Solar Cell Technology

Aim

The purpose of this course is to give the student wide and i some parts deep knowledge of how solar cells work, designed and manufactured. What percentage of the solar energy is converted into electrical current and the properties of the solar cell and the sunlight that affect this. How to measure different solar cell's parameters and how to design a solar electricity system. After this course students should be able to:

• describe how solar cells work, designed and manufactured.
• calculate the solar cell's parameters such as fill factor, open circuit voltage, load current, output at maximum power point.
• calculate the intensity of sunlight at Earth's surface under different conditions.
• calculate the yield at different temperatures and light conditions.
• to design a photovoltaic system for different applications and power needs.
• describe different concepts such as partial shading, quantum efficiency, direct, diffuse and global lighting, effect of atmosphere on solar power, the influence of temperature on solar power and voltage.
• describe the functions of charge controllers and inverters.
• describe batteries characteristics and factors affecting the capacity and lifetime.

Content

• Sunlight properties: radiation and insolation, atmospheric, time and place effects
• repetition of the pn junction
• solar cell function. ideal solar cell, quantum efficiency, spectral response, solar cell parameters such as IV curve, open circuit voltage, short circuit current, fill factor, efficiency
• Resistive effects: series and shunt resistances
• Temperature and light intensity influence
• Design in order to reduce reflection losses, recombination losses, shading effect.
• Manufacture of Solar Cells: texturing front, anti-reflective coating, front side contact, backside contact.
• Manufacturing of solar panels
• Design and other system components, charge controllers, batteries, converters, cables