Computation of Diffuse Solar Radiation

Prasad, CR and Inamdar, AK and Venkatesh, P (1987) Computation of Diffuse Solar Radiation. In: Solar Energy, 39 (6). pp. 521-532.

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Abstract

A technique for computing the spectral and angular (both the zenith and azimuthal) distribution of the solar energy reaching the surface of earth and any other plane in the atmosphere has been developed. Here the computer code LOWTRAN is used for getting the atmospheric transmittances in conjunction with two approximate procedures: one based on the Eddington method and the other on van de Hulst's adding method, for solving the equation of radiative transfer to obtain the diffuse radiation in the cloud-free situation. The aerosol scattering phase functions are approximated by the Hyeney-Greenstein functions. When the equation of radiative transfer is solved using the adding method, the azimuthal and zenith angle dependence of the scattered radiation is evaluated, whereas when the Eddington technique is utilized only the total downward flux of scattered solar radiation is obtained. Results of the diffuse and beam components of solar radiation received on surface of earth compare very well with those computed by other methods such as the more exact calculations using spherical harmonics and when atmospheric conditions corresponding to that prevailing locally in a tropical location (as in India) are used as inputs the computed values agree closely with the measured values.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Solar Energy
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Additional Information:	copyright of this article belongs to Elsevier Science.
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Centre for Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences Division of Mechanical Sciences > Mechanical Engineering
Date Deposited:	28 May 2009 11:15
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2010 07:36
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/20045

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