How Solar Panels Work
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by: ErickHanifeld | Total views: 29 | Word Count: 509
Global warming, caused by the abundance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, has initiated the search for newer, cleaner sources of producing electricity. Coal, oil and to a certain extent, nuclear power plants let off tons of pollutants, which are the major causes of this global catastrophe.
What one is looking for is clean and renewable energy. So how about drawing energy from a natural source -- the Sun? This can be done by creating solar panels which are constituted of a large number of photovoltaic cells. The negative aspect of these solar panels is that it is weather-specific and will not function when it snows or rains. Moreover, the viability of setting up the solar panels and the maintenance costs entailed will have to match the money that one is likely to save on paying electricity bills.
To understand how solar panels work one will have to brush up one's knowledge of chemistry. Solar panels work on the principle of chemical reactions that are induced to form the electric current.
The main component of the panel is silicon (the element Si on the periodic table) or in purely non-scientific terminology, sand. In its natural form, silicon has four electrons but has the capacity for accommodating double that number, that is, eight electrons. One silicon atom can combine with another to form a strong bonding. In this case both atoms share each other's potential capacity for eight electrons. The electrical current however can be produced only by one negative and one positive charge.
The positive-negative balance can be introduced to the silicon atoms by using phosphorus which has five electrons. Combined with silicon it lends a negative charge as the silicon does not need the one extra atom. In the same way, a positive charge is created by using boron which has three atoms. The chemical reaction of balancing positive and negative charges by introducing phosphorus and boron releases an electrical current.
Once the chemical components are in place in the solar panels, the rest of the chemical reactions follow when the sun's rays hit the panels. When the silicon-phosphorus atoms are hit by the photons (particles of energy in the sun's rays), those atoms lose that extra electron, which is then attracted by the positive silicon-boron atoms. The three electron structure of boron is thus compensated. This continuous process of the interaction of positive and negative charge in the atoms produces the electrical current.
To produce an adequate quantity of electricity for daily consumption, several solar panels will be necessary. In addition it is important to install back up power source to store the electricity produced. This dual installation is likely to be quite expensive. When it is all said and done, it is worth the trouble and expense to shift to cleaner energy sources. In the long run, installation and maintenance can actually work out to be cost effective.
Don't worry if you didn't follow the chemistry. The point is that the solar is a much cleaner way of meeting our electricity needs and can help us save our environment and the world.
About the Author
Erick Hanifeld likes to do projects on his home and decided to give installing solar panels on his own home a try. His experience left him wanting to know How Do Solar Panels Work. You can gain more Solar Panels Knowledge Here.
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