11-08-2012, 03:39 PM
SOLAR ENERGY HARVESTING REPORT
Introduction
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun; wind energy; biomass, have been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available renewable energy on earth. Only a minuscule fraction of the available solar energy is used.
Solar powered electrical generation relies on heat engines and photo-voltaics. Solar energy's uses are limited only by human ingenuity. A partial list of solar applications includes space heating and cooling through solar architecture, potable water via distillation and disinfection, day lighting, solar hot water, solar cooking, and high temperature process heat for industrial purposes.
To harvest the solar energy, the most common way is to use solar panels.
Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute solar energy. Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors to harness the energy. Passive solar techniques include orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air.
The term "biomass" encompasses diverse fuels derived from timber, agriculture and food processing wastes or from fuel crops that are specifically grown or reserved for electricity generation. Biomass fuel can also include sewage sludge and animal manure. Some biomass fuels are derived from trees. Given the capacity of trees to regenerate, these fuels are considered renewable. Burning crop residues, sewage or manure - all wastes that are continually generated by society -- to generate electricity may offer environmental benefits in the form of preserving precious landfill space OR may be grown and harvested in ways that cause environmental harm.
Power Electronics
Power electronics is a rapidly growing field.
This is due to the advancement of semiconductors devices, new converter topologies and constant improvement in packaging and manufacturing. The fields where power electronics are wide spread are AC machine drives, multilevel converters application, power supplies, adjustable speed drives etc. With the advancement in technology and design there has been tremendous improvement in the product performance and cost.
A switching converter converts one level of electrical energy into another level of electrical energy. There are various types of converters that can be used for energy conversion. Also there has been on-going research on the converters and with the advancement in technology new trends and performance have been identified. Thus considering these facts, economy and performance of the system, an AC-DC converter and DC-DC converter topology are being studied for designing the charger system.