African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Vol. 6(9), pp.

365-370, September 2012

Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJEST
DOI: 10.5897/AJEST12.090
ISSN 1996-0786 ©2012 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Precise estimation of total solar radiation on tilted

surface
R. K. Aggarwal
Department of Environmental Science, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni – Solan
(HP) – 173 230 India. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 21 August, 2012

A new correction factor (CF) which depends upon the longitude and altitude of the location, has been
used for the estimation of hourly and total solar radiation at different orientation and inclination for
Delhi. The estimated values of hourly solar radiation have also been compared with 15 years measured
data of Delhi to establish the accuracy of the results. The study reveals that hourly and total solar
radiation can be estimated using correction factor without applying any meteorological parameters for
the locations having longitude range of ± 70 to ± 125.

Key words: Correction factor, meteorological parameters, solar radiation.

INTRODUCTION

Solar radiation data is necessary for the performance measured data (Mani, 1980) for establishing the accuracy
evaluation of solar energy systems, which is not available of the model. The total solar radiation using Klein (1977)
for many locations. The hourly solar radiation data is model at different orientations and inclination has also
rarely available required for precise sizing of energy been estimated for Delhi. This technique gives error at
systems. The total solar radiation at different orientation true north and true south.
and slope is needed to calculate the efficiency of the
installed solar energy systems. To calculate clearness
index (Kt) used by Gueymard (2000) for estimating solar
irradiation H, irradiation at the earth’s surface has to be METHODOLOGY
measured. It will also be important to estimate solar
radiation for the locations where there is no facilities to After passing through the Earth's atmosphere, solar radiation
measure any meteorological data, only geographical includes both a direct component from the Sun itself and a diffuse
parameters are available. Now these days solar energy component made up from reflections off clouds, moisture vapour
based systems are in use throughout the world, which and other particulates within the sky. The diffuse component may
generates enough data for their performance evaluation. also contain reflections off the ground and other elements of the
local built environment.
The estimation of solar radiation without using any Incident solar radiation is calculated directly from the geometry of
metrological parameters can be achieved by using newly the model and using hourly recordings of direct beam and diffuse
introduced correction factor (CF), which requires only horizontal solar radiation values taken from the currently loaded
geographical parameters such as longitude and altitude weather data file. Direct horizontal radiation differs from direct beam
of the location (Aggarwal, 2005). The hourly solar in that it is measured incident on a flat horizontal plane.
radiation using Gueymard (2000) daily integration method The diffuse horizontal component is also given in W/m² and is
taken as the energy from the entire sky dome that falls on a
has been estimated for Delhi [Latitude 28.58°N, horizontal surface, minus the effects of direct beam radiation as it
Longitude 77.2°E and Altitude 216 m] in which KT has hits the horizontal.
been replaced by CF and compared with 15 years of This is important as it means that radiation from low in the sky
 366 Afr. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

near the horizon strikes the flat measurement surface at almost The constantsThe
A constants
and BAareand Bgiven
are given by
by:
grazing incidence - meaning that it contributes much less to the
measurement than light from the zenith which strikes the surface at
or near normal incidence.
Diffuse horizontal radiation values assume that there are no cos cossin sin
surrounding obstructions to obscure any part of the sky and, as a AA= -------------- + -----
= ---------------- + -------
result, are typically measured on the top of a tall building or on a
sin tan tan
pole in a field. sin tan tan (8)
The global horizontal radiation being the sum of both the direct and
diffuse components as measured incident on a flat horizontal plane.
It is therefore the sum of the direct horizontal and diffuse horizontal
values. cos sin
The total solar radiation on tilted surface (H T) is the sum of direct B = tan { -------- + -------------- }
or beam solar radiation (HB), sky diffuse solar radiation (HS) and the
ground reflected radiation (HR) and given by: tan sin tan (9)

HT = HB + HS+ HR (1)
Using Equation 3, one can estimate the total solar radiation on tilted
surface (HT). In this study the total solar radiation on tilted surface
The daily beam radiation on an inclined surface is given as: using Klein model and CF has been estimated and compared.

HB = (H – Hd) Rb (2)

where H is the monthly mean daily global solar radiation, H d is RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
diffuse solar radiation on a horizontal surface and Rb is the ratio of
the average daily beam radiation on tilted surface to that on
where H is the monthly mean daily global solar radiation, Hd is diffuse solar radiation on a
horizontal
horizontal surface
surface and R b is theand
ratioisofgiven as (Klein,
the average 1977):
daily beam radiation on tilted surface to The hourly solar radiation estimated for Delhi using CF
that on horizontal surface and is given as Klein [4] has been presented in Table 1 along with 15 years
(cos sin sin) (ss - sr) (/180) – (sin cos sin cos) (ss - sr) (/180) measured values of hourly solar radiation (Mani, 1980)
+ (cos cos cos) (sin ss – sin wsr) + (cos cos sin sin) (sin ss – sin sr) for comparison. The % deviation (N) from measured va-
– (cos sin sin) (cos ss – cos wsr)
Rb = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- lue is in the range of 0.238 to 28.2 represents new model
2 (cos cos sins + (/180) (s sin sin) whereas % deviation (G) represents Gueymard model
(3) the deviation is in the range of 1.94 to 23.54. Estimated
2
total solar radiation (kWh/m ) for Delhi at different
(3)
where  is the surface azimuth angle, and ss & sr are sunrise and inclination and surface azimuth angle is presented in
where sunset ss &surface
sr are sunrise
e  is the is the surface
surface hour azimuth
azimuth angle,
anglesangle,
on the andtilted
and  ss & given
sr
and
are
by:sunset hour angles on the
sunrise and sunset Table
hour 2. Table
angles on the3 shows that the predicted hourly values
 is the
tilted surface given by
esurface surface
given by azimuth angle, and  ss &  sr are sunrise and sunset hour angles
of solaron the
radiation are in the range of 15% for all the
surface given by (AB + (A – B + 1)) 2 2 locations except for the months of July and August this is
+ (A – B + 1))
2 2 due to the onset of Monsoon which is not accurately
sr = - min {s, arcos (AB[ -----------------------------]} if  > 0 (4)
predictable in India. This table also shows that the
sr = - min {s, arcos [ -----------------------------]} if  > 0
2
(A + 1)
2
percentage(4)error in estimating hourly solar radiation is
(A + 1) (4)
similar to as estimated using Gueymard (2000). Hence
the hourly solar radiation using CF can be estimated for
(AB - (A2 – B2 + 1)) other stations also.
ss = min {s, arcos (AB - (A – B + 1))
2 2
[ -----------------------------]} if  > 0 The total solar radiation at various orientations and
(5)
inclinations for Delhi has been presented in Table 2. The
ss = min {s, arcos [ -----------------------------]}
(A2 + 1) if  > 0 results show (5)that Equation 3 does not give correct value
(A2 + 1) (5) for true north or true south. However, for other orientation
the total solar radiation can be estimated accurately for
any location.
(AB - (A – B + 1)) 2 2

sr = - min {s, arcos [ -----------------------------]} if  < 0 (6)

sr = - min {s, arcos [ -----------------------------]} if  < 0 (6)
(A2 + 1)
(A2 + 1)
(6) Conclusion

(AB + (A2 – B2 + 1)) The study reveals that by using CF the total solar
ss = min {s, arcos [ -----------------------------]} if  < 0 radiation
(7)can be estimated for locations having longitude
(A2 + 1) range of ± 70 to ± 125. This method does not require any
(7) type of measured value which requires costly equipments.

constants A and B are given by

 Aggarwal 367

Table 1. Estimated hourly global solar radiation (kWh /m2) for Delhi.

Hour angle Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
97.5 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.027 0.047 0.036 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
82.50 0.000 0.002 0.060 0.123 0.170 0.190 0.179 0.138 0.079 0.017 0.000 0.000
67.50 0.097 0.149 0.222 0.292 0.338 0.355 0.345 0.306 0.241 0.167 0.107 0.081
52.50 0.251 0.315 0.397 0.471 0.514 0.527 0.518 0.483 0.416 0.334 0.263 0.231
37.50 0.402 0.472 0.561 0.637 0.675 0.684 0.677 0.646 0.579 0.492 0.415 0.378
22.50 0.522 0.597 0.688 0.764 0.799 0.803 0.798 0.771 0.705 0.616 0.535 0.497
7.50 0.589 0.665 0.757 0.833 0.866 0.868 0.864 0.839 0.774 0.684 0.602 0.563
-7.50 0.589 0.665 0.757 0.833 0.866 0.868 0.864 0.839 0.774 0.684 0.602 0.563
-22.50 0.522 0.597 0.688 0.764 0.799 0.803 0.798 0.771 0.705 0.616 0.535 0.497
-37.50 0.402 0.472 0.561 0.637 0.675 0.684 0.677 0.646 0.579 0.492 0.415 0.378
-52.50 0.251 0.315 0.397 0.471 0.514 0.527 0.518 0.483 0.416 0.334 0.263 0.231
-67.50 0.097 0.149 0.222 0.292 0.338 0.355 0.345 0.306 0.241 0.167 0.107 0.081
-82.50 0.000 0.002 0.060 0.123 0.170 0.190 0.179 0.138 0.079 0.017 0.000 0.000
-97.5 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.027 0.047 0.036 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Total (measured) 3.721 (3.987) 4.399 (5.001) 5.370 (6.138) 6.241 (6.935) 6.779 (7.287) 6.948 (6.544) 6.832 (5.334) 6.367 (5.053) 5.590 (5.602) 4.620 (5.355) 3.842 (4.523) 3.498 (3.843)

% deviation (N)
6.677 11.49 12.54 9.785 6.831 6.22 28.2 26.6 0.238 13.44 14.97 9.073

% deviation (G)
4.86 11.24 11.84 8.78 5.27 7.75 23.54 22.30 1.94 13.41 15.20 7.51

Table 2. Estimated total solar radiation (kWh/m2) for Delhi at different inclination and surface azimuth angle.

Total solar radiation

Azimuth INCL
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average
 -15 3.24 3.89 4.73 5.49 5.90 6.00 5.93 5.59 4.92 4.08 3.36 3.04 4.68
179  2.50 3.08 3.79 4.35 4.54 4.51 4.52 4.40 3.94 3.25 2.61 2.31 3.65
 + 15 1.88 2.49 3.12 3.53 3.47 3.13 3.35 3.53 3.24 2.65 2.01 1.63 2.84
 -15 3.27 3.94 4.81 5.62 6.08 6.21 6.12 5.74 5.02 4.13 3.39 3.06 4.78

150  2.64 3.24 4.02 4.71 5.05 5.11 5.06 4.80 4.20 3.42 2.75 2.44 3.95
 + 15 1.93 2.47 3.14 3.68 3.85 3.80 3.83 3.74 3.29 2.63 2.02 1.80 3.01
 -15 3.42 4.10 5.03 5.90 6.43 6.60 6.49 6.04 5.25 4.31 3.54 3.20 5.03

120  3.01 3.66 4.55 5.39 5.90 6.07 5.96 5.53 4.76 3.86 3.13 2.81 4.55
368 Afr. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

 + 15 2.58 3.18 4.00 4.79 5.29 5.45 5.35 4.93 4.20 3.36 2.69 2.39 4.02
 -15 3.61 4.32 5.29 6.22 6.81 7.00 6.87 6.38 5.52 4.54 3.73 3.38 5.31

90  3.41 4.12 5.09 6.05 6.68 6.90 6.76 6.22 5.33 4.33 3.54 3.19 5.13
 + 15 3.13 3.81 4.75 5.71 6.37 6.62 6.46 5.89 4.99 4.02 3.25 2.92 4.83
 -15 3.79 4.52 5.52 6.48 7.10 7.30 7.16 6.64 5.76 4.74 3.92 3.56 5.54

60  3.74 4.48 5.50 6.51 7.19 7.43 7.27 6.69 5.75 4.70 3.87 3.50 5.55
 + 15 3.53 4.25 5.26 6.28 6.97 7.23 7.06 6.46 5.51 4.47 3.66 3.30 5.33
 -15 3.77 4.50 5.50 6.48 7.12 7.35 7.20 6.65 5.74 4.72 3.90 3.54 5.54

30  3.96 4.71 5.74 6.74 7.39 7.61 7.46 6.91 5.99 4.94 4.09 3.72 5.77
 + 15 3.93 4.67 5.67 6.64 7.25 7.45 7.31 6.79 5.91 4.89 4.06 3.69 5.69
 -15 4.00 4.74 5.73 6.67 7.25 7.44 7.31 6.82 5.96 4.96 4.13 3.77 5.73

0  4.09 4.83 5.82 6.76 7.35 7.54 7.41 6.91 6.05 5.05 4.22 3.85 5.82
 + 15 3.92 4.63 5.57 6.46 7.00 7.17 7.05 6.59 5.79 4.84 4.05 3.69 5.56
 -15 3.18 3.84 4.73 5.56 6.05 6.20 6.10 5.69 4.94 4.04 3.30 2.97 4.72

-150  2.21 2.79 3.60 4.38 4.87 5.02 4.92 4.52 3.80 2.98 2.31 2.02 3.62
 + 15 1.07 1.45 2.05 2.73 3.27 3.50 3.36 2.89 2.23 1.59 1.13 1.01 2.19
 -15 3.23 3.90 4.80 5.67 6.21 6.38 6.26 5.81 5.02 4.10 3.35 3.02 4.81

-120  2.28 2.82 3.57 4.32 4.82 5.00 4.89 4.46 3.76 2.99 2.38 2.12 3.61
 + 15 1.20 1.50 1.93 2.40 2.74 2.88 2.80 2.50 2.05 1.59 1.25 1.11 2.00
 -15 3.43 4.10 5.02 5.89 6.44 6.62 6.50 6.04 5.24 4.31 3.55 3.21 5.03

-90  2.72 3.26 3.99 4.69 5.13 5.28 5.18 4.81 4.16 3.42 2.81 2.55 4.00
 + 15 1.80 2.12 2.54 2.93 3.14 3.19 3.15 2.98 2.64 2.22 1.86 1.69 2.52
 -15 3.69 4.39 5.33 6.22 6.78 6.96 6.84 6.37 5.55 4.60 3.82 3.47 5.34

-60  3.36 3.96 4.75 5.48 5.91 6.05 5.95 5.59 4.93 4.13 3.46 3.17 4.73
 + 15 2.77 3.20 3.72 4.16 4.36 4.39 4.36 4.21 3.83 3.31 2.84 2.63 3.65
 -15 3.92 4.64 5.61 6.54 7.11 7.29 7.17 6.68 5.84 4.86 4.05 3.69 5.62

-30  3.92 4.60 5.50 6.34 6.84 6.99 6.88 6.46 5.71 4.80 4.04 3.70 5.48
 + 15 3.69 4.27 5.00 5.64 5.96 6.03 5.97 5.71 5.15 4.43 3.79 3.50 4.93
 Aggarwal 369

Table 3. Percentage variation in estimation of solar radiation in different locations of India.

Months
Location Parameter
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Ahmedabad % variation (G) 11.33 13.58 12.95 9.964 8.529 -10.1 -43.8 -47.9 -8.96 10.17 10.92 10.02
% variation (N) 11.33 13.58 12.95 9.964 8.529 -10.1 -43.8 -47.9 -8.96 10.17 10.92 10.02

Bhavnagar % variation (G) 13.58 14.74 13.9 9.062 8.984 -15.5 -49.7 -55 -11.3 10.93 12.82 11.42
% variation (N) 12.73 13.91 13.07 8.205 8.138 -16.6 -51.0 -56.4 -12.4 10.06 11.97 10.56

Chinnai % variation (G) 7.34 15.09 14.00 9.61 4.40 -5.73 -14.41 -11.50 -4.91 -12.62 -13.42 -9.66
% variation (N) 3.86 11.90 10.82 6.31 0.92 -9.58 -18.57 -15.56 -8.77 -16.83 -17.69 -13.78

Jodhpur % variation (G) 9.087 9.703 8.366 4.824 2.283 -6.17 -23.9 -26.4 -1.92 10.09 9.947 8.655
% variation (N) 15.03 15.6 14.27 10.81 8.318 0.353 -16.2 -18.5 4.605 15.95 15.84 14.63

Kodaikanal % variation (G) 23.94 22.4 17.3 8.405 0.889 -7.46 -25.8 -24.0 -19.0 -19.3 -2.033 11.36
% variation (N) 27.14 25.67 20.76 12.21 5.003 -2.99 -20.6 -18.9 -14.1 -14.3 2.265 15.08

Nagpur % variation (G) 14.07 15.19 11.50 8.27 6.02 -15.78 -47.96 -52.21 -12.18 11.32 15.78 13.58
% variation (N) 12.08 13.21 9.45 6.17 3.90 -18.38 -51.29 -55.67 -14.77 9.25 13.82 11.58

New Delhi % variation (G) 4.631 9.541 10.61 7.84 4.859 -8.45 -30.9 -29.3 -1.95 11.52 13.1 7.084
% variation (N) 6.677 11.49 12.54 9.785 6.831 -6.22 -28.2 -26.6 0.238 13.44 14.97 9.073

Puna % variation (G) 13.20 15.99 13.00 9.31 8.55 -13.45 -46.56 -42.37 -14.18 5.77 10.32 10.61
% variation (N) 13.94 16.70 13.73 10.06 9.30 -12.52 -45.36 -41.19 -13.23 6.57 11.08 11.37

Shillong % variation (G) 18.60 25.37 20.07 9.46 -5.69 -36.75 -30.46 -24.71 -20.62 2.03 15.02 25.49
% variation (N) 10.74 17.95 11.97 0.34 -16.22 -50.30 -43.42 -37.22 -32.85 -7.80 6.75 18.37

Trivandrum % variation (G) 14.12 13.20 10.83 1.12 -8.14 -10.31 -16.30 -8.11 -0.50 -7.02 -4.05 3.58
% variation (N) 8.65 7.70 5.27 -5.00 -14.85 -17.18 -23.53 -14.81 -6.75 -13.77 -10.68 -2.57

Visakhapatnam % variation (G) 16.39 17.12 11.77 6.04 3.94 -23.60 -36.70 -26.87 -13.50 1.85 11.31 14.90
% variation (N) 13.85 14.59 9.11 3.26 1.12 -27.24 -40.72 -30.62 -16.91 -1.14 8.61 12.32

REFERENCES

Aggarwal RK (2005). New Correction Factor for the Estimation of Solar

Radiation. J. Renew. Sustain. Energy 1(1):9-14.
Gueymard C (2000). Prediction and Performance Assessment of Mean
Hourly Global Radiation. Sol. Energy 68(3):285-307.
Mani A (1980). Handbook of Solar Radiation Over India. Allied
Publishers, New Delhi.
Klein SA (1977). Calculation of monthly average insolation on tilted
surfaces. Sol. Energy 19:325-329.
370 Afr. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

Nomenclature
2
HT Total solar radiation on tilted surface (kWh/m )
2
HB Beam solar radiation (kWh/m )
2
HS Sky diffuse solar radiation (kWh/m )
2
HR Ground reflected radiation (kWh/m )
2
Hd Diffuse solar radiation on a horizontal surface (kWh/m )
2
H Monthly mean daily global solar radiation (kWh/m )
Kt Clearness index dimensionless
Rb Ratio of the average daily beam radiation on tilted surface to that on horizontal surface
 Surface azimuth angle degrees
ss Sunrise sunset hour angles on the tilted surface degrees
sr Sunset hour angles on the tilted surface degrees
s Hour angle degrees
 Tilt angle degrees
 Latitude degrees
 Declination angle degrees
A Constant dimensionless
B Constant dimensionless