BEEME 2 Solar

UNIT – 3

Utilization of Electrical Power

Solar Energy

Advantages:

1.    Solar energy is available as long as we have the sun

2.    Wide range of applications

3.    It is free source. Can be utilized effectively.

4.    It requires very low level of maintenance.

Disadvantages:

1.    Solar modules are very expensive to buy and install.

2.    It requires lot of space for labels, equipment and batteries.

3.    It is very expensive to store solar energy in batteries.

4.    Solar modules are made of hazardous materials.

Applications:

1.    Solar Water Heating, solar heating of buildings, solar distillation, solar furnaces,

2.    Solar energy for drying agricultural land animal products

3.    Solar panels for generating electricity.

Flat plate solar collectors

Advantages

1.    Absorbs both direct and diffused radiations

2.    Does not need to be oriented towards the sun

3.    Requires less maintenance

4.    Mechanical design and arrangement is simpler

5.    Comparatively less expensive

Disadvantages

1.    More material required for reflecting surface

2.    Power generation is limited by the area of absorber surface

3.    Heat loss is also more

4.    Temperature attained by fluid is comparatively less

Parabolic solar collector:

Advantages

1.    It is the most efficiet type since it can focus the sun’s energy on a small heat exchanger.

2.    Less collector surface is required.

3.    It doesn’t cause pollution which is one of the biggest advantage.

4.    High heat gain.

Disadvantages

1.    The installation cost of the parabolic collection is high.

2.    Construction cost of parabolic collection is high.

3.    Solar plant use lot of water which is major problem in dessert.

4.    They track sun in only one direction.