solar energy measurement system

Solar Energy Measurement System

http://www.edgefxkits.com/

Basic concepts

Radiant energy travels in the form of electromagnetic waves.

These waves do not require molecules to propagate.

Different types of radiation are characterized by different wavelengths.


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DESCRIPTION

This is used to measure solar cell parameters through multiple sensor data

acquisition.

In this solar panel is used which keeps monitoring the sunlight.

Here different parameters of the solar panel like the light intensity, voltage,

current and the temperature are controlled.











Block diagram:











Working of block diagram:

The microcontroller used here is PIC16F8 family.

The light intensity is monitored using an LDR sensor, voltage by voltage

divider principle, current by current sensor and temperature by the

temperature sensor.

All these data gets displayed on a 16X2 LCD interfaced to PIC

microcontroller.

The power supply consists of a step-down transformer 230/12V, which steps

drags the voltage to 12V AC. It is converted to DC using a bridge rectifier.











The ripples are removed using a capacitive filter, and it is then regulated to

+5V using a voltage regulator 7805 that is essential for the operation of

the microcontroller and other circuits.











Why is the Measurement of Solar Radiation Important

Measuring the sun’s radiation output has a variety of useful purposes:

It allows for the development of solar energy devices, makes it possible for

doctors to issue advice about sun exposure, and permits scientists to predict

rates of future global warming on a grander scale.











How to Measure Solar Energy?

There are two types of solar energy measurement, based on the kind of

energy:

Measuring Solar Thermal Energy

Measuring Solar Photovoltaic Energy

The power output is expressed by the amount of solar radiation that reaches

the absorbent surface be it a solar panel or solar collector.

The measurement of solar radiation is based on a rate of kilowatts per

square meter, represented as W/m2.











The measurement standard for scientific data, designed for generating a

direct estimate of solar energy – mainly, how much sunlight is hitting a

particular part of the Earth at any given time

Measurements taken for the purpose of energy production via solar panels

and another photovoltaic equipment is calculated in kilowatt-hours per

square meter, or kWh/m2, designed to represent the amount of energy being

generated by that sunlight.











Measuring Solar Thermal Energy

Solar thermal energy measured in British thermal units (Btu) per square foot of

collector space.

A Btu is about the amount of energy it takes to heat a pound of water from

39°F to 40°F.











Measuring Solar Photovoltaic Energy

Electricity measured in watts, i.e., with one thousand watts in a kilowatt.

Using one thousand watts of electricity in one hour is a kilowatt-hour (kWh),

the measurement on your utility bill

For solar panels, the measurement of kWh refers to the amount of energy

produced by the panel.

This measure can be represented as kWh per square meter of panel surface.

For example, it takes 38,000 BTUs to heat 80 gallons of cold water to 122

degrees. A solar hot water heating system with a rating of 30,500 Btu/day rating

will be able to provide 80 percent of the daily hot water needs.












Solar Photovoltaic Energy










Measurement Techniques

Several different tools can be used to measure kilowatts and kilowatt-hours

per square meter.

A Pyranometer is a device used to measure global solar radiation while a

Pyrheliometer measures direct radiation.

A Pyranometer comprises of a thermopile sensor with a black coating, which

absorbs all solar radiation, and a glass dome, which limits the spectral

response of the thermopile.

A Pyrheliometer works similarly but is designed with a solar tracker to keep

the device directly aimed at the sun for the duration of the measurement

being taken.











Hardware Requirements

PIC16F8 series MC

Solar Panel

LCD

Transformer

Diodes

Voltage Regulator

Resistors

Capacitor

LED











Software Requirements

MPLAB & CCS C compiler

Language: Embedded C or Assembly











Commercial and Scientific Use

Most of the tools used for the measurement of solar radiation are quite

expensive and is primarily used by meteorologists and other scientific

researchers.

Companies manufacturing solar panels and other forms of energy production

using sunlight may also employ the utilization of these products.

Actual solar radiation equipment is not often useful to the average person

interested in measuring sunlight intensity for gauging solar panel productivity.

Insolation tables, which specify the kilowatts per square meter recorded

annually in different areas, are found online.











Future Scope:

The measurement of solar radiation is useful in much the same way that records

of rainfall are useful

it gives us information about our world with which to make informed decisions.

For example, insolation tables can help people in different areas decided

whether solar panels are an appropriate alternative energy source. If there is not

enough solar radiation, they may opt instead for wind power.

Such data may also be useful when it comes to deciding how much sunscreen

to wear, or for physicians looking to study rates of skin cancer in relation to

rates of solar radiation exposure.











Conclusion:

Although the technicality and special equipment required for the

measurement of solar radiation may make it difficult for the layman to

understand, there are many practical uses for this data.

Ultimately, as with many scientific measurements, the collection methods

are less important for laymen than the results – but these, when interpreted

and translated by the scientific community, can serve a variety of purposes.








