Abstract
The chapter presents express methods for estimating the solar energy potential at a given point on the basis of combining the solar radiation daily profile application method under clear skies and actinometrical data of the NASA electronic base. Such a new approach including the climatological conditions of the region, significantly reduces the calculation time, and improves the accuracy of the decisions with a minimum of initial data. For the speed and convenience of calculations based on the proposed methodology, it was implemented in the form of a computer program. The article also analyzes the influence of spatial orientation on the maximum electricity produced during the month, season and year and it reveals that the use of an optimal inclination angle for the specified periods of time makes it possible to realize the existing solar potential of the region at the same capital expenditures.
TopBackground
The priority task of designing generating facilities is the pre-project study of local renewable resources, and in particular solar energy in the places of their proposed location (Winter, 1991; Adomavicius et al., 2013; White, Michael, & Ahad, Ali, 2016).
Calculation of enlarged indicators such as gross, technical and economic solar energy potential was carried out in a large number of works (Vissarionov et al., 2008; Kharchenko, Nikitin & Tikhonov, 2010). However, this information allows us to identify only promising areas for the location of solar power plants, but it is insufficient to determine their composition, power and forecast their operating mode.
It is noted in (Shyam, & Rajeev, 2011) that the methods for calculating solar radiation intensity of arbitrarily oriented surface at any time are based on average long-term observations and rely on one principle: the data for a horizontal receiving surface for a point with certain coordinates are recalculated at an arbitrarily oriented surface according to the empirical formulas proposed by different Authors, taking into account various factors.
Thus, for example, the paper (Benkaciali, Benkaciali, & Gairaa,2012) is aimed at analyzing the data on the solar radiation intensity on the inclined at three different angles surface of the southern orientation, obtained with the help of two theoretical models of Brichambaut (Sen, 2008) and Liu and Jordan (Liu, & Jordan, 1961). The first author takes into account two input parameters - local time, day number, the second author is based on the measured values of solar radiation (diffused and total insolation occurring on a horizontal surface). The results of the reliability evaluation of the results obtained by the proposed methods for the selected day showed that their deviation from actinometrical data is insignificant and does not exceed several percent. Therefore, the choice of calculation methodology should be made depending on the available initial data and operating conditions of the particular power.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Verification of Data: Verification of theoretical results by comparing them with experimental data.
Standard Conditions for Testing the Solar Cell: Test conditions, regulated by the density of the solar energy flux of 1000 W/M 2 and the temperature of photovoltaic solar cells of 25 °C.
Optimum Inclination Angle of the Receiving Surface: Inclination angle of the receiving surface relative to the horizon, which allows obtaining the maximum solar radiation flux on its surface for a given period of time.
Solar Radiation Intensity: The density of solar radiation (energy illumination), coming per unit area of the photoelectric module.
Actinometrical Data: Results of long-term meteorological observations at weather stations, processed and systematized by specialized organizations in the form of climate reference books and databases.
Receiving Surface: The surface of the photoelectric device / photovoltaic part of the device, which receives solar radiation.
Geographical Coordinates: Angular values - latitude and longitude, which determine the position of objects on the earth's surface and on the map.