Investigating solar power in different weather conditions.

Dr Pam Dugdale

.

• Yr12 Science Club: Solar Research Group and BSA Silver Crest Award. Solar Physics: sun spots, activity cycles, fusion, astrophysics etc

Solar Power: experimental investigations, maths/stats, engineering.

Solar Power – Photovoltaic Cells

Is this really true?

Aims of session• Be able to explain how photovoltaic solar panels work.

• Measure the electrical power generated by a photovoltaic solar panel.

• Compare your measurements with measurements made by other students at different times of the year / different weather conditions / different times of day.

Types of Cloud

The experiment• Build simple circuits powered by solar panels.

• Take our circuits outside to make some measurements (electrical and weather conditions)

• Return to the physics lab to do some maths calculations / graph drawing etc.

The circuit

V

Solar Cell (small solar panel)

Project results so far• We have completed simple experiments with the 0.5 V, 5.0 V and 12.0 V solar cells.

• We found that the 5.0 V solar cells were the most stable [best for our experiment]

• We found that the voltage (and power) generated by a solar cell depends on:a) The amount of lightb) The size of the resistance in the circuit*

* Data taken by Cronton Sixth Form students at the Knowledge Observatory Astronomy Day, Heath Business Park, 8th March 2014

Results for 5 V Solar Cell

Circuit resistance /

Voltag

e /

V

13:45 8/3/2014 Air Temp: 12C Sky Temp: -5.5C Clouds: 80% Altostratus 20% clear, sun not visible.

Operating voltage

Results for 5 V Solar Cell

Circuit resistance /

Powe

r /

W

13:45 8/3/2014 Air Temp: 12C Sky Temp: -5.5C Clouds: 80% Altostratus 20% clear, sun not visible.

Peak voltage

This means….• That we have to be careful when we choose the value of the circuit resistor as it can change our results.

Today• Work in teams to:

Record the air temperature, sky temperature, cloud type and coverage and note whether the sun is visible or not (if outside).

Measure the output voltage from a solar cell for different values of circuit resistance. Record your results in a table, and plot a graph.

Compare your results to the data collected in March.

Extension activities: Calculate the power output from the solar cell and find the peak power.

You will have a worksheet to help you with this.

Our Research PartnersProfessor Stuart Irvine Dr Rachael Rowlands - Jones

Task: Write a question for Stuart or Rachael•About your experiment (results, ways to improve your measurements, how they do similar experiments? etc)•About different types of solar cell, different materials that can be used.•Is solar power going to solve the energy crisis? Other options?•What is it like working as a research scientist? How do you get a job as a professor? What did they study at school?

http://www.youtube.com/embed/S2MezUQ9ljg

Conclusions• What do you think about your results?

• Are solar panels a good way to produce electricity?

• Any other ideas?