Solar Energy Measurement System
Solar Energy Measurement System Basic concepts Radiant energy travels in the form of electromagnetic waves. These waves do not require molecules to propagate. Different types of radiation are characterized by different wavelengths.
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Solar Energy Measurement System DESCRIPTION This is used to measure solar cell parameters through multiple sensor data acquisition. In this solar panel is used which keeps monitoring the sunlight. Here different parameters of the solar panel like the light intensity, voltage, current and the temperature are controlled.
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Solar Energy Measurement System Block diagram:
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Solar Energy Measurement System Working of block diagram: The microcontroller used here is PIC16F8 family. The light intensity is monitored using an LDR sensor, voltage by voltage divider principle, current by current sensor and temperature by the temperature sensor. All these data gets displayed on a 16X2 LCD interfaced to PIC microcontroller. The power supply consists of a step-down transformer 230/12V, which steps drags the voltage to 12V AC. It is converted to DC using a bridge rectifier. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Energy Measurement System ďƒ˜ The ripples are removed using a capacitive filter, and it is then regulated to +5V using a voltage regulator 7805 that is essential for the operation of the microcontroller and other circuits.
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Solar Energy Measurement System Why is the Measurement of Solar Radiation Important Measuring the sun’s radiation output has a variety of useful purposes: It allows for the development of solar energy devices, makes it possible for doctors to issue advice about sun exposure, and permits scientists to predict rates of future global warming on a grander scale.
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Solar Energy Measurement System How to Measure Solar Energy? There are two types of solar energy measurement, based on the kind of energy: Measuring Solar Thermal Energy Measuring Solar Photovoltaic Energy The power output is expressed by the amount of solar radiation that reaches the absorbent surface be it a solar panel or solar collector. The measurement of solar radiation is based on a rate of kilowatts per square meter, represented as W/m2. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Energy Measurement System ďƒ˜ The measurement standard for scientific data, designed for generating a direct estimate of solar energy – mainly, how much sunlight is hitting a particular part of the Earth at any given time ďƒ˜ Measurements taken for the purpose of energy production via solar panels and another photovoltaic equipment is calculated in kilowatt-hours per square meter, or kWh/m2, designed to represent the amount of energy being generated by that sunlight.
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Solar Energy Measurement System Measuring Solar Thermal Energy Solar thermal energy measured in British thermal units (Btu) per square foot of collector space. A Btu is about the amount of energy it takes to heat a pound of water from 39°F to 40°F.
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Solar Energy Measurement System
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Solar Energy Measurement System Measuring Solar Photovoltaic Energy Electricity measured in watts, i.e., with one thousand watts in a kilowatt. Using one thousand watts of electricity in one hour is a kilowatt-hour (kWh), the measurement on your utility bill For solar panels, the measurement of kWh refers to the amount of energy produced by the panel. This measure can be represented as kWh per square meter of panel surface. For example, it takes 38,000 BTUs to heat 80 gallons of cold water to 122 degrees. A solar hot water heating system with a rating of 30,500 Btu/day rating will be able to provide 80 percent of the daily hot water needs. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Energy Measurement System Solar Photovoltaic Energy
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Solar Energy Measurement System Measurement Techniques Several different tools can be used to measure kilowatts and kilowatt-hours per square meter. A Pyranometer is a device used to measure global solar radiation while a Pyrheliometer measures direct radiation. A Pyranometer comprises of a thermopile sensor with a black coating, which absorbs all solar radiation, and a glass dome, which limits the spectral response of the thermopile. A Pyrheliometer works similarly but is designed with a solar tracker to keep the device directly aimed at the sun for the duration of the measurement being taken. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Energy Measurement System
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Solar Energy Measurement System Hardware Requirements
PIC16F8 series MC Solar Panel LCD Transformer Diodes Voltage Regulator Resistors Capacitor LED
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Solar Energy Measurement System Software Requirements MPLAB & CCS C compiler Language: Embedded C or Assembly
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Solar Energy Measurement System Commercial and Scientific Use Most of the tools used for the measurement of solar radiation are quite expensive and is primarily used by meteorologists and other scientific researchers. Companies manufacturing solar panels and other forms of energy production using sunlight may also employ the utilization of these products. Actual solar radiation equipment is not often useful to the average person interested in measuring sunlight intensity for gauging solar panel productivity. Insolation tables, which specify the kilowatts per square meter recorded annually in different areas, are found online. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Energy Measurement System Future Scope: The measurement of solar radiation is useful in much the same way that records of rainfall are useful it gives us information about our world with which to make informed decisions. For example, insolation tables can help people in different areas decided whether solar panels are an appropriate alternative energy source. If there is not enough solar radiation, they may opt instead for wind power. Such data may also be useful when it comes to deciding how much sunscreen to wear, or for physicians looking to study rates of skin cancer in relation to rates of solar radiation exposure. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Energy Measurement System Conclusion: Although the technicality and special equipment required for the measurement of solar radiation may make it difficult for the layman to understand, there are many practical uses for this data. Ultimately, as with many scientific measurements, the collection methods are less important for laymen than the results – but these, when interpreted and translated by the scientific community, can serve a variety of purposes.
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