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Corrosion on solar panels

Corrosion on solar panels

Corrosion on solar panels. High-quality photovoltaic panels from reputable manufacturers last at least 25 years reliably. However, modules from less well-known manufacturers often fail quickly. This is usually caused by corrosion on the solar cells.

It is commonly believed that the formation of rust is unique to ferrous metals. In practice, this is not the case, as the integrity of the conductive pathways can be not only oxidative, but also electrochemical in nature.

Corrosion on solar panels – causes.

The main problem with any SES is the need to place the modules outdoors. For this reason, the panels and fasteners themselves are constantly exposed to negative environmental influences.

The slightest breach of seal causes moisture to enter the conductive tracks. Metal and water create a classic galvanic element, as a result:

-the moisture begins to act as an electrolyte;
-nearby metals of different types become a cathode/anode pair;
the less electrolytically stable metal begins to lose electrons and -decomposes;
-conductive busbars or fasteners become inoperative.

How to avoid corrosion on solar panels.

To avoid such a scenario, manufacturers use the following techniques:

-Avoid combining metals with significant differences in electrochemical potentials, e.g. aluminium and copper. 
-If it is not possible to use only one material (in welding or threaded joints), the closest pairs in terms of this parameter are selected. This minimises the risk of galvanic reaction.
-Design solutions are created which allow for the use of insulating gaskets at the most risky locations.
-In order to prevent moisture from penetrating the metal, surfaces are painted with water resistant paints. 
-The last method is chrome plating or galvanising steel and anodising aluminium.
Corrosion on solar panels

Advantages of different solar panel corrosion protection coatings.

1. Painting is the simplest and most effective method of protection. It is inexpensive and can be done by the owner of the solar plant himself. It is sufficient to periodically renew the paint layer on the exposed surfaces and the metal structures, which are protected against moisture, will survive the photovoltaic panels for a long time. There are no restrictions on application depending on the material. The recommended coating thickness is at least 1.5-2.0 mm.

2. Anodic oxidation. Used as an anti-corrosion agent for the most electrochemically unstable element, aluminium. To prevent the metal itself from becoming an electron-emitting anode, a surface oxide layer takes on this role. The technology is reliable and sufficiently long-lasting.

3. Galvanising. The frequent use of zinc to prevent corrosion in solar panels can be explained by the fact that it is the lowest in the electrochemical series. Contact with moisture is detrimental to this metal, but it does not affect the layer underneath it. The method is considered ideal because of its versatility, reliability and ease of renewed protection through inexpensive cold galvanizing. The zinc coating thickness is approx. 0.75-0.85 mm in moderate climates, and 1.0-1.2 mm in regions with high humidity and/or aggressive substances.

4. Gaskets made of rubber and polymers. Non-metallic gaskets are used successfully to prevent corrosion in solar panels. They are most often used at the bolt fixing points. The rubber or polymer gasket has the advantage of fulfilling two protective functions simultaneously:

-it ensures a complete watertightness;
-does not compromise the integrity of the joint due to its high elasticity.

5. Other corrosion protection technologies. The most common corrosion prevention technology today for solar panels is frameless modules. They completely eliminate the main vulnerability of the panels – the connection point between the working part of the module and the frame.

This technology is widely used:

In almost all second-generation panels based on rare-earth metals;
100% of third-generation batteries, which are flexible films printed on a 3D printer and filled with a transparent polymer.

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5 myths solar energy

5 myths solar energy.

5 myths solar energy. Renewable energies are still relatively new in our country, which is why there is a certain degree of uncertainty and confusion about them. A number of myths have developed about solar photovoltaics that many people take for granted, but nothing could be further from the truth. In this article we debunk common myths about solar panels so that you can get an accurate picture of the reality of this essential technology for our energy future.

1. Energy Solar panels only produce energy when it is sunny and hot. 5 myths solar energy.

It is clear that solar panels will reach their peak performance on completely sunny days, but that does not mean that they will stop producing energy in bad weather. Photovoltaic cells trap both direct and indirect solar radiation. This means that even if the sunlight is diffused by clouds, the solar panels are still able to trap it and convert it into electrical energy.

As for the cold, it is the opposite of what one might initially imagine. In fact, solar panels have better conductivity when temperatures are low, so less energy will be lost in capturing solar radiation. So don’t worry: your solar panels will produce energy whether it’s sunny, windy or rainy.

2. Installing solar panels is expensive and it takes many years to pay back the cost.

It is common knowledge that installing photovoltaic panels requires a major investment that can be costly, but it also depends on the energy needs of the property we want to cover with our installation. The key is in the word investment.

From the day a photovoltaic solar energy system is put into operation, we save almost half of the price of our electricity bill. With these savings, the average time it takes to amortise the initial cost is between 5 and 10 years. If we consider that the average lifetime of a solar panel is 25 years, we realise that we will still be saving a significant amount of money for many years after our investment has paid for itself. Unlike a car or a household appliance, which does not produce any financial return, solar panels pay for themselves.

3. Solar panels are expensive and complicated to maintaining.

Maintaining solar panels is not at all complicated and does not involve an inordinate effort beyond the annual check-up that must be done every year. Rain and wind help to clear the photovoltaic panels of dust, and because they are built for many years outdoors, their components are extremely weather-resistant. In addition, batteries are becoming more and more self-contained thanks to all the advances that have been made in solar PV technology in recent years.

5. A solar panel system does not have the capacity to supply 100% of the electrical energy required by a home.

This is false. It is enough to realise that today there are entire plants and industrial buildings that are self-sufficient in energy thanks to solar panel systems. Therefore, we can be sure that we can give a normal use to our home without worrying that the energy produced by our solar panel installation will not be enough.

To be completely sure, before making the installation we must calculate the consumption we have at home and so we can install the right amount of solar panels.

6. At the end of their useful life, energy solar panels are very polluting.

Between 85% and 90% of the materials that make up solar panels (such as glass and aluminium) are recycled as they are easily reusable materials. In addition, Royal Decree 110/2015 established by law the obligation to recycle these photovoltaic materials, and the responsibility for collecting and processing the recycling of solar panels is the responsibility of the manufacturers and importers of the same, not the citizen, so you do not have to worry about this issue.

As for batteries, some are more eco-friendly than others. Lead acid batteries are highly recyclable. Some 90-95% of them can be fully recycled. Lithium batteries are nowadays more popular, which are much less recyclable (around 5% of them) but compensate for this disadvantage with a longer lifetime than lead acid batteries.

5 myths solar energy

5 myths solar energy
5 myths solar energy

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How solar panels work

How solar panels work

How solar panels work. Solar panels are already being used to power a wide variety of equipment, from mobile gadgets to electric cars. First used to power space stations more than 40 years ago, solar panels are now firmly established in everyday life as a source of clean, free energy. The sun has always sent and still sends billions of kilowatts of radiant energy to the earth and this source will continue to do so for millions of years to come.

One of the energy sources is a solar panel that generates alternative energy from the sun. It is relatively new, but has already gained popularity in Europe due to its high efficiency and reasonable cost. Solar panel is an almost inexhaustible source of energy, capable of storing and converting light rays into energy and electricity. In Ukraine, a new source of energy is gradually gaining popularity.

How solar panels work. Operating Principle of Solar Cells.

On the principle of solar cells is a constant current photoelectric generator, which uses the effect of converting the rays of energy into electrical energy. More specifically, solar cells utilise the property of semiconductors based on silicon crystals. Quanta of light hitting a semiconductor wafer knock out an electron from the outer orbit of that chemical element’s atom, which creates enough free electrons to generate an electric current. However, one or two silicon elements are not enough for the voltage and power of such a source to be sufficient for household applications.

Therefore, they are assembled into complete panels, where they are connected in parallel or in series. The area of such panels may vary from a few square centimetres to several square metres. By increasing the number of panels, it is possible to achieve a higher power output from a energy solar panel.

How solar panels work

However, the performance of a solar panel depends not only on the area, but also on the intensity of the sunlight and the angle of incidence of the rays. Consequently, the performance of the solar panel depends on the area and geographical latitude where the house is located, on the weather and time of year, and on the time of day. In addition, in order for the solar panel system to work and supply energy to the grid, a number of additional electrical devices must be installed, in particular.

-An inverter that converts direct current to alternating current;
-A rechargeable battery whose role is to store energy and smooth out voltage variations due to changes in light conditions;
-A battery charge controller that prevents the battery from overcharging or discharging prematurely.

All this is called an autonomous power supply system based on solar panels.

How solar panels work. What is the principle of an alternative energy source?

Firstly, the photovoltaic cells are silicon wafers. Silicon, on the other hand, is similar to pure silicon in its chemical composition. It is this nuance that has made it possible to lower the cost of a solar cell and put it on the assembly line already.

It is imperative that silicon is crystallised as it is itself a semiconductor. Monocrystals are much easier to make, but they do not have many facets, due to which the electrons are able to move in a straight line.

It is important to know that the addition of phosphorus or arsenic increases the electrical conductivity. Also one of the important properties of silicon is its invisibility to infrared radiation. Thanks to this element, the converter blocks only absorb the useful parts of the solar spectrum.

Sequence of operation of a solar panel. How solar panels work.

1. the energy of the sun enters the plates.
2. The plates heat up and release electrons.
3. the electrons actively move along the conductors.
4. The conductors give a charge to the batteries.

How solar panels work

The design and operating principle of a power source can be described as simple.

It consists of just two parts: the main body; the converter units. In most cases, the casing is made of plastic. It looks like an ordinary tile, to which the converter units are attached.

The transducer block is a silicon wafer. It can be made in two ways: polycrystalline; monocrystalline. The polycrystalline method is the least expensive and the monocrystalline method is considered the most efficient. All other additional parts (e.g. controllers and inverters), microcircuits are attached only to increase the performance and function of the energy source. Without them, the solar panel will also be able to function.

There are two types of connection: in series; in parallel. The only difference is that the parallel connection increases the current and the series connection increases the voltage. If there is a need to maximise the operation of two parameters at once, parallel-serial is used.

But it is worth bearing in mind that high loads can cause some contacts to burn out. Diodes are used to prevent this. One diode is capable of protecting one quarter of the photocell. If they are not in the device, there is a good chance that the entire energy source will cease to function after the first rain or hurricane.

Like any technical device, a solar panel has its own performance and technical specifications, which differ between models, from different manufacturers, but with a rather small discrepancy. For a solar panel area of approx. 0.2 m², the module output is approx. 10 W. The voltage at maximum load is approx. 25 V. The short-circuit current is approx. 500 µA. The module weighs approx. 2 kg. Typical efficiency of a solar panel is 14 to 18%. The service life of such a plate is at least 25 years

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