How a solar battery works: principle of operation, how the device works

Solar panels are a popular environmentally friendly and safe source of electricity. Recently, this technology has found widespread use, motivating people to switch to renewable and affordable energy, subsequently directed to power industrial and household appliances. To understand the complex process, you need to first know how the solar battery works.

Operating principle

The described device is unique in that it converts the light energy received from the sun's rays into an electric current. Such devices are based on photocells as standard. in the form of photoelectric semiconductor converters.

If we consider modern models of batteries powered by the sun, they differ in a number of parameters:

• dimensions;
• produced capacity;
• manufacturer (cost).

It is noted that the described devices are often found in structures that a person uses on a daily basis. uses everything from primitive calculators to large-scale solar power plants type.

It is worthwhile to understand in more detail how the solar battery works. During the assembly of the photocell, a thin layer of boron and phosphorus is applied to a monocrystalline silicon wafer. Free electrons are formed in the silicon-phosphorus interlayer. The strip with the addition of boron (anode) is represented by missing electrons. The arrival of a quantum of light on the photocell sets the particles in motion, they move between the layers. Moving electrons release a certain amount of energyforming a potential difference. The latter is determined by the intensity of the supplied light.

The energy released by the described method must be removed from multiple separate plates. For this, metallized paths are created on photovoltaic converters. The maximum battery power directly depends on its area. The amount of electricity generated increases proportionally an increase in the number of hotel plates.

Types of transforming panels

There are several types of batteries, differing in design features, the percentage of conversion of sunlight. They have the following characteristics:

1. Panels based on silicon solar cells are the most common, representing about 80% of the total volume of devices created. The extraction of silicon and the creation of the alloying coating is an expensive procedure, but now the cost of such production processes is gradually decreasing. Silicon is not a rare element in the earth's crust. In the near future, it is the batteries based on it that will be used everywhere. A significant drawback lies in the small coefficient of light absorption, since silicon is an indirect-gap semiconductor. As a result, finished photocells have an increased thickness, and the device weighs a lot.
2. A distinctive feature of thin-film panels is the increased light conversion coefficient in comparison with the previous version. Photovoltaic cells (direct gap semiconductors) just a couple of microns thick generate enough energy. The mass of the indicated panels is insignificant; they are often installed on residential buildings, cars. The main advantage of thin film batteries is their ability to function efficiently even in cloudy weather.
3. The concentrator modules are distinguished by the highest efficiency (about 45%), but they are also distinguished by their high price. Structurally, photocells are represented simultaneously by semiconductors of several types, lined up in a certain sequence. An often applicable circuit is represented by a Ge track semiconductor, GaInP top layer, GaAs middle layer. Such layers are located in a special way, due to which solar energy is efficiently absorbed into cloudy and clear the weather. The peculiarity lies in the complex assembly of the hub modules, which requires maximum accuracy.
4. Organic batteries are under development and cannot be found on the market. Their solar cells work in a similar way to plant photosynthesis. The thinnest layer of light-sensitive paint is applied to their surface.
5. Photovoltaic converters based on monocrystalline silicon (efficiency about 20%). In this case, the base of the photocell is a single crystal of purified silicon grown from a special silicon alloy. In the finished form, the single crystals are represented by cubic rods. Then the resulting cube is divided into plates no more than 180 Mk thick. The resulting parts are thoroughly cleaned and reinforced with a special protective layer. The surface is metallized, treated with an anti-reflective substance.
6. Photovoltaic panels operating on polycrystalline silicon (efficiency - about 15%). This material is mined by processing the cooled silicon melt. The process of formation of working rods is long, since the melt occurs at a low temperature, but much easier in comparison with the formation of single crystals.
7. Photovoltaic type batteries based on amorphous silicon (efficiency - 10%). The main component is extracted according to the principle of the evaporative phase, when a silicon film is fixed on a carrier material, reinforced with a special component to provide protection. The advantage lies in the production of panels of large-scale areas, low cost. Of the negative aspects, an insignificant operational resource is noted, the reason for which is accelerated degradation.

Effective instrument positioning

High efficiency from the operation of batteries in the sun is achieved by generating the necessary energy for the greatest number of hours during daylight hours. The task is solved by means of the correct arrangement of the described panels in relation to the trajectory of the sun's rays.

If we talk about the common static placement of the battery, it is assumed that it will face eastward with a slight slope. This way the sun will go to the photocells for most of the daylight hours.

A variable location is considered successful, when the solar battery is fixed on a movable structure in order to increase the efficiency of energy conversion. This solution involves changing the angle of inclination of the working surface depending on the location of the sun's rays. Users rarely come to such a decision, since the operation of the drive is very expensive.

Introduction to the electrical grid

The device of solar panels consists in converting the energy of the sun into electric current. However, for its use in domestic conditions, it must be transformed into alternating current, flowing directly into the working power grid.

Transformation of the received voltage is possible only when using an inverter. So, a direct current is supplied to the input of such a device, and an alternating current is obtained at the output, characterized by the required power, optimal frequency characteristics. The principle of operation of a solar battery is also in the accumulation of electricity by lead-acid batteries, which are equipped with absolutely all solar batteries.

Solar panels can be safely called functional devices of the future. They allow you to save energy costs by obtaining it in a natural way that is safe for the environment.