PV Gap

Agnes Said:

how does the height affect the solar panel?

We Answered:

amazing question but i really dont know the answer. hehehehe

Ronald Said:

if the sun is hot one day and then the next day its hotter will a solar panel produce more energy?

We Answered:

Not necessarily. Solar cells work off certain wave lengths. So if more of the wave lengths that are needed reach the cells then yes more power will be produced.
The sun doesn't fluctuate very much from day to day.
The "output" of the sun more relies on the clearness of the sky and the angle in which the sun hits the panels.

Caroline Said:

solar panel 2 m2 absorbs energy at 950W/m2, in a 110 liter tank how long to heat water from 15 to 65 Celsius?

We Answered:

The energy, Q, in joules required to heat water is calculated as:

Q = m x C x (T2 - T1)

Where, T1= 15C
T2=65c
m= 110kg = 110,000g
C=4.18J/c/g specific heat capacity of water

Thus, Q = 110000 x 4.18 x (65 - 15)
= 22.99 MJ

For here know that 1 watt-hour is equivalent to 3,600 joules (1 W x 3600 s)

Thus, 22.99MJ = 22.99M/3600 = 6.386 kWhrs

The solar panel absorbs 950W/m2 x 2 m2 = 1900W = 1.9 kW
Thus the total time requires is 6.386kWhrs/1.9kW = 3.361Hrs

Of course this answer assumes that all the energy will be used to heat the water.