PHYSICS PROJECT REPORT
TOPIC- SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL CHARACTERISTICS
REPORT SUBMITTED TO
VISHWAKARMA INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, PUNE
FOR THE PBL OF ENGINEERING PHYSICS
DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCES
BY
Name of the student-Medini Patil
Roll no-16003
Name of the student- Anas Ansari
Roll no-16012
Name of the student- Om Gaul
Roll no-16014
Name of the student- Jagruti Patil
Roll no- 16016
Division-P
Batch-P1
Batch Teacher- Prof. Jayesh Patekari
Class- F.Y Btech
CONTENTS
SR. No
1
TOPIC
ABSTRACT
2
INTRODUCTION
3
INVENTION OF SOLAR CELL
4
PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT
5
WORKING
6
MANUFACTURING
7
ENHANCING EFFICIENCY USING
NANOTECHNOLOGY
8
9
ELECTRICITY GENERATION FROM SOLAR
ENERGY
FUTURE SCOPE
10
CONCLUSION
ABSTRACTThe topic for our physics PBL is solar photovoltaic cell. In this project
the complete working of solar cell is introduced, invention of solar
cell technology they principle on which it works, the complete
detailed manufacturing process, types of solar cell, enhancing the
efficiency of solar cell using nanotechnology, applications of solar PV
in generation of electricity, the advantages and disadvantages in
daily life, It’s importance in day-to-day life. The objective of this
project is to highlight the increase of demand in the solar PV
technology due to it’s characteristics.
INTRODUCTION TO SOLAR PV CELL
A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is an electrical device that converts the energy
of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, which is a physical
and chemical phenomenon .It is a form of photoelectric cell, defined as a
device whose electrical characteristics, such as current, voltage, or resistance,
vary when exposed to light.
The process of converting light (photons) to electricity (voltage) is called the
solar photovoltaic (PV) effect.
When exposed to daylight, electrons in the semi-conducting material absorb
the photons, causing them to become highly energised. These move between
the top and bottom surfaces of the semi-conducting material.
WORKING PRINCIPLE OF SOLAR PV CELL-THE PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL- The generation of voltage across PN junction in a
semiconductor due to absorbtion of light radiation is called a photovoltaic
effect.
The photovoltaic effect occurs in solar cells. These solar cells are composed of
two different types of semiconductors - a p-type and an n-type - that are
joined together to create a p-n junction.
WORKING OF SOLAR CELL-
 As soon as the solar cell is exposed to sunlight, the solar energy which is
present in the form of light photons is absorbed by the semiconductor
materials.
 Due to this absorbed energy , the phenomenon of photovoltaic occurs
and electrons liberated and produce external DC current.
 The DC current is converted into 240-volt AC current using an inverter
for different applications.
MANUFACTURING OF SOLAR PV CELL-
STEPS INVOLVED:
Step 1: Pre-check and Pretreatment
Step 2: Texturing
Step 3: Acid Cleaning
Step 4: Diffusion
Step 5: Etching & Edge Isolation
Step 6: Post-Etching Washing
Step 7: Anti-Reflective Coating Deposition
Step 8: Contact Printing and Drying
Step 9: Testing and Cell Sorting
STEP 1- Purifying the silicon
The silicon dioxide is placed into an electric arc furnace. Next, a carbon arc is
applied in order to release the oxygen. The resulting products are carbon
dioxide and molten silicon. This will yield silicon that only has 1% impurity,
which is useful in a number of industries. However, it is not yet pure enough
for solar cells.
STEP 2 - Pre-check and Pretreatment
The raw silicon wafer disks first undergo a pre-check during which they are
inspected on their geometric shape and thickness conformity and on damages
such as cracks, breakages, scratches or other anomalities.
STEP 3- Texturing
Following the initial pre-check, the front surface of the silicon wafers are
textured to reduce reflection losses of the incident light.
STEP 4- Acid Cleaning
After texturing, the wafers undergo acidic rinsing (or: acid cleaning). In this
step, any post-texturing particle remains are removed from the surface.
STEP 5:-Diffusion
Diffusion is basically the process of adding dopant to the silicon wafer to make
it more electrically conductive.
STEP 6-Edge Isolation & Cleaning
By means of chemical corrosion, the silicon wafers are immersed in
hydrofluoric acid solution to generate a chemical reaction to form the soluble
complex hexafluorosilicic acid, so as to remove a layer of phosphorous silicon
glass formed on the surface of the silicon wafers after diffusion.
STEP 7-Anti-Reflective Coating Deposition
AR coating is often applied on the surface to further reduce reflection and
increase the amount of light absorbed into the cell.
STEP 8-Contact Printing and Drying
Metal inlines are printed on the wafer with the objective to create ohmic
contacts. These metal inlines are printed on the rear side of the wafer, which is
called backside printing.
STEP 9-Testing and Cell Sorting
In this final process, the now ready-to-assemble solar cells are tested under
simulated sunlight conditions and then classified and sorted according to their
efficiencies.
The Materials Found in Solar Cells:Here are the main materials that make up the solar cells in each panel.
I.
II.
III.
Monocrystalline solar cells are made from single crystalline silicon. They
have an incredibly distinctive appearance, as they are often coloured.
The cells themselves also tend to have quite a cylindrical shape. So that
they can keep the costs low and the performance at optimal levels,
manufacturers tend to cut out the four sides of the monocrystalline
cells.
Polycrystalline solar panels were first introduced to the public in 1981.
Unlike their monocrystalline counterparts, polycrystalline cells do not
require each of the four sides to be cut – which results in less waste.
Thin film solar cells are manufactured by placing several thin layers of
photovoltaic on top of each other to creates the module.
ENHANCING THE EFFICIENCY OF SOLAR PV CELLS USING
NANOTECHNOLOGY
I.
II.
In order to improve the conversion efficiency, the major research in
third-generation PV cells is directed towards absorbing more sunlight
using nanotechnology, for example ‘nanotubes’, ‘quantum dots (QDs)’,
and ‘hot carrier’ solar cells
Conventional crystalline silicon solar cell manufactured by high of using a
low temperature process similar to printing. Nanotechnology reduced
installation costs achieved by producing flexible rolls temperature
vacuum deposition process but nanotechnology . Reduced
manufacturing costs as a result instead of rigid crystalline panel.
Electricity Generation from Solar Energy
PV cells Convert Sunlight to Direct Current (DC) electricity. Charge Controller
work as control the power from solar panel which reverse back to solar panel
get cause of panel damage. Battery System act as storage of electric power is
used when sunlight not available (i.e. night).From this system connected to
inverter for convert Direct Current (DC) into Alternating Current (AC).
I.
II.
III.
Photovoltaic Module- A PV module consists of solar cell circuits sealed
in an environmentally protective laminate and are the fundament
building blocks of PV system.
Photovoltaic Panel-It includes one or more PV modules assembled as a
pre-wind, field instable unit. In this panel PV cell is series connections.
Solar panels are made up of individual PV cells connected together.
Photovoltaic Array-It is contain of several amount of PV cells in series
and parallel connections. Series connections are responsible for
increasing the voltage of the module whereas the parallel connection is
responsible for increasing the current in the array Large the total surface
area of the area of the array, more solar electricity it will produce.
Advantages of solar PVi.
ii.
iii.
iv.
PV panels provide clean – green energy. During electricity generation
with PV panels there is no harmful greenhouse gas emissions thus solar
PV is environmentally friendly.
Solar energy is energy supplied by nature – it is thus free and abundant!
Solar energy can be made available almost anywhere there is sunlight
Solar energy is especially appropriate for smart energy networks with
distributed power generation – DPG is indeed the next generation power
network structure.
Disadvantages of Solar PV –
i.
ii.
iii.
Solar energy has intermittency issues; not shining at night but also
during daytime there may be cloudy or rainy weather.
Consequently, intermittency and unpredictability of solar energy makes
solar energy panels less reliable a solution.
Solar energy panels require additional equipment (inverters) to convert
direct electricity (DC) to alternating electricity (AC) in order to be used
on the power network.
FUTURE SCOPE- As it stands now, the world only gets about 1% of its energy
resources from solar; however, it is entirely feasible that in the next 30 years
this percentage could skyrocket to as high as 27%.
While it may seem farfetched, energy experts at the International Energy
Agency (IEA) believe that such a dramatic increase is not out of the realm of
possibility, especially as the current solar technology matures.
At 27%, solar energy systems such as solar farms and concentrating solar
power (CSP) plants would become the world’s most valuable energy resource,
generating more energy than fossil fuels, wind, or hydroelectric systems, as
well as reducing carbon emissions by 6 billion tonnes per year.
CONCLUSIONi.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
Solar cell are very clean way to produce electricity, with no green house
gas emission in their lifetime.
The initial cost of setup maybe high, but their long lifespan results in
payback typically in about 20 years.
Over its estimated life a photovoltaic module will produce much more
electricity then used in its production.
A 100 W module will prevent the emission of over two tons of CO2
during its lifetime.
With proper disposal of depleted batteries and old cells, impact on the
environment from solar panels systems is minimal.
REFERENCES• https://www.electrical4u.com/what-is-photovoltaic-effect/
• https://circuitglobe.com/photovoltaic-or-solar-cell.html
• https://www.circuitstoday.com/solar-cell-invention-history
• https://www.alternative-energytutorials.com/photovoltaics/photovoltaics.html
• Research paper- A Review on solar PV cell
Author- Naresh kumar, Jasvir singh,Rajiv kumar, Neelam rathi
• Research paper- Use of Nanotechnology in solar PV cell
Author- Dr. V.K.Sethi, Dr. Mukesh Pandey and Ms. Priti shukla
• Research paper- Solar cells: In research and application.
Author- Dr.Shruti sharma, Kamlesh kumar jain, Ashutosh sharma