Module 2
By
Bharath.M
Solar Radiation Geometry: Flux on a plane surface, latitude, declination
angle, surface azimuth angle, hour angle, zenith angle, solar altitude angle
expression for the angle between the incident beam and the normal to a plane
surface (No derivation) local apparent time. Apparent motion of sun, day
length, numerical examples.
Solar Thermal Systems: Flat plate collector, Evacuated Tubular Collector,
Solar air collector, Solar concentrator, Solar distillation, Solar cooker, Thermal
energy storage systems, Solar Pond, Solar Chimney (Tower).
Solar Photovoltaic Systems: Introduction, Solar cell Fundamentals,
Characteristics and classification, Solar Cell : Module, panel and array
construction.
Flux on a plane surface
The solar radiation flux on a plane surface refers to the amount of
solar energy that strikes a unit area of the surface over a specific
period
The solar radiation flux on a plane surface depends on several
factors
the geometry of the surface
the angle of incidence of the sunlight
the intensity of solar radiation
Here's an overview of how solar radiation geometry affects the
•
When the angle of incidence is small (sun directly overhead),
the surface receives more intense radiation
Ø
Surface Orientation:The orientation of the plane surface
relative to the position of the sun affects the angle of incidence
and, consequently, the amount of solar radiation received.
Surfaces facing directly towards the sun (perpendicular
orientation) receive the maximum radiation,
While surfaces oriented parallel to the sun's rays (horizontal
orientation) receive minimal radiation.
Surface Tilt:The tilt angle of the plane surface relative to the
horizontal plane also affects the angle of incidence and the
distribution of solar radiation throughout the day and year.
Surfaces tilted towards the sun receive more intense
radiation
especially during specific times of the day and year (e.g., solar
noon and summer solstice).
Shading: Objects such as buildings, trees, or terrain features
can cast shadows on the plane surface, reducing the amount of
solar radiation received.
Shading analysis is essential for optimizing the placement
Latitude :
Latitude plays a significant role in solar radiation geometry as it
determines the angle at which sunlight strikes the Earth's
surface.
The latitude of a location corresponds to its position north
or south of the equator and affects the path of the sun in the sky
throughout the day and year.
Here's how latitude influences solar radiation geometry:
Ø
Solar Angle Variation: The latitude of a location determines
the angle at which sunlight strikes the Earth's surface.
At the equator which is 0° latitude, the sun is directly
overhead at solar noon on the equinoxes, resulting in the most
As you move away from the equator towards higher latitudes
(north or south), the angle of the sun decreases, leading to less
direct sunlight and lower solar radiation intensity.
Ø
Seasonal Changes: The tilt of the Earth's axis relative to its
orbit around the sun causes seasonal variations in solar
radiation geometry.
At higher latitudes, the angle of the sun changes more
dramatically throughout the year, resulting in longer days and
more direct sunlight in summer
Shorter days with less direct sunlight in winter.
Ø
Solar Altitude: The altitude of the sun (its angle above the
horizon) at different times of the day and year is influenced by
latitude.
At higher latitudes, the sun's altitude is lower, especially
during the winter months, leading to lower solar radiation fluxes
on horizontal surfaces.
Ø
Solar Tracking:with high latitudes, where the sun's path in the
sky varies significantly throughout the year, solar tracking
systems can be used to optimize the angle of solar panels or
mirrors to maximize solar radiation capture.
For solar energy applications such as photovoltaic (PV)
systems and solar thermal collectors, understanding the solar
radiation geometry at a specific latitude is essential for system
design, performance prediction, and energy yield estimation.
Solar Radiation Angle
Declination
Variation in Declination angle throughout the year
Hour Angle
Meridian: Meridian is the imaginery line passing through a point or place on earth and north and south poles
of the earth
Zenith Angle
Slope (s)
Solar altitude angle(α):
Altitude Angle is the angle between the Sun‘s rays and projection of
the Sun’s rays on the horizontal plane
Zenith angle(θz): It is Complementary angle of Sun‘s Altitude angle
It is a vertical angle between Sun‘s rays and line perpendicular to the
horizontal plane through the point i.e. angle between the beam and
the vertical
Θz=π/2-α
Solar Azimuth Angle(γs): It is the solar angle in degrees along the
horizon east or west of north
It is the horizontal angle measured from north to the horizontal
projection of sun‘s rays.
Meridian: Meridian is the imaginery line passing through a point
or place on earth and north and south poles of the earth
hour angle(ω): Hour angle is the angle through which the earth
must turn to bring meridian of the point directly in line with the
sun‘s rays.
Hour angle is equal to 15o per hour.
slope(β): Angle between the collector surface with the horizontal
plane is called slope(β).
surface azimuth angle(γ): Angle between the normal to the
collector and south direction is called surface azimuth angle(γ)
Solar Incident angle(θ): It is the angle between an incident beam
radiation falling on the collector and normal to the plane surface
Day Length
Local Solar Time (Local Apparent Time (LAT)
Local Solar Time=Standard time± 4(Standard time Longitude-Longitude of
the location) + (Equation of time correction)
Determine the local solar time and declination at a
location latitude 23015‘N, longitude 77030‘E at 12.30
IST on june 19. Equation of Time correction is =-(1‘01‖
).
Determine the local solar time and declination at a location
latitude 25017‘N, longitude 79030‘E at 12.00 IST on May 16th.
Equation of Time correction is =-(1‘01‖ ).
Calculate an angle made by beam radiation with
normal to a flat plate collector on December 1 at
9.00 A.M, Solar time for a location at 28035‘ N.
The collector is tilted at an angle of latitude plus
100, with the horizontal and is pointing due south
Beam Radiation
Tilt factor (Rb):
The ratio of beam radiation flux falling on the tilted surface to that of horizontal surface
is called the TILT FACTOR for beam radiation. For case of tilted surface facing due
south γ=0
Diffuse Radiation
Tilt factor (rd): The ratio of diffuse radiation flux falling on the tilted surface to
that of horizontal surface is called the tilt factor for diffuse radiation. Its value
depends on the distribution of diffuse radiation over the sky and the portion of the
sky dome seen by the tilted surface. Assuming that the sky is an isotropic source
of diffuse radiation, for a tilted surface with slope β, we have
(1+ cosβ)/2 is the shape factor for a tilted surface
For Total radiation, let Hb=Hourly beam radiation and Hd=Hourly diffuse radiation. Thus the total
beam radiation incident on a tilted surface is given as,
ρ = diffuse reflectance which is used to account
for the reradiated