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Solar-electrics research and developments
Solar Eneryy Vol. 25. p. 579 © PergamonPressLtd., 1980. Printedin Great Britain
0038-092X/80/1201-0579/$02.00/0
BOOK REVIEWS Solar Cell Array Design Handbook: The Principles and Technology of Photovoltaic Energy Conversion b y H a n s S. R a u s c h e n b a c h , V a n N o s t r a n d R e i n h o l d ; $42.50. A p r i l 1980 (and)
Solar-Electrics Research and Developments Inc., $16.25. May
by Robert
L. B a i l e y , A n n A r b o r
Science Publishers,
1980
Both of these books were written in response to a need resulting from the phenomenal growth of photovoltaic energy conversion systems in recent years. However, the authors have responded to this challenge in a different manner. The Solar Cell Array Design Handbook contains up-to-date, practical information of photovoltaic energy conversion technology for terrestrial and space application. The purpose and scope of this handbook, as stated by the author, are to: • Introduce nontechnical persons to the subject. • Aid students and younger workers in the field to master it. • Help specialists to get their jobs done more effectively. • Inspire the creativity of advanced designers. • Document those concepts, data, and information that are of interest today but are not readily available in the open literature. • Define the entire multidisciplinary field of solar cell array design. To set as many objectives as the author did in preparing this handbook, may seem presumptious and overambitious. It is, therefore, a credit to author's care and mastery of the subject that he has been able to accomplish the majority of the goals he set for this work. The book emphasizes many different concepts and techniques and thereby provides an introduction to the nonspecialist, but it has also a sufficient number of details, experimental data, and analytical results to assist the specialist in the design, selection and construction of photovoltaic arrays for specific end uses. The mathematical treatment has been kept relatively simple and where differential and integral equations are used, they are presented in a form suitable for computer programming either with small scientific calculators or more sophisticated machines. The book presents overall concepts of idealized design, but also includes specific data on such matters as UV-induced degradation and the results of specific experiences with solar cells under space conditions. It also discusses practical aspects, such as low resistance electrical connections, radiation effects, construction techniques, interconnection configurations for cells, stresses in various types of cell constructions, and a discussion of whether soldered or welded joints will ultimately exhibit longer temperaturecycling fatigue life capability. The author covers optical elements, including filters, coatings and sunlight concentrator elements, as well as chemical characteristics at both the assembly and component level. Of unusual interest is his discussion in depth of the effect of environment, the handling of transportation of solar cells, as well as the
579
general mechanical, thermal and electromagnetic properties of materials used in them. The only topic which in this reviewer's opinion deserves greater emphasis, is the terrestrial availability of solar energy on surfaces of different orientations under the various conditions prevailing in the real industrial environment where photovoltaic cells eventually will be used. In summary, this book can serve as a reference; but it is also useful as a text for engineering courses because most of the fundamental concepts are introduced and applied to the engineering design. There are many illustrative problems which will assist the novice in mastering the subject. Ancillary subjects, however, for which other references are readily available, e.g. thermodynamics, heat transfer, structural analysis are not included in this book which emphasizes the background material required for effective solar cell array design and analysis. This handbook will be an indispensable part of the library of any engineer-scientist who wants to bring photovoltaic conversion to commercialization. Robert Bailey's book Solar Electric Research and Development deals with the problem of solar electricity generation from a different perspective. The book, which is 366 pages long, devotes almost 100 pages to an introductory chapter which presents a general overview of energy perspectives. The part dealing with direct solar energy conversion is less than ninety pages long, but has over 20 pages listing references, including material up to 1978. This bibliography is followed by a chapter on wind power generation and energy storage, with a final chapter dealing with systems of solar electrics. The presentation is mostly descriptive and despite many subdivisions and much underlining does not appear to be easy to follow from the point of view of a student. Probably the most interesting and valuable parts of the book are the introductory chapter and the historical overviews of the topics treated by the author. The weakest part of the book is the chapter dealing with systems design which does not provide sufficient information to either conceive, design or analyze any of the topics treated in the book from an engineering perspective. In conclusion, this book is a qualitative treatment of solar electrics, including photovoltaics, wind, and storage technology. It provides descriptive background information, but does not contain specific information required for a text or for design. Solar Eneryy Research Institute 1617 Cole Blvd. Malden, Co. 80401 U.S.A.
FRANK KREITH
0038-092X/80/1201-0579/$02.00/0
BOOK REVIEWS Solar Cell Array Design Handbook: The Principles and Technology of Photovoltaic Energy Conversion b y H a n s S. R a u s c h e n b a c h , V a n N o s t r a n d R e i n h o l d ; $42.50. A p r i l 1980 (and)
Solar-Electrics Research and Developments Inc., $16.25. May
by Robert
L. B a i l e y , A n n A r b o r
Science Publishers,
1980
Both of these books were written in response to a need resulting from the phenomenal growth of photovoltaic energy conversion systems in recent years. However, the authors have responded to this challenge in a different manner. The Solar Cell Array Design Handbook contains up-to-date, practical information of photovoltaic energy conversion technology for terrestrial and space application. The purpose and scope of this handbook, as stated by the author, are to: • Introduce nontechnical persons to the subject. • Aid students and younger workers in the field to master it. • Help specialists to get their jobs done more effectively. • Inspire the creativity of advanced designers. • Document those concepts, data, and information that are of interest today but are not readily available in the open literature. • Define the entire multidisciplinary field of solar cell array design. To set as many objectives as the author did in preparing this handbook, may seem presumptious and overambitious. It is, therefore, a credit to author's care and mastery of the subject that he has been able to accomplish the majority of the goals he set for this work. The book emphasizes many different concepts and techniques and thereby provides an introduction to the nonspecialist, but it has also a sufficient number of details, experimental data, and analytical results to assist the specialist in the design, selection and construction of photovoltaic arrays for specific end uses. The mathematical treatment has been kept relatively simple and where differential and integral equations are used, they are presented in a form suitable for computer programming either with small scientific calculators or more sophisticated machines. The book presents overall concepts of idealized design, but also includes specific data on such matters as UV-induced degradation and the results of specific experiences with solar cells under space conditions. It also discusses practical aspects, such as low resistance electrical connections, radiation effects, construction techniques, interconnection configurations for cells, stresses in various types of cell constructions, and a discussion of whether soldered or welded joints will ultimately exhibit longer temperaturecycling fatigue life capability. The author covers optical elements, including filters, coatings and sunlight concentrator elements, as well as chemical characteristics at both the assembly and component level. Of unusual interest is his discussion in depth of the effect of environment, the handling of transportation of solar cells, as well as the
579
general mechanical, thermal and electromagnetic properties of materials used in them. The only topic which in this reviewer's opinion deserves greater emphasis, is the terrestrial availability of solar energy on surfaces of different orientations under the various conditions prevailing in the real industrial environment where photovoltaic cells eventually will be used. In summary, this book can serve as a reference; but it is also useful as a text for engineering courses because most of the fundamental concepts are introduced and applied to the engineering design. There are many illustrative problems which will assist the novice in mastering the subject. Ancillary subjects, however, for which other references are readily available, e.g. thermodynamics, heat transfer, structural analysis are not included in this book which emphasizes the background material required for effective solar cell array design and analysis. This handbook will be an indispensable part of the library of any engineer-scientist who wants to bring photovoltaic conversion to commercialization. Robert Bailey's book Solar Electric Research and Development deals with the problem of solar electricity generation from a different perspective. The book, which is 366 pages long, devotes almost 100 pages to an introductory chapter which presents a general overview of energy perspectives. The part dealing with direct solar energy conversion is less than ninety pages long, but has over 20 pages listing references, including material up to 1978. This bibliography is followed by a chapter on wind power generation and energy storage, with a final chapter dealing with systems of solar electrics. The presentation is mostly descriptive and despite many subdivisions and much underlining does not appear to be easy to follow from the point of view of a student. Probably the most interesting and valuable parts of the book are the introductory chapter and the historical overviews of the topics treated by the author. The weakest part of the book is the chapter dealing with systems design which does not provide sufficient information to either conceive, design or analyze any of the topics treated in the book from an engineering perspective. In conclusion, this book is a qualitative treatment of solar electrics, including photovoltaics, wind, and storage technology. It provides descriptive background information, but does not contain specific information required for a text or for design. Solar Eneryy Research Institute 1617 Cole Blvd. Malden, Co. 80401 U.S.A.
FRANK KREITH