UNIT-1 Solar Energy Radiation L-2

Solar Radiations
The objectives of this section are:

1. to review the properties of solar radiation;
2. to determine theoretical upper limit of solar
radiation available at the earth’s surface;
3. to determine the position of the sun in the sky and
the beam radiation direction that is incident on
surfaces of various orientations and shading
Detailed information about solar radiation availability at any location is
essential for the design and economic valuation of a solar energy system.
2.5 Electromagnetic Radiation

Electromagnetic radiation is self-propagated in wave form through space with
electric and magnetic components as seen in Figure 2.17.
These components oscillate at right angles to each other and to the direction of
propagation and are in phase with each other. An electromagnetic wave is
characterized by its wavelength (λ) and frequency (ƒ).
Because a wave consists of successive troughs or crests, the wavelength is the
distance between two identical adjacent points in the repeating cycles of the
propagating wave, and the frequency is defined as the number of cycles per unit
of time.
The electromagnetic wave spectrum covers energy having wavelengths from
thousands of meters, such as the very long radio waves, to fractions of the size of
an atom, such as the very short gamma ray waves.
The units for wavelength vary from picometers (pm) to megameters (Mm); for
the frequency, the most common unit is the hertz (Hz), which is the inverse of
time (1/seconds). frequency is inversely proportional to wavelength according to
Where,
ν is the speed of the wave; in vacuum ν = c = 299,792,458 m/s—the
speed of the light is less in other media.
Solar energy
Solar energy is in the form of electromagnetic radiation with the

wavelengths ranging from approximately 0.3 μm (10 m) to over 3
−6
μm,
which correspond to ultraviolet (less than 0.4 μm),
visible (0.4 and 0.7 μm), and infrared (over 0.7 μm).
Most of this energy is concentrated in the visible and the near-infrared

wavelength range (see Figure 2.16).
The incident solar radiation, sometimes called insolation, is measured as

irradiance, or the energy per unit time per unit area (or power per unit
area). The units most often used are watts per square meter (W/ m^2),
British thermal units per hour per square foot (Btu/h・ft^2), and Langleys
per minute (calories per square centimeter per minute, cal/cm^2・min).
Extraterrestrial radiation
In addition to the total energy in the solar spectrum (i.e., the solar
constant), it is useful to know the spectral distribution of the
extraterrestrial radiation, that is, the radiation that would be received in
the absence of the atmosphere.
A standard spectral irradiance curve has been compiled based on high-
altitude and space measurements.
Two sources of variation in extraterrestrial radiation must be
considered. The first is the variation in the radiation emitted by the
sun. There are conflicting reports in the literature on periodic
variations of intrinsic solar radiation. It has been suggested that there
are small variations
Blackbody
All objects at temperatures greater than 0 K emit energy as
electromagnetic radiation due to the movement of the electrons. To
study the mechanisms of interchange of energy between radiation and
mass, the concept of blackbody was defined.
A blackbody is an ideal concept and refers to a perfect absorbing body

of thermal radiation, with no reflection and transmission involved.
Because no light is reflected or transmitted, the object appears black
when it is cold.
If the blackbody is hot, these properties make it also an ideal source of
thermal radiation. For a blackbody, the spectral absorption factor (αλ)
is equal to the emissivity (ελ); this relation is known as Kirchhoff’s law
of thermal radiation. Then, for all wavelengths, the next equation
applies:
Stephan-Boltzmann Law
Wien’s Law
The gases of the atmosphere are relatively good absorbers of long wave radiation
and thus absorb the energy emitted by the Earth's surface.
The absorbed radiation is emitted downward toward the surface as long wave
atmospheric counter-radiation keeping near surfaces temperatures warmer than
they would be without this blanket of gases. This blanket of gases.
This is known as the ”greenhouse effect".
Atmospheric Effects on Incoming Solar Radiation
Air Mass m The ratio of the mass of atmosphere through which beam radiation
passes to the mass it would pass through if the sun were at the zenith (i.e., directly
overhead, see Section 1.6). Thus at sea level m = 1 when the sun is at the zenith
and m = 2 for a zenith angle θz of 60◦. For zenith angles from 0◦ to 70◦ at sea level,
to a close approximation,
m = 1/ cos θz
Beam Radiation The solar radiation received from the sun without having been
scattered by the atmosphere. (Beam radiation is often referred to as direct solar
radiation; to avoid confusion between subscripts for direct and diffuse, we use the
term beam radiation.)
Diffuse Radiation The solar radiation received from the sun after its direction has
been changed by scattering by the atmosphere. (Diffuse radiation is referred to in
some meteorological literature as sky radiation or solar sky radiation; the definition
used here will distinguish the diffuse solar radiation from infrared radiation emitted
by the atmosphere.)
Total Solar Radiation The sum of the beam and the diffuse solar radiation on a
surface. (The most common measurements of solar radiation are total radiation on
4
a horizontal surface, often referred to as global radiation on the surface.)

Irradiance, W/m^2The rate at which radiant energy is incident on a surface per unit area
of surface. The symbol G is used for solar irradiance, with appropriate subscripts for
beam, diffuse, or spectral radiation.
Irradiation or Radiant Exposure, J/m^2The incident energy per unit area on a surface,
found by integration of irradiance over a specified time, usually an hour or a day.
Insolation is a term applying specifically to solar energy irradiation. The symbol H is

used for insolation for a day. The symbol I is used for insolation for an hour (or other
period if specified).
The symbols H and I can represent beam, diffuse, or total and can be on surfaces of any
orientation.
Subscripts on G, H, and I are as follows: o refers to radiation above the earth’s
atmosphere, referred to as extraterrestrial radiation; b and d refer to beam and diffuse
radiation; T and n refer to radiation on a tilted plane and on a plane normal to the
direction of propagation. If neither T nor n appears, the radiation is on a horizontal plane.
Radiosity or Radiant Exitance, W/m^2The rate at which radiant energy leaves a

surface per unit area by combined emission, reflection, and transmission.
Emissive Power or Radiant Self-Exitance, W/m^2 The rate at which radiant energy
leaves a surface per unit area by emission only.
Sun Radiation spectrum *The radiation that would be received in the absence of the
atmosphere at mean-earth sun distance (World Radiation
Center (WRC) standard)
The SUN
Earth

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Solar Radiations

The objectives of this section are:

2.5 Electromagnetic Radiation

Solar energy is in the form of electromagnetic radiation with the

Most of this energy is concentrated in the visible and the near-infrared

The incident solar radiation, sometimes called insolation, is measured as

A blackbody is an ideal concept and refers to a perfect absorbing body

a horizontal surface, often referred to as global radiation on the surface.)

Insolation is a term applying specifically to solar energy irradiation. The symbol H is

Radiosity or Radiant Exitance, W/m^2The rate at which radiant energy leaves a

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