Islamic University of Gaza

Faculty of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Department
Thermodynamic II

Solar Cells

Prepared by:
Faisal Faraj Safadi 120101964

Submitted to:
Dr. Mohammed Al-Nahhal
What is Solar Cell ?!
A solar cell (also called a photovoltaic cell) is an electrical
device that converts the energy of light directly into
electricity by the photovoltaic effect.
The photovoltaic effect is the creation of voltage or
electric current in a material upon exposure to light.
How does it work ?!
The solar cell works in three steps:
1. Photons in sunlight hit the solar panel and are absorbed
by semiconducting materials, such as silicon.
2. Electrons (negatively charged) are knocked loose from
their atoms, causing an electric potential difference.
Current starts flowing through the material to cancel the
potential and this electricity is captured. Due to the
special composition of solar cells, the electrons are only
allowed to move in a single direction.
3. An array of solar cells converts solar energy into a
usable amount of direct current (DC) electricity.

Basic Physics of Solar Cells
Si is covalently bonded: It shares
electrons.
When a Si atom is replaced with a group 3
(Al, B) it forms a positive particle called a hole
that can move around the crystal through
diffusion or drift (electric field).
When a Si atom is replaced with a group 5
(As, P) it forms an electron that can move
around the crystal.

A solar cell is a very large diode.
When Si that is doped p-type is next to a
region of Si doped n-type, the holes from the
p-type side diffuse to the n-type side. The
electrons diffuse to the p-type side.
This creates an electric field.
This electric field makes it easy for current
to flow in one direction, but hard to flow in
the other.
This electric field also separates electrons
and holes that have been created by the
absorption of sun light. When the electrons
and holes are separated electric power can be
extracted from the circuit.

Cells to Panels to an Array
A number of solar cells
electrically connected to each
other and mounted in a
support structure or frame is
called a photovoltaic module.
Panels are designed to supply
electricity at a certain
voltage, such as a common 12
volts system. The current
produced is directly
dependent on how much light
strikes the panel. Multiple
panels can be wired together
to form an array. In general,
the larger the area of a panel
or array, the more electricity
that will be produced.

The Inverter
This energy generated by the
panel, in the form of direct current
(DC), is transmitted to the
inverter. The job of the inverter is
to convert the DC power the solar
panel has generated to alternating
current (AC) that is transmitted on
the grid. The inverter converts DC
to AC by using two switches which
convert the positive only DC power
to an alternating positive to
negative AC power. The inverter
will then step up the voltage from
12 volts to 120 volts, which is the
voltage used throughout the US
electrical grid. This conversion of
voltage is what allows a 12 volt DC
solar polar to be tied into a 120
volt AC grid.


Appealing Characteristics
Consumes no fuel
No pollution
High power-to-weight ratio

THANK YOU
Any Question ?!