solar energy pro cons
pro
renewable, non pollutant, non combustion
installed on buildings, no transmission, no power plants
cheap running costs: sun is free
contra
amount of sun changes over the day => requires storage
expensive to make + install
not really efficient
harmful for environment and people (mining process)
definition electricity
electrical current is a flow of electrons driven by differences in potential energy
in power plants: generated by wire coils rotating between the poles of a magnet
transfer of electrons through an external circuit produces electricity
semi-conductors
conduct less well than metals but better than insulators
increase conduction at higher temperature due to higher molecular movement
difference between N-type and p-type
N-type:has an abundance of electron
p-type has a deficient in electrons
electrons can move to fill the space
super conductor
conduct very well, but only at very low temperatures
metallic bond
metals share electrons among the nuclei => all atoms share electrons
electrons are movable among the metal
layers of atoms are packed in tight arrangement
conduct electricity in solid stage
Fuel cell
a galvanic cell that produces electricity by converting the chemical energy of a fuel directly into electricity without burning the fuel
fuel and oxidizer must constantly flow into the cell to continue the chemical reaction
H2 + 1/2 O2 => H2O
H2 => 2H+ +2e-
1/2 O2 + 2H+ + 2e- => H2O
how to generate H2 and how to store it
reformer
CH3OH + CH4 can be converted
methanol fuel tan => goes to vaporizer with H2O => catalytic reformer => gas leaning => CO goes back
CH3OH + H2O => CO2 + 3H2
CH3 OH => CO + 2H2
CO + H2O => CO2 + H2
electrolysis of water
needs voltage and disolute salt lotion: H2O => H2 + 1/2 O2
sun energy to make electrolysis of water
in metal hydrides, released with increased temperature or decreased pressure
Photovoltaic cell
two layers of semiconducting materials are placed in direct contact to include a voltage in the Photovoltaic cell
Last changed2 years ago