From the solar radiation data, the methodology most widely accepted and currently used to estimate and quantify the electricity generation through solar energy.
It is important to determine the kind of solar collector that you use.
For example, flat plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors utilize both beam and diffuse solar irradiation.
CPC (compound parabolic collectors) utilize beam and partially the diffuse solar irradiation.
Concentrating collectors with concentrating ratio utilizes only the beam irradiation. However, the tracking system plays a signoificant role because it determined the IAM (incident angle modifier).
More specifically, in solar dishes, where a double axis tracking system (full tracking), is used, all the direct beam irradiation is utilized. On the other hand, in PTC (parabolic trough collectors), usually there is 1-axis tracking system, with the collecto axis in North-South direction and the movment to be in East-West direction. In this case, the incident angle plays an important role in the solar potential.
It is important to determine the kind of solar collector that you use.
For example, flat plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors utilize both beam and diffuse solar irradiation.
CPC (compound parabolic collectors) utilize beam and partially the diffuse solar irradiation.
Concentrating collectors with concentrating ratio utilizes only the beam irradiation. However, the tracking system plays a signoificant role because it determined the IAM (incident angle modifier).
More specifically, in solar dishes, where a double axis tracking system (full tracking), is used, all the direct beam irradiation is utilized. On the other hand, in PTC (parabolic trough collectors), usually there is 1-axis tracking system, with the collecto axis in North-South direction and the movment to be in East-West direction. In this case, the incident angle plays an important role in the solar potential.
You can perform a simple energy balance to calculate the efficiency of the solar PV system. The conversion efficiency is represented by the ratio of the output energy divided by the input energy. Not all the incident solar radiation is converted into electrical energy as there is some energy losses due to energy reflected back from the PV panels and energy losses within the panel.
I recommend that you visit the U.S. Department of Energy website at:
www.doe.gov
You will find many computational tools for the solar energy calculations that you could download at no cost.
Hope this helps answer your question.
Professor Yehia Khalil
Yale University
USA
Hi Fernando,
While Evangelos has touched upon several aspects, all of which happen to be relevant, the detailed methodology is a bit too lengthy to be described across a blog.
The following well known book has a chapter that should answer most of the basic stuff:
- J. W. Tester, E. M. Drake, M. J. Driscoll, M. W. Golay, and W. A. Peters, "Sustainable Energy: Choosing Among Options", MIT Press, 2012.
You can take a look at the details available at:
- https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/sustainable-energy-0
Please do get back in case you have a specific question.
With best wishes.
-Sanjay
Dear Frenando,
Adding to the colleagues:
You ask about he methodology to estimate the yield of the converting solar energy into electricity.
There are two methods for conversion the; The indirect methods by using thermodynamic machines and the direct methods by using solar cells.
In the case of photo voltaic the conversion efficiency of the solar cells is major parameters limiting the overall yield of the system.
In case of the thermal electric generation , it is the collection efficiency of the solar energy which may be a limiting factor for the conversion deficiency.
For the calculations of the efficacy in both system you can use modelling and simulation with a mathematical tool like Matlab. You can also build pilot projects to verify your model and get real values for the conversion efficacy.
So, the methodology is by system modelling and simulation and by realizing pilot projects and testing them in the field. You can find both in the literature of the solar enery conversion either direct and indirect.
Best wishes
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