Photovoltaic fundamentals

Technical Report · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5137459

Pitchford, P; Jones, J; Glenn, B ^[1]; Cook, G; Billman, L; Adcock, R

---

1. eds.

This booklet describes how PV devices and systems work. It also describes the specific materials and devices that are most widely used commercially as of 1990 and those that have the brightest prospects. Students, engineers, scientists, and others needing an introduction to basic PV technology, and manufacturers and consumers who want more information about PV systems should find this booklet helpful. We begin with an overview and then explain the rudimentary physical process of the technology, the photovoltaic effect. Next, we consider how scientists and engineers have harnessed this process to generate electricity in silicon solar cells, thin-film devices, and high-efficiency cells. We then look at how these devices are incorporated into modules, arrays, and power-producing systems. We have written and designed this book so that the reader may approach the subject on three different levels. First, for the person who is in a hurry or needs a very cursory overview, in the margins of each page we generalize the important points of that page. Second, for a somewhat deeper understanding, we have provided ample illustrations, photographs, and captions. And third, for a thorough introduction to the subject, the reader can resort to reading the text.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 5137459
• Report Number(s): DOE/CH/10093-117; SERI/TP--220-3957; ON: DE91015001
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
141000 -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ENERGY CONVERSION
EQUIPMENT
EVALUATION
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
INFORMATION
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
PNICTIDES
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT