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Cell, Module, Panel, Array

A solar cell is made of two thin layers of silicon, with one layer doped with phosphorus to create excess electrons (n-type layer) and the other doped with boron to create excess holes (p-type layer). When light hits the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose and can be captured as electric current. Individual solar cells are connected into modules to increase current output, and modules are connected into arrays depending on voltage and current needs. Solar modules directly convert sunlight into electricity through the photoelectric effect and consist of connected solar cells within a frame. Modules produce DC electricity and can be arranged in series and parallel to achieve desired voltage and current outputs. PV panels include assembled modules and allow for modular system expansion,

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188 views

Cell, Module, Panel, Array

A solar cell is made of two thin layers of silicon, with one layer doped with phosphorus to create excess electrons (n-type layer) and the other doped with boron to create excess holes (p-type layer). When light hits the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose and can be captured as electric current. Individual solar cells are connected into modules to increase current output, and modules are connected into arrays depending on voltage and current needs. Solar modules directly convert sunlight into electricity through the photoelectric effect and consist of connected solar cells within a frame. Modules produce DC electricity and can be arranged in series and parallel to achieve desired voltage and current outputs. PV panels include assembled modules and allow for modular system expansion,

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CELL: A solar cell is a sandwich or thin semiconductor wafer of two different layers of silicon (n-type

silicon (blue) and p-type silicon (red)) that have been specially treated or doped so they will let
electricity flow through them in a particular way. Solar cells are made of the same semiconductor
materials (usually Silicon) used in the microelectronics industry. For solar cells, a thin semi conductor
wafer is specially treated to form an electric field, positive on one side and negative on the other.

The commonly solar cell is configured as a large-area p-n junction made from silicon. The individual solar
cells are connected together to make a module (called “solar module” or “PV modules”) to increase
current while to further increase the current produce the modules are connected in an array (called
solar “solar array” or “PV array”). Depending on current or voltage requirement, solar arrays are
connected in a variety of ways.

The lower layer of the solar cell is doped with trivalent element such as phosphorous so it has deficit of
elections. This layer is called p-type or positive-type layer. The upper layer of the solar cell is doped with
pentavalent element such as boron, aluminium producing surplus of electrons. This layer is called n-type
or negative-type layer. When light energy strikes the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose from the
atoms in the semiconductor material. If electrical conductors are attached to the positive and negative
sides to form an electrical circuit, these electrons can be captured in the form of an electric current-that
is electricity. This electricity can then be used to power a load, such as a light bulb or a water pump. A
typical four Inch silicon solar cell produces about one-and-a-half watts of electricity in bright noontime
sunshine. A solar cell is the basic building block of a solar module.

MODULE: Solar module is a device for direct conversion of sunlight into electricity. Some materials
exhibit a property, known as the photoelectric effect, when causes them to absorb photons of light and
release electrons, they are captured in the form of electric current that is electricity. A Photo Voltaic
module consists of a number of solar cells electrically connected to each other and mounted in a
support structure or frame. Modules are designed to supply electricity at a certain voltage (commonly
12 volts).The current produced is directly dependent on how much sunlight strikes the module.
Photovoltaic modules have proven to be very durable and reliable. They typically have 25-year lifetime.
Although one module is often sufficient for the power needs of our incubator system or a basic solar
home system, two or more modules may be wired together to form an array. In general,”the larger the
area of a module or the array, the more electricity will be produced”.

Photovoltaic modules and arrays produce direct current (dc) electricity. They can be connected in series
and parallel electrical arrangements to produce any required voltage and current combination. Solar
modules serve as source of charger through solar controller to the battery and inverter are used in
converting the direct current into an alternating current for the domestic appliance.

PANELS: PV panels include one or more PV modules assembled as a pre-wind, field-installable unit. The
modular design of PV panels allows system to grow as needs change. Modules of different manufacture
can be intermixed without any problem, as long as all the modules have rated voltage output within
1.0volt difference. Solar panels come in thin-film (amorphous), string ribbon and crystalline (single and
multi). There are advantages and tradeoffs with the various types. The crystalline solar panels are
generally more efficient, so they take up less area for the same watts. Thin film panels also lose less
power in high temperature areas, such as the desert southwest. Solar panels range in size from 5 watts
up to 165 watts. Most high-powered solar panels are available only in 24 volt.
ARRAY: A PV Array consists of a number of individual PV modules or panels that have been wired
together in a series and/ or parallel to deliver the voltage and amperage a particular system requires. An
array can be as small as a single pair of modules, or large enough to cover acres. A PV array is the
complete power-generating unit, consisting of any number of PV modules and panels.

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