Question

Engineers are designing a solar energy system to meet all the energy needs of a home. Write what constraints they must consider.

Answer 1

Engineers designing a solar energy system must balance the need for energy storage, cost-effectiveness, and reliability. They need to consider grid connectivity or battery storage for times when solar production is insufficient and ensure the system is affordable both in manufacturing and operation.

Step-by-step explanation:

When engineers are designing a solar energy system to meet all the energy needs of a home, they must consider several constraints. First, the system needs to provide energy even when the sun isn't shining, which involves either a connection to the grid to export excess production or the incorporation of batteries for local storage. Batteries can significantly increase the initial cost and will need replacement before they provide net savings on electricity bills.

Additionally, the design must be cost-effective both in terms of manufacturing and operation. Utilizing technologies such as parabolic troughs can efficiently concentrate sunlight to heat a fluid, which in turn is used to generate electricity, illustrating a balance between efficacy and cost.

Ultimately, the design must address the challenges of energy storage, weather dependence, and provide a cost-effective, self-sufficient solution for domestic energy needs.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

When designing such a system there are a couple very important constraints that need to be considered. First, would be the source. Solar energy is gathered from the energy provided by the sun, but the sun is not available in the same location at all times, so they would need to consider the most ideal location that gets the best amount of sunlight for the longest period of time. Secondly, would be batteries. The energy is gathered but also needs to be stored in order to use later and use when there is no sunlight available. Therefore, for this you need batteries that are powerful enough for the system and are both durable and cost efficient. Lastly, would be space. Solar panels and batteries take up alot of space and the panels need to be in an open area with direct access to the sun's rays.