Solar Panel Efficiency Presented by Logan Markle Wesley

Solar Panel Efficiency Presented by Logan Markle, Wesley Patton, and Collin Rhodes

Overview ○ ○ ○ ○ History of solar cells Current solar cells Cell structure and designs Organic vs Inorganic cells Concentrating Sunlight Thermodynamic cycles Innovations Conclusions

! Cool Facts ○ ○ ea t. O N We are able to utilize 85% of the sun’s energy in theory (but as of now our technology only allows us to harness about 25%) The 15% we can’t utilize is dissipated in the atmosphere.

History of Solar Cells ○ ○ 1839 – Alexandre Edmond Becquerel observed the photovoltaic effect through an electrode in a conductive solution which was exposed to light 1883 – Charles Fritts developed a solar cell using selenium and a thin layer of gold foil to form a device that had less than 1% efficiency 1954 – April 25, Bell Labs announced the first practical silicon solar cell which had 6% efficicency 1985 – 20% efficienct solar cells were created by the Centre for Photovoltaic Engineering at the University of New South Wales

Current Solar Cells ○ ○ ○ 2012 – 3 D PV cells with 30% + energy efficiency (still relatively inefficient) Takes many panels to produce the power needed for large populations Fragile and don’t have long shelf lives

Cell Structure and Design ○Large grain solar cells 8 ○Periodic silver nanowires 4 Types of Solar Panel http: //www. c-changes. com/types-of-solar-panel

Organic vs Inorganic Cells Organic ○ Cheaper to produce ○ Produce less energy than Inorganic cells ○ Degrade quicker than Inorganic cells ○ Cost to produce still too high to be viable Inorganic ○ More expensive to produce than Organic cells ○ Produces more energy than Organic cells ○ Takes longer to degrade than Organic cells

Concentrating Light Mirrors: Why are they important? ○ Concentrate sunlight on the solar cell ○ Allow more power to be produced What shape of mirror is best? ○ Answer: Hyperboloidal http: //www. georgehart. com/skewers/hyperboloidsurface. jpg

Thermodynamic Cycles ○ Steam Rankine systems ➢work best for temperatures up to 600°C 1 ○ CO 2 recompression Brayton cycles ➢work better than the Rankine system between 600°C and 1000°C 1

Picture of Steam Rankine System http: //www. azwater. gov/azdwr/water. Management/documents/The. Water. Demandof. Power. Generation. pdf

CO 2 Recompression Brayton Cycles http: //www. netl. doe. gov/research/coal/energy-systems/turbines/supercritical-co 2 -power-cycles

Innovations o o o Thinner barriers in the quantum structure 4 Induction motor 5 Latent thermal energy storage (LTES) integrated concentrated solar power (CSP) plants 5 Induction Motor Working Principle Animation https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Mn. QXn. Ei. IUI 8

Conclusions ○ Solar cells now are still inefficient, but with further research and developments, all of humanity’s energy needs could be met. ○ Current ideas are improving efficiency and accessibility

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