NISHANKAR DEBNATH
MODULE 2
Syllabus: The Solar Resource: Introduction, solar radiation spectra, solar geometry, Earth Sun angles,
observer Sun angles, solar day length, Estimation of solar energy availability, Solar photovoltaic:
Technologies Amorphous, monocrystalline, polycrystalline, V-I characteristics of PV cell, PV module,
array.
2 MARKS:
1. What is solar radiation spectra and why is it important for solar energy applications?
2. Explain the concept of solar geometry and its significance in solar energy calculations.
3. Define Earth-Sun angles and mention any two important angles used in solar calculations.
4. Explain the concept of solar day length and the factors that affect it.
5. What is meant by estimation of solar energy availability? Mention two methods used for this estimation.
6. What are the key differences between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar PV technologies?
7. Explain V-I characteristics of solar photovoltaic cells.
8. What is the significance of PV module design in solar energy systems?
9. Define the terms Declination angle and Zenith Angle?
10. Define the term: Solar Constant.
11. How can solar PV system be classified?
12. What is MPPT?
13. Write down few applications of solar photovoltaic system.
14. Draw the V-I characteristics of a solar photovoltaic cell.
15. (a) Explain (i) beam radiation, (ii) diffuse radiation, (iii) total radiation and (iv) air mass.
4/6 MARKS:
1) Explain the conversion efficiency and power output for a solar PV cell with circuit diagram.
2) Draw a schematic diagram of a solar PV cell and show all the parts and also explain the function of the cell.
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NISHANKAR DEBNATH
3) Describe about photo voltaic cell technologies and give a brief idea for mono-crystalline, and amorphous
type solar PV.
4. Explain how the variation of insolation (incident solar radiation) and temperature affect the current-voltage
characteristics of a solar cell.
5. Discuss V-I characteristics of PV cell. Explain various factors contributing to losses in solar cell.
6. Explain the construction and working principle of a photovoltaic cell with a neat diagram.
7. (a) Explain the concept of Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) in PV systems. (3 marks) (b) Describe
any two MPPT algorithms with their advantages and disadvantages. (3 marks)
NUMERICALS
1) Considering solar radiation of 200 J/m² and per unit time during daylight, find the area of PV cells needed to
generate enough electric power to run: (i) a desktop computer using 400 W; (ii) an electric geyser using 1 kW;
(iii) a toaster using 500 W. Assume the efficiency of PV to be 25%.
2) Calculate the angle made by beam radiation with the normal to a flat collector on December 1, at 9:00 AM,
solar time for a location at 28° 35' N. The collector is tilted at an angle of latitude plus 10°, with the horizontal
and is pointing due south.
3) Determine the local solar time and declination at a location latitude 23° 15' N, longitude 77° 30' E at 12:30
IST on June 19. Standard time correction is given from standard table as chart -(-) 0.03°.
4) Find the solar altitude angle at 2 hour after local solar angle on 1 June for a place located at 26.75° N latitude.
Also determine the sunrise and sunset hours as well as the day length.
5) Calculate the day light hours in Mumbai on 1 December if latitude = 19.116° and the declination angle = -
22.108°.
6) Calculate the day length in hours in Srinagar from 1 January and 1 July. Take latitude of Srinagar as 34°
05'N.
7) Calculate the angle made by beam radiation with normal to a flat plate collector, tilted by 30° from
horizontal, pointing due south, located at Delhi, at 11:00 hrs (IST), on June 1. The latitude and longitude of
Delhi are 28° 35' N and 77° 12' E respectively. The standard IST longitude is 81° 44' E.
8) Determine the Local solar time and declination at a location latitude 230 15’N, Longitude 770 30’E at 12:30
IST on June 19. Equation of time correction is given from standard table as -1’ 01
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