2006-12-27 05:27:56 · 14 answers · asked by Gareth D 1 in Environment
Sure. That's how they work. A solar-voltaic panel coverts solar radiation into electricity which then powers an immersion heater which heats the water. The electric power created by the panel can, of course, also power any other device which runs on electricity or it could be stored in a battery.
There are also thermal solar panels which are much simpler. With these the heat from the sun directly raises the temperature of water which flows through the panel and which then circulates into a storage tank. This involves no electricity at all and so is not really a method of power generation.
2006-12-27 05:30:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes they can.
However, there are more then one kind of a solar panel. And you said power and there are many kinds of power. I'll split it over the three main type. You do not use a solar electric panel to heat water or air. You might use water or air to help keep a solar electric panel cool but it is not worth the cost to do that. A 100 watt solar electric panel may cost around 600 dollars and you can build your own Solar air heater for aobut 100 dollars or a water heater for about 300 dollars.
1. Solar electric panels use the brightness of the light to make DC electric. The colder and bright it is the more electric you get.
2. Solar air/space heater has two sheets of glass/glazing which lets the sun light and heat in to a box that is painted black in side. The glazing on the glass lets in the heat but will not let it back out. This builds up heat. You pump the hot air in the house or what ever you are trying to heat.
3. Solar water heater. It is about the same as the solar air heater but it has copper tubes running through it filled with water or other for the sun to heat which is pumped through tubes to heat a water tank or radiator heater with a fan to blow the heat in to the house.
There are many ways to do each of the above but I feel that goes beyond what you are inquiring.
2006-12-28 16:27:15 · answer #2 · answered by Don K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. A solar hot water panel is not the same object as a solar power panel.
We use power panels The power is collected when the sun shines, is stored in batteries, and can then be reused as needed. Its nearly the same as using mains power, but it can't cope with a huge demand, so we need to be careful what we use, and for how long. (Which is a good idea for everyone, no matter how much power you have, or how much money to buy it) If we get too many cloudy days, we can use a petrol driven generator to recharge the batteries.
< so this computer is running on yesterday's sunlight!
2006-12-27 15:36:23 · answer #3 · answered by Greth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes but is can be an expensive way of producing domestic electricity. You need to be able to sell your excess to the grid and that is where the expense occurs at the moment as hooking into the grid costs a lot in the UK anyway. If you have a way of using or storing the excess when it occurs it may be more viable. Heating water via solar panels is more feasible.
2006-12-28 12:38:12 · answer #4 · answered by Shynney 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they can't. You need a Solar Thermal panel to heat water and a Photovoltaic (PV) panel to provide electricity.
There is no point to try to use PV panels to heat water as it would cost a fortune and it would be a complete waste of money. PV isn't designed to provide heating.
You need two seperate systems.
2006-12-30 17:24:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know dis.
Tere is two type old type heating water, and coolink it bak down when sun out go, is waste off spaces.
New type is Photovoltaic panel, dis maek tiny mount off electricity which sel bak to lectric companie, dis panel pay itself fore in 26 million year. I help con mans sel dem, peeples so stupit it not reel, de wate reck de rooves efen if the blok put dem up do nott when dem dey fit.
2006-12-27 13:41:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If its hot water that you want then you need a solar water heater not photo electric panels.
2006-12-29 18:04:57 · answer #7 · answered by Robin C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes photovolectric cells in unison provide stable conversion of light waves and heat into photovolectric energy stored in batteries for use to later transfer energy into electricity via an converter to make into alternating current for our homes and excess snergy produced can be sold back to elect. company for use in their grid !, and solar heat panels use light rays thru magnification to circulate and heat water sources for hot water !, both can also be accomplished thru geo thermal means as well !
2006-12-27 13:40:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Solar panels can also generate electricity. They can also provide normal heat and they have been used to power electric cars.
2006-12-27 13:31:13 · answer #9 · answered by Oli 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes. they can give out both hot water and power supply. it is simple. it is only light energy changing into either. that's all.
first energy is light energy. then it is converted to heat enegy and electrical energy.
2006-12-27 13:31:02 · answer #10 · answered by Seungyong W 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋