How do solar panels work once installed?
Solar panels make it possible to make the sun the energy with the most potential, in a clean way and with hardly any emissions. But how is this process possible?
In a world, where there has been talk of the era of renewable energy for a long time, it is interesting to understand How do they work solar panels. These electrical devices make it possible to make the sun the energy with the most potential, in a clean way and with hardly any emissions. But how is this process possible?
The operation of solar panels
The whole process begins when solar panels capture the sun's rays. The panels are composed of solar cells, small silicon and phosphorus cells that have a negative charge, and a Boron layer, which contains a positive charge.
When the sun is exposed in photovoltaic panels, these components allow photons, provided by solar energy itself, to move negative electrons to the positive part, which lacks electrons. Then, at the moment when photons release these electrons, electricity is generated.
The simple fact that solar panels are divided by two sections with opposing loads make this reaction possible. If one of the loads were not contemplated, energy production could not take place.
This illustration shows what the whole process is like since the sun meets the plates, they do their job of transforming and producing electricity, and finally the electricity becomes useful and travels through the grid.
Connect the panels to the power grid
The electricity produced by the plates is direct current, a regular and one-way flow that is usually incompatible with the energy used in homes. For this reason, to send electricity to the conventional grid, a voltage inverter is necessary-
This device is responsible for converting direct current, which is stored in the batteries of the solar panels themselves, into alternating current. A very simple process that takes a short time, in which it is only necessary to find the right inverter according to the amount of power you want to inject into the network.
If you want to complete a total disconnection to the power grid Conventionally, it should be borne in mind that it is 100% necessary to have an installation of plates large enough to guarantee the electrical supply. A somewhat difficult reality for many, due to the large economic investment that this entails.
The photoelectric effect of solar panels
Although solar energy seems to be a state-of-the-art invention, it should be noted that this process is possible thanks to the photoelectric effect, an event discovered in the 19th century by the physicist Heinrich Hertz.
As on many occasions in the history of science, this discovery was by chance, but thanks to this, Hertz was able to notice that the electric arc between two high-voltage electrodes generated greater distances when illuminated with ultraviolet light (produced by the Sun).
This study was completed by Einstein, who gave a Mathematical explanation to this reaction, and thanks to this, it has been possible to develop photovoltaic solar energy, managing to produce useful electrical energy from the sun.