Alam M. Principles of Solar Cells...2022 torrent

Textbook in PDF format

How does a solar cell work? How efficient can it be? Why do intricate patterns of metal lines decorate the surface of a solar module? How are the modules arranged in a solar farm? How can sunlight be stored during the day so that it can be used at night? And, how can a lifetime of more than 25 years be ensured in solar modules, despite the exposure to extreme patterns of weather? How do emerging machine-learning techniques assess the health of a solar farm? This practical book will answer all these questions and much more.Written in a conversational style and with over one-hundred homework problems, this book offers an end-to-end perspective, connecting the multi-disciplinary and multi-scale physical phenomena of electron-photon interaction at the molecular level to the design of kilometers-long solar farms. A new conceptual framework explains each concept in a simple, crystal-clear form. The novel use of thermodynamics not only determines the ultimate conversion efficiencies of the various solar cells proposed over the years, but also identifies the measurement artifacts and establishes practical limits by correlating the degradation modes. Extensive coverage of conceptual techniques already developed in other fields further inspire innovative designs of solar farms.This book will not only help you to make a solar cell, but it will help you make a solar cell better, to trace and reclaim the photons that would have been lost otherwise. Collaborations across multiple disciplines make photovoltaics real and given the concern about reducing the overall cost of solar energy, this interdisciplinary book is essential reading for anyone interested in photovoltaic technology.
Overview: Sun, Earth, and Solar Cell
Thermodynamics of Solar Cells:
A Two-level Solar Cell
Thermodynamic Limits of 3D Solar Cells
Thermodynamic Limits of Tandem, Bifacial, and Concentrator Solar Cells
Self-heating of Solar Cells
Limits of Light Absorption
Transport Physics of Three Types of Cells
Physics of Typical Solar Cells
Organic Solar Cells
Physics and Universality of Shunt Distribution
Physics of Series Resistance of Solar Cells and Modules
Design of a PV System: Panels, Farms, and Storage
System Integration of Solar Modules
Design of Solar Farms
Design of a Vertical Solar Farm
Solar Farms: Practical Perspectives
Storing Energy from Solar Cells
Reliability and Characterization of Solar Cells
Levelized Cost of Electricity Highlights the Importance of Efficiency and Reliability of Solar Modules
Soiling vs. Cleaning: An Optimization Problem
A Transient Partial Shadow May Cause Permanent Damage
Dangerous Hotspots are Caused by Weak Diodes and Strong Shunts
Photodegradation of Solar Cells Due to UV Exposure
Light-induced Degradation in Solar Cells
Potential-Induced Degradation is a Serious Reliability Issue
Humid Environment Causes Electrode Corrosion
Physics of Glass, Cell, and Backsheet Cracking: Mechanical Reliability of Solar Modules
Qualification of Module Reliability
Predicting the Lifetime of Solar Farms
Inverse Modeling and Monitoring the Health of a Solar Farm
The Road Ahead