Chapter 1: Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems and Pspice.

        This chapter reviews some of the basic magnitudes of Solar radiation and some of the basics of Pspice. A brief description of what a photovoltaic system is followed by the definitions of Spectral irradiance, Irradiance and solar radiation. Basic commands and syntax of the sentences most commonly used in the book are shortly summarized and used to write Pspice files for the AM1.5G and AM0 sun spectra which are used to plot the values of the Spectral irradiance as a function of the wavelength and compare them with a black body radiation. Solar Radiation availability at the Earth's surface is next addressed, and plots are shown for the monthly and yearly radiation in inclined surfaces. Important rules, useful for system design, are described.