| | Category | EV | L14 | Photovoltaic vs. Solar Thermal Energy Efficiency |
| | Abstract | Abstract |
| | Photovoltaic vs. Solar Thermal Energy Efficiency |
| | |
| | The purpose of this experiment is to compare the efficiency and power |
| | output of photovoltaic cells and solar thermal cells in warmer and colder |
| | climates. In this experiment, the light intensity and temperatures of |
| | Saginaw, MI and Tampa, FL are used as test sites. |
| | Photovoltaic is a process of solar energy where, using light from the sun, |
| | electrons are knocked loose become able to move freely through semi- |
| | conducting material, creating electricity. This is called the photovoltaic |
| | effect. In this experiment, silicon solar cells are used. |
| | Solar thermal energy is another type of solar energy where the heat |
| | from the sun is used in the form of energy. In this experiment, evacuated |
| | tube solar thermal cells are used. |
| | After preparing the PV cells for testing, the cells were taken to the solar |
| | simulator, which flashes light on the cell that is approximately the same |
| | light intensity as the sun for 70 nanoseconds. Once results are received |
| | using calculations and the computer software, record the results. Next, |
| | the solar thermal cells are tested. In both cases, efficiency and power |
| | output is found and calculated. |
| | After results are found, record and graph them. The hypothesized result |
| | was that the PV cells would prove to be more efficient than the solar cells |
| | is colder climates, but the solar thermal cells would prove to be more |
| | efficient when the light intensity of a warmer climate is used. |
| | After experimenting, the results show that the hypothesized result was |
| | proven mostly correct. The data shows that, overall, the photovoltaic cells |
| | preformed better for the light intensity and temperatures of Saginaw, but |
| | the two types of cells both preformed well in separate parts of the year in |
| | Tampa. The solar thermal collectors worked well in the summer months, |
| | following the temperature curve. The photovoltaic cells work at a steady |
| | rate throughout the year. In further studies, it would be desirable to look at |
| | cost effectiveness in both forms of solar energy. Also, I would like to look |
| | at finding ways to try to improve the photovoltaic cell. |
| | Bibliography | Works Cited |
| | "Celcius to Farenheit Converter." |
| | <http://www.wbuf.noaa.gov/tempfc.htm>. |
| | Lesser, Jonathan. "PV vs. Solar Thermal." Public Utilities Fortnightly. |
| | <www.fortnightly.com>. |
| | <http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/ |
| | mytopic=10790>. |
| | <http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/ |
| | mytopic=10791>. |
| | <http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/electricity/index.cfm/ |
| | mytopic=10810>. |
| | <http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/space_heating_cooli |
| | ng/index.cfm/mytopic=12490>. |
| | <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_thermal_energy>. |
| | <http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=00346959>. |
| | <http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber |
| | =01179182>. |