Comparative analysis of theoretical global solar radiation curves with solarimetric data [articol]

Abstract

This present study developed in software analyze the extraterrestrial radiation on horizontal and inclined surface from simulated curves of solar declination, zenith, azimuthal and solar height angle, comparing with solarimetric data from meteorological stations at studied locations. Based on spherical trigonometry, the definition of zenith, solar height and radiation angle functions are experimented by simulation at MATLAB environment, being developed in order to the creation of a program which can plot radiation estimates for a particular locality as the user inputs. The tested curves show the parameters tested throughout the day and year. In addition, comparing the curves with history raised by solarimetric measurement institutes, it analyzes the theoretical setting with data to assess the statistical coefficient of determination of the plots. The curves, according to an application, will support solar tracker projects at photovoltaics at better exploitation of solar energy, being relevant at the graduation of engineers and/or future researchers, thus meeting the educational demand from courses in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Physics.