Photovoltaic (PV) and Solar Power Systems Information

Photovoltaic (PV) and Solar Power Systems Information

PV and solar power systems convert light into electricity. They are the building blocks of photovoltaic (PV) modules. There are many different types of PV and solar power systems. Examples include solar batteries, solar battery chargers, and solar panels. A solar battery is a sealed, maintenance-free device. A solar battery charger can be used to power devices such as radio receivers, lighting, and radio modems. A solar panel is a device that converts energy from the sun into usable forms, either by absorbing the sun’s heat directly, or by converting its light into electricity. A photovoltaic system or PV system may include a battery backup or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that can operate selected circuits for hours or even days. PV and solar power systems also include products such as solar arrays.

Components and Specifications

PV and solar power systems differ in terms of components and specifications. For example, a complete photovoltaic system includes components such as a DC-AC power inverter, battery bank, battery controller, and auxiliary energy sources. In addition, a photovoltaic system or PV system uses balance of system (BOS) hardware such wiring, surge protection, disconnect devices, and other power processing components. Specifications for a solar battery include number of plates, number of plates per cell, capacity (hours), length, width, height, and acid (liters). A solar PV charger uses pulse width modulation (PWM) and a three-stage charging methods. Specifications for a PV panel include size, voltage in watts), and current in amps. Other PV and solar power systems carry their own performance specifications.

Applications

PV and solar power systems are used in many applications and adhere to a variety of standards. A PV system is suitable for the continuous production of power at a minimum operating cost. Often, PV supplies are used to produce electricity where energy is most limited or unavailable. PV and solar power supplies can be used in backup power systems, radio transceivers, medical equipment, pumping stations, street lights, and water purification applications. PV and solar power systems may adhere to standards from the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM).

• Remote System Monitoring for PV Systems (.pdf)
  A SunWize customer recently purchased six large, standalone photovoltaic (PV) systems for deployment in an extremely remote area of the American Southwest to power critical sensors as part of a data collection network. Given the important nature of the application we worked with the customer to add...
• How Tough are PV Modules? (.pdf)
  , Africa or the Middle East Craig Shoots, email: cshoots@sunwize.com. www.sunwize.com. SUNWIZE TECHNOLOGIES. 1155 Flatbush Rd. Kingston, NY 12401. 800-81-SOLAR. www.sunwize.com. Industrial Solar. Electric Systems. Reliable & economical. solutions for remote. site power. How Tough are PV Modules...
• Solar Radiation and Solar Power System Design (.pdf)
  of earth, at noon on a clear day with the sun directly overhead,as 1000 watts or 1 kilowatt (1kW). The PV industry refers to this calculation as one "peak sun". Eng Bull 8 Solar Engineering Bulletin. NOVEMBER 2005. Solar Radiation and Solar Power System Design. What information do photovoltaic...