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Question:

solar panel efficiency in space?

What, if any, improvement in efficiency per square foot or meter is realized by a solar panel in space vs. being mounted on the ground where the light is attenuated by the atmosphere?In passing, I found a site that gives an output of .89 watts / 4 in. sq for a particular home-mounted panel.

Answer:

Solar panels on spacecraft are a lot more efficient than ones made for home use. That doesn't include the effect of the atmosphere.
The mirrors might could desire to be on computerized monitoring gadgets so as that using fact the sunlight strikes it might keep the pondered sunlight on the panel with value of optical sensors and stepper automobiles and %s or laptop controllers then you definitely've the mirrors which destroy in hailstorms except you employ chrome metallic ones that in the process basic terms mirror 60% in assessment to 80% for glass To tutor what I say take a small hand mirror outdoors and prop it up so it reflects at one brick or spot on wall mark it or keep in mind it then wait or come lower back in 20 min see what proportion times it may be moved and how complicated the development of circulate
I'm not sure on the exact numbers of solar panel efficiency, however i do know that at the radius of the Earth we should be receiving about 000W of power per square meter. This value is lessened by the atmosphere to a value closer to 600W per square meter on the Earth's surface. (on a really hot day) That's a 40% drop in power due to the atmosphere. I'm assuming that the solar panels being in space don't affect it's efficiency (as in mechanically). So its power generation should increase by about 40% when in space compared with a ground based panel of the same design. Hope this helps, Sorry it's kinda sketchy info...

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