Solar Home 123
Everything you need for solar power in your home
_homesolar-panels.jpg_more-solar-panels.jpg_solar-panels-professional-installation.jpg_solarhart-solar-hot-water.jpg_swimming-pool-solar-water-heating-panels.jpg

Solar Energy Pv Cells

Build green! Build clean! Save Money, Energy, and The Environment with ...

Solar Pv Cells, Residential Solar Energy, and Doping Silicon for Efficiencies (part 10)

This article explains how home solar PV cells transform photons produced by the sun into solar generated electricity that can be used for home energy needs. For home solar power applications, this transformation of energy allows the photoelectric effect to work. Also explained in this article is the process of doping silicon with specific impurities to enhance electric production.

Doping Silicon Cells to Create Home Solar Arrays

Introducing impurities, called dopants, into the silicon making up the solar cell creates the one-way flow of electrons necessary to produce electricity more efficient. Two differently doped silicon wafers are layered together to create this flow. The next section details out the dopants that are often mixed with solar grade silicon to improve efficiencies.

Boron (p-type): Boron has 3 outer electrons, unlike silicon, which has 4. So wherever boron is introduced into the lattice, a hole is created due to the absence of an electron. This hole creates a net positive charge and is filled by a neighboring electron vibrating in to fill the hole there, and leaving a new hole. These positively charged holes move about. Boron doped silicon is also called p-type, because the freely moving charge is positive.

Phosphorus (n-type): Phosphorus atoms contain five electrons rotating around their nucleus. This is one more than silicon. Wherever a phosphorus atom is introduced into the lattice, it has a complete set of 4 electrons to share with its 4 silicon neighbors and a 5th electron with no bond to fill. The fifth external electron rotating around the core of the atom bumps free of the atom and moves throughout the silicon wafers or lattice structure. So the introduction of phosphorus provides an electron that moves within the crystal lattice. This type of doped silicon is called n-type because the freely moving charge is negative.

About the author: At Solargies (Solar Energies), our objective is to spread the adoption of renewable solar energy as rapidly as possible. Daniel Stouffer is writer and promoter of green energy. Learn about Renting your own Solar Energy system at: => http://www.solargies.com/Solar_Rentals.htm

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/solar-pv-cells-residential-solar-energy-and-doping-silicon-for-efficiencies-part-10-484972.html

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    Solar Energy: Do PV cells in series or parallel give better maximum electrical power?

    • ANSWER:
      If the panels are the same voltage and wattage output, there is no difference- power is watts- which volts times amps. Think of them like flashlight cells.

      One thing though- a higher system voltage is less prone to issues of wire resistance and voltage drops that can be a real problem with long wire runs at 12 volts. A good reason to run higher Buss voltages.

      If the panels are different ratings, wiring them in parallel is the best option. If they are in series, you are limited in current output by the lowest current producing panel. In series-voltage is additive, in parallel -current is additive.

  2. QUESTION:
    Solar Energy to Electricity without PV cells?
    i want to convert solar energy to electricity with the use of normal thermal panels not PhotoVoltaic cells..
    how can i do that?
    i was thinking of running a mini steam turbine with the hot steam produced.. and then generate electricity through the turbine..
    how can i do this?
    do u know any pages for detailed information?

    • ANSWER:
      I'm very interested in your ideas on this. You might want to try http://www.builditsolar.com and http://www.homepower.com for ideas. Both these sites are loaded with information. Another source would be to check out the back issues of Mother Earth News. They have the info online and you can purchase all back issues on CD.

  3. QUESTION:
    Solar Energy?
    Me and my husband is planning to build a new home in Austin TX and we wanted to be 100 free from electric bill using the sun energy. Anybody who have knowledge about PV, Solar Panel please I need your help.

    Project Plan: 2500 sqm floor plan
    5 bedrooms

    What type of PV or Solar Panel Cell we need?
    How much do you think it will cost?
    Do you know an architect or builder who provide custom plan
    Do you know somebody from Austin is using Solar Panel
    Do you know local manufacturer that we can contact with?

    XoXo
    Cookie

    • ANSWER:
      In order to figure out how much "load" your house is going to need, you'll need to add up all the projected electrical use that your future home will consume. You'll need to add up things like the fridge, washer, dryer, dishwasher, water heater (could be solar), TV, computer(s), all other misc electronic stuff will really suck up the power. Don't forget about the lights-think LED or compact flourescent. Also-think about adding more insulation than that which is required by your local building codes. A high-effeciency HVAC system will also help curb the electrical usage.
      You might also want to check out...
      http://www.greenhomeguide.org/


Recent Posts