Atmospheric Renewable Energy Research, Volume 5 (Solar Radiation Flux Model)

This report documents a program coded in MATLAB, for renewable energy applications that was based on Ralph Shapiros Solar Radiation Flux Model. Shapiro's approach was chosen based on its use of insitu-only measurement input. There exist numerous factors in the realm of solar radiation that limi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Walker,Clayton, Vaucher,Gail
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Clouds
Electric Power Production and Distribution
reflectance
renewable energy
solar energy
solar radiation
transmittance
Online Access:Request full text
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Summary:This report documents a program coded in MATLAB, for renewable energy applications that was based on Ralph Shapiros Solar Radiation Flux Model. Shapiro's approach was chosen based on its use of insitu-only measurement input. There exist numerous factors in the realm of solar radiation that limit the total amount of flux received at the ground level after traversing the atmosphere. The model encoded sought to simplify these variables and implement them into an algorithm to predict the net solar radiation flux received at ground level throughout the entire solar day. The model represents the atmosphere as a series of 3 homogeneous layers, and quantifies the effects on the vertical radiation in terms of reflectance, transmittance, and absorption. These 3 terms are a function of cloud type, thickness, and current atmospheric conditions. An introduction to the models purpose, necessity, and development is detailed in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 describes Model equations and data tables, which are summarized in a model algorithm flowchart. A preliminary comparison between the model output and data sampled by an Atmospheric Renewable Energy Field Study number 2 (ARE2) pyranometer during a clear sky day is provided in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 summarizes the model results and offers recommendations for future tactical energy unit independence applications.