Views: 396 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2021-05-11 Origin: Site
As we all know, the sun is the ultimate supplier of all bio-energy. The development of renewable energy market, to a large extent, depends on the continuous progress of solar energy technology. At present, the widely used clean energy technologies need to collect solar energy directly or indirectly. Most of the indirect solar energy is being vigorously developed, so direct solar energy resources are currently the most accessible.
Direct solar energy mainly refers to the sunlight that can reach the earth. There are two effective solar technologies that can collect this sunlight. One is solar photovoltaic systems and the other is solar thermal systems. If you want to learn more about the respective principles and advantages of these two technologies, you can read this article carefully and get an answer in the end.
Solar photovoltaic technology is mainly based on photovoltaic effect. This effect allows photons to hit the solar panel surface, releasing electrons and eventually forming an electric current. It should be noted that the photovoltaic effect only occurs in a few rare materials which called semiconductors. The commonly used semiconductor materials in solar panels are monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon and black silicon.
The working principle of solar thermal systems is far less complicated, but it is as useful for the consumable energy generation as the photovoltaic effect. The main purpose of this system is to heat the fluid. Its energy conversion occurs in different devices and is controlled by the temperature range in which the fluid needs to be heated.
2. Applications in Specific Areas
Residential solar photovoltaic installations are mainly divided into grid-connected solar and off-grid solar. The first solar energy solution requires an inverter to supply power to the grid. The latter completely relies on the system's own power generation to supply the energy.
Residential solar thermal system usually works with central heating system. When the water temperature in the water tank is below a certain critical value, these systems will start to work. So solar thermal systems can provide hot water for homes at any time. At present, scientists are studying solar thermal systems for heating houses. It is believed that this technology will be widely used in the near future.
For a large power plant, the design of solar photovoltaic systems will be much simpler than that of solar thermal systems. Suppliers only need to connect all the solar panels in series to generate electricity, while the solar thermal system must transfer the heated fluid to the power system to realize power generation. In addition, household solar photovoltaic systems are more common than thermal systems to some extent, because they can power more appliances.
On the other hand, solar thermal systems also have their unique benefits. Household solar thermal systems usually include a hot water tank that can store the generated energy, while solar photovoltaic systems can be affected by the external environment at any time and reduce work efficiency.
Therefore，we cannot tell which system is better or more suitable for your home. If you want to make a wise choice, you can contact Luxen Solar. We have professional technicians who can survey your house and finally give you the most relevant solar installation advice.
