UNIT – I

SOLAR ENERGY

SOLAR THERMAL ENERGY

3.1 OVERVIEW

The sun is the most prominent feature in our solar system. The sun’s great
energy release is the result of an elaborate chemical process in the sun’s core – a
process of thermonuclear fusion. This energy is radiated from sun in all directions
and a very small fraction of it reaches to the earth.
The sun’s outer visible layer is called the photosphere and has a temperature
of about 60000 C. this layer has a mottled appearance due to the turbulent eruptions
of energy at the surface.
Solar energy is created deep within the core of the sun. it is here that the
temperature and pressure is so intense that nuclear reactions take place. This
reaction causes four protons or hydrogen nuclei to fuse together to form one alpha
particle or helium nucleus. The alpha particle is about 0.7% less massive than the
four protons. The difference in mass is expelled in the form of energy and is
carried to the surface of the sun, through a process known as convection, where it
is released as light and heat.
Sun Statistics

Mass (kg) 1.98 ×1030

Equatorial radius (km) 695000
Mean density (gm/cm3) 1.41
Mean surface temperature 60000 C

Hydrogen 92.1%
Helium 7.8%
 Oxygen 0.061%
Carban 0.03%
Nitrogen 0.0084%
Neon 0.0076%
Iron 0.0037%
Silicon 0.0031%
Magnesium 0.0024%
Sulphur 0.0015%
All others 0.0015%

Above the photosphere there is a transparent layer of gases known as

chromospheres. Solar energy passes through this region on its way out from the
center of sun. The light emitted by the chromospheres is of short wavelength
because of the high temperature. Faculae and flares arise in the chromospheres.
Faculae are bright luminous hydrogen clouds which form above regions where
sunspots are about to form. Flares are bright filaments of hot gas emerging from
sunspot regions.
Finally there is the corona. The corona is the outer part of the sun’s
atmosphere. It is in this region that prominences appear. Prominences are immense
clouds of glowing gas that erupt from the upper chromospheres. The corona can
only be seen during total solar eclipse.

4.2 SOLAR RADIATION

The sun is hot sphere of gas heated by nuclear fusion reactions AT its centre.
Every second the sun emipts a total energy flux of about 4*10 23 kW out of which
only a very small fraction reaches the earth.
 Solar radiation is the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. this
radiation can be converted into useful forms of energy, such as heat and electricity
by the different types of technologies.
The electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun shows a wide range of
wavelengths. It can be divided into major regions (i) ionizing radiation (X-rays and
gamma rays) and non-ionizing radiation (UVR, visible and infrared radiation). The
highly injurious ionizing radiation does not penetrate the earth’s atmosphere.
Solar radiation has a spectral, or wavelength, distribution from short
wavelength radiation (X-rays and gamma rays) to long wavelength radiation. The
different regions of the solar spectrum can be described by the range of their
wavelengths. The region of the spectrum that is visible to human extended from
about 400 nm to 700 nm. Ultraviolet radiations are the part of the electromagnetic
spectrum between 100nm to 400nm. The visible range of the electromagnetic
radiation is most practically useful part for humans. This is because the
wavelengths of the solar spectrum also correspond to different energy levels. Short
wavelength radiation has a higher energy level than long wavelength radiation.

Invisible Visible Range Invisible Range

Range
infrared
Ultraviolet

Blue

Green

Yellow
Orange

Red
Violet