UNIT II

PV ENERGY SYSTEMS
INTRODUCTION:
The energy of solar radiation is directly utilised in mainly two forms:
i) direct conversion into electricity that takes place in semiconductor devices called
solar cells
ii) accumulation of heat in solar collectors.
Therefore, do not confuse solar cells with solar collectors. The direct conversion of
solar radiation into electricity is often described as a photovoltaic (PV) energy
conversion
because it is based on the photovoltaic effect. In general, the photovoltaic effect
means the
generation of a potential difference at the junction of two different materials in
response t
visible or other radiation.
• The whole field of solar energy conversion into electricity is therefore denoted
as the “photovoltaics”.
• Photovoltaics literally means “light-electricity”, because “photo” is a stem from
the Greek word “phõs” meaning light and "Volt” is an abbreviation of
Alessandro Volta’s (1745-1827) name who was a pioneer in the study of
electricity.
• The photovoltaic effect was first discovered in 1839
• Electricity first produced by a PV cell in 1880.
• Very matured technology now with Solar PV cells having an operating life of
25+ years.
• There are no moving parts in a solar PV system, so operating costs are very low.
• Fastest emerging renewable energy technology.
• Solar absorbed light is transferred to the electrons of the PV cell atoms
exiting them and producing the electrical current with the help of a “built-in
electric field” which provides the needed voltage.
• The “built-in electrical field” is created by two layers of semiconductor
material: n-type with excess of negative electrons and p-type with excess of
positive holes.
• Most commonly used of semiconductor material is silicon and, when n- and
p-type silicon come into contact, at the p/n junction excess electrons move
from the n-type side to the p-type side, resulting in a positive charge in the
n-type side of the interface and a buildup of negative charge in the p-type
side.
• Two types of semiconductor (n and p) are created by doping the silicon with
an external element that has either extra electrons or lack of electrons,
respectively.
The PV Effect in crystalline silicon basic principles:
Semiconductor materials :
• Semiconductors are classified in to two types
1. Intrinsic semiconductor
2. Extrinsic semiconductor
Depending on the type of impurity
Added , the extrinsic semiconductor
Can be divided in two groups
(i) N-type semiconductor
(ii) P-type semiconductor
• There are two ways to apply voltage to a P-N junction
Forward biasing and Reverse biasing.
• When forward biased voltage is applied a force
on holes of theP-side and on the electrons of the n-side
of the junction, driving them towards the junction.
As a result the width of the depletion Layer and barrier
energy diminished. The decrease in barrier height
Increase the current flown due to the majority carriers.
• In reverse bias the reverse bias voltage is applied then
applied voltage v Pulls the holes in the p-side and electrons in the n-side away from the junction.
The width of the depletion layer and height of barrier increases. The rise of barrier height reduces
the current to a Negligible value.
Solar Cell:
EVA (Ethylene-vinyl acetate) film as solar PV
Encapsulant
PV SYSTEMS :
TYPES OF PV SYSTEMS
(1) Grid connected Photovoltaic systems
(2) Stand alone Photovoltaic systems
Grid connected Photovoltaic systems
Stand alone Photovoltaic systems
ELECRTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SILICON PV CELLS AND
MODULES :