Estimate of power output of crystalline Si Boule photovoltaic
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You have a 150 mm diameter boule of Si that is 1 meter long. What is the electrical power output you might expect to achieve if this material were made into solar cells - explain all assumptions.
Most silicon monocrystals are grown by the Czochralski process into ingots of up to 2 meters in length and weighing several hundred kilogrammes. These cylinders are then sliced into thin wafers of a few hundred microns for further processing.
so we have cylinder about 1 meters in length and 150 mm diameter by sliced it into thin wafers of hundred microns. we will have 10000 of wafers. kerf is the width of material that the process removes as it cuts through the plate. Kerf Width for Laser: 0.025" (http://www.esabna.com/us/en/education/blog/what-is-cutting-kerf.cfm)
the area of each wafer will be π r2, r = 75 , r2= 5625 ==> Area= 441 mm2
then by multiple 10000 of wafers with area that absorb light. we have 441x104
we know that cell efficiency for crystalline silicon about 24.5 % (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystalline_silicon)
the total amount of energy received at ground level from the Sun(direct and indirect from the atmosphere) hitting the ground is around 1120 W/m2.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunlight)
electrical power output might expect = power * efficiency *(?)
I just want you check my answer. Are the units correct or I miss some. Where should I add kerf? What is the final answer?
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Solution Summary
The dimensions of a crystalline Si boule are given and using some research, such as finding and using typical Si solar cell efficiency and intensity flux of the Sun at the Earths surface, an estimate of solar cell power output from the boule cut into Si wafers is derived
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Please see attached.
Diameter of boule D=150mm=0.15m
Radius of boule r=D/2=0.15/2=0.075m
Cross sectional area of boule of Si, A=πr^2=π(0.075)^2=0.017671m^2
Assume laser cutting kerf width kw=0.025"=0.025×0.0254=6.35×〖10〗^(-4) m (since 1" is equal to 0.0254m)
Si Wafer thickness, , a few hundred microns, choose ...
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