That part is true and much better than using Carnot.jontyjashan said:He also said that if we take into account black body radiations , then we can make calculations very close to the actual efficiency(around 16-32 percent).
Solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells, work by converting sunlight into electricity. They are made of semiconducting materials, such as silicon, that have the ability to absorb photons of light. When light hits the solar cell, it knocks electrons loose from the atoms in the material, allowing them to flow through the material to produce electricity.
The efficiency of solar cells refers to the percentage of sunlight that they are able to convert into electricity. The most efficient solar cells on the market today have an efficiency of around 23%, meaning they are able to convert 23% of the sunlight that hits them into electricity. However, the average efficiency of solar cells is around 15-20%.
A solar cell is the basic unit that converts sunlight into electricity, while a solar panel is made up of multiple solar cells connected together. Solar panels are used to capture and convert a larger amount of sunlight into electricity, making them more practical for use in homes and businesses.
The Carnot engine is a theoretical heat engine that operates on the principles of thermodynamics. It is used to determine the maximum efficiency that any heat engine can achieve, including solar cells. The efficiency of a solar cell is limited by the Carnot efficiency, which is determined by the difference in temperature between the solar cell and its surroundings.
Solar cells require sunlight to produce electricity, so they are not able to generate electricity at night. However, they can still produce some electricity on cloudy days, as long as there is enough light for the cells to absorb. Additionally, some solar panels have the ability to store excess energy in batteries, allowing them to provide electricity even when there is no sunlight.