Introduction

Our Sun in Solar System

The Sun is the most prominent feature in our solar system. It is the largest object and contains approximately 98% of the total solar system mass. One hundred and nine Earths would be required to fit across the Sun's disk, and its interior could hold over 1.3 million Earths. The Sun's outer visible layer is called the photosphere and has a temperature of 6,000C (11,000F). This layer has a mottled appearance due to the turbulent eruptions of energy at the surface.

Solar Energy:
Is created deep within the core of the Sun. It is here that the temperature (15,000,000 C; 27,000,000 F) and pressure (340 billion times Earth's air pressure at sea level) is so intense that nuclear reactions take place. This reactioncauses four protons or hydrogen nuclei

to fuse together to form one alpha particle or helium nucleus. The alpha particle is about .7 percent less massive than the four protons. The difference in mass is expelled as energy and is carried to the surface of the Sun, through a process known as convection,where it is released as light and heat.Energy generated in the Sun's core takes a million years to reach its surface. Every second 700 million tons of hydrogen are converted into helium Ashes in the process 5million tons of pure energy is released; therefore, as time goes on the Sun is becoming lighter.

EnerDifferent layers in the Sun.

The chromospheres is above the photosphere. Solar energy passes through this region on its way out from the center of the Sun. Faculae and flares arise in thechromosphere. Faculae are bright luminous hydrogen clouds which form aboveregions where sunspots are about to form. Flares are bright filaments of hot gasemerging from sunspot regions. Sunspots are dark depressions on the photospherewith a typical temperature of 4,000C (7,000F). The corona is the outer part of the Sun's atmosphere. It is in this region that prominences appear. Prominences are immense clouds of glowing gas that erupt from the upper

chromospheres. The outer region of the corona stretches far into space and consists of particles traveling slowly away from the Sun. The corona can only be seen during total solar eclipses. The Sun appears to have been active for 4.6 billion years and has enough fuel to go on for another Five billion years or so. At the end of it slife, the Sun will start to Fuse helium in to heavier elements and begin to swell up ultimately growing so large that it will swallow the Earth.

Sun Statistics:
Mass (kg) Mass (Earth = 1) Equatorial radius (km) Equatorial radius (Earth = 1) Mean density (gm/cm^3) Rotational period (days) Escape velocity (km/sec) Luminosity (ergs/sec) Magnitude (VO) Mean surface temperature Age (billion years) 1.989e+30 332,830 695,000 108.97 1.410 25-36* 618.02 3.827e33 -26.8 6,000C 4.5

Principal Chemistry:
Hydrogen Helium Oxygen Carbon Nitrogen Neon Iron Silicon Magnesium Sulfur All others 92.1% 7.8% 0.061% 0.030% 0.0084% 0.0076% 0.0037% 0.0031% 0.0024% 0.0015% 0.0015%

Solar System:Sun and the Solar Energy

Solar Energy:
Solar energy is the radiant light and heat from the Sun that has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth. Only a minuscule fraction of the available solar energy is used. Solar power provides electrical generation by means of heat engines or photovoltaics .

Six dish Stirling Systems developed by Schlaich Bergermann und Partner of Stuttgart,Germany, in operation at the Plataforma Solar de Almeria in Spain. The three dishes in theforeground are second-generation systems. The systems produce 10 kW of power from aSolo Kleinmotoren engine. Solar technologies are broadly characterized as passive solar and active solar techniques. Active solar techniques include the use of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors to convert sunlight into useful outputs. Passive solar techniquesinclude orienting a building to the Sun, selecting materials with favorable thermalmass or light dispersing properties, and designing spaces that naturally circulate air.

Energy from the Sun:

The Earth receives 174 petawatts (PW) of incoming solar radiation (insolation) at the upper atmosphere. Approximately 30% is reflected back to space while the restis absorbed by clouds, oceans and land masses. The spectrum of solar light at the Earth's surface is mostly spread across the visible and near-infrared ranges with a small part in the near-ultraviolet.

Applications of Solar Technology:

Solar energy refers primarily to the use of solar radiation for practical ends.However,all renewable energies, other than geothermal and tidal, derive their energy from the sun. Solar technologies are broadly characterized as either passive or active depending on the way they capture, convert and distribute sunlight. Active solar techniques use photovoltaic panels, pumps, and fans to convert sunlight into useful outputs. Passive solar techniques include selecting materials with favorable thermal properties, designing spaces that naturally circulate air, and referencing the position of a building to the Sun. Active solar technologies increase the supply of energy and areconsidered supply side technologies, while passive solar technologies reduce the need for alternate resources and are generally considered demand side technologies.

Architecture and urban planning:

The common features of passive solar architecture are orientation relative to the Sun, compact proportion, selective shading and thermal mass. When these features aretailored to the local climate and environment they can produce well-lit spaces that stayin a comfortable temperature range. The most recent approaches to solar design use computer modeling tying together solar lighting, heating and ventilation systems in anintegrated solar design package. Active solar equipment such as pumps, fans and switchable windows can complement passive design and improve system performance.

Agriculture and horticulture:

Agriculture seeks to optimize the capture of solar energy in order to optimize the productivity of plants. Techniques such as timed planting cycles, tailored roworientation, staggered heights between rows and the mixing of plant varieties canim prove crop yields. While sunlight is generally considered a plentiful resource , theexceptions highlight the importance of solar energy to agriculture. During the short growing seasons of the Little Ice Age, French and English farmers employed fruit walls to maximize the collection of solar energy. These walls acted as thermal masses and accelerated ripening by keeping plants warm. Early fruit walls were built perpendicular to the ground and facing south, but over time, sloping walls were developed to make better use of sunlight. In 1699, Nicolas Fatio de Duillier even suggested using a tracking mechanism which could pivot to follow the Sun. Applications of solar energy in agriculture aside from growing crops include pumping water, drying crops, brooding chicks and drying chicken manure. More recently the technology has been embraced by vinters. who use the energy generated by solar panels to power grape presses.

Solar Lighting:
Day lighting systems collect and distribute sunlight to provide interior illumination. Although difficult to quantify, the use of natural lighting also offers physiological and psychological benefits compared to artificial lighting. Day lighting design implies careful selection of window types, sizes and orientation; exterior shading devices may be considered as well. Individual features include sawtooth roofs,clerestory windows, light shelves, skylights and light tubes. When day lighting feature properly implemented they can reduce lighting-related energy requirements by 25%

Solar Thermal:
Solar thermal technologies can be used for water heating, space heating, space cooling and process heat generation.

Advantages of Solar Energy :

After the initial investment has been recovered the energy from the sun is partically free. Solar energy is clean and renewable. Helping to protect our environment. Therefore solar energy does not contribute to global warming and acid rain or smog. By not using any fuel,solar energy does not contribute any cost and problem of recovery.

Disadvantages of Solar Energy:

The initial cost is the main disadvantage of installing a solar energy system, largely because of the high cost of the semiconducting materials used in building one. Solar panels require quite a large area for installation to achieve a good level of efficiency. The efficiency of the system relies on the location of the sun, although this problem can be overcome with the installation of certain component. The cost of solar energy is also high compared to nonrenewable utility-supplied electricity.