Question

Draw neat and labelled diagrams.
a. Energy transformation in solar thermal electric energy generation.
b. One solar panel produces a potential difference of 18 V and current of 3 A. Discribe how you can obtain a potential difference of 72 Volts and current of 9 A with a solar array using solar panels. You can use sign of a battery for a solar panel.

Answer 1

a.

$\mathrm{Thermal}\mathrm{energy}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{radiation}\to \mathrm{Kinetic}\mathrm{energy}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{steam}\to \mathrm{Kinetic}\mathrm{energy}\mathrm{in}\mathrm{turbine}\to \mathrm{Electrical}\mathrm{energy}$

b. We can obtain a potential difference of 72 V by forming a string of 5 solar panels in series. Now, to obtain current of 9 A, connect 3 such identical strings in parallel. The same has been shown below.