Instructions solar energy kit

TERRA NOVA - Solar energy - Standard Kit (part number: TN001)

The kit includes: 

Main board

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2 circuit diagrams (series and parallel connection)

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3 small solar modules (0,5V, 420mA)

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1 large solar module (0,5V, 840mA)

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4 solar cell cover sheets

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Potentiometer module

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Buzzer module

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Diode module

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Illumination module

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Power supply for illumination module (including key for adjusting voltage)

Fourier Systems Ltd. 16 Hamelacha St., POB 11681, Rosh Ha‘ayin 48091, Tel: +972-3-901-4849, Fax: +972-3-901-4999 www.FourierEdu.com

EXPERIENCE SCIENCE!

Concept of the kit This kit deals with the physical basics as well as the practical applications of photovoltaics. Photovoltaics (PV) is the direct conversion of light into electrical energy using solar cells.

Working with this kit students can learn what a solar cell is, how it works and how it is used to produce electric energy in practice. All experiments are based on Fourier-Education probeware products so that all experimental data is collected by the computer and also evaluated with the computer.

The kit consists of a main board where up to three experiment modules can be plugged-on. With the main board parallel and series connection are possible and sensors for measuring current or voltage can be connected via standard connectors.

There are 4 solar modules included in the kit: 3 smaller ones and a larger one. With the larger one most of the fundamental experiments like illumination density dependence, temperature dependence or area dependence are done.

With the smaller ones real solar modules consisting of more than one single solar cell can be realized. The illumination module can be placed directly on top of a solar module and by connecting it to the power supply the solar module can be illuminated with a well defined intensity of illumination.

The potentiometer module is used for measuring the IV-characteristics of solar cells and modules. The buzzer module is a visualisation module that can be used for easy introductory experiments. With the diode module the very important concept of so called bypass diodes for solar modules can be demonstrated.

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Needed sensors The sensors are not included in the kit. Most of the experiments can be done with the following sensors. The pictures in the instruction are based on the USB-Link and MultiLab-Software but of course all experiments can also be conducted using NOVA or MultiLog.

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Current (DT006 (recommended), with DT005 experiments are possible with lower accuracy)

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Voltage (DT002, DT002, DT003 or DT019)

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Temperature (DT027, DT029 or DT025)

List of Experiments: 1. Dependence of power on the area of the solar cell 2. Dependence of power on angle of incidence 3. Series and parallel connection of solar cells (qualitative) 4. Series and parallel connection of solar cells 5. Dependence of power on illumination 6. IV-characteristics of a solar cell 7. IV-characteristics under varying illumination intensity 8. IV-characteristics of a solar module 9. Partly shaded solar modules 10. IV-characteristics of partly shaded solar modules 11. Temperature-dependence of solar cell voltage 12. Temperature-dependence of solar cell current 13. Temperature-dependence of solar cell power

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Concept of the experiments Most of the experiments are designed for students from the age of 14. Of course you have to decide which experiment is applicable according to your curriculum and the previous knowledge of the students.

Experiments 6 to 8 and 10 are recommended for students from 16 years because more detailed previous knowledge and more experimental skills are necessary.

In contrast, Experiment 3 can also be conducted by students from 12 years. It is a qualitative introductory trial without using dataloggers. This trial can also be recommended for older students before doing experiment 4 and 9.

Definitions In this section all used physical quantities and concepts will be explained.

A … area In the experiment, often the term “active area” is used. This means the area of the solar cell that can contribute to power generation (e.g. that is not covered).

I … current Isc … Short circuit current The current of the solar cell (or rather voltage source in general) when the load is 0. Can be measured by only connecting a current sensor to the solar cell.

V … voltage Voc … open circuit voltage Voltage of the solar cell (or rather voltage source in general) when the load is infinite. Can be measured by only connecting a voltage sensor to the solar cell.

P … power

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MPP … Maximum Power Point At this point of the IV-characteristics the solar cell can produce the maximal output power.

IMPP… corresponding current value at MPP VMPP … corresponding voltage value at MPP All the characteristic values related to the IV-characteristics of a solarcell are depicted in the following figure:

FF … fill factor The fill factor is defined as FF=Uoc*Isc / UMPP*IMPP. It is the percentage of the area corresponding to the power at the MPP (double hatched area in the figure below) in the total area resulting from the product of short circuit current and open circuit voltage (complete hatched area).

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