SolarResource2008_TRB_printable_version.ppt

The Solar Resource Dr. Tom Betts CREST GJ office (Holywell Park) Tel.: +44 (0)1509 635320 email: t.r.betts@lboro.ac.uk Overview Course context Solar Radiation Properties of Light Regional and Seasonal Variation of Solar Radiation Sun-Earth Geometry Measurement and Estimation of Solar Radiation Calculations of Solar Radiation Direct Solar Energy Systems Global Solar Energy Systems Overview Course context Solar Radiation Properties of Light Regional and Seasonal Variation of Solar Radiation Sun-Earth Geometry Measurement and Estimation of Solar Radiation Calculations of Solar Radiation The Sun and its Radiation Overview Course context Solar Radiation Properties of Light Regional and Seasonal Variation of Solar Radiation Sun-Earth Geometry Measurement and Estimation of Solar Radiation Calculations of Solar Radiation What is Light? Pre-1800: beam optics (rays) 19th century: wave theory 20th century: particle theory(Einstein: photoelectric effect) Energy of the photon: frequency-wavelength relation: Wavelength and Energy properties are inversely proportional (1 eV = 1.6 x 10-19 J) Spectra and Colour Spectrum: mixture of photons with different energies/waves with different frequencies Black Body Radiation Describes a perfectly absorbing, perfectly emitting body Interaction of Light with Matter Transmission Scattering Rayleigh (particle size wavelength) Mie (particle size ~ wavelength) Absorption/re-emission Reflection Transmission Transmission of radiation through a medium generally involves a loss of intensity: Optical Air Mass Transmission Transmission of radiation through a medium generally involves a loss of intensity: Rayleigh Scattering (small particles) Extinction coefficient α varies with l-4 Blue light is scattered more than red Blue photons are scattered around the sky At sunset/sunrise the additional distance travelled through atmosphere (high air mass) amplifies the effect, resulting in a redder solar disc Mie Scattering (larger particles) Extinc