How do solar panels work

 How does a How do solar panels work? What is the difference between solar cells, solar modules, solar panels and batteries?The high cost of natural gas is driving the search for alternative solutions. In the house in question, a powerful gas boiler generated high bills of up to £600 per month, even in summer when only hot water was needed. Even without a detailed calculation, it was clear that a solar thermal system for hot water would soon pay for itself.

Solar panels work has paid off

The investment in solar collectors for hot water has paid off. Of course, there is no limit to perfection - with experience and practical testing, today's system installers can be asked specific questions, the desired conditions and the expected benefits of the equipment.A solar thermal system is not just about roof-mounted collectors - they make up a quarter of the system in terms of investment. For example, the copper pipes that carry the heat energy to the system cost almost as much as the collectors themselves, as the distance from the roof of the house to the basement is considerable. The solar collector system also included a storage system, circulation pumps, expansion vessels and other components.The manager of the company that installed the system suggested choosing flat-plate solar collectors. Although the house owner had heard that this type of collector was less efficient, the installers assured him that it was efficient enough. The argument was also put forward that hailstorms could shatter the flasks of vacuum collectors. Just that summer, there had been a hailstorm which had covered the ground with ice chunks of impressive size. Lack of personal experience led me to trust the installers' recommendations.However, it is worth remembering that it is better to gather information from several sources to avoid disappointment. It cannot be said that a flat-plate solar collector system has disappointed the householder, but there are negative nuances. For example, the energy collected during the day allowed hot water to be used in the evening. In the mornings, however, the water was usually still lukewarm, so a gas boiler had to be turned on to warm it up.What makes the water cool in the morning? When washing in a water heater (boiler), the warm water would mix with the cold water and cool down. And somehow the energy stored in the storage tank was not enough to keep the water warm enough after the night. It is assumed that the energy stored in the storage tank is depleted by the operation of the circulation pump. This assumption has not yet been confirmed.Be that as it may, the "solar recharge" has led to a significant reduction in natural gas bills. The solar panel system is effective from about April to September. If the days are sunny enough, energy is also produced in the early spring and later autumn months. The energy directed into the storage tank is then also used to heat the house.Finally, perhaps the most interesting question of all - how much did the solar panel system cost? As it had to be integrated into the existing heating system during the conversion of the boiler house, the cost increased slightly. The total investment was around £5,800. The owner of the house applied to the then Britain Environmental Investment Fund for support, and received compensation of around £1,500. 

Efficiency is determined by several factors

It is often debated whether there is enough sun in United Kingdom for solar collector systems to work efficiently. There is also a debate about which type of collector is more efficient: flat plate or vacuum collectors, also known as flask collectors. So what is the reality?A flat plate collector heats water through heat transfer. It requires almost no maintenance. In fact, this type of collector accounts for 80% of all solar collectors installed in the EU. This distribution is probably due to price, with vacuum collectors being more expensive than flat-plate collectors.John blizbey, a researcher at the Laboratory of Building Energy and Microclimate Systems at England Technical University , tries to explain it in a simple way: a flat-plate solar collector works in a similar way to an ordinary radiator. The sun heats its surface, some of the energy is transferred to the water and some is lost.In flat plate collectors, the sun's energy is absorbed by a copper or aluminium absorber. There is no vacuum between the absorber and the outer frame, which results in significant losses to the environment.Vacuum collectors, on the other hand, have heat-trapping absorbers. In addition, this type of solar collector has a larger absorber area, which results in a much higher efficiency. However, the design of vacuum collectors is much more complex. A tube containing the heat transfer fluid and the absorber are inserted into a glass tube from which air is extracted. Due to the more sophisticated manufacturing technology, high-quality vacuum collectors are more expensive than flat plate solar collectors.Flat-plate collectors are more suitable if you want to use solar energy efficiently in April-September. Vacuum collectors are also effective in cloudy and low sunlight conditions, with sufficient daylight for optimal performance.When it comes to reliability and longevity, neither type of collector has a clear advantage. Both flat plate and vacuum collectors are long-lasting and require little maintenance. Although people fear the effects of large hail when installing vacuum collectors, the tubes are robust and not easily broken. And if one or more of the tubes should happen to be damaged, the system will not stop working. Of course, its efficiency will be reduced.In general, the efficiency of a solar system is probably mostly determined by the intensity of solar radiation. The efficiency also depends on the temperature maintained in the fluid circulating in the solar collector. As the temperature of the heat transfer fluid increases, the efficiency of the system decreases. The efficiency is also influenced by the outside temperature - the greater the temperature difference between the fluid circulating in the collector and the outside air, the lower the efficiency of the system.

Cheaper equipment - more expensive maintenance

How to choose the right solar collector? There is no single answer to this question. It is always advisable to talk to specialists and manufacturers.Renewable energy is often at odds with the times: hot water is needed in the morning and evening, while the sun is mostly available during the day. This is why energy storage is needed. Volumetric storage tanks store hot water and release the stored energy when needed. Experts calculate the size of storage tank needed for the collector area.A solar collector system needs to be properly maintained to ensure its longevity. Sometimes sellers do not tell you to change the water and check the hydraulic system periodically, as the cleaning filters may be clogged. The checking procedure should be carried out at least once a year."If the system boils when the temperature of the heat transfer fluid rises, it will release sediment that can clog the system. This is why the filters need to be cleaned to keep the system running well,

So How do solar panels work

Solar panels have an efficiency of 50-60%. Nowadays, there is often a discussion about whether it is more cost-effective to install solar panels that generate electricity. The energy produced would then power a variety of household appliances, including an electric water heater. And the surplus energy could be fed into the distribution grid."Many people may not like my opinion. There are often cases of people installing solar panels to generate electricity and using them to cook hot water. This is absurd. We are producing electricity, the highest form of energy, to produce heat? You should identify your needs precisely: if you need hot water, I suggest solar panels.

Entrust solar panels installation to professionals

The efficiency of solar panels work is not only determined by the quality of the equipment, but also by the quality of the installation. You can install the collectors yourself, but it is best to leave it to professionals. This is a particularly important tip for those planning to install collectors on pitched roofs.Both flat-plate and vacuum collectors are easy to install, but it is very difficult to attach the collector frame to a pitched roof."I would not recommend doing it yourself. It is easy to add unnecessary holes and damage the roof, through which rainwater will seep in," he advised.Profesor Oliver recommends that the installation of frame structures should be entrusted to specialists, not least because if the house owners do the work themselves, if they are not specialists, they may not be covered by the guarantee period.There are people who can do everything themselves. But you need to check with your dealer to make sure that they give you a guarantee period in such cases. This applies to all heating systems. It is usually recommended to call in a specialist, as they are responsible for the quality of their work, provide a guarantee and confirm that the solar panels work successfully for at least a year.By the way, collectors must be installed at an optimum angle of 40-50 degrees, while flat plate collectors can be installed at 30-80 degrees.

Prepare for cleaning in winter

Finally, is there really enough sun in United Kingdom for collectors to work efficiently? Experts often point out that the solar intensity in United Kingdom is the same as in Germany, where systems are used in abundance. The average solar education time is 1720 hours per year or 500 kWh/m2 of heat energy.But can solar panels be used in winter? According to Profesor Oliver, we rarely see the sun between December and February. But during other periods it is sufficient. This is why we need to choose the right area for solar panels work. However, if the panels are to be useful in winter, they will need to be cleared of snow when the sun shines, which is not the most pleasant part of the job.By the way, solar panels work can be left uncleaned during the winter and will be fine. It is just that even on those rare sunny days, you will not be able to get power during that period.