Presentation title: Solar Radiation

Lecture 16.
Solar
Radiation

A refresher:
Solar Geometry variables
Angle of Incidence ()
Angle of sun to a line normal to the surface in question
(time and orientation specific)
Solar-Surface Azimuth ()
Angle in plan between the sun and a line normal to the
surface in question (time and orientation specific)
Profile Angle ()
Angle in the suns position in a two-dimensional section
and a line normal to the surface in question (time and
orientation specific)
Surface Tilt ()
Tilt of a surface relative to the ground plane (orientation
specific)

Schema for
Equidistant
Sun Path Diagram

Solar-Surface
Azimuth
()
Solar Surface Azimuth
diagram
Angle in plan between the sun and a line normal to the
surface in question (time and orientation specific)

Angle
Incidence
Angle of
of incidence
diagram ()
Angle of sun to a line normal to the surface in question
(time and orientation specific)

Profile
Angle ofAngle
incidence ()
diagram
Position of sun translated into a two-dimensional vertical
plane (as in section)

Recall that a profile is

the view of a person or
an object from the side

SITE SOLAR ANALYSIS

Tools of the Trade
Using Profile Angles ()

Using Profile Angles ()

Using Profile Angles ()

Solar
Altitude ()

Using Profile Angles ()

Solar
Surface
Azimuth ()

Using Profile Angles ()

This is the suns position in three dimensions,

now lets consider its representation in section.

Using Profile Angles ()

Cut a section perpendicular to the back wall

Using Profile Angles ()

Section perpendicular to back wall

Using Profile Angles ()

Profile Angle () for

section perpendicular
to back wall

Using Profile Angles ()

Cut a section parallel to the back wall

Using Profile Angles ()

Section parallel to back wall

Using Profile Angles ()

Profile Angle () for

section parallel to back wall

Profile Angle ()

Profile Angle ()

Profile Angle ()

Profile Angle ()

An example problem:
Lets cast some shadows for
an declined vertical dial. A
two-foot horizontal gnomon
is placed in a southwestfacing wall at 36 NL. Cast
the shadow for 3 pm on 21
May.

Southwest

Note that this vertical gnomon could easily be the corner of

an awning or other shading device.

Southwest

I confess a deep
and continuing
fondness for
renderings in
the Beaux Arts
tradition

Our familiar LOFSAC

a Sun Path Diagram
in the equidistant
polar form

3 PM, 21 May

We will use our

LOFSAC overlay
for calculating
1. Profile Angle
2. Angle of
Incidence
3. Solar- Surface
Azimuth

Lets look at the development of

this overlay. We begin with a wall
of random orientation.

The wall can only see the half of the

sky vault that lies in front of it.

One can map positions in that quarter

sphere using coordinates relative to
the wall
= 60

This fix set of relative positions can be translated

into several variables that are dependant on
position e.g., angle of incidence, profile angle,
radiation

Overlay for
calculating Profile
Angle, Angle of
Incidence, and
Solar- Surface
Azimuth

Overlay for
calculating Profile
Angle

Overlay for
calculating Angle of
Incidence

Overlay for
calculating SolarSurface Azimuth

Back to our
sample
calculation
problem: our
southwest-facing
wall sees this
half of the sky
vault

3 pm,
21 May

Start with a wall elevation.

What do we have to work with?

The Beaux Arts

rendering wizards
used orthographic
projections our
familiar plans,
elevations, and
sections

We can project plan and

section to provide three views
of the same object.

Since sunpath diagrams are projections of the suns path onto a

plan diagram lets focus on plan for a moment.

Here is the
sunpath diagram
placed in position
relative to our
wall in plan

And the profile

angle overlay in
position relative to
our wall in plan.
Note the normal to
window line. This
will yield a profile
angle in a section
perpendicular to
the wall

Problem setup for Profile

Angle (), section
perpendicular to wall
3 PM, 21 May

The two
diagrams
combined.
Now we can
derive a value
for for a
southwest
facing surface
at 3 PM, 21
May

3 pm
21 May

Find the intersection of

the 3 pm and 21 May
lines. This is the
absolute position of
the sun in the sky.
Read a value for
profile angle
from the
contours of
the profile
angle overlay.
This overlay is
positioned relative
to the wall.
The result is profile
angle equals 54

= 54
21 May

3 pm

OK, what do
we do with
our 54profile
angle value?

 = 54

Problem setup for

Profile Angle (),
section parallel to
wall
3 PM, 21 May

Problem setup for

Profile Angle (),
section parallel to
wall
3 PM, 21 May

Profile angle
overlay in place
for normal parallel
to wall

Read the value for

profile angle parallel
to the wall from
the contours of
the profile
angle overlay.
The result is
profile angle
equals 62

21 May

= 62

3 pm

 = 54

 = 62

54

Add the new

profile angle
value to the
elevation. The
intersection of
these two lines is
the end of the
shadow.

We can now run a

check on the
shadow position
using solar-surface
azimuth.

Solar surface azimuth

protractor in place for
normal parallel to wall

Problem setup for

Solar-Surface
Azimuth ()
3 PM, 21 May

Find the intersection of

the 3 pm and 21 May
lines. Then draw a
straight line from
the zenith (center
of sunpath diagram)
through the
month/time
intersection to the
perimeter.

= 36
Read a value for
solar-surface azimuth on
the perimeter scale of the
overlay.
The result is solar-surface
azimuth equals 36

Determining
solar surface
azimuth
value

 = 62

54

62

= 36

54

Shadow position for

3 pm, 21 May

Problem setup for

Angle of Incidence ()
3 PM, 21 May

Find the intersection of

the 3 pm and 21 May
lines. This is the
absolute position of
the sun in the sky.
Read a value for
angle of incidence
from the
contours of
the angle of
incidence overlay.
This overlay is
positioned relative
to the wall.
The result is angle of
incidence equals 57

= 57
Shadow length = gnomon height x tan
= 3.1

Angle of Incidence

21 May

62

= 36

54

Shadow position for

3 pm, 21 May

62

54

= 57
3.1

Angle of incidence
yields a shadow
length of 3.1 feet

Penumbral shadows go ponder a flagpole

Penumbral shadows go ponder a flagpole

But wait -- it is time for the 7th inning stretch

PEC Monthly Solar Geometry Spreadsheet

PEC Annual Solar

Geometry
Spreadsheet
Annual Version

Bentons Solar
Geometry
Spreadsheet
Annual Version

1. The Solar Constant

The earth receives a relatively
constant flux of solar radiation
at the edge of its atmosphere.
This value will vary about 7%
during the year and is taken to
average 429.2 BTU/Ft2 Hr.
Values for each month can be
found in ASHRAE Handbook of
Fundamentals.

2. Earths Movement
The orbit of the sun about the
earth (declination) and the
earth's rotation on its axis.
(hour) establish the seasonal
and diurnal cycles of solar
radiation at the earths surface.
Declination and hour are
fundamental inputs to all
methods of calculating solar
geometry.

3. Location on Earth
The location of a site on the
earth's sphere will determine
the range and limits of seasonal
and diurnal solar variation.
Latitude will affect solar
altitude, azimuth and day
length Longitude will establish
the relationship between solar
time and standard time.
Altitude will establish
atmospheric attention.

4. Surface Tilt & Orientation

At a given location, the
relationship of a target plane
to the earth's surface and to
south will establish the angle of
incidence between the surface
and the sun at any given time.
The angle of incidence will
indicate if the surface is shade
or in the sun. If the surface is
in the sun, the impact will vary
with angle of incidence.

5. Weather / Climate Patterns

Solar radiation impact at the
earth's surface will vary
according to the weather
patterns characteristic to a
given region. This variation,
primarily due to shading by
clouds, can be established
using calculation procedures
(see article by S.A. Klein in
Solar Energy Journal, Vol. 19,
pp. 325) or referring to climatic
data.

6. Microclimatic Shading
Topography and vegetation
establish site specific radiation
patterns that vary through the
year. These shading effects can
be examined using horizon
shading diagrams sunpath
projections or using threedimensional models for scale
simulation

7. Surface Shading Devices

The three-dimensional
character of a surface will
establish the extent of self
shading that occurs with hour
and seasonal changes. This may
be studied graphically using
profile angle projections or sun
path shading mask. Threedimensional models provide an
accurate analysis method.

8. Transmission through Glazing

The transmitted component of
radiation striking a glazing
material will vary with the
physical properties of the
glazing, the assembly of glazing
components, and the angle of
incidence. Consult glazing
manufacturers or Duffie and
Beckman, Solar Energy Thermal
Processes, p. 108.

9. Surface Absorption
The conversion of radiation t
heat and the transfer of heat
from the surface to storage, or
to the air, will vary with
surface absorptance, angle of
incidence, target mass, target
temperature, and air
temperature.

Diffuse radiation only

when sun is behind
the surface

A radiation
overlay for
the sun
path
diagram

Direct and diffuse

radiation when sun is
in front of the surface

The radiation
overlay applied to
our SW-facing
wall example

The radiation
overlay applied to
a SW-facing wall
example

Solar Geometry
Spreadsheet
Annual Version

The radiation
overlay applied to
our SW-facing
wall example
Find the intersection of
the 3 pm and 21 May
lines.

21 May

Read a value for solar

radiation from the
contours of the solar
radiation overlay.
The result is 180 Btu/Hr
for a clear sky.
3 pm