DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL

EDUCATION,A.P.
Name : B.RAJARAO
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Electronics & communication Engg
Institute : Govt. Polytechnic, Visakhapatnam
Year/Semester : III Semester
Subject : Electronics -I
Subject Code : EE-305
Topic : Special devices(4/6)
Duration : 50Mts.
Sub Topic : Solar cell
Teaching Aids : Diagrams

EE-305.52
Recap

• Already we discussed about the

• Features of SCR.

• Features of UJT.

• Features of FET.

EE-305.52 2
 Objectives

• Upon completion of this period the student will

be able to know

• The solar cell constructional details.

• Working principle of solar cell.

• Applications of solar cell.

EE-305.52 3
 Do you know

• How the satellite electrical and electronic assemblies are

working in space.

• How hot water plants electrical lights are working without

supplying the conventional energy.

EE-305.52 4
Solar cell

DEVICE CIRCUIT SYMBOL

EE-305.52 5
 Solar cell

• A light sensitive
semiconductor device
produces a voltage when
illuminated.

• This may be directly used

to supply of small
amounts of electric
power.

EE-305.52 6
Solar cell

• The voltage increases as

the intensity of light falling
on the semiconductor
junction of this cell
increases.

• Solar cell consists of

piece of semiconductor
material.

EE-305.52 7
 Solar cell

• The commonly used

semiconductors are

• Silicon
• Germanium
• Selenium
• The semiconductor
material is bonded to a
metal plate.

EE-305.52 8
Solar cell

• When sun light is incident

on a cell it is converted
into electric energy.

• That is why this cell is

called solar cell

EE-305.52 9
 Solar cell

• The solar cell consists of

single semiconductor
crystal which has been
doped with P and N type
materials.

EE-305.52 10
Solar cell

• When light falls on PN

junction a voltage
appears across PN
junction.

• The amount of power that

the cell can deliver
depends on the extent of
its active surface.

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 Solar cell

• An average cell can

produce about 30 mille
watt for one square inch
area.

• For increase of power

output large number of
cells are used in series
and parallel
combinations.

EE-305.52 12
 Applications of solar cells

• There are no fuel costs or fuel supply problems.

• The equipment can usually operate unattended.

• Solar cells are very reliable and require little

maintenance.

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Applications of solar cells

variety of consumer products –

• Electronic watches, calculators, power for leisure

equipment and tourism.

• There is an extensive range of applications where solar

cells are already viewed as the best option for
electricity supply.

• These applications are usually stand-alone, and exploit

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Bulb is operated by solar cell

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Bulb is operated by solar cell

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Solar cell animation

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 SUMMARY

• The solar cell consists of a semiconductor material

bonded on a metal plate.

• Solar cell produces small amount of power.

• To increase the power output number of solar cells are

connected in series and parallel combinations.

EE-305.52 18
 Quiz

1) The conversion of energy in solar cell is

(c) Photo conductive.

(e) Photo emissive.

(g) Photo voltaic.

(i) Photo multiple.

EE-305.52 19
 Frequently asked questions

• Explain the constructional details of solar cell.

• Explain the working principle of solar cell.

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