Ton Duc Thang University

Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

401076
RENEWABLE ENERGY

Chapter 2:

SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS

Nguyen Dao, PhD.

OBJECTIVES

- Explaining the fundamental

principles of solar
photovoltaics
- Presenting the knowledge of
solar photovoltaics

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 OUTLINE
2.1 The PN-Junction
2.2 Types of Photovoltaic Technology
2.3 PV Cell structure and operation
2.4 PV Cell Characteristics and Parameters
2.5 Solar Modules and Arrays
2.6 Concentrating Photovoltaics

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 2.1 THE PN-JUNCTION

1) The Silicon Atom and Crystal Structure

- Si can form crystalline structure (c-Si) or form

amorphous types, are useful in solar cell.
- Si-atom(a) has 14 protons, 14-16 neutrons, 14
electrons. Covalence bonds in Si (b), Si- crystal (c)
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 2.1 THE PN-JUNCTION

2) Doping a Silicon Crystal

DP is used to increase conductivity of silicon

- Impurity concentration atoms are very low compared to
silicon
- DP to create free electrons (type n-Si) or holes (p-Si-type)
- For free electrons, use a group of V- atoms (Sb-antimom;
As-arsen, P-phosphorus…)
- For free holes used group III-Atom (B-bor; Ga-gallium, Al-
aluminum…)
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 2.1 THE PN-JUNCTION

3) Photoelectric effect-PE

Theory of energy zone:

Ec-conduction energy
Ev- valence zone energy
Eg-restricted area power
PE- Electrons break out of the covalent bond into
free electron when they are absorbing energy
from electromagnetic radiation such as light
(photoelectron401076-Chapter
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 2.1 THE PN-JUNCTION

3) Photoelectric effect

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 2.1 THE PN-JUNCTION
4) Formation of the PN Junction

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 2.1 THE PN-JUNCTION
4) Formation of the PN Junction

-When n-si contact with p-si, diffuse of electrons

begin
-Free electron (near the junction in n-region)
diffuse into the p-region for combine with hole.
-After, state of equilibrium is established and is no
further diffusion (depletion region with pn-juntion).

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2.2 TYPES OF PV TECHNOLOGIES

1) Types of Crystalline Silicon

Two types of Crystalline silicon:
Monocrystalline Semiconductor
Polycrystalline Semiconductor
-Making a wafer from silicon
ingot – Czochralski method

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2.2 TYPES OF PV TECHNOLOGIES
2) Monocrystalline Semiconductor
Material of PV cells is Monocrystalline silicon-MS
- MS is the most widely used type of silicon in wafer-
type solar cell. Eff. 14%-18%
3 ) Polycrystalline Semiconductor
Material of PV cells is Polycrystalline silicon- PS
- PS is Eff. 13%-15%
-PS is widely used because it less expensive
than MS
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2.2 TYPES OF PV TECHNOLOGIES
3) Polycrystalline Semiconductor (amorphous types)
-Ribbon Silicon wafer is variation of the PS is flat
thin films from molten silicon.
-Ribbon silicon cells are
less efficient,
less costly,
not sawing
wafer from ingots.

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2.3 PV CELL STRUCTURE AND OPERATION
1) PV Cell Structure
PV solar cell:
-a)- M-cell

-b)- P-cell

-a) b)

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2.3 PV CELL STRUCTURE AND OPERATION
2) Operation of PV Cell

-Electrons in n-region
into load and p-
region.
-In p-region, electrons
combine holes, the
process goes on

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2.4 PV CELL CHARACTERISTIC AND
PARAMETERS
1)Current- Voltage Curves

I- short-circuit
output (A);
V- open-circuit
output (V)

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 2.4 PV CELL CHARACTERISTIC AND
PARAMETERS
2) Output power

-Max-output power is
Pout-max=VMPPxIMPP -MPP-Max power point
-IMPP- the current and VMPP- the voltage at the MPP
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 2.4 PV CELL CHARACTERISTIC AND
PARAMETERS
3) I-V Characteristic as Function of Irradiance
and temperature

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 2.4 PV CELL CHARACTERISTIC AND
PARAMETERS
4) Energy Conversion Efficiency
-PV cell is typically square: 10 mm-> 127mm or
more,
- % efficiency= [Pout-max/(E x A)]100
Pout-max- max-electrical power of the cell; W
E-light energy at surface; W/m2;
A-surface area of the cell; m2
-Typically efficiency 14%-18%, some
>18%factors that effect conversion efficiency
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2.5 SOLAR MODULES AND ARRAY
1) PV series

Multiple PV cells are connected in series.

1 series of 6 cells->out- power: 6x0,5=3V,2A
2 series parallel->out-power: 4A, 3V
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 2.5 SOLAR MODULES AND ARRAY
2) Solar Module -SM: -SM combination of multiple
PV cells connected to
produce a specified power,
voltage, current output.
-Many standard of SM
consist: 36,72,96 or more PV
cells.
- factory conditions of SM: at
Solar radiation1000W/m2 (1
sun) and temperature 250C
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 2.5 SOLAR MODULES AND ARRAY
2) Solar Module -SM: Catalog of SM-PS

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 2.5 SOLAR MODULES AND ARRAY
2) Solar Module

Solar Module
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2.5 SOLAR MODULES AND ARRAY
3) Solar Array-SA
-String is
combination of two
or more solar
modules .
-Two Strings or
more connected
parallel to array.

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 2.5 SOLAR MODULES AND ARRAY
3) Solar Array

Solar Module –String- Array

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 2.6 CONCENTRATING PV
1) Introduction

-Solar concentrator used mirror or lenses to focus

direct radiation into a specific area.
-Concentrating PVs put more light energy onto PV
cell
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Systems
 2.6 CONCENTRATING PV

2) PVC principles

3 types: 1. low- concentrating of 2-100 suns.

2. medium-concentrating of 100-300 suns.
3. high- concentrating PV (HCPV) of more 300 suns.
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2.6 CONCENTRATING PV

2) PVC principles
- absorb the sun's spectrum
more.
-cell has many vertical layers
-The cell layers are made of
highly effective materials and
the sun spectrum is wide,
- most of the spectrum to the
cell surface is absorbed

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 2.6 CONCENTRATING PV

3) PVC Cell and Module

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 SUMMARY
In this chapter, we have learnt:
-The PN- Junction
-Photovoltaic Cell Structure and Operation
-Types of Photovoltaic Technology
- Multi-junction Thin-film
-Photovoltaic Cell Characteristics, Parameters

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 HOMEWORK
Explaining the Solar Modules and Arrays,
Solar Module Data Sheet Parameters, and
Concentrating Photovoltaics

Reading assignment:
[1]: 87-110, [2]: 155-159, [3]: 43-86;[5] 10-37

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