MIE 515 Alternative Energy Systems

Winter 2015
Problem Set 2
(DUE: online by 23:55 (11:55PM), Tuesday, January 27, 2015)
1. Roof coverings are available with different radiation properties. Three such coverings have
properties as shown [N. Suryanarayana, 1995]. What is your choice for a roof covering in:
(a) a tropical climate?
(b) a cold climate?

2. The wavelength integrated emissivity of a surface is direction dependent as shown in the figure
below. Determine the total [hemispherical] emissivity of the surface.

3. In a silicon photocell, only incident photons having a wavelength less than 1.108 m can
actually generate an electron. Assuming that the sun behaves as a blackbody at 5800 K, calculate
the fraction of the radiation emitted by the sun that can potentially generate an electron in a
silicon photocell in outer space.