For the love of Home Ownership

Easy to say and yes I am happy, actually I am ecstatic that I finally entered the home owner elite. Well it seems that way at the moment even though I know we are no more elite than anyone else. In actual fact nothing has really changed. I have to pay money to someone else every month for the privileged of staying in a house. I do not like where I am going with this. I love my new house, all mine now I need to make it my own. The mortgage and insurance are taken care of and I have my new carpets arriving next week so all is well.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

How Does Solar Energy Work: Get the Answer

By Jim Martin

Definition of solar energy and the way it is generated

When the radiations from sunlight are tapped and utilized, the process is called harnessing solar energy. In more specific terms, the generation of mechanical power, chemical power and electricity from the sunlight is defined as solar energy. Different alternative techniques of solar energy are used for this conversion purpose. These technologies include solar chimneys, solar thermal tools, water pumps and photovoltaic cells. In this article, we would look at the rather interesting topic of the mechanism of working of solar energy " a topic that has already drawn widespread attention.

Solar energy working mechanism " the method and its immense power

In order to get a proper feel of how solar energy works, the regeneration, way of application and final usage have to be considered in detail. Solar power is widely recognized as the best renewable source of energy. When the electromagnetic waves of the sunlight strike the upper echelons of the earths atmosphere, reflection results in almost seventy per cent of these waves sent back into space. The remaining thirty per cent radiation can be effectively absorbed by the clouds as well as the landmass and water bodies on the earths surface. This solar radiation, received direct from the sun forms radiant heat, which, in turn, is tapped and converted to mechanical power, chemical power and electricity. Indeed, almost the entire amount of renewable energy source on the earths surface is comprised of solar energy. The specific individual needs, as well as the efficiency with which solar energy sources are used decide upon the way in which solar energy would work. Applications of solar power can be found in varied fields, from urban planning to architecture, and from cooking at home to powering motor vehicles.

The exact manner of using solar power, as well as the necessary accessories is determined by the final use to which solar energy would be put. Solar energy usage methods can, however, be categorized into two types: Active and passive solar energy techniques. This classification is based on the way in which solar units function. Solar devices (like, pumps) are able to directly take in solar radiations and convert them to mechanical power. Conversion of solar energy to heat is done using photovoltaic cells, while electricity (from the same source) can be obtained by using fans. On the other hand, passive solar techniques try to do away with additional buildings to tap sunlight. Here, the focus is on getting the maximum radiations from the sun, and using sunlight directly. Urban planning and designing, at spaces adequately illuminated by sunlight is done via this technique. Thus, the passive solar techniques try to establish solar power as the only usable source of energy. This is unlike active solar techniques, which try to maximize the availability of solar energy. Thus, in face of the numerous advantages, tapping and using solar energy is indeed necessary. Solar power is regularly applied for a wide range of activities as well. Either active or passive technologies of solar energy are used for manifold purposes, including urban planning, architecture, agriculture, cooking, disinfection, electricity generation, lighting purposes, as well as a host of other needs. However, usage of solar energy does have a few flipsides as well. These disadvantages need to be studied carefully as well.

Advantages and disadvantages of solar energy

The advantages as well as the disadvantages of solar energy need to be understood, in order to know how solar energy works. Firstly, solar energy is free, abundant and a renewable source. This indeed makes it am extremely advantageous source of power. In stark contrast to other conventional fossil fuel sources of energy that release harmful greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming and pollute the atmosphere, solar energy is extremely eco-friendly and does not use these gases at all. It can even be used as the source of power on which vehicles and satellites can be operated. There are, however, certain limitations on the power of solar energy sources. Firstly, these solar power plants should only be set up at places where exposure to continuous and strong sunlight is available. Hence, these plants are found only at certain select places. Secondly, a solar power plant at a place that has intermittent sunlight would never be able to produce the targeted outputs. With the high costs of installation, such plants would not remain economically viable either. However, experts are trying to deal with these problems, and we can expect that in not too distant future, almost all homes would have a solar power converter. That would indeed usher in a pollution-free, cleaner environment.

Users should ideally take help from a reference manual to learn how to install the solar power plant. Generally, information on the best place to install the system, the way to acquire other components at cheap prices and how to get the batteries free also need to be known. How the wiring is to be done as well as the necessary safety tips are also certain things you must know. Indeed, a well-documented reference manual can ease the process of setting up a solar power system.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.