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Improving The Capacity Of A Renewable Power System, Using Solar Power Panel
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One of the greatest scientific and technological opportunities
researchers are faced with is approaches to developing efficient ways to
collect, convert, store, and utilize solar energy at an affordable
cost. The solar power reaching the earth’s surface is about 86,000 TW.
Covering 0.22% of our planet with solar collectors with an efficiency of
8% would be enough to satisfy the current global power consumption.
Estimates are that an energy project utilizing concentrating solar power
(CSP) technology deployed over an area of approximately 160 x 160 km in
the Southwest U.S. could produce enough power for the entire U.S.
consumption.
Solar-sourced electricity can be generated either
directly using photovoltaic (PV) cells or indirectly by collecting and
concentrating the solar power to produce steam, which is then used to
drive a turbine to provide the electric power (CSP).
Concentrating
solar thermal systems use optical devices (usually mirrors) and
sun-tracking systems to concentrate a large area of sunlight onto a
smaller receiving area. The concentrated solar energy is then used as a
heat source for a conventional power plant. A wide range of
concentrating technologies exists, the main ones being parabolic
troughs, solar dishes, linear Fresnel reflectors, and solar power
towers. The primary purpose of concentrating solar energy is to produce
high temperatures and therefore high thermodynamic efficiencies.
Parabolic
trough systems are the most commonly used CSP technology. A parabolic
trough consists of a linear parabolic mirror that reflects and
concentrates the received solar energy onto a tube (receiver) positioned
along the focal line. The heat transfer fluid is pumped through the
receiver tube and picks up the heat transferred through the receiver
tube walls. The parabolic mirror follows the sun by tracking along a
single axis. Linear Fresnel reflectors use various thin mirror strips to
concentrate sunlight onto tubes containing heat transfer fluid. Higher
concentration can be obtained, and the mirrors are cheaper than
parabolic mirrors, but a more complex tracking mechanism is needed.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The
uncertainty and intermittency of solar generation are major
complications that must be addressed before the full potential of this
renewable power system can be reached. The researcher provides an
overview of a solar power panel withan evolution of electricity networks
toward greater reliance on communications, computation, and control
which is a way aimed at improving it.
The application of advanced
digital technologies (i.e., microprocessor-based measurement and
control, communications, computing, and information systems) which are
expected to greatly improve the reliability, security, interoperability,
and efficiency of the electrical grid, while reducing environmental
impacts and promoting economic growth will be considered.
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