Solar power plants. Types, classification and features of operation

Solar power plants: classification and features of operation

The popularity of alternative sources of electrical energy is increasing every year. The owners of private houses are attracted by the reasonable price of a kilowatt, and the use of solar power plants is considered one of the popular options. The cost of this type of equipment is characterized by high values, the complexity of the choice of equipment and installation. Installation requires professional skills and experience.

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Equipment classification

In the center of the tower structure are mirrors, which are characterized by a large area. The system provides regulation of the location of the mirrors so that the angle of reflection of the rays corresponds to the light hitting the boiler, which is fixed on the tower. On bright sunny days, the temperature inside the boiler can reach 700 0C. The role of the coolant is played by water, which in such a situation turns into a vaporous state.

With the help of special pumps, the evaporated water is fed to a turbine, which drives a generator to generate electricity. Such a scheme allows to provide efficiency up to 20%. It is often used to generate electricity for residential buildings and small industrial facilities.

The principle of operation of a dish-shaped solar power plant is similar to tower systems. A distinctive feature is that it uses a modular system. It involves an assembly of several reflectors, as a result of which the equipment resembles the shape of a plate. The system has a beam receiver, and the mirror surface can be up to 2 meters in size. The individual modules are usually combined into a single electrical network.

Tray power plants can be stationary or mobile. The second option is more convenient for use during expeditions and transfers, when performing work in areas with a large number of sunny days.

The panel power plant consists of individual elements that are made on circuit boards. If grouping into a single network is performed, then you can get a current source with a power of several tens of megawatts. Such structures can be installed on water, vehicles and houses. This option can be used in space.

The advantages of panel power plants are considered to be the possibility of using them to solve a wide range of tasks. They are often installed in private homes and small industrial buildings. Such options are capable of converting the sun's rays and providing a constant current, which is then directed to the battery batteries. Only low-power electrical devices, for example, a clock or a calculator, are capable of providing direct operation without storage devices.

A special controller monitors the battery charging process. Such a device does not allow them to be recharged and completely discharged. It can be replaced with a power diode, which significantly reduces the cost of the structure. With this option, the owner will need to independently monitor the battery charging processes.

Battery rechargeable batteries allow you to supply power to household devices at home. The bulk of consumers operate on 220 volts alternating voltage, therefore, inverters are used to create the necessary conditions and direct current. Such devices allow you to provide the required power even for powerful household appliances, including a washing machine, vacuum cleaner or refrigerator.

It is possible to directly connect batteries in devices that have special power supplies with a low voltage of 12 or 24 volts. This category includes chargers, computers and radios.

The main types of systems

On the market there are solar power plants of autonomous, network and hybrid types. The former consist of solar panels and battery cells that provide a cumulative effect. Such devices make it possible to create independent systems for the supply of electricity, which comes from external sources. The disadvantages of autonomous solar power plants are considered to be high cost, and the main costs are associated with the complex design of storage batteries.

There are no expensive storage batteries in grid power plants. Systems of this type are widely used to ensure operation in stationary power grids. The stored energy can be used to power various consumers. When there is a surplus, electricity is supplied to the general network, and when there is a shortage, the opposite effect is observed. The disadvantages of such options are considered to be dependence on a stationary network and the presence of electricity in it. Such systems are used to supply power to small buildings and are capable of providing a power consumption of about 10 kW.

Hybrid power plants combine the advantages of stand-alone and networked systems. As a result, the owner can achieve a reduction in the cost of the station and insure against negative consequences in the event of an emergency. This can be observed when the stationary network is damaged or when large overloads appear.