Title:- A project on Description of Solar Cell, Solar

Lantern & their mechanism.

Topics:-
• What is Solar Cell?
• Working Mechanism.
• Why we use Solar Cell?
• P-V System.
• Describe different types of Solar Cell & efficiency.
• What is Solar Lantern?
• How Solar Lantern Works?
• Description of various components of Solar Lantern
with diagram.
What is Solar Cell::--
 • A structure that converts solar energy directly to DC
electric energy.
• It is like a battery as it supplies DC power.

• It is different from a battery in the sense that the

voltage supplied by the sell changes with changes in
the resistance of the load.

What is Solar Panel or Solar Array or Solar Module::--

The Solar Panel or Solar Array is the interconnection of a

number of solar module to get efficient power. A Solar
Module consists of number of interconnected Solar Cells.
These interconnected cells embedded between two glass
plates to protect from the bad weather.
Why we use Solar Cell::--
 Low maintenance, long lusting sources of energy.
• Non polluting and silent sources of electricity.
• Convenient and flexible source of small amounts of
power.
• Renewable and sustainable power.
• Reduces global warming.

How Solar works on System::--

Working Mechanism ::--

When light hits the cell::--

What is P-V System::--

Classifications of P-V System::--

.
Descriptions of Different kinds of Classifictions::--
There are 2 technologies – a. Silicon crystalline
Technology..b. Thin Film Technology.
a) Silicon Crystalline Technology::--
It is very stable with module efficiencies 10% to
20%.

There are another Two parts of Silicon crystalline

Technology. 1.Mono Crystalline 2. Multicrystalline.
The parts are explained below::
1. Mono crystalline::--

a) It is formed by single cylinder if Si.

b) Operating efficiency up to 15%.

2. Multicrystalline P-V Cells::--

a) It is formed by caste ingot of melted and

recrystallised silicon.
b) Cell efficiency=12%.
c)Thin Film Technology::--

– Silicon deposited in a continuous on a base

material such as glass polymer etc.
– It consists of layers about 10 micro meter .

Now there are another Two parts of Thin Film

Technology. Those are—1) Amorphous Silicon P-V Cells
2) Polycrystalline P-V Cells. The descriptions are given
below—
1) Amorphous Silicon P-V Cells::--
 • The most advanced of thin film technologies.
• Operating efficiency—6%.
• Mature manufacturing technologies are available.
• Initial 20%-40% loss in efficiency.
2) Polycrystalline P-V cells::--

• It is non-silicon based technology.

• This cell consists of Cadmium Telluride (CdTe).
• 6%-9% module efficiency.
• 16% laboratory efficiency.

Efficiency::--
• The amount of power available from a P-V device is
determined by
a) Type & area of the material
b) The intensity of the sunlight.
c) The wavelength of the sunlight.
• Single crystalline cell—25% efficiency.
• Polycrystalline silicon solar cell—less than 20%.
• Amorphous silicon olar cell—less than 10%.
Description of the Curve::--

The Shockley-Queisser limit for the theoretical maximum

efficiency of a solar cell. Semiconductors with band gap
between 1 and 1.5eV, or near-infrared light, have the
greatest potential to form an efficient single-junction cell.

Manufacturer of Solar Cell::--

Due to heavy government investment, China has become
the dominant force in solar cell manufacturing. Chinese
companies produced solar cells/modules with a capacity of
~23 GW in 2013 (60% of global production).
Uses of Solar Cells::--

a) Toys , watches , calculators

b) Electric Fences.
c) Remote lightning systems.
d) Water Pumping.
e) Water treatment.
f) Emergency power.
g) Satellites.
h) Railway Signalling
i) Solar Lanterns
j) Power pack
k) Telecommunications

Solar Lantern::--First of all we have to know What is

Solar Lantern.
What is Solar Lantern::--
A solar lantern is well-known example portable stand
alone solar electric system. It consists of all necessary
components required for a standalone solar electric system
in a single casing except the solar PV module.(SPV).

SPV Module::--

After knowing What is Solar Lantern we have to know

What is SPV Module. The SPV Module converts the sun’s
light energy into electrical energy that is stored in the
battery housed inside the lantern.
The basic building block of the SPV Module is the
cell. This is made of Crystalline Silicon. A number of cells
are interconnected to form the required capacity. This is
encapsulated under vacuum conditions with tough material
and glass panel of high transitivity. A terminal box is fitted
at the rear side of the module from where the electrical
output of the module is taken out.A 5 meter long cable is
used to connect the module on the top of the house to the
lantern inside the house.
6.How Solar Lantern Works::--
The main operations of the Solar Lantern are explained
below:
1. Daily during day time the lantern should be put on
charge. The 2 pin connector at the end of the cable
from the SPV Module should be connected to the
socket at the rear of the lantern. Ensure green LED
glows. It is advisable to keep the light switch in the off
position during charge. If the light is switched on
during charging, all the charging current from the spv
module will be diverted to the lamp and the battery
will remain uncharged.
2. During night time when the lantern is needed, the
connector from spv module is to be unplugged and the
lantern can be carried to the place where it is needed.
 The lamp can be switched ON using the switch
provided. When lamp switches off and red lamp
glows, the light switch should be put off. Do not
repeatedly switch on the lamp even after the Low
Voltage disconnected as this will reduce the life of the
lamp as well as the battery . The lantern can be used
only after sufficient recharging.
Different Parts of a Solar Lantern::--

These all are different parts of a Solar Lantern.

It is consists mainly a lamp, a battery and an electronic
control circuit in a single casing. The solar module is a
separated past of the lantern. This PV module has to be
connected with lantern’s battery terminals for charging
purpose. Now days solar lantern are very popularly used
for both indoor and outdoor purposes. Casing of a solar
lantern may be mode of either metal, plastic or fibber
glass. Battery, charging and control circuit are placed
inside the casing with proper memer, so that inside space
of the casing can be properly used. On the top of the casing
there is a lamp holder mounted at centre. One CFL of
required rating is attached with this holder.
The lamp is covered from all sides by transparent glass or
fiberglass. This cover is transparent from all sides, hence
solar lantern can emit light in all directions i.e. 360o of
light illumination. The top of the transparent hollow
cylindrical lamp cover, there is one top cover which is not
transparent and generally made of some material by which
casing of solar lantern is made. Hanger of the lantern is
filled with the top cover. There is a plug point and
charging discharging (ON) indications on casing. For
changing purpose, wire with socket comes from solar
module which placed under sunlight is plugged to the plug
point on the casing. There are different models of solar
lantern, but normally battery capacity of a solar lantern is
12 V 7 Ah.
The Electronic Circuit of Solar Lantern::--
Description of the different components of Solar
Lantern::-
1.Solar Module or PV Module:--
Generally solar module used for charging a single solar
lantern has rating of 8, 10 or 12 Watts (Wp). The module is
normally kept on rooftop at most tilt angle for which the
module gets maximum intensity of sunlight, for maximum
duration. The lanterns are connected to module through
wire socket which is kept in room or other places. But
sometimes users do not install solar module at roof top
instead they like to keep the module in sunlight in daily
basis.
2.Battery::--
Normally maintenance free sealed dry type lead acid
battery of tabular shaped with 12 V 7 Ah capacity is used
for solar lantern. The battery of the solar lantern stores the
energy that is supplied by the SPV Module during day time
& releases it during night time when the light is required.
The battery is housed in the main body of the system. This
battery being a sealed, enables the system to be totally
portable and maintenance free.
3.Electronics::--

The electronics is the heart of the whole lantern system.

This section performs the following functions:
a) Controls the charging of the battery during daytime.
 b) Protects the battery from overcharge or deep
discharge conditions.
c) Inverts the D.C energy supplied by the battery to AC
suitable to light the CFL.
4.CFL::--
The lamp used in the solar lantern is 7W Compact
Florescent Lamp. This lamp is a highly efficient
component that provides light equal to the light given by a
40W incandescent lamp. Normally cool white type lamps
are supplied.
5.Plastic Housing::--
Solar Lanterns come in an elegant looking plastic housing.
This also reduces the weight of the system making it light
and portable. As the housing is of plastic , there is no
problem of corrosion in coastal and highly humid areas.