351_JedsadaPrathumsit.doc.docVIP

(Daylight at four stations in the main regions of Thailand: ground-based measurement approach S. Janjai*, J. Prathumsit Solar Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom, (Thailand) Abstract In this work, a 5-year period of daylight illuminance measured at four stations in main regions of Thailand was analyzed. These stations are Chiang Mai (18.78°N, 98.98°E), Ubon Ratchathani (15.25°N, 104.87°E), Nakhon Pathom (13.82°N, 100.04°E) and Songkhla (7.20°N, 100.60°E). The seasonal variation of global and diffuse illuminance and the amount of global illuminance on vertical surface were investigated. The pattern of the seasonal variation indicate that daylight illuminance at the four stations are strongly influenced by the monsoons and Thailand has high daylight potential. Based on illuminance data from the four stations models for estimating global and diffuse illuminance were also proposed. Keywords: daylight, illuminance, measurement, Thailand. Introduction It has been well recognized that a utilization of daylight for illuminating building interior can provide significant saving in building electricity consumption [1]. Design of a daylight-integrated building requires detail information on the local daylight environment. Recognizing the importance of such information, a number of researchers have established monitoring stations where daylight illuminance is routinely measured [2-5]. For the case of Thailand, apart from the daylight station in Bangkok [2], Solar Energy Research Laboratory of Silpakorn University has established four solar monitoring stations where daylight illuminance are routinely measured [6]. These stations are located at Chiang Mai (18.78°N, 98.98°E) in the Northern region, Ubon Ratchathani (15.25°N, 104.87°E) in the Northeastern region, Nakhon Pathom (13.82°N, 100.04°E) in the Central region and Songkhla (7.20°N, 100.60°E) in the Southern region. The objective of this work is to analyze ill