Contents
·
Solar
Power System
·
Solar Panels
·
Charge
Controller
·
Batteries
·
Inverter
·
Load
Solar Power
System
A solar power system is a system that absorbs sunlight and converts it into electrical energy, which is then used in our houses and
also in industries. In a solar power system, solar energy is utilized,
which may pass through many components or parts of a solar system. These components
are,
1. Solar Panels
Solar panels are sheets or plates made up of a
combination of solar cells or photovoltaic cells. The solar cells are obtained
from a semiconductor material. These plates are exposed to sunlight. When
the sunlight falls on the solar cells, the current flows through the solar
panel. Hence the solar panel converts the light energy into electrical
energy. The obtained electrical energy from the panel is in the form of direct current (DC).
2.
Charge
Controller
The intensity of the sunlight varies from
time to time like it is higher in the afternoon and low in the evening or early in
the morning. So, the direct current obtained from a solar panel also varies. So,
an electronic circuit is used to regulate the DC voltage to charge the batteries
or use it directly for DC load without any damage. This circuit is the charge
controller. It also prevents the batteries from overcharging, i.e., it cuts off
the supply to the batteries or battery when they are filled.
3.
Batteries
A battery is such a device that it converts chemical
energy into electrical energy. It stores electrical energy through chemical
changes in it and again converts these changes to electrical energy. Batteries are
used in a solar system because they provide electrical power to the load after
sunset. A charge controller provides DC current to the batteries with constant
voltage, and the batteries store that electrical energy. And that stored energy
is used in the absence of sunlight or when the load needs more than provided
by the solar panels.
Examples are lead acid batteries, lithium-ion
batteries, and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO) batteries.
4. Inverter
It is an electronic circuit that converts DC
electrical energy from the charge controller, batteries, or both into AC
electrical energy. Most of the loads and accessories used in houses and in
industries are operated by AC, so inverters are mostly used nowadays. Modern
inverters are made such that they also contain the charge controller circuit in
the same package.
5.
Load
After all these components the electrical
energy is utilized by the loads. The loads may be of two types,
·
AC
Load
Most of the loads or electrical accessories
nowadays are AC, so the inverter is used to operate such loads.
·
DC
Load
These are the simple and less expensive loads
as they do not need any inverter, they directly operate on the power provided
by the charge controller.
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