Download SolarElectricKits - Electrical and Computer Engineering

Experimenting with
Solar-Electric Energy
Dr. Sandra Cruz-Pol
Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering
July 2, 20 08
An NSF Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere
Solar to electricity conversion
Prof. Agustin Irizarry, UPRM
We will use 2 types of
electric connections
Series Connection
Elements connect on ONE side only.
V= I R
Parallel Connection
Elements connect on BOTH legs.
I=V/R
1.a. Series connection
+
100mA
100mA
1.5V
_
+
+
100mA
4.5V
1.5V
_
P=VI
P= 100mA*4.5V
+
100mA
1.5V
_
= 450mW
_
Series connection provides: 4.5V, 100mA
Three photovoltaic panels connected
in series to feed a music box.
+
Music Box
Questions
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Does the circuit works with
solar and/or artificial light?
How does the sound varies
with the intensity of light?
1.b Series connection
with only 2 panels: less voltage
100mA
+
100mA
1.5V
+
_
P=VI = power
+
100mA
1.5V
_
100mA
3.0V
P= 100mA*3V
= 300mW
_
+
1.5V
_
Ej. Cell-phone charger, small
radios
2.a Parallel connection
All positives are connected together.
All negatives are connected together.
+
100mA
1.5V
_
+
100mA
+
1.5V
100mA
_
1.5V
_
P=VI
P= 300mA*1.5V
= 450 mW
300mA
+
1.5V
_
2.b Parallel connection
with only 2 panels: less current
+
100mA
1.5V
_
+
100mA
+
1.5V
100mA
_
1.5V
_
P=VI
P= 200mA*1.5V
= 300 mW
200mA
+
1.5V
_
Parallel connection provides: 1.5V, 300mA
Three photovoltaic panels connected in
parallel to power either an LED light bulb
or a fan.
+
or
Which connection to use?


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Connection determines voltage
and current.
Depends on the appliance to be
connected, requirements.
Careful: if current is too large, it
could damage the appliance.
Myth: Why is the Ocean Blue?
FALSE: The ocean is blue
because the sky reflection
on its surface.
TRUE: Water is blue.

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frequency spectra
But you need a huge
amount of it to really see
its color.
Look at a swimming pool
as it gets deeper; even on
cloudy days.
http://ece.uprm.edu/~pol/OceanBlue.html
Who is Nikola Tesla?

Nikola Tesla – greatest contributor to Electricity.









Invented ac motor,
perfected dc motor,
invented radio transmission, (wireless)
designed Niagara Falls generator,
distribution systems,
fluorescence lamps,
remote control, wireless,
logic circuits,
3-phasic and many others.
Where to find this material?
http://ece.uprm.edu/~pol/maestros
**REMEMBER to give proper credit 