May. 13, 2024
Ever since it was first introduced as a commercially viable metal almost a century ago, aluminum has been transforming nearly every industry into which it is introduced. This transformation continues today as aluminum is helping to shape the renewable energy industries, such as involving the construction of solar panels. It is amazing to realize that after so many decades, aluminum remains a material of the future.
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Of course, at Clinton Aluminum, we work with aluminum every day. And while we are never shocked by the amazing applications our customers come up with on a regular basis, we continue to be impressed by just how revolutionary aluminum has proven to be. If you are working in the solar industry or another area of green energy, we’re here to help fulfill your need for reliable, high performance aluminum alloys.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business thrive.
When people think of aluminum, they might think of huge skyscrapers or airplane bodies or even rocket ships. This wonder metal is famed for its tremendous strength-to-weight ratio and as such has become essential for many different applications that require being as lightweight as possible. It’s likely that not many people first think of electricity and aluminum.
Yes, aluminum is lightweight. And it is extremely ductile, non-magnetic, and corrosion resistant. It’s also a great conductor of heat. However, what is most important to our discussion today is that aluminum is also a strong conductor of electricity. Compared to copper, which many people associate with electrical wiring because of its conductivity, aluminum has 59% the conductivity while having only 30% the density.
That makes aluminum a great choice when it comes to electrical applications. Aluminum wiring was actually first used in the early 1900s, and its prevalence spread very rapidly after the end of World War II, to the point where it eventually replaced copper as the conductor of choice in power cables. This is because of aluminum’s cost and weight advantages, as well as its corrosion resistance.
Another common use of aluminum over the last century has been as a rigid electrical conduit. This is a tubing system that helps protect wiring systems. It is an improvement over steel conduit because it does not spark or rust, and as such aluminum is commonly used for this purpose in locations such as coal mines, grain elevators, and oil refineries where it is critical that sparking be avoided.
The alloys most commonly associated with electrical applications are in the 1ххх, 6ххх, and 8ххх families. In particular with the 8xxx series, the products have a demonstrable service life of more than 40 years. Power cables usually start with a solid aluminum rod of a diameter between 9 to 15 mm. At this size, it is relatively simple to bend or roll the rod without any cracking. In fact, the rod is nearly impossible to tear, making it perfect for critical transmission applications in municipal power grids.
All of this is to say that aluminum has a long history of being a vital metal to the power and energy industries. So, it is no surprise that aluminum would be helping to shape the new applications that are currently being developed in renewable and green energy.
As an example of how aluminum is affecting the solar power industry, this article from PV Magazine highlighted that Natcore Technology Inc. has succeeded in replacing the silver in its solar cells with aluminum. This development has been made without sacrificing any of the performance of the silver solar cell.
Silver is another material that is extremely conductive, but it also happens to be very expensive when compared with aluminum. Twice as much aluminum will be required in the new solar cells, but the raw material costs will be just .6% as when silver was used. This will represent a huge cost reduction for Natcore.
The company was quoted as saying the use of aluminum, “Will simplify the production process, significantly lower costs, and speed the path toward ultra-high-efficiency cells. The cell utilizes a novel packaging approach in which a flex circuit is directly bonded to multiple, small contact pads by high-speed laser fusion.”
But aluminum is helping transform the industry in other ways than just as a critical component in the solar cell. Aluminum extrusions have been used extensively in all kinds of applications that rely on the metal’s strength, lightweight, and corrosion resistance, for instance in the transportation, building and construction, and aerospace industries.
That’s why many solar companies are turning to aluminum to build their frames and mounting systems. Aluminum extrusions have the added benefit of being easy to design and work with, thanks in large part to aluminum’s high formability. Moreover, aluminum is 100% recyclable, an important consideration for many renewable energy companies.
Of course, this tremendous flexibility also presents an important challenge when working with extrusions. For new and innovative designs, it may require a great deal of testing and prototyping to make sure that the design is adequate for the task at hand and there won’t be any risk of structural failure. This brings up another of aluminum’s advantages, which is that it is relatively cheap to prototype, not to mention that new designs can be tested quickly. In addition, there is new software available that can analyze the viability of extrusions before physically testing them.
Aluminum alloys are proving a critical material in the solar industry, just as they have been proven essential to many other industries over the past century. Aluminum makes financial sense thanks to its flexibility and high performance at a reasonable price that can’t be matched by any other material.
At Clinton Aluminum, our founding principle is based on the importance of finding the right material for the job. Contact one of our friendly customer service representatives today to learn more about what aluminum alloy might be right for you.
Aluminum extrusions have been used in the solar industry for decades, and we’re only going to see more of them in the future.
In an industry where energy efficiency is key, aluminum will continue to be used as a core component of solar panels due to its versatility, durability, and strength-to-weight ratio. Read on to learn more about how this material can be used in solar energy production.
Did you know many of Kloeckner Metals’ nationwide branches boast special processing capabilities for the solar industry? Download our solar brochure now to see how Kloeckner Metals can service your solar needs.
Extruded aluminum is simply aluminum that has gone through an extrusion process in which it is given a fixed cross-sectional profile.
Aluminum is the 13th element on the periodic table and is the most widespread metal on Earth. It is an abundant, lightweight metal that is strong, malleable, and non-magnetic. This makes it an excellent material for framing structures, wiring, and window frames.
Extrusion is a process in which aluminum is rammed through a die so that when it comes out, the metal retains exactly the same shape as the die. Typically, extruded aluminum takes a simple shape such as an angle, channel, or round tube.
Aluminum can be extruded using one of two major processes to achieve different end results: direct extrusion and indirect extrusion. In direct extrusion, the extruder forces heated aluminum (called a billet) through a heated container using a moving ram. In indirect extrusion, the die remains stationary while both the billet and the container move.
Aluminum extrusion generally produces better thermal conduction. Moreover, extrusion is a highly versatile process that can produce many diverse products from construction to consumer goods.
Aluminum is pulled into the die cavity.
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Aluminum is heated until it is malleable (but not liquid) before it is shaped.
Cold drawing requires many tools, making the process more expensive.
Extruded aluminum is often more affordable than drawn aluminum.
Usually, the drawing process makes round shapes rather than tubes or rods.
Generally, extrusion wastes less metal than drawing.
Cold drawing creates very tight tolerance and excellent mechanical properties.
Extrusion is a faster process than cold drawing.
Different materials, such as copper, silicon, silver, zinc, and plastic can be found in a typical solar panel.
Plastic frames hold thin-film panels that catch light from the sun and convert it into energy to power homes and businesses. Aluminum is also one of the main materials used for frame supports.
Solar panels currently use a lot of silver since it is an efficient energy conductor. Silver, however, is a very expensive metal, and the world simply does not contain enough of it to turn solar energy into a dominant industry. Aluminum, by contrast, offers a less expensive but still highly reflective alternative.
Aluminum is critical for any type of commercial or residential development because it is so flexible and resistant to corrosion that it doesn’t need painting or any other type of coating.
For the solar industry, aluminum offers many benefits over stainless steel.
The photovoltaic cells in solar panels start as long thin slabs that are then cut into rectangular wafers, producing slices from a pizza pie shape. The cells can be constructed from either aluminum or stainless steel.
Aluminum is typically cheaper than stainless steel, but offers better corrosion resistance and can be made thinner than stainless steel so it is easier to bend into flat aluminum sheets, which means that fewer cuts will be needed when fabricating thin slices of silicon. These properties make aluminum more flexible and easier to work with than stainless steel.
In addition, aluminum is an excellent electricity conductor, and since it does not rust or spark, this metal makes an unusually safe rigid electricity conduit.
Aluminum is inexpensive and lightweight, which is perfect for manufacturing and construction. The most important factor, though, is its ability to be an efficient conductor of electricity — even better than copper. This means that aluminum should always be the first choice when installing any electrical system.
Aluminum extrusions make excellent frames for mounting solar panels onto rooftops. Their high strength-to-weight ratio means the aluminum frames can withstand blustery winds and heavy snowfalls without burdening the roof’s rafters and shingles.
Aluminum is a good choice for almost all environmentally sustainable buildings because it is non-toxic, recyclable, and has a high strength-to-weight ratio. One of the biggest benefits of aluminum is that it doesn’t need much energy to be recycled back into new products.
This metal is also easy to work with and doesn’t require a lot of heavy machinery or equipment. Since aluminum alloys can be strong enough to hold up just about anything, it’s also great for some long spans without needing steel reinforcements.
Solar panels require a lot of space. Structures need to be built to house even residential-sized panels, which is an expensive and difficult task. To create affordable and easy-to-build housing structures, some solar construction agencies are turning to extruded aluminum.
Aluminum extrusion creates a structure out of long pieces of metal that can be laid down on a site or bolted together as needed to create storage areas for the panels to rest on. This material is much less expensive than building with silver, copper, or steel, so it is a very popular way of saving money and energy without sacrificing durability.
An extruded aluminum frame can hold solar panels precisely in place, providing stability, and improving productivity.
Not only does extruded aluminum save money because it requires less labor to assemble, but it also uses fewer materials during construction, which means you’ll generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions while putting your panel together!
To discuss how extruded aluminum could help you create more effective solar panel casings for an affordable price, contact us at Kloeckner Metals today.
Did you know many of Kloeckner Metals’ nationwide branches boast special processing capabilities for the solar industry? Download our solar brochure now to see how Kloeckner Metals can service your solar needs.
The company is the world’s best Aluminium Profile For Solar Panel supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
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