Gombe State University Physics Assignment PDF

Gombe State University Faculty of Science Department of Physics Course title: enargy and environmental Course code: PHYS 206 Lecturer Name: Mr. Abdulhamid GROUP H Assignment Group presenter: Abdulhamid saidu Reg. Number Name...

Gombe State University Faculty of Science Department of Physics Course title: enargy and environmental Course code: PHYS 206 Lecturer Name: Mr. Abdulhamid GROUP H Assignment Group presenter: Abdulhamid saidu Reg. Number Name Reg. Number Name UG21/SCCH/ Abdullahi S UG21/SCCH/ Khadija M lawan 1048 Aliyu 1053 UG21/SCCH/ Musa Nafiu UG21/SCCH/ Abdulhamid 1049 1054 sa'idu UG21/SCCH/ Naja'atu M UG21/SCCH/ Amina sa'idu 1050 Tahir 1056 Musa UG21/SCCH/ Peace Dathan UG21/SCCH/ Saima Bello 1051 1057 usman 1 UG21/SCCH/ Fatima UG21/SCCH/ Zainab Alhajiyel 1052 Ibrahim 1058 Questions one Q1. Explain solar photovoltaic Electricity INTRODUCTION The first practical PV cell was developed in 1954 by Bell Telephone researchers. Beginning in the late 1950s, PV cells were used to power U.S. space satellites. By the late 1970s, PV panels were providing electricity in remote, locations that did not have electric power lines. Since 2004, most PV systems in the United States are grid-connected—they are connected to an electric power grid. They are installed on or near homes and buildings and at utility-scale power plants that have at least 1 megawatt of electric generation capacity. Technological advances, lower costs for PV systems, and various financial incentives and government policies have helped to greatly expand PV use since the mid-1990s. Hundreds of thousands of grid- connected PV systems are now installed in the United States. What is solar photovoltaic Electricity. Solar photovoltaic electricity refers to the generation of electricity using solar panels, also known as photovoltaic (PV) panels. These panels are made up of multiple solar cells, which are responsible for converting sunlight directly into electricity through a process called the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into electricity A photovoltaic (PV) cell, commonly called a solar cell, is a nonmechanical device that converts sunlight directly into electricity. Some PV cells can convert artificial light into electricity. Sunlight is composed of photons, or particles of solar energy. These photons contain varying amounts of energy that correspond to the different wavelengths of the solar spectrum. A PV cell is made of semiconductor material. When photons strike a PV cell, they may reflect off the cell, pass through the cell, or be absorbed by the semiconductor material. Only the absorbed photons provide energy to generate electricity. When the semiconductor material absorbs enough sunlight (solar energy), electrons are dislodged from the material's atoms. Special treatment of the material surface during manufacturing makes the front surface of the cell more receptive to the dislodged, or free, electrons so that the electrons naturally migrate to the surface of the cell. The movement of electrons, each carrying a negative charge, toward the front surface of the solar photovoltaic cell creates an imbalance of electrical charge 2 between the cell's front and back surfaces. This imbalance, in turn, creates a voltage potential like the negative and positive terminals of a battery. Electrical conductors on the cell absorb the electrons. When the conductors are connected in an electrical circuit to an external load, such as a battery, electricity flows through the circuit. Solar photovoltaic cells are grouped in panels, and panels can be grouped into arrays of different sizes to power water pumps, provide electricity for individual homes, or provide utility-scale electricity generation Here's how solar photovoltaic electricity works: 1. Solar panels: The basic component of solar PV systems is the solar panel. These panels are made of semiconductor materials, typically silicon, which have the ability to absorb photons (light particles) from the sun. 2. Absorption of sunlight: When sunlight hits the surface of the solar panel, the semiconductor material absorbs photons. This absorption creates an electric field across the layers of the panel. 3. Photovoltaic effect: The absorbed photons transfer their energy to the electrons in the semiconductor material. This process excites the electrons, allowing them to break free from their atomic bonds and move freely. The electric field in the solar cell then forces these freed electrons to flow in a specific direction. 4. Electrical current: As the freed electrons move, they create a flow of electric current. This flow of electrons can be harnessed and used as electricity. The solar panel is equipped with metal conductive plates to collect this current and direct it towards an inverter. 5. Inverter: Since solar panels generate direct current (DC) electricity, it needs to be converted into alternating current (AC) for most household and commercial applications. The inverter converts the DC electricity from the solar panels into AC electricity, suitable for powering ectrical devices. 6. Energy storage: To ensure a consistent supply of electricity even when sunlight is limited, energy storage systems, such as batteries, can be used to store surplus solar energy for later use, such as during nighttime or cloudy days. Question two Q2.With the labeled diagram explain the flat plate collector for heating water A flat-plate collector is a type of solar thermal collector that is designed to harness sunlight to heat water. It consists of several key components, as shown in the labeled diagram below: 3 How it works: When sunlight falls on the glazing of the flat-plate collector, it passes through and strikes the absorber plate. The absorber plate absorbs the solar radiation and converts it into heat energy. The water present in the flow tubes or channels captures this heat and its temperature rises. The heated water is then collected by the header pipe, which connects to the water heating system. From there, it can be stored in a storage tank or used directly for various applications like domestic hot water or space heating. The insulation layers surrounding the absorber plate and at the rear of the collector prevent heat losses, ensuring that as much heat as possible is retained within the system. This helps to maximize the efficiency and performance of the flat-plate collector. Overall, a flat-plate collector is a reliable and effective technology for harnessing solar energy to heat water, making it an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional heating methods. 4