16-08-2016

Contents
3

Sun Source of energy

1

Basics of
light

Blackbody
Radiation
3

Si Solar Photovoltaic Technology:

Terrestrial Solar
Radiation /
Sun-Earth
movement

Solar Radiation

Properties of sunlight

Prof. Paresh Kale

Dept. of Electrical Engineering,
NIT Rourkela.

Measurement
and Data

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

The Sun
4

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of

Sunlight

Vital, & the primary source of

energy
Solar
Energy:
Nuclear
fusion reaction at the sun's
core
releases
an
extraordinarily high amount
of thermal energy
This amount of energy can
be estimated by using
Einsteins formula:

Sun and Light

E = mC2 3.8 x 1020 MW

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Some Vital statistics

Solar Energy
6

Mean distance from the

earth: 1.496x 1011 meter

Transferred through radiation: from the surface of the sun to all the
other places in the space

Mean diameter of the Sun:

1.392x109 meter (=109
Earths)

When this radiation reaches earth, part of it gets absorbed by the

planets atmosphere.

Sun is modeled as black

body radiation
(Black body at 5250 oC)

All the solar-based devices use solar radiation

The power received by

earth is 1.7x1017 W
Takes about 8 minutes for
radiation from the Sun to get
to Earth.

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

16-08-2016

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Wave packet
8

Collection of waves which may interact in such a way that

the wave-packet may either appear spatially localized or
may alternately appear simply as a wave
Wave-particle duality: Depending on the situation, a photon
may appear as either a wave or as a particle

Light : wave or particle?

Photon: light may be viewed as consisting of "packets" or
particles of energy
Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Important characteristics of the incident solar energy

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Energy of photon
10

Radiant power density from the sun

11

Spectral content of the incident light

h = 6.626 10 -34 joules

c = 2.998 108 m/s

Angle at which the incident solar radiation strikes a

photovoltaic module
Radiant energy from the sun throughout a year or
day for a particular surface

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Energy of photon

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Energy of photon
12

inverse relationship between Energy and wavelength means

that light consisting of

13

When dealing with "particles" such as photons or electrons,

a commonly used unit of energy is the electron-volt (eV)
rather than the joule (J)

high energy photons (such as "blue" light) short wavelength

Low energy photons (such as "red" light) long wavelength

An electron volt : Energy required to raise an electron

through 1 volt,
A photon with an energy of 1 eV = 1.602 10-19 J

=
Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

.
( )
Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

16-08-2016

Photon flux

Power density
14

15

To determine the power density in units of W/m, the energy

of the photons must be in Joules

important in determining the number

of electrons which are generated, and
hence the current produced from a
solar cell.
For the same light intensity, Blue light
require fewer photons Since the
energy content of each photon is
greater

= .

= .

= .

1.24
()

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Spectral Irradiance (F)

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Comparison of spectral densities for various lamps

16

17

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

As a function of photon wavelength (or energy), F is the most common

way of characterizing a light source.
It gives the power density at a particular wavelength.
The units of spectral irradiance are in Wm-2m-1.
The Wm-2 term is the power density at the wavelength (m).

= .

1.24

1
()

F() = spectral irradiance in Wm-2m-1;

= photon flux in # photons m-2sec-1;
E and = energy and wavelength of the photon in eV and m resp.;
q = 1.6 10-19

Distribution of Suns Energy

Radiant Power Density

18

Name
Ultraviolet radiation

Range of
wavelengths
(micrometers)
0.15 to 0.38

% of energy
carried
7.6

Visible radiation

0.38 to 0.72

48.4

Infrared radiation

0.72 to 4.0

43

> 4.0

Other radiation

19

The total power density emitted from a light source

can be calculated by integrating

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

H = total power density emitted from light source in W/m2;

F() = spectral irradiance in units of Wm-2m-1;
d = the wavelength.

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

16-08-2016

Blackbody Radiation

Power from Sun

20

Light sources, including the sun and incandescent light

bulbs, are closely modelled as "blackbody" emitters.

21

By integrating prvs function wrt all the wavelengths, the total

power density is obtained

A blackbody absorbs all radiation incident on its surface and

emits radiation based on its temperature.

= 4

Plancks radiation law:

Total power radiated by a body at temperature T is given by

Stefan-Boltzmanlaw

2 2

5 (

P = 4

1)

=wavelength of light;
T = temperature of the blackbody (K);
F = spectral irradiance in Wm-2m-1; and
h,c and k = constants.

- the Boltzmanconstant
- emissivity

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Wiens Law

Blackbody radiation spectrum at various temperatures

22

Wavelength where the spectral irradiance is the

highest
or,

Spectral Intensity (W/m2/um)

Wavelength where most of the power is emitted

23

as the temperature of a
blackbody increases, the
spectral distribution and
power of light emitted change

0.8

0.6

0.4
4000
5000
5500
6000

0.2

0
0

0.5

1.5
2
wavelength (microns)

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Effect of heating on color of light emitted

2.5

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Radiation terms
24

25

Irradiance- (power density) it is flux of solar

energy
J/m2-s or W/m2 (per unit wavelength)

If the filament is heated to 3000 K, it will glow red because the spectrum
of emitted light shifts to higher energies and into the visible spectrum.
If the temperature of the filament is further increased to 6000 K, radiation
is emitted at wavelengths across the visible spectrum from red to violet
and the light appears white.
Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Irradiation or insolation- (Energy density) is the

amount of energy received by a surface over a
given period of time.
W-Hr/m2 per day or per month
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16-08-2016

Types of radiation

Goble and diffuse radiation

26

27

Diffuse radiation : The scattered radiation

1

Radiation (kW/m2)

Direct radiation or beam radiation :

Radiation which does not go through
either absorption interaction or scattering
interaction, reaches the earth surface
directly
Albedo radiation: Reflected component.
Once the radiation reaches the Earths
surface some of it (diffuse and direct as
well) get reflected by the ground and
other objects on the ground

Global
radiation

0.8
0.6
0.4

Diffuse radiation

0.2
0
6

The amount of albedo radiation generally

depends on the nature of the surface
coverage, whether there is water, snow,
tall buildings, etc.

10

12
Hours

14

16

18

Data are for a clear sky

In general diffusion radiation is an-isotropic, varies with direction

Global Radiation = Diffuse + direct + albedo

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Solar Radiation in Space

29

7.25
6.7
6.2
5.65.6
5.2
5.2 5.25.25.2
4.7
4.6 4.7
4.64.6
4.6
4.2 4.2 4.2
4.2
4.2
4.2
4.2
4.2
3.7
3.7
3.6
4
3.1
3.1
3.1
2.6 2.6
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1
2.1 2.12.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
1.7
1.7
1.7
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.6
1.6
2 1

15

14.57

13.58

14.075

13.085

11.6

12.59

12.095

9.62

10.61

11.105

8.63

10.115

7.64

Time(in hr)

Time(in hr)

Electric Energy

0
9.125

6.65

8.135

7.145

00
5.66

6.155

5.165

1
0

Electrical energy(KWh)

1.5
2.1
2.5
3.1
3.5
4.1
4.5
5.1
5.5
5.5
6.2
6.2
6.7
6.7
6.7
6.7
6.2
6.2
5.6
5.6
5.1
4.6
3.6
2.6
2.6
2.1
2.1
1.5

4.25
4.4
4.75
5.25
5.4
5.75
6.25
6.4
6.75
7.4
7.75
8.4
8.75
9.1
9.4
9.75
10.25
10.75
11.1
11.25
11.75
12.25
12.75
13.1
13.25
13.75
14.1
14.4
14.75
15.1

Electric Energy(KWh)

The solar radiation intensity, H0 in (W/m2), incident on an object

(b) Cloudy Day

(a) Clear Day

2 per. Mov. Avg. (Electric Energy)

Electric Energy

2 per. Mov. Avg. (Electric Energy)

Hsun = the power density at the sun's surface (in W/m 2) as determined by StefanBoltzmann's blackbody equation = 5.961 x 107 W/m2
R = the radius of the sun in meters
D = the distance from the sun to object in meters

Relative output power from a photovoltaic system on

(a) clear day, &
(b) cloudy day
On cloudy days, diffuse radiation depends on type of clouds, and it
could be very large fraction of the global radiation.
Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Comparison between distance from the sun & mean solar

irradiance of all the planets of solar system

Solar Radiation Outside the Earth's Atmosphere

30

31

9116.4

4497
2868

2611
1426

1366.1
57

108

Mercury Venus

150

588.6
227

778
50.5

Earth

Mars

Jupiter

15.04

3.72

1.51

Saturn Uranus Neptune

Calculated solar irradiance at the Earth's atmosphere

~ 1.36 kW/m2
Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

16-08-2016

Solar Constant AM0

Satellite Data
32

33

Average solar radiation outside the earth atmosphere

Its value is 1366 +/- 1 W/m2
It is also called as air mass zero (AM0) as it refers
to the radiation outside the earths atmosphere or
air mass.
St = S (1+0.033cos

360
)
365

Daily mean of the total solar irradiance (TSI), measured at

vertical incidence above the Earths atmosphere by satellites
Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Solar Radiation Outside the Earth's Atmosphere

The extra-terrestrial (AM0) solar spectrum

34

1600

radiant power density outside the

Earth's atmosphere (in W/m 2)

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

35

Spectral irradiance of the AM0 spectrum vs photon wavelength

(left) and photon energy (right)

1200

Shape of the two representations of the solar spectrum is different

because the photons with long wavelength carry a smaller amount
of energy than photons with a short wavelength.

800

400

0
0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

The day of the year

The actual power density varies slightly

since the Earth-Sun distance changes as the Earth moves in its
elliptical orbit around the sun,
sun's emitted power is not constant.
The power variation due to the elliptical orbit is about 3.4%, with the
largest solar irradiance in January and the smallest solar irradiance in
July.
Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Solar Radiation at the Earth's Surface

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Atmospheric Effects
36

While the solar radiation incident on the Earth's atmosphere

is relatively constant, the radiation at the Earth's surface
varies widely due to:
Atmospheric effects, including absorption and scattering
Local variations in the atmosphere, such as water vapour, clouds, and
pollution
Latitude of the location
Season of the year and the time of day

The amount of energy reaching the surface of the Earth

every hour is greater than the amount of energy used by the
Earth's population over an entire year.
Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

37

A reduction in the power due to

absorption, scattering and reflection in the
atmosphere
A change in the spectral content of the
solar radiation due to greater absorption
or scattering of some wavelengths
Introduction of a diffuse or indirect
component into the solar radiation
local variations in the atmosphere : ( such
as water vapor, clouds and pollution)
which have additional effects on the
incident power, spectrum and
directionality.
Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

16-08-2016

Absorption due to H20, O2, CO2 and O3

Air mass
38

39

Path length which light takes through the atmosphere normalized to the shortest
possible path length (that is, when the sun is directly overhead).

AM =

Sun

Atmosphere

()

where is the angle from the vertical (zenith angle).

When the sun is directly overhead, AM = 1

AM quantifies the reduction in the power of light as it passes

through the atmosphere and is absorbed by air and dust.

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Calculate the zenith angle for air mass 1.5

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Intensity calculation based on air mass

40

41

The intensity of the direct solar radiation per each day is a function of air
mass.

ID = 1.353 [ (1 - ah) 0.7

0.678

+ ah ]

AM = 1/ cos
a = 0.14
h = location of height above sea level in Km

AM =1.5

As the diffusive radiation is about 10% of direct one, so the global

radiation can be estimated as:

= 48.1896

IG = ID + IDf
or
IG = 1.1ID

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Solar radiation through earths atmosphere

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Standardized Solar Spectrum and Solar Irradiation

42

43

Efficiency of a solar cell is sensitive to variations in both

the power
the spectrum of the incident light

The standard spectrum at the Earth's surface is called

AM1.5G (global and includes both direct and diffuse radiation)
AM1.5D (direct radiation only).

Standard AM1.5G spectrum has been normalized to give

1kW/m2
due to the convenience of the round number
inherently variations in incident solar radiation

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight

16-08-2016

44

Distance traveled by sun rays to reach

earths surface, or AirMass

Solar radiation flux

reaching the surface
(W /m2)

AM 0
(extra terrestrial)

1376

AM 1
(sun at overhead position)

1105

AM 1.5
(sun at about 48o from overhead position)

1000

AM 2
(sun at about 60o from overhead position)

894

Solar Photovoltaics :Properties of Sunlight