History and early

applications of solar
energy
ALYSSA V. APOLINARIO
 Objectives

1.Discuss the discovery of the

solar energy in power generation

2.Explain the early applications of

solar mechanical conversion
 What is solar energy?
• It is the most abundant renewable energy source in
the world.
• Solar energy systems refers to technologies that
convert the sun’s heat or light to another form of
energy.
• It is a renewable resource that does not emit
greenhouse gases in the energy generation
process
 HISTORY OF SOLAR ENERGY
• Solar technology is not new. Its history spans
from the 7th Century B.C. until today.
• The discovery of solar energy was not really
the result of a singular event rather it is more
of a concept.
 700 1767 1839 1883
1860
B.C

• Where modern solar • August Mouchot

is the first man to • It is where solar
• Humans first • Solar oven was energy started
invented by use solar power got
learn to make • 19-year-old French powered engine commercialized
Swiss scientist
fire through the Horace-
scientist Edmond converting solar
Becquerel discovered energy into • American
concentration Benedict de
the photovoltaic effect mechanical inventor Charles
Saussure.
of sunlight • This solar oven
after finding that steam power Fritts invented the
certain materials first photovoltaic
using a reached an
would undergo a
internal solar cells using
magnifying temperature of
change in their
electric voltage when selenium wafers.
glass 230 F
they were exposed to
light
Solar oven Becquerel Experiment

Frits Experiment
 1905 1954 1956 1970 modern

• Solar power became

• Bell labs- The First • Solar cells became • Solar cell
more widely available
• solar power was manufacturing
Practical Solar Cell available and began to be used in
brought into the world's became more
commercially, but are efficient, a wide variety of
spotlight when famed
• Calvin Fuller, far too costly for most reducing the applications, from
physicist Albert Einstein price from $100 railroad crossings,
Gerald Pearson, people’s use at $300
published a paper on per watt to $20 remote homes,
and Daryl Chapin for each 1 watt solar per watt
the photoelectric effect telecommunication
created the first cell. Solar cells began • The U.S. federal
and how light packets government
towers, irrigation, solar
silicon photovoltaic to be used in toys and powered cars, solar
carry energy. launched the
solar cell capable radios, making them Solar Energy powered aircraft, and
of producing the first consumer Research large-scale solar power
enough electricity solar-based products Institute, followed energy plants.
by other national
to power small available on the governments
electrical devices market around the world
BELL LABS When solar panels became
commercially available
 Early Applications of Solar
Mechanical Conversions
1. Parabolic solar collector
2. Hot Air Engines
3. Solar Pump
4. Solar Turbine
5. Solar Thermo-Phase Shift Reciprocating Engine
Parabolic Solar Collector

• It was invented by August

Mouchot

• It started when he was

drawn to the idea of finding
new alternative energy
sources believe that the
coal will eventually run out
 Hot Air Engines
• It encloses a certain amount
of air which can be pushed
back and forth by a plunger
between hot and cold
surfaces.

• Cold surface = decreases the

pressure in the engine

• Hot Surface = increases the

pressure in the engine
• With proper timing of the power piston and
• A power piston is pushed
plunger considerable amount of energy is
down when pressure is high
produced.
and return because of
• These engines are slow speed engines since it
flywheel action when
takes time to heat and cool the air
pressure is low
Solar Pump
Solar Turbine
• Above the turbine wheel is filled with
volatile liquid. Then there is hole at the
bottom of the chamber for collecting the
heat from the sun.

• The liquid will be drain through the hole

and will be contact with the hot surface
and vaporized.

• The vapor will stream upward forming a

jet and drives the turbine wheel.

• When leaving the turbine it will be

contact with cold surface and will be
condensed running down the walls and
repeating the cycle.
Solar Thermo-Phase Shift
Reciprocating Engine