The earth continuously gets the shower of radiation of the sun, which is the mother of all forms of energy-conventional or non conventional. The amount of solar radiation reaching the earth is called “insolation” –the short form for “incident solar radiation”. Solar energy is not hand on due to the high cost of technology. This paper describes some economical and energy saving aspects of solar energy in different industrial and domestic applications.
The solar energy reaching the earth ranges from 600 Btu/sq. ft. to 2000 Btu/sq. ft. per day. In one year the amount of solar energy received by India alone is nearly 400 times the energy in our present annual coal production. In summer noon, a solar energy shower in an area of 1 sq. meter is equal to one Kilowatt.
Keywords: Solar energy, Electrical energy, Crop drying, solar air conditioning, Solar desalination, Water treatment, Solar space heating, Solar water heating
[...] India's first plant based on this system of 50 KW capacity is installed in 1989 at Gawal Pahiri, Haryana ) Solar photovoltaic Cells: Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) is a field of solar energy utilization by which solar energy is converted into electrical energy using a device called photovoltaic cell or solar cell. A solar cell is made up of a semiconductor like silicon( Si) or GaAs. When sunlight falls on these cells, electricity is generated. The amount of electricity depends upon intensity of sunlight, size of solar cells, ambient temperature etc. [...]
[...] Conversion of Solar Energy into Electrical Energy: Conversion of solar energy into electrical energy can be made by two methods ) Solar Thermal Power Plants ) Solar Photovoltaic Cells ) Solar Thermal Power Plant: There are two types of solar thermal power plants .1) Solar Distributed Collector Power Plant 6.1 .2) Solar Central Receiver Power Plant 6.1 .1) Solar Distributed Collector Power Plant: In this type of power plant a very large area is needed because collectors are used. Parabolic dishes type collectors are used. [...]
[...] Solar Air Conditioning: Conventional air conditioning involves compression of vapour, its cooling and condensation to a liquid and vaporization by expansion into region of lower pressure. Heat is withdrawn from the air to be cooled, and used for vaporization of the liquid. This cycle is repeated. Solar air conditioning can be accompanied in the same manner by conversion of solar energy to the mechanical form needed to operate a compressor. The need for mechanical power and the relatively high cost for its conversion from solar energy can be avoided by the use of the absorption refrigeration cycle. [...]
[...] Disadvantages of Solar Energy: One of the main disadvantages is the initial cost of the equipment used to harness the suns energy. A solar energy installation requires a large area for the system to be efficient in providing a source of electricity. Pollution can be a disadvantage to solar panels, as pollution can degrade the efficiency of photovoltaic cells. Clouds also provide the same effect, as they can reduce the energy of the suns rays. Solar energy is only useful when the sun is shining. [...]
[...] Fig Solar Water Heater Solar Space Heating: The technology of solar space heating utilizes water as a medium. In this type of heating method heat energy is recovered from the tank through a heat exchange surface. In solar space heating solar collectors and storage units are much larger than solar water heaters. Fig Solar Space Heating A space heating system is shown in Fig Water is heated in flat plate collectors and heated water is stored in tank. Energy is transferred to the air circulating in the house by water to air heat exchange. [...]
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