Lecture No5

Renewable Energy
(Solar Power system)

1.Renewable Energy (Solar) Technology

2. Introduction to Renewable Energy (Solar)
3. Renewable Energy
4. Types of renewable energy
5. Solar renewable energy
6. Solar powered system
7. How it works
8. Components of solar powered system
9 . Efficiency of components
10. Types of PV modules
11. Types of Charge controller
12. Invertor
13. Types of Batteries and their efficiency
14. Losses in whole system
15. Power calculations
16. Different type of systems
17. How to maintain the efficiency of system.

Introduction to solar power system

Pakistan, despite the enormous potential of its energy

resources, remains energy deficient and has to really
heavily on imports to satisfy hardly its needs.
Moreover a very large part of the rural areas does not
have the electrification facilities because they are
either too remote and/or too expensive to connect to
the national grid.
Pakistan obtains its energy requirements from a
variety of traditional and commercial sources.
Share of various primary energy sources in energy
supply mix remained during last few years as oil:
43.5%, gas: 41.5%, LPG: 0.3%, coal: 4.5%,
hydroelectricity: 9.2%, and nuclear electricity: 1.1%.
The electric power generation included 71.9% thermal,
25.2% hydel and 2.9% nuclear.

continue
Pakistan has wide spectrum of high potential
renewable energy sources, conventional and as
well non-conventional, which have not been
adequately explored, exploited and developed.
Thus, the primary energy supplies today are not
enough to meet even the present demand. So,
Pakistan, like other developing countries of the
region, is facing a serious challenge of energy
deficit. The development of the renewable energy
sources can play an important role in meeting this
challenge. Present observations based on
reviewing the geological setup, geographical
position, climatological cycles and the
agricultural/industrial/urbanization activities
reveal that there are bright prospects for the
exploitation of various renewable energy sources,
which include mega & macro/micro-hydel,

How Solar Panels Work

Solar power is the cleanest and most
practical form ofrenewable
energyavailable.
It can be used to generate electricity or to
heat hot water tanks and swimming pools.
The technology is improving every year,
making solar power systems smaller and
more efficient.
Solar energyis collected using solar panels,
where radiant heat is converted into
energy to produce electricity

 A solar power system consists of solar panels,

inverters, batteries, and a charge controller.
Solar panelsare connected assemblies of several
photovoltaic cells. Each individual cell is coated
with a positive and negative layer to create an
electric field.
As photonsfrom the sun, or sunlight energy
particles, enter a cell, they allow the electrons in
each cell to become free.
The free electrons flow through a wire connected
to the photovoltaic cell, and thus this flow of
electrons becomes electricity.
The most important part when installing solar
panels is to arrange them at the proper angle for
maximum solar exposure

solar electrical systems

functions of each part

Charge controller:The charge controller feeds
current into the battery bank at the required
voltage. Good charge controllers draw the best
performance out of the batteries and are very
important for economics because they influence
efficiency.
Battery bank:The battery bank is typically made
up of six or more individual batteries connected
with stout cables in either series or parallel
arrangements.
Inverter:The inverter changes DC to AC voltages
suitable for use with household equipment. An
inverter is optional if you use DC loads exclusively

DC loads controller:You may be using both DC (boat,

RV, and auto appliances) and AC loads (standard
household appliances). The DC loads controller
maintains the proper currents and voltages into the DC
loads.
AC generator:As a backup power supply, the AC
generator isn't strictly necessary but is usually part of
any off-grid system in order to prevent blackouts when
the sun is weak for extended periods.
Transfer switch:The transfer switch alternates the
power source between either the inverter output
(when battery power is available) or the AC generator.
AC loads controller:This device includes appropriate
fuses and switching means and maintains the voltages
and currents used by the AC appliances connected to
the system.

1. Solar Panel
2. Solar Charge
Controller
3. Battery
4. DC Lights

Solar Panel is
giving current to
charge controller.
Charge controller
charges a battery.
And lights are
powered up by a
battery. In this
case it is DC lights.

Connection of solar system

Concentrating solar collector

 Solar thermal electric power plants are

generating electricity by converting
concentrated solar energy to heat,
which is converted to electricity in a
conventional thermal power plant.
The two major concepts used today are
Parabolic Trough power plants and
Power Towers.
Other concepts, including the Dish
Design with a Stirling engine, are
researched as well

 The rays of the sun are collected by different

technologies to concentrate on a focal point to provide
high temperature heat.
This solar heat is then utilized to operate a conventional
power cycle, such as a steam or gas turbine, or a
Sterling engine and the technology used, is known as
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology.
Parabolic Trough, Parabolic Dish Engines and Solar
Power Towers are the current CSP technologies.
Parabolic trough power plants with 354 MW installed
capacity have been in commercial operation for many
years.
Power Towers and Dish Engines have been tested
successfully in a series of demonstration projects in the
world.

CSP TECHNOLGIES
Power Generation by CSP mainly can be done in the following
ways:
Parabolic Trough Systems
Parabolic Dish Engines
Solar Tower Systems
PARABOLIC TROUGH SYSTEMS
System Description

Steam cycle power plants with up to 80 MW

capacity using parabolic trough collectors have
been in commercial operation for more than
fifteen years. A total of nine plants with 354 MW
of installed power are feeding the Californian
electric grid with 800 million kWh/year at a cost
of about 10-12 ct/kWh. The plants have proven a
maximum efficiency of 21 % for the conversion of
direct solar radiation into grid electricity

Solar Thermal Power Plant

Single parabolic concentrating

An European group has developed the
next collector generation, the
EUROTROUGH,
which aims to achieve better
performance and cost by enhancing the
trough structure.
We are developing a cost effective
single parabolic concentrating trough
collector SPC-24, the working prototype
of which is shown in the following
figures:

Prototype Model being tested

single parabolic concentrating trough

collector SPC-24

Schematic of the SPC-24 Solar Thermal Power Plant

How the SPC-24 System Works

Figure shows the working principle of
the SPC-24 c o l le c t o r .

Figure : Working Principle of the SPC-24 Collector

This system works on

the Conventional Ran
kine Cycle. The SPC-24
converts the Solar
Radiations
into Electricity through
the following major
components;
1) Parabolic Trough
Solar
Concentrator
2) Receiver(Evacuated
Tubes)
3) HTF (Heat Transfer
Oil)
4) Storage
5) Boiler
6) Steam Turbine
7) Electrical Generator

Parabolic Trough Solar Concentrator

The SPC-24 collectors are made up of identical 12 m
long collector modules. Each module comprises
32 parabolic mirror panels - 8 along the horizontal
axis between pylons and 4 in a vertical cross
section. Each mirror is supported on the structure
at four points on its backside. This permits the
glass to bend within the range of its flexibility
without effect on the focal point. The SPC-24 has
8 collector modules and an aperture area of
499.2m.The torque-box design has been selected
for the SPC-24, with less weight and less
deformations of the collector structure due to
dead weight. The design reduces torsion and
bending of the structure during operation and
results in increased optical performance and wind
resistance.

The central element of the box design is a

12-m long steel space-frame structure
having a squared cross section that holds
the cantilever arms for the parabolic mirror
facets. The torque box consists of only 4
steel parts which enables easy
manufacturing, reduces transportation
problems, decreases erection time and thus
reduces overall cost. The Schematic of the
whole module is and the main parts of SPC24 are shown in the figure below: The main
parts of the SPC-24 are shown below

Figure: Main Parts of SPC-24 Trough

Application of solar system

Solar Electric grid system.

The system is purely meant for power generation

for domestic & Industrial use, for example home
owner/ office worker needs the day to day
requirement for electricity i.e. bulbs/fans
/TV/Computers/ATM Machines/Bio Medical
Equipment etc. This system will be installed to
meet the desired requirement in watts/hour
basis
Solar Water heaters/geysers.
It is meant for supply of hot water to the
consumers, the quantity of which depends on
the capacity of the container. It does not involve
any solar panels, electric or gas connections,
simply works on the theory of Thermo Siphon

Solar agricultural pumps.

The farmers do face problems in getting the
water from subsoil for irrigation of their forms,
lands & gardens etc. These solar systems
supported pumps do provide the solution for
smooth supply of water to get maximum yield
Solar street & road lights.
To lighten our roads & streets we get the safety
and security in return. Having numerous
designs and styles totally depends upon the
height of poles and its luminous zones, will
give the desired light effects.

Advantages Of Natural Energy

Sources
following are advantage of renewable energy
sources:
The sun, wind, tides, and geothermal activity are all
renewable and free to use.
After the initial cost of solar panels, wind turbines,
and geothermal energy equipment, the only cost to
the consumer relates to any required
maintenance.
Irrespective of quantum of energy from natural
resources used, generated by ownself does not
give a pinch of guilt for wastage.
Oil, gas and coal supplies will most likely someday
run out, if we have the infrastructure in place to
generate energy from natural sources, this won't be
as much of a problem.

Disadvantages Of Natural Energy Sources

Some of the disadvantages relating to the use of clean energy
sources are as following.
The initial cost of renewable energy technologies presently
being expensive.
Total replacement of present replace your energy or power
supply may be felt difficult at initial stage.
Many of these steps are easy, affordable and start at home.
We are not asking you to go to extremes and start purchasing
hybrid cars that can cost tens of thousands of pounds or
dollars.
Something as basic as recycling can have a significant impact
on the environment around us, and also save energy on the
manufacturing of new, replica products.
Carbon emissions are a direct result of not only heavy industry,
but also the average household.
Energy efficiency is a key aspect in reducing the effects of global
warming, and steps can be taken around the home to achieve
this.

Seasonal variation of the output of

the solar panels