Assignment

EN 671: Solar Energy Conversion Technology

Last date of submission: 21st April 2017
[1]. Find the solar altitude and azimuth angles at 3 hour after local noon on 16th June for a city
located at 40oN latitude. Also find the sunrise and sunset hours and the day length.
[2]. A horizontal stick, 1m long, is fixed at right angles to a vertical wall ( 0 ). Calculate the
length and direction of the shadow cast by the stick on the wall for the following situation:
Location : Jodhpur ( 26o18 N, 73o01E)
Day : November 5
Time: 0900 h (LAT)
[3]. Calculate the efficiency of a PV module at an intensity of 400 W/m2. Given: FF= 0:8, ISC=3.2
A, VOC= 16 V, IL = 1 A, VL =14 V, and area of module = 1 m2.
[4]. A central receiver collector system consists of 1800 heliostats, each 6.5 m6 m in size. The
height of the central tower is 80 m and rim angle is 81o. Find the size of the image formed
by the outermost arc of the heliostats at the receiver. The receiver is a vertical cylinder
whose height is two times the diameter. Calculate the size of the receiver and the
concentration ratio. Assume that the angular error associated with heliostats does not
exceed 0.0055 radians and that the heliostats are suitably dished.
[5]. What is the short-circuit current delivered by a 10 cm by 10 cm photocell (with 100%
quantum efficiency) illuminated by monochromatic light of 400 nm wavelength with a power
density of 1000 W/m2 .
[6]. A solar hot water system receives solar energy at the rate of 10.5 MJ/m per day. If the
collector area is 4.8m2, collector efficiency is 0.7 and the water volume is 500 litre,
a) Calculate the total water energy gain per day;
b) Estimate the temperature rise of the water in the tank during the day.
[7]. The dark current density for a silicon solar cell at 40oC is 3.6 10-8 A/m2 and the short circuit
current density is 220 A/m2. Calculate the voltage and current density that maximizes the
power of the cell. What would be the corresponding maximum power output per unit cell
area and the corresponding conversion efficiency if the global solar radiation incident on the
cell is 850 W/m2? Calculate the cell area required for an output of 36 W.
[8]. Derive the governing energy balance equations for the solar air heater shown in the figure
in which the air flows between the glass cover and the absorber plate as well as between
absorber plate and the bottom plate.
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The region between absorber plate and bottom plate is filled with porous medium.

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[9]. Write a report on recent developments (last 10 years) in the field of solar energy (Both
PV and thermal) in the context of India.
[10]. Enumerate the reasons for failure of community solar power systems in India despite
having strong efforts from Govt. of India?
[11]. Write a report on green building.
[12]. Design a solar PV System with diagram wherein the load consists of a CFL, TV, fan,
refrigerator and computer. The system should allow use of loads in the non-sunshine hours
with 2 days autonomy. The operating hours and power rating of these loads are given in
table below.
Load Watts Use (Hours/day) Number Watt-Hr
CFL 9 5 2 90
Fan 60 8 1 480
TV 150 2 1 300
Refrigerator 150 8 1 1200
Computer 250 3 1 750
Total daily Watt-Hr/day 2820
Consider the following parameters.
1. Type of load is AC.
2. Hours of load operation per day.
3. Energy required per day by the load.
4. Efficiency of the power converter/inverter circuit. (assume some standard values)
5. Battery capacity 12V, 100Ah, DoD = 70%
6. Typical values of solar panel are 75Wp, 12V & 5A respectively.
7. Solar radiation of 1000W/m2 (Typically 5 hrs in a day)

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