Photovoltaics+Draft+4

=Photovoltaic Module=

toc At the end of the module, student should be able to identify key concept in Solar energy, and solar production. Student will also be tested on these concept through test and pratical hands-on experiemtns. Student have the option to take a pre-test prior to each week of the module to determine if the student can go to the next step of the module.
 * Introduction**: The following is a Photvoltaic module designed to be completed in a 5-week duration.


 * Evaluation Methods:**

There will be a test at the end of the third week and student will need to idenitfy the key fundamentsl of the course work. The test will be in the form of multiple choice and True/False questions.

At the end of the 5-weeks student will be tests on a hands-on project creating a solar cell. The students who creates the best solar system will receive extra credit.

=Week 1:=

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 * **Literature and History**: The following provides a history of solar energy, the scale, and the need for Photovoltaic systems.

[[file:Photovoltaics Student Guide.pdf]]
[|Seasonal and Hourly Sun Path Design Issue Tutorial] A great beginners guide to passive solar energy. This tutorial explains seasonal and hourly sun paths, and how they should be used when determining solar pannel placement.
 * **Ethics:** The following discusses photovoltaic cell efficiency and ethics.

=Week 2:=

[|Ed For All - Fundamentals of Photovoltaics]

An online course on the fundamentals of photovoltaics. Links to 6 textbooks that provide scientific background on solar energy and photovoltaics in engineering.

Based off of MIT's open courseware and consists of the following 19 lectures:


 * 1. [|Background I]
 * 2. [|Background II]
 * 3. [|Charge excitation and conduction I]
 * 4. [|Charge excitation and conduction II]
 * 5. [|Charge separation I]
 * 6. [|Charge separation II]
 * 7. [|Charge collection, and the solar cell device]
 * 8. [|Review]
 * 9. [|Crystalline silicon solar cells]
 * 10. [|Crystalline silicon solar cells II]
 * 11. [|Thin Films]
 * 12. [|Review]
 * 13. [|Guest Lecture]
 * 14. [|Developing technologies]
 * 15. [|Photoelectric conversion efficiency]
 * 16. [|Photoelectric conversion efficiency II]
 * 17. [|Modules, systems, and reliability]
 * 18. [|Cost and manufacturability]
 * 19. [|Price, markets, and subsidies]

The students will learn about how solar power can be used in multiple different ways. They will also learn how they could be an entrepreneur and incorporate solar cells into products that they can sell on the open market or in stores.
 * __Other Applications and Uses of Solar Panels__**

[] [] http://www.azfamily.com/news/Massive-solar-tower-in-Arizona-to-be-worlds-second-largest-building-126157183.html []
 * Subsidies:**
 * How to Integrate Solar Power into the Grid:**
 * Solar Tower:**
 * Futuristic Solar Product Design Concepts:**

=Week 3:= media type="youtube" key="WHTbw5jy6qU" height="240" width="392"

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__**Additional Topics**__ The students will learn more about how solar cells work after watching the videos on the process of building solar cells that are above.

[|Engineers mimic photosynthesis to harvest light energy] is an article in Scientific American discussing how plants produce energy from the sun and ways new developments in quantum mechanics may allow us to mimic this harvesting process.
 * __Photosynthesis__**

is a paper from pure applied chemistry by Michael Gratzel. Abstract: Learning from the concepts used by green plants, we have developed a photo- voltaic cell based on molecular light absorbers and mesoporous electrodes. The sensitized nanocrystalline injection solar cell employs organic dyes or transition-metal complexes for spectral sensitization of oxide semiconductors, such as TiO2, ZnO, SnO2, and Nb2O5. Mesoporous films of these materials are contacted with redox electrolytes, amorphous organ- ic hole conductors, or conducting polymers, as well as inorganic semiconductors. Light har- vesting occurs efficiently over the whole visible and near-IR range due to the very large inter- nal surface area of the films. Judicious molecular engineering allows the photoinduced charge separation to occur quantitatively within femtoseconds. The certified overall power conversion efficiency of the new solar cell for standard air mass 1.5 solar radiation stands presently between 10 and 11. The lecture will highlight recent progress in the development of solar cells for practical use. Advancement in the understanding of the factors that govern photovoltaic performance, as well as improvement of cell components to increase further its conversion efficiency will be discussed.

Butterfly Wings
[|Science Daily- Solar Collectors on Butterfly wings] Chemistry of Materials 2009

Heliotropic plants
[|Biomimicry of Heliotropic Plants- more efficient solar panels] Many plants are heliotropic, gradually tilting towards the sun to optimize solar energy capture. Current sun-tracking solar panels involve the use of motors and electronic control systems, but we believe a biomimetic heliotropic solar panel can be created with the use of alternative materials and designs.

Storage
[|MIT's research team develops 'artificial leaf'] This device is capable of using the suns energy to produce and electricity and convert water into its components, hydrogen and oxygen. This is beneficial because the energy produced is more easily stored.

=Week 4:=

__POLYMER PHOTOVOLTAICS: A PRACTICAL APPROACH__

This is a chapter from, "Polymer Photovoltaics: A Practical Approach." This chapter describes the materials used and a simple guide to creating a polymer photovoltaic cell from scratch. Interestingly enough, most of the materials used here are organic.



__HOMEMADE ELECTRICITY: AN INTRODUCTION TO SMALL-SCALE WIND, HYDRO, AND PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS__

This is a chapter from, "Homemade Electricity: An Introduction to Small-Scale Wind, Hydro, and Photovoltaic Systems." This chapter describes the practical implementation of photovoltaics, as well as provides a case study.



__ORGANIC PHOTOVOLTAICS: MATERIALS, DEVICE PHYSICS, AND MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES__

This is a chapter from, "Organic Photovoltaics: Materials, Device Physics, and Manufacturing Technologies." This chapter describes the socio-economic impact of low cost photovoltaic technologies. How photovoltaics fit into society is important to consider when creating them.



=**Week 5:**=

__Applied Projects__
The students will watch the videos and from there work on creating their own solar cells for the class. There will be a competition to see who can create the solar cell with the most electrical output There will be extra credit for the students that win and bonus points if the student decides to create a robot that uses the solar cell as its power.

Scalable Applicability for a lot of everyday devices ||>  ||>   ||> media type="youtube" key="6o4_ps0epWs" height="250" width="447" || Lots of homes here have solar panels on top. Some people don't even bother having them hooked up if they just come with house (my parents are one). Guy gives lots of interesting information on possible Watts could get from one and how much power typical appliances pull. ||  ||   || media type="youtube" key="gTT5Nh1jwys" height="315" width="420" ||
 * == __YouTube Projects__ == ||
 * = === Neat ===
 * = === Potential ===
 * = === Potential ===

= __Instructables Projects__ =

[] //Individual purchased shattered panel pieces of various sizes in bulk for $3. Using multimeter, can figure out conductive pathways on back of panel (there are lines) and wire them together. By then coating the entire thing in liquid silicon (think epoxy), you preserve panels from further damage and can custom arrange them. Would be great way to create structures based off Fibonacci sequence. Very interesting test.//
 * AFFORDABLE -> $3 for package of "broken" panel pieces (still produce power, have to hand solder together) **

Trash / Soldered Connections / Liquid Silicon Coating

 * [[image:http://www.instructables.com/image/FZO9OQHQRSEXCFCHIO/get-the-solar-cells.jpg caption="get the solar cells"]] || [[image:http://www.instructables.com/image/F3N74AA25BEXCFCI5Z/linking-the-cells.jpg caption="linking the cells"]] || [[image:http://www.instructables.com/image/FOB60M19HBEXCFCIIC/silicon-coating.jpg caption="silicon coating"]] ||