Analysis of the solar radiation data for Beer Sheva, Israel, and its environs

The solar radiation climate of Beer Sheva, Israel, is reported upon in detail. The database utilized in this analysis consisted of global radiation on a horizontal surface, normal incidence beam radiation, and global radiation on a south-facing surface tilted at 40°. Monthly-average hourly and daily values are reported for each of these three types of measured radiations, together with the calculated monthly-average daily values for the components of the global radiation, viz. the horizontal beam and diffuse radiations. The monthly-average hourly and daily clearness index values have also been calculated and analyzed. Monthly-average daily frequency distributions of the clearness index values are reported for each month. The solar radiation climate of Beer Sheva has also been compared to those reported for a number of countries in this region. The annual-average daily global radiation incident on a horizontal surface is 18.91 MJ/m² and that for normal incidence beam radiation is 21.17 MJ/m². The annual-average daily fraction of the horizontal global radiation that is beam is 0.72. The annual-average daily value for the clearness index is 0.587 and the average frequency of clear days annually is 58.6%. We conclude, based upon the above analysis, that Beer Sheva and its environs are characterized by relatively high, average-daily irradiation rates, both global and beam, and a relatively high frequency of clear days.     

Solar radiation models—A review

Solar radiation models for predicting the average daily and hourly global radiation, beam radiation and diffuse radiation on horizontal surface are reviewed in this article. Estimations of monthly average hourly global radiation from daily summations are discussed. It was observed that Collares‐Pereira and Rabl model as modified by Gueymard (CPRG) yielded the best performance for estimating mean hourly global radiation incident on a horizontal surface for Indian regions. Estimations of monthly average hourly beam and diffuse radiation are discussed. It was observed that Singh‐Tiwari and Jamil‐Tiwari both models generally give better results for climatic conditions of Indian regions. Therefore, their use is recommended for composite climate of Indian regions. Empirical correlations developed to establish a relationship between the hourly diffuse fraction and the hourly clearness index using hourly global and diffuse irradiation measurements on a horizontal surface are discussed. Fifty models using the Angstrom–Prescott equation to predict the average daily global radiation with hours of sunshine are considered. It was reported that Ertekin and Yaldiz model showed the best performance against measured data of Konya, Turkey. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A method for characterization and inter-comparison of sites with regard to solar energy utilization by statistical analysis of their solar radiation data as performed for three sites in the Israel Negev region

A method for the characterization and inter-comparison of sites with regard to their suitability for utilization of solar energy based upon the statistical analysis of their solar radiation intensities is presented. In this method each monthly data set of the daily global, horizontal beam and diffuse radiation intensities was analyzed and the following parameters were determined: monthly average daily radiation intensity, coefficient of variation, skewness and kurtosis. The values of the skewness and kurtosis have been applied, using generally accepted rules, to describe the distribution curves for each of the radiation intensity data sets. In addition, the same type of statistical analysis was applied to the monthly average daily ratios of the horizontal beam to global radiation, diffuse to global and the clearness index for the three sites. In this investigation, this statistical analysis method has been applied to the global and beam radiation measured at three sites located in the southern, Negev region of Israel, viz., Beer Sheva, Sde Boker and Eilat. The southern region of Israel is characterized by relatively high average daily irradiation intensities for both global and normal incidence radiation. They have been characterized with regard to the distribution of their intensity levels and a site inter-comparison has also been performed. An inter-comparison of the results of these analyses for the three sites has been performed on a monthly basis. The results of this analysis are used both to characterize and compare the composition of the solar radiation at the three sites under investigation. The results of this study will be presented in detail.     

Statistical comparison of solar radiation correlations Monthly average global and diffuse radiation on horizontal surfaces

For most solar energy applications, it is necessary to predict the amount of global and diffuse radiation arriving on a horizontal surface at any specified location. Scientists have developed methods to achieve this using different input parameters. The purpose of this study is to compare statistically correlations for estimating the monthly average daily global/diffuse radiation incident on a horizontal surface and to recommend one in each catagory that best fits measured data from a number of locations chosen and is the simplest to use. The effects of using the new solar constant of 1367 W⁻² in these correlations are also investigated. As a result, Rietveld's and Page's correlations are recommended for estimating monthly average daily global and diffuse radiation incident on a horizontal surface, respectively. In addition, these correlations seem to be just as accurate with the new solar constant.     

Experimental and theoretical investigation of global and diffuse solar radiation in the United Arab Emirates

In the present study, the global, direct and diffuse components of solar radiation as well as temperature, relative humidity and wind speed have been continuously monitored and analysed on an hourly, daily and monthly basis. The monthly average daily total solar radiation varies from 2700 W h/m² in December to 8000 W h/m² in June with an average clearness index of 0.65. Experimental data are compared to the predictions of different theoretical models as functions of declination and hour angles. Correlations are obtained describing the variation of hourly, daily and monthly averages of total and diffuse solar radiation using polynomial expressions. Empirical correlations describing the dependence of the daily average diffuse to total radiation ratio on the clearness index are also obtained. Data for the daily diffuse to total radiation ratio are compared to correlations obtained by other investigators. The comparison shows a reasonable agreement with some scatter due to the seasonal dependence of the correlation. Comparison of calculations with experimental measurements under clear sky conditions show excellent agreement with a maximum error of 8%.     

Impact of Kuwait''s oil-fire smoke cloud on the sky of Bahrain

The effects of the Kuwaiti oil well fires of 1991 on the atmospheric parameters of Bahrain (600 km southeast of Kuwait) were observed. Solar radiation, optical thickness, ultraviolet radiation, horizontal visibility, temperature, and solar spectral distribution were measured for 1991 and compared to the long-term values of 1985–1990. The relative monthly solar radiation in Bahrain was reduced by 8% (February) when 50 oil wells were burning and reduced further to 20% when 470 oil wells were on fire (April–July). In November 1991, when there were 12 oil wells burning, the recorded solar radiation became nearly equal to the long-term average. The monthly average daily optical thickness, τ, for the direct or beam solar radiation was calculated. The values of τ were found to be larger in 1991 than the average for the years 1985–1990 by nearly 58% during June and returned to normal in October (after nearly all the oil well fires were extinguished). The clear and smoked sky solar spectra distribution were detected before and during the burning of the Kuwait oil wells. Large absorption of the solar radiation was noticed on the 2nd and 3rd of March, 1991. The daily average infrared radiation during 1990 was found to be 6700.4 Whm⁻² and shifted to 9182.1 Whm⁻² in 1991. Comparison was also made between 1990 and 1991 data of the global solar radiation and the temperature. The effect of the burning oil wells in Kuwait on the horizontal visibility in Bahrain have also been studied. The changes in the above parameters were mainly attributed to the plumes driven by the wind from the burning oil wells to the Island of Bahrain.     

Optimum tilt angle for solar collectors used in Cyprus

Flat-plate solar collectors are widely used in Cyprus for water heating purposes. The roofs of nearly all the residential premises on the island are fitted with such collectors. This article examines the theoretical aspects of choosing a tilt angle for the solar flat-plate collectors used in Cyprus and makes recommendations on how the collected energy can be increased by varying the tilt angle. In this paper, the collector surface is assumed to be facing South and the calculations are based upon the measured values of daily global solar radiation on a horizontal surface on the island. The beam and diffuse components of the horizontal global radiation are then estimated and the solar radiation on a tilted surface is calculated as the angle of tilt is varied from 0° to 90°. It is shown that very nearly optimal energy can be collected if the angle of tilt is varied seasonally, four times a year.     

Measurements and predictions of solar radiation incident on horizontal surfaces at Santa Fe, Argentina (31° 39′S, 60° 43′W)

Measurements and predictions of solar radiation during a period of 10 years on horizontal surfaces at Santa Fe (31° 39′ S, 60° 43′ W), Argentina, reported as average daily global radiation for each month, are presented. Data are compared to those obtained with a previously published and verified model for computing solar radiation on horizontal planes at the earth's surface for cloudless sky days. Measurements show an important reduction of global radiation with respect to the cloudless sky model predictions for all months of the year. Conversely, averaged daily diffuse solar radiation calculated with Page's formula shows a small increment with respect to the predicted diffuse solar radiation for cloudless sky conditions. When direct solar radiation data, calculated from global and diffuse solar radiation values, are compared to theoretical prediction, a significant decrease is observed. This trend is similar to that obtained for global solar radiation.     

Uses of sunshine duration to estimate the global solar radiation over eight meteorological stations in Egypt

The climatological Ångstrom regression coefficients have been determined by three methods and used to predict the global solar radiation over eight meteorological stations. Each of the three methods depends on the correlation between two ratios. The first ratio is between the long period of monthly average sunshine duration and the corresponding maximum of daily sunshine duration (day length) N, and the second ratio is between the measured monthly average daily global solar radiation and the corresponding monthly mean daily extraterrestrial solar radiation on the horizontal surface ₀. A comparison between the measured data and the estimated values has been done. The t-statistics is used as a statistical indicator to choose the coefficients of the best method that gives a percentage of error less than 10%.     

On the choice of the angle of tilt for south facing solar collectors in the Athens basin area

This paper seeks to furnish a fundamental piece of information to the solar engineer or scientist regarding the proper choice of the solar collector's tilt angle. Global radiation monthly average daily values are analyzed by a simple correlation into diffuse and beam components. The diffuse and beam components are then used to calculate monthly average hourly and daily values on an inclined surface. The results of these calculations are tabulated and plotted against the angle of tilt for summer, winter and all-year-round intended use. Global radiation measurements used in this work come from (a) the Climatological Bulletin of the National Observatory of Athens, years 1957–1981, (b) the unpublished records of the National Weather Service of Greece (referred to as EMY), years 1977–1982, and (c) the Scientific Publications of the Public Power Co. (referred to as PPC) on measurements of solar potential of Greece, years 1982–1983; the latter was the source of solar diffuse data as well.     

Global,diffuse and direct solar radiation at the surface in the city of Rio de Janeiro: Observational characterization and empirical modeling

The city of Rio de Janeiro and others 18 cities compose the Metropolitan Area of Rio de Janeiro. The main objective of this work is to characterize observationally the diurnal and seasonal evolution of the solar radiation components in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The measurements of global and diffuse solar radiation and standard meteorological variables at the surface have been carried out regularly at the Geoscience Institute of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro since October of 2011. The microclimatic conditions show that the period 2011–2014 was warmer during most of the year and drier in summer and spring in comparison with climate normal. All solar radiation components present a well defined diurnal cycle with maximum at noon. The estimates of global and direct solar radiation indicate a great potential available for solar energy at the surface, particularly in summer. The behavior of the clearness index and diffuse solar radiation fraction is similar in summer and winter. The Angstrom formula represents properly the estimate of the monthly average daily value of global solar radiation. The sigmoid logistic function is statistically more significant in comparison with others correlation models to represent the diffuse fraction as a function clearness index.     

Estimation of monthly mean daily diffuse radiation in China

In this study, several equations are employed to estimate monthly mean daily diffuse solar radiation for eight typical meteorological stations in China. Estimated values are compared with measured values in terms of statistical error tests such as mean percentage error (MPE), mean bias error (MBE), root mean square error (RMSE). All the models fit the data adequately and can be used to estimate monthly mean daily diffuse solar radiation from global solar radiation and sunshine hours. This study finds that the quadratic model performed better than the other models:     

Solar collectors for the Beirut climate

The performance of solar collector systems is optimized for the Beirut climate with respect to the following parameters: angle of tilt and orientation, plate emissivity and number of glass covers. The Beirut hourly ambient temperature, wind speed, wind direction and the monthly averaged hourly and daily global, beam and diffuse radiation are used in the calculation of the useful harnessed energy, collector's efficiency, storage-tank temperature and other relevant parameters.

The optimal thermal performance of the solar collector in Beirut is obtained for a south-facing collector all the year with a slope angle equal to latitude +15° in winter and latitude −15° in the summer. The use of a selective surface of low emissivity in the collector gives a higher useful energy gain of about 25% in summer and 10% in winter as compared with a nonselective plate surface. The collector's daily efficiency, under optimal conditions, varies from 55 to 65% depending upon the month of the year.     

Analysis of diffuse radiation data for Beer Sheva: Measured (shadow ring) versus calculated (global-horizontal beam) values

We have utilized concurrently measured global, normal incidence beam, and diffuse radiation data, the latter measured by means of a shadow ring pyranometer to study the relative magnitude of the anisotropic contribution (circumsolar region and nonuniform sky conditions) to the diffuse radiation. In the case of Beer Sheva, the monthly average hourly anisotropic correction factor varies from 2.9 to 20.9%, whereas the “standard” geometric correction factor varies from 5.6 to 14.0%. The monthly average hourly overall correction factor (combined anisotropic and geometric factors) varies from 8.9 to 37.7%. The data have also been analyzed using a simple model of sky radiance developed by Steven in 1984. His anisotropic correction factor is a function of the relative strength and angular width of the circumsolar radiation region. The results of this analysis are in agreement with those previously reported for Quidron on the Dead Sea, viz, the anisotropy and relative strength of the circumsolar radiation are significantly greater than at any of the sites analyzed by Steven. In addition, the data have been utilized to validate a model developed by LeBaron et al. in 1990 for correcting shadow ring diffuse radiation data. The monthly average deviation between the corrected and true diffuse radiation values varies from 4.55 to 7.92%.     

Correlation of average diffuse and beam radiation with hours of bright sunshine

Empirical equations have been developed which correlate the monthly average daily horizontal diffuse and beam radiation with the fraction of maximum possible number of bright sunshine hours. These correlations are based on measured data from three widely spread Canadian stations.Depending upon whether or not the total horizontal radiation is known, the two correlations for the diffuse radiation are: .The correlation for beam radiation is: .     

Estimating direct, diffuse, and global solar radiation for various cities in Iran by two methods and their comparison with the measured data

Two computational methods for calculating hourly, daily, and monthly average values of direct, diffuse, and global solar radiation on horizontal collectors have been presented in this article for location with different latitude, altitude, and atmospheric conditions in Iran. These methods were developed using two different independent sets of measured data from the Iranian Meteorological Organization (IMO) for two cities in Iran (Tehran and Isfahan) during 14 years of measurement for Tehran and 4 years of measurement for Isfahan. Comparison of calculated monthly average global solar radiation, using the two models for Tehran and Isfahan with measured data from the IMO, has indicated a good agreement between them. Then these developed methods were extended to another location (city of Bandar-Abbas), where measured data are not available. But the work of Daneshyar [1] predicts its monthly global radiation. The maximum discrepancy of 7% between the developed models and the work of Daneshyar [1] was observed.     

Global,direct and diffuse solar radiation on horizontal and tilted surfaces in Jeddah,Saudi Arabia

The measured data of global and diffuse solar radiation on a horizontal surface, the number of bright sunshine hours, mean daily ambient temperature, maximum and minimum ambient temperatures, relative humidity and amount of cloud cover for Jeddah (lat. 21°42′37′′N, long. 39°11′12′′E), Saudi Arabia, during the period (1996–2007) are analyzed. The monthly averages of daily values for these meteorological variables have been calculated. The data are then divided into two sets. The sub-data set I (1996–2004) are employed to develop empirical correlations between the monthly average of daily global solar radiation fraction (H/H₀) and the various weather parameters. The sub-data set II (2005–2007) are then used to evaluate the derived correlations. Furthermore, the total solar radiation on horizontal surfaces is separated into the beam and diffuses components. Empirical correlations for estimating the diffuse solar radiation incident on horizontal surfaces have been proposed. The total solar radiation incident on a tilted surface facing south H_t with different tilt angles is then calculated using both Liu and Jordan isotropic model and Klucher’s anisotropic model. It is inferred that the isotropic model is able to estimate H_t more accurate than the anisotropic one. At the optimum tilt angle, the maximum value of H_t is obtained as ∼36 (MJ/m² day) during January. Comparisons with 22 years average data of NASA SSE Model showed that the proposed correlations are able to predict the total annual energy on horizontal and tilted surfaces in Jeddah with a reasonable accuracy. It is also found that at Jeddah, the solar energy devices have to be tilted to face south with a tilt angle equals the latitude of the place in order to achieve the best performance all year round.     

A Method of Estimating Monthly Global Radiation for Singapore

The design of solar systems and the determination of cooling and heating load of buildings require information on global radiation in addition to other meteorological data. In this study, equations have been developed for the clearness index K_T , which is the ratio of monthly average daily values of global radiation to that of extraterrestrial radiation on a horizontal surface, as a function of the ratio of monthly average daily values of sunshine hours and day length. The extraterrestrial radiation and the day length can be calculated from Eqs. (5) and (3) respectively. The sunshine hours can be obtained from the meteorological station of Singapore. A reasonable estimate of monthly average daily global radiation can be obtained from these equations.     

Estimation of daily and monthly direct, diffuse and global solar radiation from sunshine duration measurements

An accurate 200 W/m² threshold pyreheliometer instrument for measuring the duration of bright sunshine has been used to derive daily and monthly regressions for direct, diffuse, and global solar radiation component vs sunshine duration. Daily regression for diffuse/global are linear in sunshine duration, while quadratic regression forms are employed for direct normal, direct horizontal, and global/extraterrestrial components. Only the daily direct normal component had regression values which depend on season while all of the monthly regressions depend on season. Linear regression relations for monthly direct normal, diffuse/global and global/extraterrestrial are employed, with a quadratic form being used for direct horizontal. Effects of rainfall, especially in overcast conditions, and of atmospheric turbidity and precipitable water, especially under clear-sky conditions, are observed and documented.     

Technical note a multiple linear correlation for diffuse radiation from global solar radiation and sunshine data over Egypt

Measurements of global solar radiation, diffuse radiation and sunshine duration data during the period from 1982 to 1988 at different locations over Egypt were used to establish empirical relationships that would connect the daily monthly average diffuse irradiation with both relative sunshine duration and clearness index separately and in combination. The selected locations were chosen to represent the different weather conditions of North, Middle and South Egypt. Our correlation equations were tested using measured data for the year 1992 at the same locations. The correlation connecting diffuse radiation with both clearness index and percentage possible sunshine is found to be applicable over Egypt.