Application of Solar Energy - Environmental Studies BBA (Honors)

APPLICATION OF SOLAR ENERGY

T. Samuel PongenChrist University

Solar Energy

• Solar energy refers to the use of solar radiation for practical ends.

• Solar energy originates from thermonuclearfusion in the sun.

• Solar energy reaches the earth at 1366 watts per square meter, half this energy reaches the earth surface while 30% is reflected and 20% is absorbed by the atmosphere, thus full sunlight can deliver 700 watt per square meter.

Germany 44%

Rest of the World, 6%

South Korea, 2%

Other EU, 2%

Belgium, 2%

China, 2%

France, 3%

Czech Republic, 5%

US, 6%Italy, 9%Japan , 9%

Spain, 10%

Solar Energy consumption 2010

Passive Solar - Passive solar techniques include selecting materials with favourable thermal properties, designing spaces that naturally circulate air, and referencing the position of a building to the Sun.

Active Solar - Active solar technologies are employed to convert solar energy into another more useful form of energy. This would normally be a conversion to heat or electrical energy.

Solar ThermalSolar thermal energy (STE) is an innovative technology

for harnessing solar energy for thermal energy.

Solar Thermal Technologies :-

Solar Water Heating

Solar Space Heating

Water treatment

Cooking

Solar Water Heating

Solar Space Heating

• Solar Water Treatment –Solar water disinfection (SODIS) involves exposing water-filled plastic bottles to sunlight for several hours. It is recommended by the WHO as a viable method for household water treatment and safe storage.

• Cooking –

Solar cookers use sunlight for cooking, drying and pasteurization. They can be grouped into three broad categories: box cookers, panel cookers and reflector cookers. A basic box cooker consists of an insulated container with a transparent lid. It can be used effectively with partially overcast skies and will typically reach temperatures of 90–150 °C.

Solar PowerThe conversion of sunlight into electricity, either

directly using photovoltaic's (PV), or indirectly using concentrated solar power (CSP).

Photovoltaic Cells

A solar cell is an electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. It is a form of photoelectriccell which, when exposed to light, can generate and support an electric current without being attached to any external voltage source.

SOLAR CELL

1)Used in pocket calculators and watches

2)PV cells provide power for rural homes, irrigation pumps, traffic signals, radio

transmitters, lighthouses, offshore oil drilling platforms, Earth orbiting satellites and other installations.

3)Power stations using Photovoltaic Cells to power modules and inverters.

Concentrated Solar Power

CSP use’s mirrors or lenses to concentrate a large area of sunlight, onto a small area. Electrical

power is produced when the concentrated light is converted to heat, which drives a heat

engine (usually a steam turbine) connected to an electrical power generator.

Solar TroughSolar trough consists of trough shaped

reflectors, titled towards the sun.

A solar trough facility have about one-third the capacity of a large nuclear plant and converts 22% of incoming sunlight to solar energy at

cost of 12 cents per kilowatt and hour.

Solar trough is also cost effective.

Solar Power Tower

A power tower is an array of sun-tracking mirrors that focus sunlight falling on several acres of land onto a

receiver mounted on a tower in the centre.

Dish Engine System• Consists of a set of parabolic concentrators

dishes that focus sunlight onto a receiver on the dish.

• This system can achieve higher temperatures due to higher

concentration of light.

• They have demonstrated

30% higher efficiency

and generate 5 to 40 kW

of electricity.

Other Uses