The Basics
The sun is the most vital source of energy for our planet. It provides the light that allows us to see and the heat that keeps us warm. While our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels has resulted in many environmental and health problems, there is still much that the sun gives us. If we learn how to harness its energy, we can be sure that we have a reliable and renewable supply of energy for many years to come. This article will explain the basics of solar energy so that you can gain a better understanding of how important this form of energy is becoming every day.
How Does It Work?
The energy of the sun is present in all forms of life. Plants use it directly through photosynthesis, while animals such as ourselves harvest it indirectly using solar heat to generate body heat and regulate our body’s temperature. The heat we collect is usually in the form of thermal energy, which is energy that has been converted into an alternate form, usually heat. So, not only does the sun provide us with vital energy, it also allows us to do things that we could not do otherwise.
Our bodies do not always need the heat that the sun provides directly. The sun’s ultraviolet rays (UVC) can result in mutations in some bacteria and viruses. Thankfully, the rays are not strong enough to sustain life in humans. But if contact with these rays were more frequent, it could cause some problems. This is why it is beneficial to us that plants and animals cannot directly harvest the energy of the sun. It also means that the sun has more time to perform its functions and does not overload our planet’s systems.
The Many Different Forms Of Solar Energy
While the sun provides the general concept of solar energy, it does so in a way that is open to interpretation. There are many different forms of solar energy that we can harvest. The type of solar energy that we need will depend on the application. But some of the most common and efficient methods include:
Thermal Energy
This is the most basic form of solar energy and perhaps the most fundamental. It is literally the ability to convert sunlight directly into thermal energy. When the sun shines on a building, for example, the heat is conducted to the outdoor air and converted to thermal energy, with most of the heat going to other buildings and streets in a grid-like pattern. In the day, solar thermal energy is freely available and can be collected and converted into usable energy for various applications. At night, however, its availability is limited and must be stored for later use. This is where thermal solar power systems, which are a type of solar battery, come in.
A thermal solar power system essentially consists of a heat storage unit and a heat engine. The heat storage unit is typically made up of thick pipes or tubes filled with a heat-transfer fluid. These fluids can be either a liquid or a gas, depending on the application. In the case of a liquid, it will absorb a certain level of heat before boiling, while a gas, such as liquid air, will absorb a certain amount of heat before becoming warm. A good heat storage fluid must be able to efficiently transfer the heat it collects to other parts of the system, while at the same time avoiding damage from overheating. Finally, the heat engine is responsible for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, which can then be used to perform some kind of work. The most common types of heat engines are turbines and compressors, but micro-turbines and micro-compressors, a type of smaller and more efficient turbines and compressors, respectively, are also used.
PhotoVoltaic
This form of solar energy is also known as solar photoelectricity or simply solar power. As the name implies, photoVoltaic systems convert light energy directly into electricity using semiconductor materials that change their electrical properties when subjected to light.
Semiconductor materials that are very efficient in converting light directly into electricity are now available in the form of thin films that can be deposited on almost any surface. These materials, which are typically made of silicon or cadmium telluride, are used in conjunction with a special glass called a photovoltaic cell to create a highly efficient and affordable solar cell. The combination of the materials used in these cells result in an extremely low level of radiation being received by the device, making it highly efficient at converting light directly into electricity.
ThermoElectricity
This form of solar energy is also known as solar thermal electricity or simply solar power. It is the direct conversion of heat into electricity using a thermoelectric cooler. ThermoElectric systems work on the same principle as a typical electric fan. The efficiency of a thermoelectric system is higher than most other forms of solar energy because it does not require the intermediate step of converting light into heat. Instead, a thermoelectric system directly converts heat into electricity, usually in the form of a voltage.
Thermoelectric systems are typically more efficient at generating electricity than other forms of solar energy because they use less material for their construction. They are also more stable, as they do not rely on the movement of air to generate electricity. In addition, thermoelectric systems are safer to operate as there is no risk of combustion.
These are just some of the many different forms of solar energy. The important thing to note is that all of these forms of energy are available when the sun is shining, but we need to learn how to harness it effectively. Fortunately, with appropriate technological development, we can be sure that there will always be a reliable and affordable supply of energy from the sun.