Novel Pyranometers Based on Different Metals - A Comparative Study

Abstract

This study aims to present the characteristic of solar irradiation of a novel pyranometer designed by a number of metals, namely copper, iron and aluminum. Normally, photovoltaic semiconductor material has been used to design traditional pyranometers. In comparison with these traditional pyranometers, the proposed one has dominant characteristics such as a high accuracy, a low maintenance cost and an optimum operating temperature. The novel pyranometer not only has the characteristics similarly to the high standard apogee pyranometer but also has much cheaper cost. In addition, its operational solar spectral broadband range varies from 300nm to 2800nm in comparison with a smaller variation range (i.e., from 360nm to 1120nm) for the apogee pyranometer. Another significant characteristic is that the newly designed pyranometer can forecast the variability of clear sky condition-based solar radiation and detect cloudy weather. Time response measuring the transient behavior of metallic slabs lies in the range of 3-6 minutes. The calibration of fabricated pyranometers resulting in correlation coefficients for copper, aluminum and iron pyranometers is 0.94, 0.92 and 0.98, respectively. A statistical analysis from this study provides a 98% matching between the fabricated and standard pyranometers.