Term
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Definition
| systems that produce electricity through the direct conversion of incident solar radiation |
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Term
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Definition
| what provides direct current output |
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Term
| directly to power dc loads, stored in battery systems, or converted to ac to power ac loads. |
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Definition
| what can the dc output from photovoltaics be used for? |
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Term
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Definition
| what has no grid interconnection |
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Term
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Definition
| what uses the local electrical grid both as a backup electrical supply and a place to "store" excess generation capacity? |
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Term
mono-crystalline panels
poly-crystalline panels
thin-film panels |
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Definition
| three basic types of pv modules |
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Term
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Definition
| often look like a series of circles assembled in a frame - original pv design - most expensive |
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Term
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Definition
| appear grainy or crystalline, the PV elements cover the entire panel, and they contain no glass (unbreakable) - less efficient |
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Term
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Definition
| more uniform surface appearance, cover the entire panel, and contain no glass - lowest efficiency of all - however lose less power under high temperatures |
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Term
| colored pvs and tubular pv modules |
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Definition
| two notable types of pv modules opening up new module installation types |
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Term
| manufacturer's literature |
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Definition
| where can you find the most current available module options for pv systems? |
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Term
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Definition
| pv panels are available generally in what capacities of peak output? |
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Term
| modules assembled on site into arrays. |
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Definition
| what do manufactureres produce? |
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Term
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Definition
| what is determined by the building design team? |
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Term
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Definition
| what is established by the manufacturer? |
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Term
| BIPV - building integrated photovoltaics |
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Definition
| photovoltaic systems can be installed as an add-on system called ... |
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Term
| multifunctional uses of pv modules such as shading devices or roofing systems |
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Definition
| a BIPV approach involves consideration of what? |
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Term
| agressive implementation of energy-efficiency strategies |
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Definition
| what should precede the consideration of a pv system? |
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Term
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Definition
| which system requires less equipment? |
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Term
| the local utility service provider |
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Definition
| grid-connection system requires a connection to what? |
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Term
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Definition
| what is a common option in grid-connected systems? |
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Term
| battery storage and the use of DC equipment and appliances. |
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Definition
| what is almost always involved in stand-alone systems? |
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Term
| tilt and orientation of pv panels |
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Definition
| what has an impact on system efficiency? |
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Term
| the south, to maximize daily solar radiation reception |
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Definition
| pv modules should be oriented which direction? |
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Term
| on the roof of a building, on the south facade, or on the ground near the building |
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Definition
| where can you place pv modules? |
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Term
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Definition
| pv arrays that track the sun increases insolation by how much? |
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Term
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Definition
| most effective at lower latitudes, where the angle of the sun changes significantly throughout the day |
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Term
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Definition
| how much solar radiation striking pv modules is converted into electricity? |
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Term
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Definition
| where does the remaining radiation go if not into electricty? |
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Term
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Definition
| how many years would it take to reach payback on a non-subsidized system? |
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Term
A = C/3.3
A = required area of pv module
C = desired pv system output in W |
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Definition
| required area of pv module necessary to obtain a given output capacity can be estimated how? |
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Term
| electrical loads, peak generation capacity, off-peak generation, storage, and desired safety factor |
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Definition
| what does system size depend on in a stand-alone system? |
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Term
| it becomes wasted capacity |
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Definition
| what happens to charging capacity in a stand-alone pv system? |
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Term
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Definition
| which systems does not deal with storage devices or additional output capacity |
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Term
| a place to "store" excess capacity and backup electricity |
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Definition
| what does the utility grid provide? |
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Term
| budget and pv mounting location space-availability |
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Definition
| what are the limiting constraints of a grid-connected system? |
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Term
| U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (PVWatts online system) |
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Definition
| what should one use as a fast way of estimating grid-connected pv system performance? |
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Term
| local climate data, utility tariffs, estimate of buildings electrical loads and usage profiles, equipment costs, estimate of system maintenance and repair costs. |
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Definition
| what information is required to determine effective pv systems? |
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