Estimation of hourly beam and diffuse solar radiation

✍ Scribed by K.K. Gopinathan; P. Polokoana

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1986
• Weight: 281 KB
• Volume: 3
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0741-983X
• DOI: 10.1016/0741-983x(86)90039-1

✦ Synopsis

Measurements of beam and diffuse solar irradiance on a horizontal surface have been utilized to verify simple methods of prediction of solar radiation. Measurements of hourly beam and diffuse solar irradiance on a horizontal surface have been made at Roma, a town 35 km from Maseru, on a few selected clear cloudless days during 1984-85 and the results are presented. The results are compared with those estimated theoretically using the models proposed by Hottel, H. C. Solar Energy 18, 129 (1976) and by Liu, B. Y. H. and Jordan, R. C. Solar Energy 4, 3 (1960). It is suggested that the theoretical models of Hottel and of Liu and Jordan are suitable for estimating hourly beam and diffuse irradiation for any location in Lesotho.