EEE 463 Final Exam Newest 2026-2027 Actual Exam
With Complete Questions And Correct Detailed
Answers (Verified Answers) |Already Graded A+
What is the output range for large point focus systems? - ANSWER-
From 100 kWe to 100 MWe.
What percentage of total capital cost do mirrors represent in solar
thermal systems? - ANSWER-40%-50%.
What is the Ivanpah solar power plant known for? - ANSWER-It has
three towers and 173,500 mirrors, with a capacity of 392 MWe.
What is the main component of the Dish-Stirling system? - ANSWER-A
dish concentrator (mirrors).
What is a key advantage of solar thermal systems over photovoltaics? -
ANSWER-The capability of integrating thermal energy storage (TES).
What is the Stirling cycle process? - ANSWER-Heating, expansion,
cooling, and contraction of the sealed working gas.
pg. 1
,What is a solar salt pond? - ANSWER-A shallow pond saturated with
salt that serves as a solar collector.
Why is mineral oil typically used as a working fluid in solar thermal
plants? - ANSWER-Because it has better thermal properties than water.
What are the two implementations of solar salt ponds? - ANSWER-
Saturated salt pond and non-convective gradient pond.
What is the main issue with solar salt ponds? - ANSWER-Water loss due
to evaporation and inefficient thermal efficiency.
What is the purpose of the solar chimney technology? - ANSWER-It is a
hybrid solar-wind system designed for energy generation.
What is electron-hole pair production in solar cells? - ANSWER-The
process where an incident photon frees and excites an electron, leaving a
positively charged hole.
What is the structure of a basic solar cell? - ANSWER-A pn-junction
diode consisting of two quasi-neutral regions around a depletion region.
What happens if a solar cell is too thin? - ANSWER-Sunlight may be
transmitted through and not absorbed.
pg. 2
, What is the Shockley-Queisser limit? - ANSWER-The maximum
theoretical efficiency of a solar cell, approximately 30% for silicon.
What are the assumptions for the Shockley-Queisser limit? - ANSWER-
One semiconductor material per cell, one p-n junction, and sunlight is
not concentrated.
What is the maximum efficiency for a silicon solar cell according to the
Shockley-Queisser limit? - ANSWER-Approximately 30%.
What is a key challenge in converting photon energy into electricity in
solar cells? - ANSWER-Not all electron-hole pairs created make
electricity due to recombination.
What is the role of the cavity receiver in a Stirling engine? - ANSWER-
It absorbs concentrated heat energy and transfers it to the cycle working
fluid.
What is the purpose of photovoltaic (PV) systems? - ANSWER-To
generate DC voltage/current from solar energy.
What is the typical voltage range for a solar cell? - ANSWER-0.6 - 1.0
volts.
pg. 3
With Complete Questions And Correct Detailed
Answers (Verified Answers) |Already Graded A+
What is the output range for large point focus systems? - ANSWER-
From 100 kWe to 100 MWe.
What percentage of total capital cost do mirrors represent in solar
thermal systems? - ANSWER-40%-50%.
What is the Ivanpah solar power plant known for? - ANSWER-It has
three towers and 173,500 mirrors, with a capacity of 392 MWe.
What is the main component of the Dish-Stirling system? - ANSWER-A
dish concentrator (mirrors).
What is a key advantage of solar thermal systems over photovoltaics? -
ANSWER-The capability of integrating thermal energy storage (TES).
What is the Stirling cycle process? - ANSWER-Heating, expansion,
cooling, and contraction of the sealed working gas.
pg. 1
,What is a solar salt pond? - ANSWER-A shallow pond saturated with
salt that serves as a solar collector.
Why is mineral oil typically used as a working fluid in solar thermal
plants? - ANSWER-Because it has better thermal properties than water.
What are the two implementations of solar salt ponds? - ANSWER-
Saturated salt pond and non-convective gradient pond.
What is the main issue with solar salt ponds? - ANSWER-Water loss due
to evaporation and inefficient thermal efficiency.
What is the purpose of the solar chimney technology? - ANSWER-It is a
hybrid solar-wind system designed for energy generation.
What is electron-hole pair production in solar cells? - ANSWER-The
process where an incident photon frees and excites an electron, leaving a
positively charged hole.
What is the structure of a basic solar cell? - ANSWER-A pn-junction
diode consisting of two quasi-neutral regions around a depletion region.
What happens if a solar cell is too thin? - ANSWER-Sunlight may be
transmitted through and not absorbed.
pg. 2
, What is the Shockley-Queisser limit? - ANSWER-The maximum
theoretical efficiency of a solar cell, approximately 30% for silicon.
What are the assumptions for the Shockley-Queisser limit? - ANSWER-
One semiconductor material per cell, one p-n junction, and sunlight is
not concentrated.
What is the maximum efficiency for a silicon solar cell according to the
Shockley-Queisser limit? - ANSWER-Approximately 30%.
What is a key challenge in converting photon energy into electricity in
solar cells? - ANSWER-Not all electron-hole pairs created make
electricity due to recombination.
What is the role of the cavity receiver in a Stirling engine? - ANSWER-
It absorbs concentrated heat energy and transfers it to the cycle working
fluid.
What is the purpose of photovoltaic (PV) systems? - ANSWER-To
generate DC voltage/current from solar energy.
What is the typical voltage range for a solar cell? - ANSWER-0.6 - 1.0
volts.
pg. 3
