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37 views23 pagesThe Sun Charts How The Sun Works 1979
How to read time from the sun shade
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/ 23
51: Passive Solar Energy Book. Mazria. Rodale Press Em. Pa. USA 1979
0-87857-260-0
The Sun Charts
How the Sun Works
For our purposes, it is convenient to assume that the earth is stationary and the
sun is in motion around the earth. Figure V-1 lists the angle (declination) of
the sun above (+) or below (—) the equator, on the twentieth of each month,
as seen from the earth. From the Northern Hemisphere, you can see that the
sun lingers at its highest position in the sky for three months during the sum-
mer, then moves very quickly through fall towards winter, where it appears
low in the sky for another three months.
In order to understand and be responsive to the effects of the sun on the
location and design of places, it is necessary to know, at any given moment,
the sun’s position in the sky. This information is necessary in order to calculate
solar heat gain, and to locate buildings, outdoor spaces, interior room arrange-
ments, windows, shading devices, vegetation and solar collectors.
The Cylindrical Sun Chart
The Cylindrical Sun Chart, which is developed here, provides an easy-to-
understand and convenient way to predict the sun’s movement across the sky
as seen from any point in the world between 28° and 56°NL. The chart is a
vertical projection of the sun’s path as seen from earth. It could be said, then,
that the Sun Chart is an earth-based view of the sun’s movement across the
skydome.
267 JUNE:
JULY/ MAY
AUG/APR
SEPT/MAR
OCT/FEB
NOV/JAN
DEC
The table below lists approximately how far above or
below the equator the sun is on the twentieth day of
each month.
20th of
Jan.
Feb.
Mar,
Apr.
May
June
july
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec. ~23
Fig. V-t The sun as it appears from earth on the twentieth day
of each month,
268 The following sequence is a description of how a sun chart is developed.
It is included here to provide you with a visual understanding of the sun’s
movement across the skydome.
Two coordinates are needed to locate the position of the sun in the sky. They
are called the altitude and azimuth (also called the bearing angle).
ides
be
X= ALTITUDE angle
Y= AZIMUTH angle
Fig. V-2; Altitude and azimuth angles.
269 Altitude .
Solar altitude is the angle measured between the horizon and the position of
the sun above the horizon, The horizontal lines on the chart represent altitude
angles in 10° increments above the horizon.
eS 3 GP i & 48 8
Fig. V-3: Altitude angle.
270
2 Azimuth (bearing angle)
Solar azimuth is the angle along the horizon of the position of the sun,
measured to the east or west of true south,
Fig, V-4: Azimuth angle.
277 Skydome (sky vault)
The skydome is the visible hemisphere of sky, above the horizon, in all direc-
tions, The grid on the chart represents the vertical and horizontal angles of the
whole skydome, It is as if there were a clear dome around the observer, and
then the chart were peeled off of this dome,* stretched out and laid flat.
SUN CHART
Fig. V-5: Skydome,
In reality this is not possible. The intention of the illustration is to present you with a visual
image of the skydome projected onto a Pat sheet.
272 Sun’s Position
Once the altitude and azimuth angles are known, the sun can be located at any
position in the sky. ,
Fig. V-6: Sun's position.
273 Sun’s Path
By connecting the points of the location of the sun, at different times through-
out the day, the sun’s path for that day can be drawn.
Fig, V-7: Sun's path,
274 Monthly Paths
Thus, we can plot the sun’s path for any day of the year. The lines shown
represent the sun’s path for the twentieth day of each month. The sun’s path
is longest during the summer months when it reaches its highest altitude,
rising and setting with the widest azimuth angle from true south, During the
winter months the sun is much lower in the sky, rising and setting with the
narrowest azimuth angles from true south.
Fig. V-8: Monthly paths. Times of Day
Finally, if we connect the times of day on each sun path we get a heavy dotted
line which represents the hours of the day. This completes the Cylindrical
Sun Chart,
Fig. V-9: Times of day.
276 Solar Home Book. Anderson, Riordan. Cheshire Bks USA 1976. 0-917352-01-7.
Solar Position
Most people have probably noticed that
the sun is higher in the sky in snmmer than
in winter. Some also redlize that it rises
south of due east in winter and north of due
cast in summer. Bach day the sun travels i
a circular path across the sky, reaching its
highest point at noon, As winter proceeds
into spting and summer, this citcular path
moves higher in the sky. ‘The sun rises earlier
in the day and secs ‘aver,
‘The actual position of the sun in the sky
depends upon the laticude of the observer
‘Acnoon on March 21 and September 23, the
vernal and autumnal equinoxes, the stin is
directly overhead at the equator. At 40°N
latitude, however, is angle above the horizon
is 50° ('= 90° —"40°), By oon on June 22,
the summer solstice in the Northern Heri=
sphere, the sun is directly overhead at the
Tropic of Cancer, 234°N latitude, Its angle
above the horizon at 40°N is 7334" (= 90" +
234° — 40°), the highest it gets at this
latitude, AU noon on December 22, the sun is
directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn,
and its angle above the horizon at 40°N
Intitude is only 263°.
‘A more extet description ot the sun's
position is needed for most applications. fr
the language of teigonometty, this position is,
expressed by the values of wo angles—the
solar altitude and the sola: azimuth, The
solar altitude 6 is measured up fram the
horizon to the sun, while the solar azimuth @
is the angular deviation from true south.
These angles need not be excessively
mysterious—you can make a rough measure~
iment of them with your own body. Stand
facing the sun with one hand pointing toward
ie and the other pointing de south. Now
drop the first hacd so that it poinzs to the
horizon directly below the sun. The angle
that your atm drops is the solar altitude @
and the angle between your arms in the
final position is the solar azimath ¢. Much
better accuracy can be obtained with bercer
instruments, but the measurement process is
essentially the same.
‘The solar alticude and azinvuth can be cal-
culated for any day, time, and latitude. For
40°N latitude (Philadelphia, for example),
meorre oF.
eons, Jaa
ime aa
une 22°
SEPT 23
‘The carch's elliptical path aroend ehe un. The sit of the
carth’s axis rests in the seasons of the year
wwe oF Day
winter =
SOLSTICE
‘The sun's daily path across the shy. The
sm is higher in the sky in summer than in
Winter duc to the Ut of the earth's axis. Measuring the sun’s position. The solar altrude @ is the angle between the
‘sun and the horizon, and the azimuth is measured from true south,
the values of @ and ¢ are given at each hour
for the 21st day of each month in the
accompanying table. Note that ¢ is always
zero at solar noon and that # varies ftom
26.6" at noon on December 21 to 73.5° at
rnoon on June 21. You can find similar data
itudes 24°N, 32°N, 48°N, 56°N, and
APN in the tables titled “Clear Day Insolation
appendix also
shows you how to calculate these angles
directly for any day, time, and latitude.
‘SOLAR POSITIONS FOR 40°N LATITUDE
races [nes] a1] rata [ora yn ai] tn | ao] ep] on woe
yal ate w]e
az 4 usar [art
vf tate aa Par | aee 79
az 4 953 | 10506 | 108 295
Tal ara} aa | ane [ies | 280 | 260 ws | ua] a5
a2 4 121 | 902 | 9s | 966 | 99.7 soo | 902 | 72.3
el alacre] or] ua) 22s | 30s Pose | are yor | 22s] so] a | ss
a2 al 555] ore | 696 | 795 | on | 907 199 | 6| ono | ss | 520
ara| ces] ar] wa] aa} aca | wee aie | 28 | 205] 0 | no
zi o| 4x0 | 4n7 | sza | or2 | 760 | wor oro | s73| we | ar | aio
ye | al Atte) 28] sea] ate | sia | ara | soe] soa] nia | ae] see] exo | 207
Az o| 309 | 354 | sue | sie} ooo | os | our | 521 | axe | 35.6 | 0 | aor
ALT a mee | 3x9] a7 | se? | 52 | oa | 067 | 393 | a77 | a6 | ans | asa
tm] tT aa of iso] ims | 226 | 292 | sri | sig] srs | 297 | oe | ant | 61 | as2
Treon| ALTA] 300] 382] soo} me] roo] m5] ros] 623 | soo] ass | 402 | 266
azia[ oo] oo| ao] oo] oo} oo] oo] oo| oof oo| oo] oo
NTIS, Aki @¢ mene om hc hon ndavimue Pee meme Gomer uh Arg th io dep and wok
SOURCE Kon” Capon LAR ANGLES
‘Appendix 1.1
‘The sun’s position in the sky is described by two angular measurements,
the solar altitude @ and the solar azimuth $. As explained in Chapter 3,
the solar altitude is the angle of the sun above the horizon. The
azimuth is its angular deviation from true south.
The exact calculation of # and ¢ depends upon three variables
the latitude L, the deciination 8, and the hour angle H. Lacitude is the
angular distance of the observer north oF south of the equatorit can
bbe read ftom any good mip. Declination is a measure of how fat north
‘or south of the equator the sun has moved. At the summer solstice
4 = +234, while at the wincer solstice 5 = -234° in the Northern
Hemisphere; at both equinoxes, 6 = 0°. This qnantity varies from
month to month and can be read directly from the graph below.
TEN FEE Wan AP WAY HN UL AS SPORT WO DEE
DECLINATION OF THE SUN
‘The hour angle H depends on Local Solar Time, which is the time that
would be read from a sundial oriented south. Solar Time is measured
from solar noon~the morsent wher the sun is highest in the sky. At
different times of the vear, the lengths of solar days (measnted from
solar noon to soler noon) are slightly different from days measured by
a dock running at 2 uniform rate, Local Solar Time is calculated
taking this difference into account. There is also a correction if the
obsetver is not on the standard time meridian for his time zone,
‘To correct local standard time (read from an accurate ciock) to
Local Solat Time, chree steps are necessary:
41) daylight savings time isin effect, subtract one hour.
2)Determine the longitude of the locality and the longitude of
the standard time meridian (75° for Eastern ST, 90° for
Ceniral ST, 105° for Mountain ST, 120° for Pacific ST, 135°
for Yukon ST, 150° for Alaska-Hawaii ST). Multiply the
difference in longitudes by 4 minutes/degree. IF the locality
is cast of the standard metidian, add the correction minutes;
if it’s west, suberact them.
3) Add the equation of time (from the next graph) for the date
in question, The result is the Local Solar Time.
‘Once you know the Local Solar Time, you can obtain the hour
angle H from:
T= 0.25 x (number of minutes from solar noon).
From the latitude L, declination 3 and hour angle H, the solar altitude
6 and azimuth ¢ follow after @ litle trigonometry:
sin 6 = cos Lcos8 cosM + sin Lsin 8;
sin § = cos § sin Fi/cos 9
Example: Determine the altitude and azimuth of the son in Abilene,
‘Texas on December 1, when it is 1:30 pm, (CST). First we need to
calculete the Local Solar Time, It is not daytight savings time, so no
correction for that is needed. Looking at a map we see that Abilene is
on the 100°W meridian, or 10 degrees west of the standard meridian—
90°W. We snbtract the 4 x 10 = 40 minutes from local time:
1:30 — 0:40 12:50 p.m. From the equation of time for December 1,
we mnst add about 11 minutes, 12:50 + 0:21 = 1:01 Local Solar
‘Time, or 61 minutes past solar noon. Consequently, the hour angle is
H = 0.25 x 61 or about 15". The latitude of Abilene is tead from the
same map: L = 32”, and the declination for December 1 is = —22*
We have come thus far with maps, graphs, and the back of an
envelope, but now we need a pocket calculator or a table of trigono-
metric functions:
€05(32" }cas(—22" Jeos(15*) + sin( 32° )sin(—22°)
= 0.85 X 0.93 X 0.97 + 0.53 x (0.37)
0.76 0.20 = 0.56
Then 9 = aresin (0.56) = 34.12" above the horizon, Similaely:
sin 9 = cost—22" )sin(15*)/008(34.12°)
= (0.93 X 0.26)/0,83 = 0.29.
Then ¢ = aresin(0.29) = 16.85" west of true south. At 1:30 p.m. on
December 1 in Abilene Texas, the solar altitude is 34.12" and the
azimuth is 16.85° west
ni
DES GAN FES MAR APR WAY GN JUL NOG SEP OGT NOW The total solar radiation is the sum of direct, diffuse, and reflected
radiation. At present, a stitistical apptoach is the only reliable method
of separating out the diffuse component of horizontal insolation. The
full detail of this method is contained in an article by Liu and Jordan:
we only summarize their results here. First we ascertain che ratio of
the daily insolation on a horizontal surface (measured at a particular
weather station) to the extraterrestrial radiation on another horizontal
surface (outside the atmosphere). This ratia (usually called the percent
of Extroterrestrial radiation, ot % ETR) can be determined from the
National Weather Records Center; itis also given in the article by Liu
and Jordan, With a knowledge of the % ETR, you can use the accomr
panying graph to determine the percentage of diffuse radiation of a
honzontal surface. Fot example, 50% ETR corresponds to 38% diffuse
radiation and 62% direct radiation.
g
+
PERCENT OF DIFFUSE RADIATION
&
a
10] 4.
al
6 3 ry ra @ 70 2
PERCENT OF EXTRATERRESTRIAL RADIATION
You are now prepared to convert the ditect and diffuse components
of the horizontal insolation into the daily total insolation on south
facing tilted or vertical surfaces. The conversion factor for the direct
component Fy, depends on the Istitude, L, the tilt angle of the
surface, @, and the sunset bour angles, wo and «', of the horizontal
and tilted surfaces:
hotizoatal surface: cosw =—tan L tan 6
silted surface; cose "= ~tan (L.—A)tan 8
where the dectination 5 is found from the graph on page 252 and
B = 90" applies to vertical surfaces. Depending on the value of these
‘wo angles wand w, the calculation of F., is slightly different. Ife is
fess than ws then
cost =) sinw ~w cose
eat ina ween
Ico ‘is smaller than es, then
Fy = SULA) y sinw een”
cos. sin w —w 608
Fr
‘The direct component of the radiation on a tilted or vertical surface is
T= Fy X Jp. where I, is the direct horizontal insolation.
The trestment of diffuse and reflected radiation is a bit different
‘The diffuse tadiation is assumed to come uniformly from all corners
of the sky, 30 one necd only determine the fraction of the sky
exposed to a tilted surface and reduce the horizontal diffuse radiatic
accordingly. The diffuse radiation on a surface silted at an angle @ is
1 Le cose
rn
where 1, is the daily horizontal diffuse radiation. The reflected
radiation on a tilted surface is
Yeox 45888 xa, et)
where o is the reflectance of the horizontal surface.
SOURCE: Li, BAVA. aad R. . Jordan. “AmubICY of Solar Fnengy for Fltate Solar
Heat Cotctor.” in Zao Temgeruore kingheering Apphctions of Solar Krerg, cited
by Wicharé Corda, New Yaris ASHRAE, 1947. RAPS. University of Cape Town. South Africa 1992. 0-7992-1435-3.
Resource files / Theory and Methods / Equations for calculating the position af the sun 1
EQUATIONS FOR CALCULATING THE POSITION OF THE SUN
swe eee SE eA ES
Nomenclature:
¢ latitude
n Julian day number
wo hour angle
6 ‘solar declination angle
& solar zenith angle
¥ solar azimuth
The apparent position of the sun in the sky can be
defined by two angles: the solar zenith angle Oz, and
the azimuth angie ‘p.
is zero at solar noon, positive in the momings and
negative in the afternoons.
‘The sun's position relative to the earth depends on
the time of day, the time of year, and the latitude.
The latitude $ is negative for the southern
hemisphere. The time of year n is denoted by the
Julian day number (1 to 365),
‘The hour angie of the sun « is defined in terms of
the number of hours from solar noon. w changes by
15° every hour. Itis zero at solar noon, positive in
the momings and negative in the attemoons. For a
given time of day (solar time),
@ = (noon - time} * 15°
Solar declination angle
The declination angle of the sun is the angle
between the sun at solar noon and the equatorial
plane. This varies from day to day. It is zero at the
equinoxes, 23.45° at the June solstice and -23.45°
at the December solstice.
can be calculated as follows:
8 = 23.45° « sin (360°
O sen at some non
Solar zenith angle
‘The solar zenith angle can now be calculated:
cos 0; = sin 8 sin @ + cos cos @ cos w
forcos > 0
Azimuth angle
‘The azimuth angle tp is provided by
0s 6: sin @ - sin 8
cos p=
sin @7 cos g
RAPS Design Manual / September 1982 Appendix: Calculation of solar irradiation on inclined surfaces
eee RO AEE ea
Solar terms
Dn =
a .
Gr =
{ =
lo =
Ret =
m .
Solar angles
A =
E =
z =
8 -
et =
8h =
© =
NOMENCLATURE
diffuse radiation on the horizontal
wim?)
dittuse radiation on tilted plane
(wim?)
global Radiation on the horizontal
(Wim?)
direct radiation on plane normal to
sun's rays (Wim?)
normal extrat
lo = 1367 Whe’
direct radiation on plane with solar
incidence = 6
trial radiation
relative air mass
solar azimuth
solar elevation
solar zenith
declination angte
solar incidence angle on tilted
plane
solar incidence angle on horizontal
hour angle
Site dependent terms
At
An
6
¢
o
ezimuth of filted plane
day number
filt angle of plane from horizontal
latitude (@ > 0 in southern
hemisphere)
albedo of surrounding ground cover
Perez model variables
FA, F2,b
Fj
¢h
¢t
Xh
xt
sky brightness parameters.
costficiants describing sky
brightness parameters
‘solid angles occupied by
circumsolar zone and horizon
band weighted by their average
incidence on the slope
the equivalent of a and b for the
horizontal
describes relative importance of
direct radiation at the earth's
surface
Normalised horizontal diffuse
radiation
half angle of circumsolar zone
fa = 25°)
‘term used in the calculation of ¢’
term used in the calculation of a’
term used in the calculation of c!
‘term used in the calculation of a’ ‘The radiation received by an inclined surface is different to that received on the horizontal for three
reasons. Firstly, the direct component is altered because of the change in surface area projected
‘onto the plane normal to the sun's rays. Secondly an inclined surface will receive radiation reflected
from the surrounding ground cover, Thirdly, the dif luse component changes as the fraction of the
sky dome visible to the tilted surtace Is reduced. It is current practice to treat these three
components independently.
The direct component
‘The treatment of the direct component is relatively straightforward and error tree for flat surfaces.
IF Lis the intansity of the solar radiation falling on a plane normal to the sun's rays, then the direct radiation,
{p, falling on a plane where the solar incidence angle is ®, is given by
le = leos 6
I @tis the solar incidence angle on the inclined plane and 6h is the solar incidence angle on the horizontal,
then .
fot = 160s &
andilen = = cos Bh
so
lot = (60S 6r/ COS Oh) lon
The ratio cos 0; / cos Gy may be written:
cost; sind sin (A) + cos 8 cos ($i) cos w
“cos én gin’ sin } + GOS 660s F.00s o
where
8 = declination angle
$ = latitude
B = tiltof plane trom horizontal
wo = hour angle
ttis possible to repeat this calculation with data for each hour during the day and sum the results. The final
figure represents the total direct radiation received during one day by the inclined plane.
The reflected component
‘The model employed to estimate ground reflected radiation assumes that the surrounding ground cover
reflects radiation isotropically. This assumption is valid when global radiation is composed primarily of diffuse
radiation and/or where the ground cover is a perfectly diffuse reflector. Although there do exist anisotropic
models, these should only be used under specific conditions, for example where a surface exhibits strong
directional reflectance or where local obstructions to the horizon occur. For the isotropic model, the reffected component is given by:
Ret = 056(1-cosp) Gh
where
Ret = reflected component
° = ground albedo
8 = itt of plane from horizontal
Ga = global radiation on the horizontal
The diffuse component
The available models
Estimation of the diffuse component of radiation received by an inclined plane is considered the largest
Potential source of error. There are a number of different models which may be used to predict the diffuse
component,
Firstly, the isotropic model assumes that the intensity of the sky diffuse radiation is uniform over the entice
‘sky dome. Research has shown that the assumption of isotropy of the sky provides a good fit to empirical
data at low intensity conditions found during overcast skies; however the model underestimates the amount
‘of solar radiation falling on tilted surfaces at higher solar intensities and in clear or partly clear sky situations
where anisotropic conditions of circumsolar and horizon brightening are prevalent,
Various anistropic modals have been developad to improve accuracy (Temps & Coulson, 1977; Klucher,
1979; Hay & McKay, 1985; and Perez et al, 1986). Comparisons of the performance of these models on two
test data sets are presented in Perez (1987). The new version af the Peraz model has been shown to
perform more accurately than other models for a large number of locations. For this reason the new
enhanced form of the Perez model has been selectad to generate the diffuse radiation component.
Although Southem African sky conditions, being mostly clear and bright, resemble the conditions under
which the Perez model pertorms well, it has not yet been validated locally.
Description of Enhanced Perez Modet
The model is composed of two distinct elements:
is ‘a geometric representation of the sky dome _
ii, @ parametric representation of the insolation conditions. The geometric framework
‘As shown in Figure 1, the sky hemisphere is divided into three zones: the horizon band, the circumsolar
region and the rest of the sky. The diffuse radiation is assumed to be constant within each zone. Such &
configuration helps to account for the two main types of anisotropy in the atmosphere: circumsolar and
horizonal brightening. A 25° half angle for the circumsolar region was found by Peraz to pravide the best
overall performance.
Figure 1: Geometric Representation of Sky Dome
If the diffuse radiances originating from the main portion of the dome, the circumsolar zone and the horizon
band are L, F1 * Land F2* L respectively, then the resulting diffuse radiation, Dj, received by an inclined
plane can be expressed as:
o = Dn fO.5{1 + cos 8}{1 - Fi -F2] + Ft [ale] + F2 (b/d }
where
D,.Dn = _ diffuse radiation on inetine, horizontal
B = tilt of plane from horizontal
F1,F2 = diffuse radiation brightness coetficients
a',b’ = __ solid angles occupied by circumsolar zone and horizon band weighted by their
respective incidence on the slope
ce = the equivalent of a’ and b’ for the horizontal
‘The new simplified version af the model assumes that all the energy of the horizon band is contained in an
infinitesimally thin region at 0°. The above equation then becomes:
Dr = On {0.511 + cos A) [1 - Ft] + Ft la’/e'] + F2 sin} The parametric representation of insolation conditions
This section of the model is empirical and establishes the value of the brightness coefficients, F1 and F2, as
functions of the insolation conditions. The magnitude of these parameters are treated as functions of the
following parameters:
the solar zenith angle, z
‘the horizontal diffuse radiation (normalised to d = Dam / la)
the relative importance of direct radiation at the earth's surface,
‘expressed in the parameter = [Dn + !/ Dn.
where,
relative air mass (m= 1 / cos 2)
solar zenith angie
direct radiation normal to the sun's rays
normal extraterrestrial radiation (lo = 1367 Wim?)
m
z
lo
‘The parameters F1 and F2 are expressed as:
FI = Fit+dFi2+2F13
F2 = F2i+dF22+zF23
‘The values of the parameters F11....723 are presented in Table 1. These figures are for a 25° circumsolar
halt angle and are obtained from experimental data. Tests using these figures for a range of sites indicate
that they are not site dependent (Perez, 1987).
Calculation method for Perez model
In summary, the calculation procadura follows the steps outlined below (note that in this example all angl
are in radians and all insolation measurements must be in ki/hcm?);
1, Input Data:
Gh = global radiation on the horizontal
Dn = diffuse radiation on the horizontal
o hour angle
= (Solar time - 12,00) = 15* x/ 180
¢ = latitude (positive for southern hemisphere)
a circumsolar half angie (a = 25° = 0.496 rad)
n = Julian day, Jan 1st = 1 .... Dec 31st = 365
B = tiltof plane from horizontal
At = Piane azimuth (As = 0° for a north facing plane) 2. Calculate sky parameters:
&
e
declination angle
-0.4093 sin{ 360/365 * {n + 284) * x/ 180}
solar elevation
arcsin (sin 5 sin @ + cos & cos $ cos @)
soiar zenith
a2-E
solar azimuth
arccos { (sin E sin $- sin }/ (cos Ecos $))
incidence angle of sun's rays on titted plane
arecos (sin f cos E cos (A - A) + cos cos E)
3. Calculate model parameters;
t
d
4. Calculate Xh
fz
