"SLC21/WK5: Introduction to Basic Solar Power" by @rossnenye

Hello everyone, good morning and happy Sunday to you all. I'm so glad being in this Class because I really learnt a lot, all thanks to the Teachers.

Source

Share your knowledge about solar power with us by reading our lesson.

Solar Power can be defined as the energy Source which is from Sunlight. Through the help of Technology, this energy from the Sun is converted into Electricity for our use. It's a renewable source of energy this means that can. People really love this form of energy because it's environmental friendly unlike some source of energy

Types of Solar System

• Grid-Tied Solar System

This type of system are connected to the public Electrical grid and in the daytime, if the Solar Panel generates more Electricity than it's needed, the excess energy feeds back into the grid, then at night it draws power from the Grid.

• Off- grid System

It does not use the Public Grid, it uses the Solar Panels and Batteries to store energy and an Inverter to convert DC power to AC power for home usage.

Pixabay

• Hybrid Solar System

It combines the characteristics of Grid-Tied and Off- grid System. It's connected to the Public Grid, but also have a Battery Storage which it utilize as backup during Grid Outages

How the Solar System Works

• Photovoltaics(PV)

The sunlight struck on the Photovoltaics cell which is made up of Semiconductor to release electrons. Then, the knocked electrons separates from the atom in the Semiconductor and creates an energy flow.

• Solar panels

They're made up of multiple PV cells which are connected together. It converts sunlight into Electricity.

• Inverter

It converts the Direct Current electricity produced by the Solar panel into Alternating Current which we can use for various applications.

• Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

It made up of mirrors which focuses the Sunlight into one unit, thereby creating a high temperature. This high temperature can then be used to drive Turbine to generate Electricity.

Benefits of Solar energy

• Renewable source of energy

The sun is the chief source of energy on Earth and the solar energy is gotten from sunlight and this makes it inexhaustible which means we can rely on it all the time.

• Reduces Carbon Emissions

The Solar energy is Eco friendly, it doesn't release toxic byproduct that causes Climate changes.

• Job creation

Since the discovery of this Source of energy, it has been a source of livelihood for many people who manufactured, install and maintain it.

• Sustainability

This type of power supply does not disappoint, because the source is a renewable source of energy.

• Low Electricity bills

If you have the Solar energy, you're sure of paying less on Electricity bills.

B. Write three important differences between AC solar and DC solar systems. (as learned from our lesson)

Pixabay

AC Solar	DC Solar
It needs an inverter to convert the DC power into AC which can be used in the home	It uses the Power directly without changing it.
It's more expensive due to the fact that it needs Inverter	It's not expensive because it doesn't require an Inverter.
It's less efficient than DC, this is because of power Loss during the Conversion of DC to AC	It's more efficient than the AC

C. Calculate your home's electrical load and share it with us. Follow our lesson as an example.

Electrical Element Name	Rating	Quantity	Total Power
Light	30 Watts	3 Pcs	90Watts
Fan	70 Watts	1 Pc	70 Watts
Iron	2400Watts	1 Pc	1200Watts
Refrigerator	400 Watts	1Pc	400Watts

From the above table, the total Electrical Load in my house is 90 Watts+ 70Watts+ 2400 Watts+ 400Watts = 2960Watts or 2.960KW
1000 Watts = 1KW

D. Prepare a DC solar project specification for a customer's home to use four 5-watt lamps and three 20-watt fans.

Electrical Element Name	Rating	Quantity	Total Power
Lamp	5 Watts	4 pieces	20 Watts
Fans	20 Watts	3Pcs	60 Watts

From the above, we can deduct that we can calculate the Total Electrical Load by adding 20 Watts to 60 watts, to give us 80Watts.

So, I would purchase a DC power according to the above Load.

Solar Material Name	Quantity	Range
Solar Panel	1pc	150Watts or two 80Watts Panel
DC Lamps	4 pieces	5 Watts
Charger Controller	1pcs	20A
Battery	1pc	12V or 75Ah
DC fans	3 pieces	20wats

• Additional Accessories: DC Cables, Connectors, Fuses and Solar Panel mounting will be used to mount the Solar Panel.

E. Prepare specifications for a customer's AC solar system to drive a water pump motor of 1 HP or 746 W and write the function of each device.

Electrical Elements Name	Rating	Quantity	Total Power
Water Pump Motor Power	1 HP or 746Watts	1Pc	1 HP or 746Watts

From the table, we can deduct that the Water Pump Motor of the AC power Load is meant to provide 1 HP or 746Watts. Let's say we're calculating for 5 working days then the daily consumption will be thus 5 x746W = 3,730Wh/day.

Solar Material Name	Quantity	Range
Solar Panel	1Pc	750Watts or two 375Watts Solar Panels
Battery	1 Pc	12V, 400Ah deep-cycle battery
Charge Controller	1 Pc	12V, 75A MPPT Charge Controller
Inverter	1 Pc	1200Watts Pure sine wave Inverter

Their functions

• Solar Panel

It's charged with the function of converting Sunlight into DC

• Charge Controller

It regulates the Voltage output from the Solar Panel inorder to avoid overcharge or Undercharge of the Battery.

• Battery

It stores excess energy from the Solar Panel generated during the day for usage at night or during power failure.

• Inverter

It converts DC to AC power so that it can power the 1 HP water pump Motor.

It was really an amazing Class and I really learnt a lot. Thanks for reading my post, I invite @bela90, @chiomi and @blessedbee to participate in this contest.