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| What is Monocrystalline Silicon? |
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Monocrystalline Silicon is made from very pure Monocrystalline
Silicon. Monocrystalline Silicon has a single and continuous crystal lattice
structure with practically zero defects or impurities. |
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One of the many reasons Monocrystalline Silicon is superior
to other types of silicon cells are their high efficiencies - which are
typically around 15% and higher for the TOP-Class. |
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Because the manufacturing process required to produce Monocrystalline
Silicon is more involved and detailed than other types, this results in
slightly higher costs for Monocrystalline Silicon than other silicon technologies.
At this moment however the prices for GOOD Polycrystalline are the same
as the Mono-Crystalline cells. (Is in fact also the situation for good THIN-FILM
cells) Monocrystalline solar panels are one the most efficient commercially
viable photovoltaic solar collectors, but not necessarily the first choice
for every home! |
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| Advantages and Disadvantages of Monocrystalline
Solar Panels |
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Monocrystalline photovoltaic electric solar energy panels
have been the go-to choice for many years, and are among the oldest, most
efficient, and most dependable of technologies. If you’ve ever seen black
or iridescent blue panels on a roof or powering a device, they were probably
monocrystalline panels. Each module is made from a single silicon crystal,
and is more efficient. |
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These are generally considered the workhorses of the solar
power market, and most people will choose monocrystalline panels due to
their ready availability. These panels are easily identifiable, made up
of uniformly stacked rounded cells. Because they’re made from just one crystal,
not multiple crystals fused together, the process of making them is one
of the most complex and costly ones around. |
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If space is a concern (which it often is with solar panels),
monocrystalline will be the best type to use. More wattage per square foot
can be delivered with these panels. The lifespan of a GOOD monocrystalline
cell is a minimum of twenty-five years and can be more than fifty, making
them a worthwhile investment for long term use. These panels are extremely
fragile, however. That means a rigid mounting is a must. |
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For those putting together a long term solar setup who want
to know they have access to the best and most reliable panels on the market,
monocrystalline types are probably the best bet. Their longevity, performance,
and efficiency mean that they’re a good buy over a longer period of time. |
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When you want to be sure you’re producing the highest wattage
per square foot, these are the modules to rely on. |
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It should be remembered that standard ratings are not always
indicative of the conditions in which you will be using your panels. These
panels assume relatively cool climates, and are rated on a standard of twenty-five
degrees Celsius. Panels operating at a higher temperature – fifty degrees
Celsius or more – will be a lot less efficient. |
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That may sound like a lot, but these are dark colored
panels in direct sun. The likelihood of them rising to those temperatures
is greater than you think. Expect the panels to lose somewhere between fourteen
and twenty-three percent of their power converting capacity in these conditions.
It should be noted that these standards apply to all solar panels – not
just the polycrystalline type. Anyone working with a solar power system
should take temperature into account when working out their costs and design. |
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Polycrystalline solar panels have pros and cons, but in
the end, they can be the way to put together a solar power generation system,
without having a long list of disadvantages. See if they’re what your alternative
energy system needs. (See Poly – Crystalline PV systems). |
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Monocrystalline Ingots
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Silicon Ingots are typically created using
one of two different processes, the Czochralski process or by Directional
Solidification. |
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| Czochralski process is a method of crystal
growth used to obtain single crystals of semiconductors (e.g. silicon, germanium
and gallium arsenide), metals (e.g. palladium, platinum, silver, gold),
salts, and synthetic gemstones. The process is named after Polish scientist
Jan Czochralski, who discovered the method in 1916 while investigating the
crystallization rates of metals. |
| High-purity, solar grade silicon (only a few parts per million of impurities)
is melted down in a crucible, which is usually made of quartz. Dopant impurity
atoms such as boron or phosphorus can be added to the molten intrinsic silicon
in precise amounts in order to dope the silicon, thus changing it into n-type
or p-type extrinsic silicon. This influences the electrical conductivity
of the silicon. A seed crystal, mounted on a rod, is dipped into the molten
silicon. The seed crystal's rod is pulled upwards and rotated at the same
time. |
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By precisely controlling the temperature gradients, rate
of pulling and speed of rotation, it is possible to extract a large, single-crystal,
cylindrical ingot from the melt. Occurrence of unwanted instabilities in
the melt can be avoided by investigating and visualizing the temperature
and velocity fields during the crystal growth process. This process is normally
performed in an inert atmosphere, such as argon, and in an inert chamber,
such as quartz. |
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Directional solidification |
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A wafer is a thin slice of semiconductor
material, such as a silicon crystal, used in the fabrication of integrated
circuit and other micro devices. The wafer serves as the substrate for microelectronic
devices built in and over the wafer and undergoes many micro fabrication
process steps such as doping or ion implantation, etching, deposition of
various materials, and photolithographic patterning. Several types of solar
cells are made from such wafers. |
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A solar wafer is a circular solar cell made
from the entire wafer |
| Wafers are formed of highly pure, nearly defect-free single crystalline
material. One process for forming crystalline wafers is known as Czochralski
growth invented by the Polish chemist Jan Czochralski. In this process,
a cylindrical ingot of high purity crystalline silicon is formed by pulling
a seed crystal from a 'melt'. The ingot is then sliced with an inner diameter
diamond coated blade and polished to form wafers. |
| What RIDDERS – SOLAR was doing to bring MONO-Crystalline
cells to a higher level? |
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- A special kind of glass that is covering the cells = more light
is going trough this glass and the result is a higher efficiency. Glass
is made that the specific wavelength of light as we have in Belgium
will make that the energy yield becomes higher. Lots of time people
are not thinking quite a lot about the glass that is used. But only
this will make a huge difference in efficiency when you compare the
different kinds of glass. Problem is that you can not see this with
your eyes!
- Using only the best Silicon with a tight tolerance to scratches
and other imperfections and with highest level of purity.
- Connection from the individual cells to each other by using the
most modern techniques.
- Special rigid frame to avoid cracks in the crystals during transport,
handling and installation.
- Special cooling system to eliminate most heat during hot days.
- Most up to date assembling from the panels and this by using the
best products for intermediate layers and back-foils.
- Exceptional watertight construction with drain system for condensation.
- 12 years 90% efficiency and 25 years 80% efficiency
- Tests give our products a lifetime up to 50 years
All those things together make that we can offer you a superb Mono-Crystalline
PV panel that will serve you years on end and will give you the highest
output. For the moment we can offer you the following panels (this can always
change due to technical advantages) From 5 watt up to 280 watt per PV panel.
As those values can change as said here above, it is the best to ask info
about the evolution we make to offer you the best. The market is making such an evolution that it is nearly impossible to keep a website up to date. So, ask the info you need. |
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| MONO SOLAR PANEL SPECS
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| Parameter Type |
Maxpower(W) |
Dimension(MM) |
Cell Type |
Weight(kg) |
Imp(A) |
Vmp(V) |
Isc(A) |
Voc(V) |
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A TYPICAL CURVE FOR MONO TYPE
SOLAR SYSTEMS |
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