SLC21/WK5: Introduction to Basic Solar Power
Introduction to Basic Solar Power
Hello friends,
It another week of new learning challenge. After digesting my teacher's explanation of solar electricity. I was motivated to challenge myself by engaging in the homework task for the week.
The idea of solar electricity replacing our smoking, noisy generator is a welcomed development. It is a project I would love my family home to adopt. Just imagine having electricity without buying fuel.
A. Share your knowledge about solar power with us
Solar electricity is the generating of electricity with the help of sunlight. Unlike hydroelectricity electricity which on the kinetic energy of stored water in a dam. Solar electricity uses the photons in the sunlight and the ultraviolet rays in the sun.
Solar panels are made to capture these photons from the sunlight and convert them into electricity using many photovoltaic cells in the solar panel.
Let's say electrons are trapped in the layers of a photovoltaic cell. When exposed to the sun, the electrons absorbed energy from the photons in the sunlight. When enough energy is absorbed. The electron is empowered to escape.
Many escapes like that create a stream that flows as DC electricity.
Some designs would use the DC power as it is to power DC devices in and around the house, and a more complex design will convert the DC power into AC electricity such that it can be used by all appliances at home.
The system often needs a charge controller to help optimise the output from the panels, a battery reserve to supply power at night, and an inverter for converting the DC to AC.
B. Write three important differences between AC solar and DC solar systems. (as learned from our lesson)
On this table, the three important differences between an AC solar electrical system and a DC system are shown in terms of cost, type of power, and equipment.
| DC power system | AC power system |
|---|---|
| In this case, the system's output remains DC. | in an AC system, the system's output is converted to AC |
| The system uses a charge controller to assist the panel. | This system makes use of an inverter to convert DC to AC. |
| The cost for building this simple system is less | The inverter makes this complex system expensive. |
C. Calculate your home's electrical load and share it with us. Follow our lesson as an example.
| Home appliances | Unit-watt | Total-watt |
|---|---|---|
| External bulbs - 6 | 100 | 600w |
| Internal bulbs -8 | 40 | 320w |
| Hair dryer -1 | 90 | 90w |
| Panasonic TV -1 | 35 | 35w |
| Sub hoover -1 | 10 | 10w |
| Electric heater -1 | 200 | 200w |
| Refrigerator -1 | 94 | 94w |
| Washing machine-1 | 120 | 120w |
| Total | 1469 W |
D. Prepare a DC solar project specification for a customer's home to use four 5-watt lamps and three 20-watt fans.
A DC power system
| Appliances | Qty | Unit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps | 4 | 5 watts | 20 watts |
| Fans | 3 | 20 watts | 60 watts |
| Total | 80 watts |
Total load in the house = 80 watts
Future expansion load 40 watt
Total 120 watts
I will recommend 2 x 150 watt panels
This will make it 300 watt
Connecting this to a 20 Amps charge controller, Lithium-ion battery with 600Ah
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.
Proposal for an AC solar power project to handle a for a 746 watt water pump
Solar panel
Quantity 8
Output Voltage 24v DC
150 watt each = 1200 watt
Inverter
Quantity 1
Input Voltage 24v DC
Output Voltage 240V Av
Modified sine wave inverter
Battery
Quantity 4
300Ah Deep Cycle Battery
300 x 4 = 1200Ah
I am thankful to the organisers of this contest for sending me down this learning path. The lesson was rewarding, and I now have a solar project thank you for sending on this research project. I have learnt a lot about photovoltaic power supply. I am calling on @josepha, @eliany and @kesybliss to join this calculation contest.