DIY Solar Power System
March
Freescale Semiconductor unveiled new technology for power conversion for photovoltaic devices at this year’s Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC) in mid-February. The breakthrough comes in the form of a tiny integrated circuit that boosts ultra-low voltage (produced by solar cells) up to levels high enough to start up small devices like cell phones.
Energy Boost for Solar Cells
The impact of this could be monumental for small electronic devices. The long-standing problem surrounding small solar applications has been this: it has been difficult to extract more than 0.3 volts from a single solar cell, not enough to start up and operate a typical cell phone. Therefore, solar cells must be arranged in strings, eventually forming panels for larger uses. Unfortunately, a string of solar cells only produces as much power as its weakest link, which means that if one cell is shaded, mismatched, or damaged, the entire string suffers. Freescale’s circuit technology — a tiny DC-to-DC converter — is able to boost the voltage from a single cell to usable levels without external assistance.
From Panels to Single Cells
The impacts of this on daily life could be huge. The ability to extract usable power from a single solar cell could mean solar powered phones that are smaller and cheaper. Freescale’s circuit could make that string of cells smaller or even unnecessary, reducing the effect of shading while increasing efficiency. (more…)
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March
Solar HVAC
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Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning – HVAC — is a critical component of any modern structure, from a single-story ranch house to the tallest skyscraper. Typically, any power that an HVAC system needs to function is drawn directly from the electric grid, the same as other home systems. Only in recent years renewable energy has raised questions about the very need for outside power in the home.
Solar power has been a big part of a change that is sweeping the world , as millions of homes and businesses turn to alternative resources to supply at least a hefty percentage of their power needs. Solar is most famous for creating electricity and heating water. Yet its footprint in the HVAC sector is bigger than you might think.
Passive Solar
While the effect may be subtle, it is impossible to ignore the influence that passive solar design has on a structure’s HVAC system. A smart home design will harness the sun for heat during cold months and minimize that heat gain during the summer, both of which lessen the workload for the HVAC unit. Passive solar air heaters can also be used to heat rooms and fit right into a window or wall.
Heating
Most HVAC systems are active electric or gas systems, but there are active solar space heating systems out there as well which supplement or even eradicate the need for outside sources of power. Solar heating systems are solar thermal systems by nature and themselves may be active or passive and liquid or air-based. The high initial cost of solar heaters is really the only barrier to more widespread use. Given time, every system will eventually save money by reducing or erasing high and rising monthly power bills. (More…)
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