Insolation average solar

Collares-Pereira M., Rabl A., The average distribution of solar radiation correlations between diffuse and hemispherical and between daily and hourly insolation values. Solar Energy 1979 22 155-164. 

The value of this ratio is close to one over most of the stratosphere during daytime, but increases rapidly above 40 km because of increasing atomic oxygen densities. At night, NO is quickly converted to NO2 up to altitudes of about 60 km. Figure 5.38 shows calculated one-dimensional model distributions of the various nitrogen species. The curves represent a steady state solution for average solar insolation. 

Global Insolation (or Solar Radiation) - The total diffuse and direct insolation on a horizontal surface, averaged over a specified period of time. 

The average daily incident solar radiation, or insolation, that strikes the earth s surface worldwide is about 220 W/m (1675 Btu/ft ). The annual insolation on 0.01% of the earth s surface is approximately equal to all energy consumed (ca 1992) by humans in one year, ie, 321 x 10 J (305 X 10 Btu). In the United States, the world s largest energy consumer, annual energy consumption is equivalent (1992) to the insolation on about 0.1 to 0.2% of U.S. total surface. 

The solar energy absorbed is equal to insolation times 1 — albedo. In this Erst calculation, insolation is a function only of latitude. It is contained in the array insol and is read from a file by subroutine CLIMINP. Annual average insolation is plotted in Figure 7-1. 

Fig, I, Availability of solar eueigy (insolation) (a) Average number of horn s of sunshine per year (United States) (b) median daily insolation in langleys (North America in June) (c) in December. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)... 

If the March insolation in Figure 1.28 also represents the yearly average, then each square meter of collector area receives 2,628 kWh/yr. If these numbers are correct, and if the collector efficiency is 20% (solar collector efficiencies can range from 5 to over 30%), then each square meter of collector area will produce 526 kWh/yr. Based on such calculations, one can calculate the area requirements of solar-hydrogen power plants in any location (see Section 4.2). 

See color insert following page 140.) Annular average of daily solar energy received (insolation) in different locations in the United States. (Courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)/U.S. Department of Energy.)... 

Similarly, the total yearly insolation can be calculated for any other location on the planet. Figure 1.29 provides data on the yearly average insolation for the United States in units of kWh/m2/d, and Figure 1.30 provides the same information for the entire planet. Therefore, the yearly potential for solar power generation can be calculated for any location on the planet. 

In order to determine the solar plant area requirement for the above described power plant if it is located in southern California, one can assume that Figures 1.28 and 1.29 accurately give the average yearly insolation as about 2,600 kWh/m2/year. If the efficiency of the solar collectors is 20%, the collectors could be arranged on a square with 2.5 mi sides (6.5 mi2 or 16.6 km2). Naturally, if the plant is located in the equatorial zone (such as the Sahara or on a floating island), the area requirement would be less. For example, if the insolation in the selected area is 3,000 kWh/m2/yr and the solar plant efficiency is 30%, the radius of a circular plant would be about 1 mile, while in the temperate zone, with 1,500 kWh/m2/yr insolation and a 15% efficient system the required radius would be about 2.0 miles. 

TaM 8-5 Solar Irradiation (insolation) on a Horizontal Surface under Average Atmospheric Conditions, According to Ref. 33. 

Fig. 2. Average monthly H2 production and demand (one-million FCVs). Average fuel consumption is from U.S. Federal Highway Administration data 16 and H2 supply is estimated from average monthly insolation values for six locations in the southwest U.S. with data from NREL s Solar Radiation Data Manual for Flat-Plate and Concentrating Collectors.17 Correlation between H2 supply and H2 demand is 0.61.

Fig. 6. Map of average U.S. insolation levels on a flat surface, tilted south at an angle equal to the site s latitude. The 250-290 W/m2 range in insolation levels for the sensitivity analysis corresponds to solar radiation levels of 6-7 kWh/m2/day. This map was developed from the Climatological Solar Radiation (CSR) Model, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy.

The best way to model a production system is to use actual solar insolation data. Hourly average data are readily available for many sites (National Solar Radiation Database, for example). In two studies, hourly insolation data were used to optimize the production unit size and the storage capacity for dedicated stand-alone systems. If yearly data are used to estimate annual production, at least one other year should be chosen and used to check the analysis. 

Location Biomass community Annual yield dry matter (t/ha-year) Average insolation (W/m ) Solar energy capture efficiency (%)... 

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