Applied Energy 52 (1995) 55~4

Elsevier Science Limited

Printed in Great Britain
0306-2619/95/$9.50
ELSEVIER 0306- 2619( 95) 00015- 1
Correlations for the Estimation of Hourly Global Solar
Radiation
S. K. Sri vast ava, O. P. Si ngh & G. N. Pandey
Department of Applied Sciences, Energy Laboratory, Institute of Engineering and
Technology, Lucknow 226020, India
A B S T R A CT
Empirical correlations f or estimating the ratios of monthly mean hourly to
daily global solar radiation received on horizontal surfaces have been
compared and their validities tested. The correlation of Collares-Pereira
and Rabl [Solar Energy, 22, (1979) 155] yields the best results, while the
correlations of Liu and Jordan [Solar Energy, 4 (1960) 19], and Garg
and Garg [Solar & Wind Technology 4 (1987) 113] give satisfactory
values. Calculated ratios show small deviations f rom observed ratios around
the solar noon. Measured ratios are generally lower than the calculated
ratios in the morning and evening hours, while the reverse is observed f or
the hours around the solar noon.
I NTRODUCTI ON
Solar energy systems require detailed information concerning the avail-
ability of solar radiation. The total amount of solar energy depends upon
the season of the year and sky conditions during day time. The perfor-
mance calculations of solar energy systems are sometimes carried out on
an hourl y basis. To make such performance calculations for a system, it
is necessary to have an idea of the hourl y values of the radiation. Using
monthl y average data from a number of stations, statistical studies of the
time distribution of the total radiation on horizontal surfaces through
the day have led to generalized charts of the ratio of hourl y total (/) to
daily total (H) radiation on a horizontal surface, represented hereafter as
r, a function of day length and the hour in question. Such studies were
made by Whillier, 1,2 Hottel and Whillier 3 and Liu and Jordan. 4 The hours
are designated by the time at the midpoint of the hour, and days are
55
56 S. K. Srivastava, O. P. Singh, G. N. Pandey
considered to be symmetrical about the solar noon. According to
Whillier, 1 this process can be used for individual clear days. Bensman 5
suggested that it is adequate for individual days, with the best results
being obtained for clear days and increasingly uncertain results as the
daily total radiation decreases. For lack of a better alternative, it is
applied to individual days. The objective of the present study is to compare
the measured and calculated values of monthl y mean ratios of hourl y to
daily global solar radiation on a horizontal surface. Three correlations
have beenus ed to calculate the ratios of hourl y to daily global solar radi-
ations on a horizontal surface and a comparative study has been made to
test the suitability of the correlations.
EXPERI MENTAL SET-UP
Measurements of the global solar radiation on a horizontal surface were
made at Lucknow (latitude 26.75N; longitude 80.50E, altitude 120 m
above sea level) using a precision pyranometer (No. 0317) manufactured
by National Instruments Limited, (Cal cut t a, India), having a calibration
factor 5.50 mV/Cal cm 2 min. The pyranometer used consists of a thin
blackened surface, supported inside a relatively massive well-polished case.
When exposed to solar radiation, the blackened surface rises in tempera-
ture until its rate of loss of heat by all causes equals the rate of gain of
heat by radiation. This rise of temperature sets up a thermal electromotive
force which is measured on a recording millivoltmeter. The potentiometric
chart recorder, used to record the output of the pyranometer, has a range of
0-10 mV, a chartwidth of 160 mm, and a normal chart speed of 20 mm/h.
Measured data of global solar radiation on a horizontal surface have
been taken from October 1989 to September 1991. The hourl y data val-
ues as well as the daily total values of the radiation are computed from
the record obtained from the potentiometric chart recorder. The observa-
tion site has no obstacle obscuring the pyranometer sensor from the
incoming radiation.
CORRELATI ONS TO ESTIMATE THE HOURLY RADI ATI ON ON
A HORI ZONTAL SURFACE
Correlation of Liu and Jordan
Liu and Jordan 6 proposed the following correl ation to estimate the
monthl y mean hourl y global radiation on a horizontal surface from the
Hourly global solar radiation 57
monthl y mean daily radiation on a horizontal surface:
monthl y mean hourl y radiation on horizontal surface
r - - -
monthl y mean daily radiation on horizontal surface
(~r / 24) (cos W - cos Ws)
sin Ws - (21rW s / 360) cos W~
where W is the hour angle in degrees for the midpoint of the hour for
which the calculation is to be made and Ws is the sunset hour angle.
Correlation of Collares-Pereira and Rabl
Collares-Pereira and Rabl 7 verified Liu and Jordan' s work by using the
curves of r and proposed the following correl ation to estimate the
monthl y mean global hourl y radiation values on a horizontal surface:
(1r / 24) (cos W - cos Ws)
r = ( a+b cos/4/)
sin Ws - (27rWs / 360) cos W~
where the coefficients a and b are defined as:
a = 0.409 + 0.5016 sin(W~-60)
b = 0.6609 - 0.4767 sin(W~-60)
Correlation of Garg and Garg
Garg and Garg 8 checked the adequacy of the Liu and Jordan correl ation
to estimate the hourl y horizontal global radiation for various Indian sta-
tions and showed that the correl ation is not suitable for determining the
monthl y mean hourl y global radiation on a horizontal surface f rom the
monthl y mean daily radiation on a horizontal surface. Therefore they
proposed the following new correlation:
(zr/ 24) (cos W- cos Ws)
r = - 0-008 sin3(W-0.65)
sinW s - (2zrW s / 360) cosWs
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Three different correlations have been used to calculate the ratio of the
monthl y mean hourl y to daily radiation on a horizontal surface and have
been compared with the experimental values. The results thus obtained
for all the months are presented in Figs 1-12. It may be observed that
the correl ation of Callares-Pereira and Rabl yields the best results.
58 S. K. Srivastava, O. P. Singh, G. iV. Pandey
The correlations of Liu and Jordan, and Garg and Garg also give satisfac-
tory results. The Collares-Pereira and Rabl correlation predicts better results
than the correlation of Garg and Garg, which has been developed using data
Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
0 . 1 6
0.14
"~ 0.12
O.lO
~0. 08
~,~ 0.06
N o.114
g 0.02
0.110
,,o.th J..a
! ~- - i ~u l g ~: G] i reira & Rab.
I I I l I I I I I I I
06.00 07.00 08.00 09.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00
Comparison
Time (hours)
of measured and evaluated values
(hourly/daily) global radiation.
of monthly mean
0.16 l
0
~ 0.14
~ 0.12 - .
: ,
~, ~ ira & Rabl x
i
0 . 0 2 -
O . O C t l i I l , I I I l I " ~ ~ 0
0 6 . 0 0 0 7 . 0 0 0 8 . 0 0 0 9 , 0 0 I . O . O 0 l l . O 0 1 2 . 0 0 1 3 . 0 0 1 4 , 0 0 1 5 . 0 0 1 6 . 0 0 1 7 . 0 0
Time ( h o u r s )
Comparison of measured and evaluated values of monthly mean
(hourly/daily) global radiation.
Hourly global solar radiation 59
f rom Indi an stations. A compari s on between the correl ations of Liu and
Jordan, and Garg and Garg shows that the Liu and J ordan model gives
somewhat better results t han the correl ation of Garg and Garg. Al mos t
: 0.16
0
;~ 0.14
~ 0.12
0
~ 0.10
~ O.OS
0
~ o.o6
~ 0.04
~ o.o2
0
0. ~
, / / / M e a s u r e d ~ b
O/ __-- ~ :areJOr.d;nreira & Rab '
- o - Ga r g &Ga r g
I I I I I I I l I l I
06.00 07.00 08.00 09.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00
Ti me ( hour s )
Fig. 3. Comparison of measured and evaluated values of monthly mean
(hourly/daily) global radiation.
Fig. 4 .
.o
0.14
' ~ 0.12
O
Ii O.IO
a
~ 0 . 0 8
~
0.06
~ O.IN
"~ O.O2
0
o.~
: . . . . . . . \
I I I I I I I I I I I
06.00 07.00 08.00 09.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00
Ti me ( hour s )
Comparison of measured and evaluated values of monthly mean
(hourly/daily) global radiation.
60 S. K. Srivastava, O. P. Singh, G. N. Pandey
all correlations show similar variations for different hours with maxi mum
and mi ni mum deviations, as compared wi th experimental observations,
during sunshine and at solar noon. F rom 10 . 30 to 14 . 30 hours there was
C
0
"~ 0.14
.~ 0.12
_ 0. 10
~ 0.08
t ~
g 0.0e
0 . 0 4
.~ 0.02
0
b
/ ~' / . . . . Liu & Jordan ' ~, x
/ / / - ' - -- Col l m~s - Pcrcira & Rabl ~, . Xo
o~" .--o.- G ~ . ~ ~ g " ~
' ~ 0 . 0 0 l I I l I I I l I I I I -
06.00 07.0008.00 09.0010.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00 18.00
Time ( h o u r s )
Fig. 5. Comparison of measured and evaluated values of monthl y mean
(hourly/daily) global radiation.
O
"~ 0.14
N 0.12
~ 0.10
_ a
~., 0.08
g o. ~
g o.o4
~ 0.02
g
~ o . ~
Month ,ono \
" ~ ~- ~- - CG i ~G' ~g " reira & Rab'
I I I t I I I I I I I I
06.00 07.0008.00 09.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00 18.00
Ti me ( h o u r s )
Fig. 6. Comparison of measured and evaluated values
(hourly/daily) global radiation.
of monthl y mean
Hourly global solar radiation 61
a mi ni mum deviation f rom e.xperimental observation for al most all corre-
lations. Sometimes a deviation of onl y 0.4-0-5% was observed. Maxi mum
deviations during the morni ng and evening hours are of little
F i g. 7 .
t -
O
"~ 0.14
~ 0.12
_ e
~ 0. 11
~
0.01
I
o . o 4 i r a & Ra b l
' ~ ' 0 . 0 2 ,'
0
0 . 0 0 I I I 1 I I I t I I I I
06.00 0 7 . 0 0 0 8 . 0 0 0 9 . 0 0 1 0 . 0 0 1 1 . 0 0 1 2 . 0 0 1 3 . 0 0 1 4 . 0 0 1 5 . 0 0 1 6 . 0 0 1 7 . 0 0 1 8 . 0 0
Time ( h o u r s )
Comparison of measured and evaluated values of monthly mean
(hourly/daily) global radiation.
F i g . .
" ~ 0.14
- - 0.12
O
~0.10
a
~ 0 . 0 8
~ 0.06
~O.(N
0.02
O
o.oo
/ / / J Month - August ~\
i ~'~-" ii?~:rda~Pgteira & Rabl ~
I I I I I I 1 I I 1 I
06.00 07.0008.00 09.0010.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00
Time (hours)
Comparison of measured and evaluated values of monthly mean
(hourly/daily) global radiation.
62 S. K. Srivastava, O. P. Singh, G. N. Pandey
consequence for solar energy operated systems, because the global radia-
tion during morning and evening hours is relatively small and constitutes
only a small part of the daily radiation. I t has also been found that the
= 0. 16~
0.14
-~ o.12
~ O .lO
a
0.08
~ 0 . 0 6
e~
N
0.1N
0.02
O
0 . 0 0 I I I I I I I I I I I
06.00 07.00 08.00 0 9 . 0 0 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00
T i m e ( h o u r s )
F i g . 9 . C o m p a r i s o n o f m e a s u r e d a n d e v a l u a t e d v a l u e s o f m o n t h l y m e a n
(hourl y/ dai l y) gl obal radi at i on.
~ o.14- ~ ' ~ -.,
,= E / ~,,.xN \
0 O l / %
a
es
o
t m 0.11
2 g
o . 0 , , ' , \
~0.06
~
0.04
~
0.02
~ O.00
06.00 07.111108.00 I)9.00111 10.1~ 11.00 12.00 13.00111 14.00111 15.00 16.1111 17.00111
Time ( hours)
Fig. 10. Co mp ar i s o n o f meas u r ed and eval uat ed val ues o f mo nt h l y mean
(hourl y/ dai l y) gl obal radi at i on.
Hourly global solar radiation 63
observed ratios of hourly to daily radiations for morning and evening
hours, generally for 6-30-8.30 and 15-30-17.30 hours, are always less
than the corresponding calculated ratios.
c-
o
'~ 0.14
- - 0.12
r ~
o
" ~ 0. 10
_a
~ 0 . 0 8
~
0.06
e~ 0.04
0.02
t~
0
o.oo
f ~
/ / Month- November ~~\
/ ~-o- Garg & Garg
I I I I I I I I I I I
06.00 07.00 08.00 09.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00 16.00 17.00
Time (hours)
Fig. 11. Compar i s on of meas ured and eval uat ed val ues of mont hl y mean
(hourl y/ dai l y) gl obal radi at i on.
O . l q
.2
.~ o.1,
~ o.12
0
0. 11
_a
~ 0.0!
~ 0.o6
cl
~
0.04
~ 0.02
0
onth-O ecem r
i -~3-- Ca~llg~SGP;reira & Rabl " ~ ~"
0 . 0 0 I I I I I I I I I I
06.00 07.00 08.00 09.00 1 0 . 0 0 I I . 0 0 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.0016.0017.00
Time (hours)
Fig. 12. Compar i s on of meas ured and eval uat ed val ues of mont hl y mean
(hourl y/dail y) gl obal radi at i on.
64 s. K. Srivastava, O. P. Singh, G. N. Pandey
CONCLUSI ONS
The correl ation of Col l ares-Pereira and Rabl yields better results for the
ratios of mont hl y mean hourl y to daily gl obal radiation t han the correla-
tions of Liu and Jordan, and Garg and Garg. The percentage deviation
has been observed to be at a mi ni mum for al most all correl ations duri ng
the period 10.30-14.30 hours as compared with experimental observa-
tions. Ar ound sol ar noon, sometimes a deviation of onl y 0.4-0.5% was
observed. Measured ratios were generally l ower t han the cal cul ated ratios
for 6.30-8.30 and 15.30-17.30 hours, while for 10.30-14.30 hours the
reverse was observed. Lower values of the ratios of hourl y to daily
radiations during morni ng and evening hours may be due to large
attenuations of sol ar radiation duri ng these hours.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
One of the authors (O.P.S.) is grateful to the Council of Scientific &
Industrial Research, New Del hi, for providing financial as s i s t ance.
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