DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : E. Sunil Kumar
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : A.E.I.E
Institute : K.D.R.G.P.T, WNP,MBNR
Semester : VI
Subject : Industrial Electronics, PLC & SCADA
Subject code : AEI-602
Topic : Opto-Electronic Devices
Duration : 100 mts

subtopic : Solar Cell

Teaching Aids : PPTS, Animations, Diagrams

AEI.602.9 TO 10 1
 Objectives
On the completion of this topic you would be
able to

• Introduction of Solar Cell

• Explain the construction of Solar cell

• Explain the working principle of Solar cell

• Explain a typical application of Solar cell

• List the applications of Solar cell

AEI.602.9 TO 10 2
 Introduction

• A solar cell or photovoltaic cell converts solar energy into

electricity by the photovoltaic effect

• Photovoltaic is the field of technology and research

related to the application of solar cells as solar energy

AEI.602.9 TO 10 3
 Introduction…

• The term solar cell is reserved for devices intended

specifically to capture energy from sunlight

• The term photovoltaic cell is used when the source is

unspecified.

AEI.602.9 TO 10 4
 Construction

• Solar cells are electrically connected and encapsulated

as a module

• Photo Voltaic modules have a glass sheet on the front

(sun up) side , allowing light to pass

• Glass sheet also protects the semiconductor wafers from

the elements (rain, hail, etc.)
AEI.602.9 TO 10 5
 Construction…

• Solar cells are usually connected in series in modules,

creating an additive voltage.

• Connecting cells in parallel will yield a higher current.

• Modules are interconnected, in series or parallel, or both,

to create an array with the desired peak DC voltage and
current.

AEI.602.9 TO 10 6
Construction…

AEI.602.9 TO 10 7
Circuit Symbol

AEI.602.9 TO 10 8
Working of solar cell

AEI.602.9 TO 10 9
 Working

• Photons in sunlight hit the solar panel and are absorbed

by semi conducting materials, such as silicon

• Electrons are liberated from their atoms and become

free

• Free electrons flow through the material to produce

electricity

AEI.602.9 TO 10 10
 Working…

• The holes created in the semiconductor material flow in

the direction opposite to that of electrons in a silicon
solar panel

• An array of solar panels converts solar energy into a

usable amount of direct current (DC) electricity

AEI.602.9 TO 10 11
V-I Characteristics

AEI.602.9 TO 10 12
 Characteristics…

• The usable voltage from solar cells depends on the

semiconductor material

• In silicon it amounts to approximately 0.5 V

• Terminal voltage depends on light radiation

AEI.602.9 TO 10 13
 Characteristics…

• Current intensity increases with higher luminosity

• A 100 cm² silicon cell, for example, reaches a maximum

current intensity of approximately 2 A when radiated by

1000 W/m².

AEI.602.9 TO 10 14
Solar Battery Charger

AEI.602.9 TO 10 15
Solar Battery Charger…

AEI.602.9 TO 10 16
 Operation

• Each of the solar cells develops about 0.5 volts across

itself when in full sunlight.

• The string of 8 solar cells puts out around 4V with no

load.

• When the solar cells are connected to a battery, a

current will flow and the battery will charge.

AEI.602.9 TO 10 17
 Operation…
• Two versions of the circuit are shown in the schematic,
the 8 solar cell panel with a diode is the recommended
circuit.

• The diode prevents the battery from discharging through

the cells at night

• 8th cell boosts the voltage up enough to compensate for

the voltage drop across the diode.

AEI.602.9 TO 10 18
 Operation…

• For an 8 solar cell panel, connect jumper J2 and

disconnect J1.

• For a 7 solar cell panel, connect jumper J1 and eliminate

SC8 and D1.

AEI.602.9 TO 10 19
 Advantages

• Totally silent
• Non-polluting
• Less maintenance
• Long Life
• Suitable for any environmental Conditions
• Easy to install

AEI.602.9 TO 10 20
 Disadvantages

• Initial Cost is more

• Average Efficiency

AEI.602.9 TO 10 21
 Applications

• Individual cells are used for powering small devices such

as electronic calculators.

• Solar powered Auto mobiles

• Solar water heaters

• Photovoltaic electricity is also increasingly deployed in

grid-tied electrical systems.
AEI.602.9 TO 10 22
 Applications…
• Photovoltaic arrays are particularly useful in situations
where electrical power from the grid is unavailable such
as

– remote area power systems

– Earth-orbiting satellites and space probes

– remote radiotelephones and water pumping

applications.

AEI.602.9 TO 10 23
Solar Power Station

AEI.602.9 TO 10 24
Photovoltaic 'tree' in Styria

AEI.602.9 TO 10 25
 Summary
We have discussed about

• Fundamentals of solar cell

• Construction of Solar cell

• Working principle of Solar cell

• Typical application of Solar cell

• Applications of Solar cell

AEI.602.9 TO 10 26
 Quiz

1) A solar cell or photovoltaic cell converts solar energy

a) Electric energy

c) Light energy

e) Heat energy

g) None

AEI.602.9 TO 10 27
 Quiz
2) Photovoltaics is the field of technology and
research related to the application of

a) solar cells as solar energy

b) Solar cells as heat energy

c) Solar cells as light energy

d) none

AEI.602.9 TO 10 28
 Quiz
3)Solar cells are usually connected in …….. in
modules, creating an additive voltage.

a) Parallel

c) Series

e) Series and parallel

g) none

AEI.602.9 TO 10 29
 Quiz
4)An array of solar panels converts solar energy
into a usable amount of

a) AC

c) DC

e) AC & DC

g) None

AEI.602.9 TO 10 30
 Quiz

5) In solar cell, current intensity increases with

a) Temperature

c) electrons

e) Luminosity

d) none

AEI.602.9 TO 10 31
 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Explain the construction of Solar cell

3. Explain the working principle of Solar cell

5. Explain a typical application of Solar cell

7. List the applications of Solar cell

AEI.602.9 TO 10 32