Dear Sunlovers and Fans of Solar Impulse/Solar Plane,
If you are in favor of renewable/CLEAN energy, please sign the petition page showing support for FIT/CLEAN Program at http://sunisthefuture.net/?page_id=1065 Thank you.
Due to popular demand, I am writing an update about the Swiss Solar Impulse’s HB-SIA and will also be posting 2 video clips on Solar Impulse’s HB-SIA. Those of you who have read the earlier post (March 12, 2011) at Sun Is The Future, Solar Plane-“All that is impossible remains to be achieved.” may remember that through the clean tech of solar energy, SOLARIMPULSE has brought us not only the physical possibility of the first manned flight over night (lasted about 26 hours) by solar powered plane in July 2010, but also the message to educators throughout planet earth the importance of motivating children and students the pioneering spirit and developing new ways of thinking about future, energy, environment , and online education. The Swiss Solar Impulse HB-SIA, below,
Solar Plane Swiss Solar Impulse HB-SIA, a long-range solar powered plane
undertaken at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, was a project initiated in 2003 and then promoted by Bertrand Piccard (who co-piloted the first balloon to circle the world non-stop);it has grown to a multi-disciplinary team of 50 specialists from six countries and assisted by about 100 outside advisers. The prototype HB-SIA has a non-pressurized cockpit, a similar wingspan to the Airbus A340, lithium polymer batteries under the wing, 12,000 photovoltaic cells on the upper wing surface and the horizontal stabilizer generate electricity during the day. These photovoltaic cells and horizontal stabilizer propel the plane and charge the batteries to allow night flight, theoretically enabling the single-seat plane to stay in the air indefinitely. On July 8, 2010, HB-SIA achieved the world’s first manned 26-hour solar flight, flown by Andre Borschberg(started on July 7, 2010, from an airfield in Payenne, Switzerland).
Stay tuned in for the next episode of the Solar Impulse HB-SIA Solar Plane….
Posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker, sunisthefuture@gmail.com
If you are in favor of renewable/CLEAN energy, please sign the petition page showing support for FIT/CLEAN Program at http://sunisthefuture.net/?page_id=1065 Thank you.
It is wonderful that solar industry is growing exponentially and many conscientious educators and scientists of our planet are all working together to ensure us earthlings to have a smooth transition into the Renewable and Clean Energy Age. I cannot emphasize enough that Sun Is The Future for human kind for its abundance/availability, cleanliness, safety, and the fact that it is free. This next clip by Hilaroad will take us from the elemental stage of silicon to the completion of solar module/panel. The explanations are succinct and clear. Once you’ve completed viewing the clip, feel free to go over it again for better recall.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Caf1JIz4X2I&feature=related or click below:
Now, please look over these questions below. If you are uncertain about any of these questions, please feel free to go over the clip again for better understanding or recall.
1. Object at right angle to sun’s rays is receiving energy at approximately the rate of _____J/sec/m2 ?
2. Solar cell manufacturers use_____crystal to make solar cell ?
3. How many valence electrons are there in a silicon atom ?
4. Which elements can be added to silicon, according to this clip ?
5. What are N-layer and P-layer of a photovoltaic cell and how are they created?
6. _____energizes electron in N-layer and attracted through a conductor to P-layer ?
7. What is the negative and positive terminal of the solar cell ?
8. How do you produce higher voltage and current using solar cells?
Posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker, sunisthefuture@gmail.com
If you are in favor of renewable/CLEAN energy, please sign the petition page showing support for FIT/CLEAN Program at http://sunisthefuture.net/?page_id=1065 Thank you.
Due to popular demands/requests, I am going to present a series of discussions on solar cell . A solar cell is also known as photovoltaic cell or photoelectric cell that converts the sunlight/light energy directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect (the creation of a voltage or a corresponding electric current in a material upon exposure to light). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fixI-xZ3U_M click below:
In the photovoltaic effect, the generated electrons are transferred between different bands (i.e. from the valence to conduction bands) within the material, resulting in the buildup of a voltage between two electrodes;this effect was first observed by Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel in 1839.
Photovoltaic cells are simply cells whose light source is not necessarily of sunlight whereas solar cells are cells whose light source is that of sunlight. When solar cells are electrically connected and encapsulated as a module to make solar modules or solar panels, solar power/energy is generated from these solar modules/panels. Solar or photovoltaic modules usually have a sheet of glass on the front (sun up) side, allowing light to pass while protecting the semiconductor wafers from abrasion and impact due to rain, hail, debris, etc. Most of the solar cells of the solar panels on the market now a days are made of either monocrystalline silicon or polycrystalline silicon. Monocrystalline solar cell (darker/black) is more expensive and have higher efficiency than that of polycrystalline silicon.
A solar cell made from a monocrystalline silicon wafer (Source:Wikimedia Commons)
Polycrystalline photovoltaic cells laminated to backing material in a module (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Modules are then interconnected, in series or parallel or both, to create an array with the desired peak DC voltage and current. Then the solar generated energy/electricity is often fed into the electricity grid using inverter (a device that converts direct current to alternating current);in stand-alone systems, batteries are used to store the energy for future use. Solar panels may be used to power or charge portable devices. For those of you who are thinking of projects or demonstrations for your students or children, please stay tuned in for my next blog.
