by Hong Marson
With the introduction of solar energy in the recent decades we are now approaching an era when it will be utilized universally. The two methods by which solar power is harnessed which are through photovoltaics (or PV) and through concentrated solar power (or CSP). PV is often used in devices like clocks, calculators and satellites while CSP is often used to supply turbines with intense heat which is eventually converted into electricity through generators.
However, harnessing solar energy is not a new thing, in fact stories that portray Archimedes using mirrors to burn enemy ships exist today to describe the process. Although these stories are not proven, it just goes to show that people have been thinking of harnessing the energy of the sun for centuries.
The use of solar power for the production of electricity had its first practical use in recharging batteries used in the first generation of satellites orbiting the earth. Most of us have seen pictures of satellites with wing like appendages that are actually solar panels. During the 1970s up to the 1990s, solar cells were not efficient converters of solar power to electricity. With a conversion efficiency of less than 10 percent, electricity generation from solar cells was expensive unreliable.
About two decades ago, solar cells were only used to do small things like power up calculators. But today, the PV cells are now utilized to generate electricity enough to run households and offices. This means that the energy conversion ration and efficiency is much higher than it used to be. About twenty-four percent of energy that is found in the sun's rays is made into electricity with these solar cells and it boasts a 10 percent conversion efficiency.
Raw electricity outputted by solar panels is not directly usable. The direct current produced by the panels has to be converted to alternating current using inverters. Solar panels only work during daytime. Therefore there is a need to store the electricity so that it becomes available for 24 hours.
For photovoltaic panels that are isolated from the grid, lead acid batteries are the most popular storage medium for solar power generated electricity. When it is possible to connect solar panels to the main grid, current practice is to earn credits by selling electricity to the system. At night time, these credits are used to buy electricity.
Concentrated solar power (CSP) utilizes an array of mirrors and lenses to focus sunlight into a smaller area. Intense heat is generated and this is used to drive turbines that will generate electricity. An application of CSP is the solar power tower. A solar power tower is basically a sun-powered furnace that is used to heat molten sodium which is a liquid with very high heat capacity. Via a heat exchanger, water is turned to steam which drives conventional turbines.
This huge amount of solar energy is the main reason why solar power is one of the most promising alternative sources of energy. Even if a small fraction of solar radiation is converted into electricity, the amount of potential electric power from solar energy is very big and is more than enough to make solar power the major source of electricity in the future.
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New Unique Article!
Title: Renewable And Unlimited Power Is The Future Of Solar Energy.
Author: Hong Marson
Email: info@atlantanightout.com
Keywords: solar,solar energy,alternative energy,product reviews
Word Count: 532
Category: Hobbies
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