the module. The color of single crystals is black or dark blue.
Polycrystalline solar cells are produced using a simplified technology at lower temperatures. Semiconductor crystals have different directions, which reduces the efficiency to12-14%. In addition, the service life of polycrystalline batteries is 25 years, which is half that of single crystals. The polycrystals are bright blue and completely fill the solar module. The advantage of polycrystalline solar cells over single crystals is the ability to absorb scattered light. Thus, the accumulation of energy is carried out even in cloudy weather and at dusk.
Amorphous solar panels are made from silicon hydrogen using film technology. The efficiency of such modules is quite low, about 5%. However, they absorb stray light 20 times better than other types of batteries. Often there are combinations of amorphous silicon with poly- or single crystals. This allows you to combine the advantages of different types of semiconductors.
How to choose?
So what to opt for, polycrystalline or monocrystalline solar cells?
You should pay attention to the fact that the required power can be obtained from any type of battery. The question is in the available area for their installation. If there is not enough space, it is better to stop at single-crystal modules with the highest efficiency. If the issue of area is not significant, polycrystalline solar panels for the home will be the best solution. With equal power, and given that polycrystals cost about 10% less, the total cost of a solar farm will be slightly cheaper. In addition, polycrystalline solar panels absorb energy even in cloudy weather.
The problem of fossil energy depletionis aggravated every year, and the degree of environmental pollution becomes more acute. In this regard, many people have paid close attention to alternative energy sources. A promising direction is to obtain electricity from the light energy of the sun. Solar panels are used to convert light into electricity. They are durable, do not create noise, easy to operate. In the production of solar modules, mono- and polycrystals of silicon are used. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient, while polycrystalline solar panels are able to absorb stray light and are somewhat cheaper.
