7

Solar Radiation Models and

Information for Renewable Energy Applications
E. O. Falayi
1
and A. B. Rabiu
2

1
Department of Physics, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode,
2
Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Akure,
Nigeria
1. Introduction
The Sun is a sphere of intense hot gaseous matter with a diameter of 1.39 x 10
9
m and is about
1.5 x 10
11
m away from the Earth. A schematic representation of the structure of the Sun is
shown in Figure 1.1. The Suns core temperature is about 16 million K and has a density
of about 160 times the density of water. The core is the innermost layer with 10 percent of
the Suns mass, and the energy is generated from nuclear fusion. Because of the enormous
amount of gravity compression from all the layers above it, the core is very hot and dense.

Fig. 1.1. The structure of the Sun
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The layer next to it is the radiative zone, where the energy is transported from the sunspot
interior to the cold outer layer by photons. Other features of the solar surface are small dark
areas called pores, which are of the same order of magnitude as the convective cells and
larger dark areas called sunspots, which vary in size. The outer layer of the convective cells
is called the photosphere. The photosphere is the layer below which the Sun becomes
opaque to visible light. Above the photosphere is the visible sunlight which is free to
propagate into space, and its energy escapes the Sun entirely. The change in opacity is due
to the decreasing amount of H ions, which absorb visible light easily. The next layer
referred to as the chromospheres, is a layer of several thousand kilometers in thickness,
consisting of transparent glowing gas above the photosphere. Many of the phenomena
occurring in the photosphere also manifest in the chromospheres. Because the density in the
chromospheres continues to decrease with height and is much lower than in the
photosphere, the magnetic field and waves can have a greater influence on the structure.
Still further out is the corona which is of very low density and has a high temperature of
about 1106
o
K to 2106
o
K.
The radiation from the sun is the primary natural energy source of the planet Earth. Other
natural energy sources are the cosmic radiation, the natural terrestrial radioactivity and the
geothermal heat flux from the interior to the surface of the Earth, but these sources are
energetically negligible as compared to solar radiation. When we speak of solar radiation,
we mean the electromagnetic radiation of the Sun. The energy distribution of
electromagnetic radiation over different wavelength is called Spectrum. The electromagnetic
spectrum is divided into different spectral ranges (Figure 1.2).



Fig. 1.2. Spectral ranges of electromagnetic radiation
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Solar radiation as it passes through the atmosphere undergoes absorption and scattering
by various constituents of the atmosphere. The amount of solar radiation finally reaching
the surface of earth depends quite significantly on the concentration of airborne
particulate matter gaseous pollutants and water (vapour, liquid or solid) in the sky, which
can further attenuate the solar energy and change the diffuse and direct radiation ratio
(Figure 1.3).


Fig. 1.3. Radiation balance of the atmosphere
The global solar radiation can be divided into two components: (1) diffuse solar radiation,
which results from scattering caused by gases in the Earths atmosphere, dispersed water
droplets and particulates; and (2) direct solar radiation, which have not been scattered.
Global solar radiation is the algebraic sum of the two components. Values of global and
diffuse radiations are essential for research and engineering applications.
Global solar radiation is of economic importance as renewable energy alternatives. More
recently global solar radiation has being studied due to its importance in providing energy
for Earths climatic system. The successful design and effective utilization of solar energy
systems and devices for application in various facets of human needs, such as power and
water supply for industrial, agricultural, domestic uses and photovoltaic cell largely depend
on the availability of information on solar radiation characteristic of the location in which
the system and devices are to be situated. This solar radiation information is also required in
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the forecast of the solar heat gain in building, weather forecast, agricultural potentials
studies and forecast of evaporation from lakes and reservoir. However, the best solar
radiation information is obtained from experimental measurement of the global and its
components at the location. The use of solar energy has increased worldwide in recent years
as direct and indirect replacements for fossil fuel, motivated to some degree by
environmental concerns such were expressed in the Kyoto Protocol. As a result, a complete
knowledge and detailed analysis about the potentiality of the site for solar radiation activity
is of considerable interest.
1.2 Radiation fluxes at horizontal surface
The energy balance on a horizontal surface at the ground or on a solid body near the
ground is given by
0 + + + + + = Q K H L W P (1.1)
Each term in this equation stands for an energy flux density or power density in Wm
-2
. The
vectorial terms in equation (1.1) are counted positive when they are directed towards the
surface from above or below. The parameters have the following meaning.
Q =net total radiation=sum of all positive and negative radiation fluxes to the surface
K = Heat flux from the interior of the body (ground) to its surface
H = Sensible heat flux from the atmosphere due to molecular and convective heat
conduction (diffusion and turbulence)
L = Latent heat flux due to condensation or evaporation at the surface.
W= Heat flux due to advection that is heat transported by horizontal air current. W is set
zero if:
a. the measuring surface is located at a horizontal and homogeneous plane of
sufficient extension so that the so called Katabatic flow is negligible
b. the measuring time is small compared to time of an air mass exchange.
P = Heat flux brought to the surface by falling precipitation. P is often not taken into
consideration because the measurements are confined to times without precipitation
(Kasten, 1983).
The net total radiation Q is at daytime, to be compensated by the heat fluxes K, H and L the
net total radiation Q in equation (1.1) given
( ) ( ) Q G R A E = + (1.2)
Q is called the total radiation balance.
G= global radiation = sum of direct and diffuse solar radiation on the horizontal surface
R= reflected global radiation = fraction of G which is reflected by the body (ground)
A= atmospheric radiation = downward thermal radiation of the atmosphere (from
atmosphere gases, mainly water vapour and from clouds)
E= terrestrial surface radiation = upward thermal radiation of the body (ground).
G and R are solar or shortwave radiation fluxes therefore

s
Q G R = (1.3)
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Is called net solar or net global radiation, or short wave radiation balance. A and E are
terrestrial or long wave radiation fluxes so that

t
Q A E = (1.4)
Is called the long wave radiation balance and

t
Q E A = (1.5)
the (upward) net terrestrial surface radiation.
The short-wave radiation fluxes exhibit a pronounced variation during day light hours; the
long-wave radiation fluxes vary but slightly because the temperature of atmosphere and
ground vary during the day.
The ratio

s
R
Q
G
= (1.6)
is called short-wave radiation of the body
Terrestrial surface radiation E is composed of two terms:
1. The thermal radiation emitted by the body ground i.e.

4
t t
E T o o = (1.7)
where
t
o is called effective long-wave absorptance of the surface, slightly depending
on temperature T. o is called Stefan Boltzman constant = 5.6697 x 10
8
Wm
-2
K
-4
.
2. Reflected atmosphere radiation

2 t
E Q A = (1.8)
where 1
t t
Q o = = effective long-wave reflectance of the surface. Thus E is strictly
given by

4
1 2
(1 )
t t
E E E T A o o o = + = + (1.9)
1.3 Solar declination angle
The angle that the Suns makes with equatorial plane at solar noon is called the angle of
declination. It varies from 23.45
o
on June 21 to 0
o
on September 21 to -23.45
o
on December 21,
to 0
o
on March 21. It also defined as the angular distance from the zenith of the observer at
the equator and the Sun at solar noon.
The axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of 23.45 with respect to the plane of the orbit around
the Sun. The axis is orientated so that it always points towards the pole star and this
accounts for the seasons and changes in the length of day throughout the year. The angle
between the equatorial plane and a line joining the centres of the Sun and the Earth is called
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the declination angle ( o ) Because the axis of the Earth's rotation is always pointing to the Pole
Star the declination angle changes as the Earth orbits the Sun (Figure 1.4)






Fig. 1.4. Orbit of the Earth around the Sun
On the summer solstice (21st June) the Earth's axis is orientated directly towards the Sun,
therefore the declination angle is 23.45 (Figure 1.4). All points below 66.55 south have 24
hours of darkness and all point above 66.55 north have 24 hours of daylight. The sun is
directly over head at solar noon at all points on the Tropic of Cancer. On the winter
solstice (21st December) the Earth's axis is orientated directly away from the Sun,
therefore the declination angle is -23.45 (Figure 1.4). All points below 66.55 south have
24 hours of daylight and all point above 66.55 north have 24 hours of darkness. The sun
is directly over head at solar noon at all points on the Tropic of Capricorn. At both the
autumnal and vernal equinoxes (23
rd
September and 21
st
March respectively) the Earth's
axis is at 90 to the line that joins the centres of the Earth and Sun, therefore the
declination angle is 0 (Figure 1.4).
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Fig. 1.5. The celestial sphere. Declination angle ( o ) is the declination angle which is
maximum at the solstices and zero at the equinoxes.
The equation used to calculate the declination angle in radians on any given day is

284
23.45 sin 2
180 365.25
n t
o t
+ ( | |
=
| (
\
(1.10)
where:
o = declination angle (rads)
n = the day number, such that n = 1 on the 1
st
January and 365 on December 31
st
.

Fig. 1.6. The variation in the declination angle throughout the year.
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The declination angle is the same for the whole globe on any given day. Figure 1.6 shows
the change in the declination angle throughout a year. Because the period of the Earth's
complete revolution around the Sun does not coincide exactly with the calendar year the
declination varies slightly on the same day from year to year.
1.4 Solar hour angle
The hour angle is positive during the morning, reduces to zero at solar noon and
increasingly negative when the afternoon progresses. The following equations can be used
to obtain the hourly angle when various values of the angles are known.

cos sin
sin
cos
z
A
w
o
o
=
(1.11)

sin sin sin
sin
cos cos
w
o o |
o |

=
(1.12)
Where
o = altitude angle
w = the hour angle
A
z
= the solar azimuth angle
| = observer angle
o = declination angle
The hour angle is equals to zero at solar noon and since the hour angle changes at 15 per
hour, the hour angle can be calculated at any time of day. The hour angles at sunrise
(negative angle) and sunset (ws) is positive angle. They are important parameters and can
be calculated from

cos tan tan ws | o =
(1.13)
( )
1
cos tan tan ws | o

=
(1.14)
( )
1
2
cos tan tan
15
L | o

= (1.15)
This L is known as the Length of the day also known as the maximum number of hour of
insolation.
1.5 Solar constant
The solar constant is defined as the quantity of solar energy (W/m) at normal incidence
outside the atmosphere (extraterrestrial) at the mean sun-earth distance. Its mean value is
1367 W/m. The solar constant actually varies by +/- 3% because of the Earth's elliptical
orbit around the Sun. The sun-earth distance is smaller when the Earth is at perihelion
(first week in January) and larger when the Earth is at aphelion (first week in July). Some
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people, when talking about the solar constant, correct for this distance variation, and refer
to the solar constant as the power per unit area received at the average Earth-solar
distance of one Astronomical Unit or AU which is 1.49 x 10
8
million kilometres (IPS and
Radio Services).
2. Empirical equations for predicting the availability of solar radiation
2.1 Angstrom-type model
Average daily global radiation at a specific location can be estimated by the knowledge of
the average actual sunshine hours per day and the maximum possible sunshine hour per
day at the location. This is done by a simple linear relation given by Angstrom (1924) and
modified by (Prescott, 1924).

max O
G S
a b
G S
| |
= +
|
\
(2.1)
In Nigeria, the hourly global solar radiation were obtained through Gun Bellani distillate,
and were converted and standardized after Folayan (1988), using the conversion factor
calculated from the following equations.

2
(1.35 0.176) /
GB
G H KJ m =
(2.2)
Where G is the monthly average of the daily global solar radiation on a horizontal surface at
a location (KJ/m
2
-day), G
0
is the average extraterrestrial radiation (KJ/m
2
-day). S is the
monthly average of the actual sunshine hours per day at the location. S
max
monthly average
of the maximum possible sunshine hours per day, n is mean day of each month.

2 24 3600 360
1 0.033
365 360
S
o S
W n
G Gsc Cos Cos Cos SinW Sin Sin
t
| o | o
t
| | | |
= + +
| |
\ \
(2.3)
( )
1
max
2
cos tan tan
15
S | o

= (2.4)
Several researchers have determined the applicability of the Angstrom type regression
model for predicting global solar irradiance (Akpabio et al., 2004; Ahmad and Ulfat, 2004;
Sambo, 1985; Sayigh, 1993; Fagbenle, 1990; Akinbode, 1992; Udo, 2002; Okogbue and
Adedokun, 2002; Halouani et al., 1993; Awachie and Okeke, 1990; El Sebaii and Trabea;
2005, Falayi and Rabiu, 2005; Serm and Korntip, 2004; Gueymard and Myers, 2009; Skeiker,
2006; Falayi et al., 2011 ). Of recent (Akpabio and Etuk 2002; Falayi et al., 2008; Bocco et al.,
2010; Falayi et al., 2011) have developed a multiple linear regression model with different
variables to estimate the monthly average daily global. Also, prognostic and prediction
models based on artificial intelligence techniques such as neural networks (NN) have been
developed. These models can handle a large number of data, the contribution of these in the
outcome can provide exact and adequate forecast (Krishnaiah, 2007; Adnan, 2004; Lopez,
2000; Mohandes et al., 2000).
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2.2 Method of model evaluation
2.2.1 Correlation coefficient (r)
Correlation is the degrees of relationship between variables and to describe the linear or
other mathematical model explain the relationship. The regression is a method of fitting the
linear or nonlinear mathematical models between a dependent and a set of independent
variables. The square root of the coefficient of determination is defined as the coefficient of
correlation r. It is a measure of the relationship between variables based on a scale 1.
Whether r is positive or negative depends on the inter-relationship between x and y, i.e.
whether they are directly proportional (y increases and x increases) or vice versa (Muneer,
2004).
2.2.2 Correlation of determination (r
2
)
The ratio of explained variation, (G
pred
- G
m
)
2
, to the total variation, (G
obser
- G
m
)
2
, is called
the coefficient of determination. G
m
is the mean of the observed G values. The ratio lies
between zero and one. A high value of r
2
is desirable as this shows a lower unexplained
variation.
2.2.3 Root mean square error, mean bias error and mean percentage error
The root mean square error (RMSE) gives the information on the short-term performance of
the correlations by allowing a term-by-term comparison of the actual deviation between the
estimated and measured values. The lower the RMSE, the more accurate is the estimate. A
positive value of mean bias error (MBE) shows an over-estimate while a negative value an
under-estimate by the model. MPE gives long term performance of the examined regression
equations, a positive MPE values provides the averages amount of overestimation in the
calculated values, while the negatives value gives underestimation. A low value of MPE is
desirable (Igbai, 1983).
( )
1
pred obs
MBE G G
n
(
=

(2.5)
( )
1
2 2 1
pred obs
RMSE G G
n

(
=
`
(
)
(2.6)

100 /
obs pred
obs
G G
MPE n
G
( | |
=
( |
( \
(2.7)
3. Monthly mean of horizontal global irradiation
Monthly mean global solar radiation data leads to more accurate modelling of solar energy
processes. Several meteorological stations publish their data in terms of monthly-averaged
values of daily global irradiation. Where such measurements are not available, it may be
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possible to obtain them from the long-term sunshine data via models presented in Chapter
2.
3.1 Monthly variation of extraterrestrial and terrestrial solar radiation
In order to obtain the pattern variation of monthly mean values of extraterrestrial (G
O
)
solar radiation, equation (2.3) is used in calculating it for various locations for which the
measured global insolation is available. The calculated values are without any
atmospheric effects. Based on the calculated values of extraterrestrial horizontal insolation
for locations and the measured global insolation on a horizontal surface for the same
locations. Also Terrestrial solar radiations (G) obtained from Eq. 2.2 are plotted with
Latitudes (selected stations) and months of the year are plotted using the same axes
(Figures 3.1 and 3.2).

Stations Latitudes (
o
N) Longitude (
o
E) Altitudes (m)
Ikeja 6.39 3.23 39.35
Ilorin 6.50 4.58 307.30
Ibadan 7.22 3.58 234
Port Harcourt 4.43 7.05 19.55
Benin 5.25 5.30 77.70
Table 3.1. Geographical coordinates and altitudes of studied stations

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
5
6
7
32.2
32.6
33
33.4
33.8
34.2
34.6
35
35.4
35.8
36.2
36.6
37
37.4
37.8
Months
Latitudes
Go

Fig. 3.1. Monthly variation of extraterrestrial solar radiation (G
O
) for selected stations (Ikeja,
Ilorin, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Benin).
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
5
6
7
10.5
11
11.5
12
12.5
13
13.5
14
14.5
15
15.5
16
16.5
17
17.5
18
18.5
19
19.5
20
20.5
21
Months
Latitudes
G

Fig. 3.2. Monthly variation of terrestrial solar radiation (G) for selected stations (Ikeja, Ilorin,
Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Benin).
3.2 Monthly variation of Clearness Index
Clearness index (K
T
) is defined as the ratio of the observation/measured horizontal
terrestrial solar radiation (G), to the calculated/predicted horizontal extraterrestrial solar
radiation (G
o
). Clearness index is a measure of solar radiation extinction in the atmosphere,
which includes effects due to clouds but also effects due to radiation interaction with other
atmospheric constituents. To develop the model for the clearness index, the insolation on a
horizontal surface for a few locations is measured over a period of time encompassing all
seasons and climatic conditions. Different values of the clearness index at different stations
may be as a result of different atmospheric contents of water vapour and aerosols. It can be
seen from the above expressions that the extra-terrestrial horizontal insolation is a function
of latitude and the day of year only. Hence, it can be calculated for any location for any
given day. However, the calculated insolation does not take any atmospheric effects into
account

T
O
G
K
G
= (3.1)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
5
6
7
0.29
0.31
0.33
0.35
0.37
0.39
0.41
0.43
0.45
0.47
0.49
0.51
0.53
0.55
0.57
0.59
Months
Latitudes
KT

Fig. 3.3. Monthly variation of clearness index for selected stations (Ikeja, Ilorin, Ibadan, Port
Harcourt and Benin).
3.3 Monthly variation of relative sunshine duration
The term sunshine is associated with the brightness of the solar disc exceeding the
background of diffuse sky light, or, as is better observed by the human eye, with the
appearance of shadows behind illuminated objects. According to WMO (2003), sunshine
duration during a given period is defined as the sum of that sub-period for which the direct
solar irradiance exceeds 120 Wm
2
. A new parameter describing the state of the sky, namely
the sunshine number has been defined in Badescu (1999). The sunshine number is a Boolean
quantity stating whether the sun is covered or not by clouds. Using the sunshine number, it
strongly increases the models accuracy when computing solar radiation at Earth surface
(Badescu, 1999). Relative sunshine duration is a key variable involved in the calculation
procedures of several agricultural and environmental indices.
The relative sunshine duration is expressed as

s
O
S
R
S
= (3.2)
Where S is the measured sunshine duration hours and S
o
the potential day length
astronomical length. A high number of outliers in the data sets signify that the observation
has high degree of variability or a large set of suspect data. Figure 3.3 shows that R
S
is low
between the months of June through October in Nigeria.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
5
6
7
0.18
0.2
0.22
0.24
0.26
0.28
0.3
0.32
0.34
0.36
0.38
0.4
0.42
0.44
0.46
0.48
0.5
0.52
0.54
0.56
0.58
0.6
Months
Latitudes
RS

Fig. 3.4. Monthly variation of relative sunshine duration for selected stations (Ikeja, Ilorin,
Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Benin).
3.4 Monthly variation of Clearness Index, relative humidity and temperature for Iseyin
There are other methods to estimate solar radiation. Satisfactory result for monthly solar
radiation estimation was obtained by using atmospheric transmittance model, while other
authors have used diffuse fraction and clearness index models. Parametric or atmospheric
transmittance model requires details atmospheric characteristic information. Meteorological
parameters frequently used as predictors of atmospheric parameters since acquiring detail
atmospheric conditions require advance measurement. Meteorological parameters used in
this section clearness index, sunshine duration, temperature and relative humidity data
have been used to study monthly variation of atmospheric transmittance coefficient in
parametric model. This kind of model is called meteorological model.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
24
25
26
27
28
0.36
0.38
0.4
0.42
0.44
0.46
0.48
0.5
0.52
0.54
0.56
0.58
0.6
0.62
0.64
0.66
0.68
0.7
0.72
Months
Temperature
KT

Fig. 3.5. Monthly variation of clearness Index and temperature for Iseyin
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
24
25
26
27
28
59
61
63
65
67
69
71
73
75
77
79
81
83
85
87
89
Months
Temperature
Relative Humidity (%)

Fig. 3.6. Monthly variation of clearness Index and temperature for Iseyin
4. Variation of diffuse solar radiation
Several models for estimating the diffuse component based on the pioneer works of
Angstrom (1924) and Liu and Jordan (1960) and developed by Klein (Klein, 1977). These
models are usually expressed in either linear or polynomial fittings relating the diffuse
fraction (H
d
) with the clearness index and combining both clearness index (KT) and relative
sunshine duration (Orgill and Hollands, 1977; Erbs et al., 1982; Trabea, 1992; Jacovides, 2006;
Hamdy, 2007, Falayi et al., 2011) established hourly correlations between K
T
and H
d
under
diverse climatic conditions. Ulgen and Hepbasli (2002) correlated the ratio of monthly
average hourly diffuse solar radiation to monthly average hourly global solar radiation with
the monthly average hourly clearness index in form of polynomial relationships for the city
of Izmir, Turkey. Oliveira et al., (2002) used measurements of global and diffuse solar
radiations in the City of Sao Paulo (Brazil) to derive empirical models to estimate hourly,
daily and monthly diffuse solar radiation from values of the global solar radiation, based on
the correlation between the diffuse fraction and clearness index
The diffuse solar radiation H
d
can be estimated by an empirical formula which correlates the
diffuse solar radiation component Hd to the daily total radiation H. The ratio, H
d
/H, therefore,
is an appropriate parameter to define a coefficient, that is, cloudiness or turbidity of the
atmosphere. The correlation equation which is widely used is developed by Page (Page, 1964).
1.00 1.13
d
T
H
K
H
= (4.1)
Another commonly used correlation is due to Liu and Jordan (1960) and developed by Klein
(Klein, 1977) and is given by
( ) ( )
2 3
1.390 4.027 5.53 3.108
d
T T
H
K K KT
H
= + (4.2)
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We engaged both Page (1964) and Klein (1977) models to study the variation of diffuse solar
radiation for Ikeja, Ilorin, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Benin. Large variations in the
intensities of diffuse radiation due to cloudiness have been indicated as stated earlier.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
5
6
7
0.3
0.32
0.34
0.36
0.38
0.4
0.42
0.44
0.46
0.48
0.5
0.52
0.54
0.56
0.58
0.6
Months
Klein model
Latitudes

Fig. 4.1. Monthly variation of diffuse solar radiation using Klein model for selected stations
(Ikeja, Ilorin, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Benin)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
5
6
7
0.32
0.34
0.36
0.38
0.4
0.42
0.44
0.46
0.48
0.5
0.52
0.54
0.56
0.58
0.6
0.62
0.64
0.66
0.68
Months
Latitudes
Page model

Fig. 4.2. Monthly variation of diffuse solar radiation using Page model for selected stations
(Ikeja, Ilorin, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Benin).
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The results of the variation are plotted in Figures 4.1 and 4.2 exhibit the trend variation of
diffuse solar radiation. The maxima of diffuse radiation for the month of July - September
are quite appreciable. This means that there was a high proportion of cloudy days and
relatively low solar energy resource in July September across the locations, and there was
high proportion of sunshine days and relatively abundant solar energy resource between
the month of April and October across the stations. This wet season is expected due to poor
sky conditions caused atmospheric controls as the atmosphere is partly cloudy and part of
solar radiation are scattered by air molecules. The presence of low values of diffuse solar
radiation in Figures 4.1 and 4.2 will be very useful for utilizing it for solar concentrators,
solar cookers and solar furnaces etc.
5. Conclusion
The global solar radiation incident on a horizontal or inclined surface is estimated by
establishing the sky conditions. Monthly variation of clearness index (KT), diffuse ratio
(KD), Temperature and the relative sunshine duration (RS) were employed in this study.
Klein and Page model were used in this study to examine the variation of diffuse solar
radiation for Iseyin, as no station in Iseyin measures diffuse solar radiation.
6. Acknowledgement
The authors are grateful to the management of Nigeria Meteorological Agency, Oshodi,
Lagos State for making the data of global solar radiation, sunshine duration, minimum and
maximum temperature and relative humidity available.
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Solar Radiation
Edited by Prof. Elisha B. Babatunde
ISBN 978-953-51-0384-4
Hard cover, 484 pages
Publisher InTech
Published online 21, March, 2012
Published in print edition March, 2012
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The book contains fundamentals of solar radiation, its ecological impacts, applications, especially in
agriculture, architecture, thermal and electric energy. Chapters are written by numerous experienced scientists
in the field from various parts of the world. Apart from chapter one which is the introductory chapter of the
book, that gives a general topic insight of the book, there are 24 more chapters that cover various fields of
solar radiation. These fields include: Measurements and Analysis of Solar Radiation, Agricultural Application /
Bio-effect, Architectural Application, Electricity Generation Application and Thermal Energy Application. This
book aims to provide a clear scientific insight on Solar Radiation to scientist and students.
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