EEE 485
Renewable Energy Conversion
Solar Radiation
Prof. Dr. Mahmud Abdul Matin
Mahmud, EEE, CUET 1
Introduction
To determine the solar
energy available for the
PV system
To understand the
nature of solar radiation
at different location on
the Earth
How to determine the
amount of solar
radiation falling on PV
panels from the
measured data
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Solar Radiation
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Solar Radiation (Cont.)
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
AVAILABLE ENERGY: LATITUDE & CLIMATE
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
FUNDAMENTALS 07
Solar Radiation & Its Notations
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Radiation & Its Notations (Cont.)
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Energy from Sun
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Energy from the Sun
To determine the available solar energy for PV system at a
particular site is important before any PV system design
The Sun acts as a perfect emitter of radiation (black body) at
6000 K.
Solar constant S=1367 W/m2 is out of our atmosphere
Irradiance: the total power from a radiant source on a unit area
Solar radiation after entering the atmosphere lost by scattering
or absorption by aerosols (H2O, O3, CO2…)
Beam radiation: on the earth surface directly
Diffused radiation: the scattered radiation which reach on ES
Albedo: after reflection from the ground & Objects
Global: Beam radiation + Diffused radiation + Albedo
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Air Mass (AMx)
Total radiation is extremely variable
due to variation of sun motion,
composition of the atmosphere…
The effect of clear atmosphere on
sunlight is AM = actual length/direct
length of sun beam= 1/cosθz
AM1, AMo for satellite application
AM1.5 is standard = 1kW/m2, It is high
but actual is less due to weather
condition & motion of earth
So daily and annual irradiance is used
It depends on latitudes, equatorial area
and polar area
Solar irradiation: irradiance integrated
over a period of time Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Spectral Dist., AM0 and AM1.5
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Annual Solar Radiation at Locations
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Solar Radiation on Inclined Surface
The radiation data are given in the form of global radiation
on an horizontal surface
PV panels are at an angle….
The diagram is for inclined surface….
Calculation has 3 steps:
First is to separate the beam and diffused contribution to
global irradiation on HP
Bo reference and calculating KT = G/Bo is clearness index
Eccentricity of the earth orbit (3%) 43km
2nd step is to determine the beam and diffused radiation on
the horizontal plane
3rd step is to determine the beam and diffused radiation
on the inclined surface, Albedo also can be determined
The total on IS is adding 3 contribution on IS (23º for BD)
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Solar Radiation on IS (Cont.)
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Calculation of Radiation on IS
The inputs are the global daily radiation G, Solar constant
S, geographical latitude (φ) and solar declination (δ) Also
need solar panel inclination (β) and surrounding
reflectivity (ρ)
The extraterrestrial radiation over one day:
Bo= 24/πS{1+0.33Cos(2πdn/365)}(Cosφ Cosδ Sinωs + ωs Sinφ Sinδ)
Now the clearness index KT = G/Bo can be calculated
The following empirical formula can be used to calculate
diffuse radiation
D/G = 1- 1.13 KT
The beam irradiation is B = G-D
PV panels are at an angle β
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Calculation of Radiation on IS
The beam irradiance B(β) on a south facing
panel is given by
The diffuse radiation on the IS:
D(β)=1/2(1+Cosβ)D
The Albedo radiation from a model is:
R(β)=1/2(1-Cosβ)ρD
Now the total global irradiance on the IS is:
G(β) = B(β) + D(β) + R(β)
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Radiation on an inclined surface
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Radiation on IS (Cont.)
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Radiation on IS (Cont.)
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Solar Radiation Summary
The principle component of radiation are discussed…
The solar radiation depends on the geographical location
The daily solar irradiance on IS are evaluated
The inclination angle for maximization of input:
For whole year is equal to latitude angle
For stand-alone steeper angle is chosen
For summer peaking load shallow angle is usually
perfect
Dr. Mahmud, EEE, CUET
Mahmud, EEE, CUET 22
