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On the optimum orientation of solar collectors
Author(s) -
Hughes T.,
McMullan J. T.,
Morgan R.,
Murray R. B.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.4440010206
Subject(s) - tilt (camera) , albedo (alchemy) , insolation , latitude , longitude , environmental science , reflection (computer programming) , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , orientation (vector space) , sunlight , radiation , physics , optics , geodesy , geology , geometry , climatology , mathematics , art , performance art , computer science , programming language , art history
A simple model of atmospheric absorption and scattering, incorporating only three parameters, has been used to fit meteorological data for direct and diffuse radiation and hours of sunshine at latitude 55°N, longitude 6°W. Using this fit for insolation on a horizontal plane, annual and monthly figures for insolation on an inclined plane have been computed. It is found that the annual insolation is relatively insensitive to orientation for angles of tilt between zero and 60°, but that the optimum tilt is 30.5°. When ground reflection is included, the optimum tilt angle rises steadily to 65' as the ground albedo increases from zero to unity. Optimization for summer and winter operation is also considered, as is the effect of various characteristics of practical collectors.