Scribd
Upload
10 views21 pages

WSE-CH-3 - Stu Copy - Protected - Unlocked

The document provides an overview of solar energy, including the classification of solar radiation into direct, diffuse, and reflected types. It discusses solar geometry, key angles such as azimuth, zenith, and altitude, and their significance in maximizing solar energy production. Additionally, it presents a formula for estimating annual solar energy output based on various factors like panel area and efficiency.

Uploaded by

harsh mochi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
10 views21 pages

WSE-CH-3 - Stu Copy - Protected - Unlocked

The document provides an overview of solar energy, including the classification of solar radiation into direct, diffuse, and reflected types. It discusses solar geometry, key angles such as azimuth, zenith, and altitude, and their significance in maximizing solar energy production. Additionally, it presents a formula for estimating annual solar energy output based on various factors like panel area and efficiency.

Uploaded by

harsh mochi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 21

Solar Energy

Contents
Introduction

To design and analyze solar systems, we need to know how much


sunlight is available.

A set of equations can be used to predict where the sun is in the sky at
any time of day for any location on earth, as well as the solar intensity
on a clear day.
Solar radiation spectra
Classify the solar radiation and define each term

Direct radiation is intercepted unimpeded in a direct line from the sun.

Diffuse radiation is scattered by atmospheric constituents, such as clouds and dust.

Reflected radiation is reflected from surface features. The sum of the direct, diffuse, and
reflected radiation is called total or global solar radiation.
Solar Geometry
Solar Geometry describes the relationship between the sun and earth
or more importantly, The relationship of solar radiation, the product of the sun with any
location on the earth
Solar Geometry
Latitude is the points north and south of the equator.
Longitude is the points east and west of the prime meridian.
Latitude, is the angular distance from the Equator
to a point on the Earth's surface.
θz
θz

α
θz

γs
Azimuth (deg)
For a fixed array, the azimuth angle is the angle clockwise from true north describing
the direction that the array faces. An azimuth angle of 180° is for a south-facing array,
and an azimuth angle of zero degrees is for a north-facing array. These values
typically maximize electricity production over the year.

For the northern hemisphere, increasing the azimuth angle favors afternoon energy
production, and decreasing the azimuth angle favors morning energy production. The
opposite is true for the southern hemisphere.
β
θ

β
The zenith angle is the angle between sun’s rays and the line perpendicular to
the horizontal plane. Here it is θz

Altitude angle (αs): It is the angle between the sun rays and the horizon.
According to the definition: αs = 90- θz

Solar azimuth angle (γs): It is the angle in the horizontal plane measured from the
south to the horizontal projection of the sun rays.
Observer Sun angles
Solar day length
Estimation of solar energy availability

The global formula to estimate annual solar energy output;


E = A * r * H * PR
E = Energy (kWh)
A = Total solar panel Area (m²)
r = solar panel yield or efficiency(%) r is the yield of
the solar panel given by the ratio : electrical power
(in kWp) of one solar panel divided by the area of
one panel.
Example : the solar panel yield of a PV module of 250 Wp with
an area of 1.6 m² is 15.6%.
H = Annual average solar radiation on tilted panels
PR = Performance ratio, coefficient for losses (range
between 0.5 and 0.9, default value = 0.75)
GTU Paper Questions

No Question Mark Exam


1 Classify the solar radiation and define each term 3 DEC-22
2 Define. 1) Azimuth angle 2) Latitude angle 3) longitude angle 4) Zenith 4 DEC-22
angle
3 Define zenith, solar altitude and azimuth angle in solar geometry 3 DEC-21
4 Prove that solar day length is function of latitude and declination angle 4 DEC-21

5 Define earth sun angle and observer sun angle. 3 Jun-22


6 Explain the solar energy availability in India throughout the year. 4 Jun-22

You might also like