Analysis and evaluation of various aspects of solar radiation in the Palestinian territories
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2013
Abstract
This paper aims to evaluate the different models used to analyze different aspects of solar radiation in the Palestinian territories. Calculations of the optimized tilt and surface azimuth angles on monthly, seasonal and yearly basis were conducted, with the genetic algorithm being used for this purpose. Different PV tracking methods were also evaluated, taking into account the annual energy production. The different models used to calculate hourly global solar radiation from the daily data were tested in order to facilitate the selection of the most suitable model in the context of Palestine. The calibration of coefficients for the different regression models that were used for estimating the global solar radiation based on sunshine hours was also performed during the course of this work. These coefficients were calculated using both MATLAB's fitting tool and genetic algorithm. Linear, quadratic and linear-algorithmic regression models displayed almost identical results. Each has a distinctive predominant feature, especially in the context of statistical indicators. They were calculated using both the monthly average daily data and the daily data sets. With regards to the PV panel angles' optimization, it was found that the yearly optimum tilt angle (32.8) is adjacent to the latitude of the location (31.8), while the surface azimuth angle is 16. It was also found that changing the tilt angle of the PV panels quarterly (optimized on seasonally basis) increases energy yield by 3.4% when compared with fixing this tilt angle at yearly optimized value. It was also discovered that changing the surface azimuth angle is more effective during winters than summers.
Keywords
Angstrom coefficients, Genetic algorithm, Optimum azimuth angle, Optimum tilt angle, Photovoltaic, Solar energy, Solar tracking system, Angstrom coefficient, Azimuth angles, Optimum tilt angles, Photovoltaic, Solar tracking systems, Genetic algorithms, Optimization, Photovoltaic cells, Regression analysis, Solar energy, Solar power generation, Sun, Solar radiation
Divisions
fac_eng
Publication Title
Energy Conversion and Management
Volume
73
Publisher
Elsevier