Date…………………………..

Experiment no: 03
Class: M.Sc 4th Semester Group………………………….
Roll no. 91 Sub……………………………..
Shift: Day Set……………………………...

STUDY OF SOLAR FLUX DENSITY VARIATION WITH TIME AND ESTIMATE THE VALUE OF SOLAR
ENERGY DENSITY USING PYRANOMETER

Apparatus Required
 Pyranometer
 Stop Watch

Theory
A pyranometer is a type of actinometer that can measure solar irradiance in the desired
location and solar radiation flux density. The solar radiation spectrum extends approximately
between 300 and 2800 n.
The main components of Pyranometer

a) Thermophile
A sensor consisting of thermophile connected in series and provided with a black coating for
absorbing all solar radiation. It exhibits a near perfect cosine response and a flat spectrum that
relative to the temperature gradient.
b) Glass dome:
This dome restricts the spectral response from 300 to 2800 nm froma field of view of 1800. This
hemispherical glass dome also shields the thermophile from wind, rain and convection.
c) Occulating disc:
It is used for measuring the diffuse radiation and blocking beam radiation from the surface.
Working principle
A pyranometer is operated based on the measurement of temperature difference between a
clear surface and dark surface. The black coating on the thermopile sensor absorbed the solar
radiation while a clear surface reflects the radiation and hence heat loss is absorbed.
Application:
Establishment of green house locations
Designing photovoltaic systems

OBSERVATIONS

1. When Pyranometer is placed in dark room for 10 min

Maximum reading (𝑂1 ) = 1𝑊/𝑚2

Minimum reading (𝑂2 ) = 1𝑊/𝑚2
𝑂 1 +𝑂2 1+0
Background flux = = = 0.5 𝑊/𝑚2
2 2

2. When pyranometer is exposed to sunlight

Irradiance (
S.N Time ( pm) ̅|𝟐
|𝒚 − 𝒚 comments
𝒘/𝒎^𝟐)
1 1:40 350 2440.36
3 1:44 340 864.36
2 1:42 330 1552.36
4 1:46 375 5535.36
5 1:48 364 4019.36
6 1:50 422 14737.96
7 1:52 464 26699.56
8 1:54 453 23225.76
9 1:56 452 22921.96
10 1:58 448 21726.96
11 2:00 422 8723.56
12 2:02 394 6304.36
13 2:04 380 9101.16
14 2:06 396 11320.96
15 2:08 407 1730.56
16 2:10 259 2641.96
17 2:12 352 2581.56
18 2:14 354 31.36
19 2:16 295 9880.36
20 2:18 400 1420.42
21 2:20 364 4019.56
22 2:22 382 6625.96

23 2:24 384 6955.56

24 2:26 382 6625.96
25 2:28 322 457.96
26 2:30 294 43.56
27 2:32 320 376.36
28 2:34 244 3203.56
29 2:36 364 4019.56
30 2:38 382 6625.96
31 2:40 384 6955.56
32 2:42 382 6625.96
33 2:44 322 457.96

34 2:46 294 43.56

35 2:48 320 376.36
36 2:50 244 3203.56
37 2:52 232 4303.36
38 2:54 207 3794.56
39 2:56 186 4984.36
40 2:58 233 9331.56
41 3:00 260 12012.16
42 3:02 250 12904.96
 43 3:04 187 13829.76
44 3:06 183 6496.36
45 3:08 220 10732.96
46 3:10 197 20620.96
47 3:12 157 15726.96
48 3:14 177 9920.16
49 3:16 201 1384.5
50 3:18 289 134.56

∑𝑦 = 15003 ∑(𝑦 − 𝑦̅) = 415121.40

CALCULATION
∑𝑦 = 15003 𝑦̅ = 300.6
∑(𝑦 − 𝑦̅)2 = 415121.40
∑(𝑦−𝑦̅)2 √41521.40
Standard deviation (𝜎) = √( = ∼ 91.12
𝑁 50
𝜎
Standard error S.E = √𝑁 for N>30
91.12
= 12.89
√50
Best fit of data
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐 − − − − − − − −(1)
∑ 𝑦 = 𝑚∑𝑥 + 𝑛𝑐--------------(2)
∑𝑥𝑦 = 𝑚∑𝑥 2 + ∑𝑥𝑐 − − − − − − − (3)
Solving (2) and (3) we get m & c
(∑𝑥𝑦 − 𝑚∑𝑥 2 )
𝑐= − − − − − − − −(4)
∑𝑥
∑𝑥∑𝑦 − 𝑛∑𝑥𝑦
𝑚= − − − − − − − −(5)
(∑𝑥)2 − 𝑛∑𝑥 2

Irradiance (
S.N Time ( min ) 𝑥2 xy
𝑤/𝑚^2)
1 0 350 0 0
3 02 330 4 660
2 04 340 16 1360
4 06 375 36 2250
5 08 364 64 2912
6 10 422 100 4220
7 12 464 144 5568
8 14 453 196 6342
9 16 452 256 7232
10 18 448 324 8064
11 20 442 400 8440
12 22 394 484 8668
13 24 380 576 9120

14 26 396 676 10296

15 28 369 676 10296
16 30 407 784 11396
17 32 259 900 7770
18 34 352 1024 11264
19 36 354 1156 12036
20 38 295 1296 10620
21 40 400 1444 15200
22 42 382 1600 14500
23 44 384 1764 16044
24 46 382 1936 16896

25 48 322 2116 17572

26 50 294 2304 15476
27 52 320 2500 14700
28 54 244 2704 16640
29 56 232 2916 13176
30 58 207 3136 12992
31 60 186 3600 12006
32 62 233 3844 11160
33 64 260 4096 14446
 34 66 250 4356 16640
35 68 213 4624 16500
36 70 182 4900 14484
37 72 235 5184 12740
38 74 239 5476 16920
39 76 230 5776 17686
40 78 204 6084 17480
41 80 191 6400 15819
42 82 181 6724 17480
43 84 187 7056 15912
44 86 183 7396 15280
45 88 220 7744 14842

46 90 157 8100 17730

47 92 177 8464 14444
48 94 201 8836 16638
49 96 282 9216 19296
50 98 289 9604 28322

∑𝑥 = 2450 ∑𝑦 = 15003 ∑𝑥 2 = 161700 ∑𝑦 2 = 624786

Equation (2) and (3) becomes

15003 = 2450 + 50 c -------------------(4)
624786 = 161700 m +2450 c -------- (5)
From (2), we get
15003−2450
𝑐= --------------------------(6)
50

Now, the solar energy density at mean distance of the earth from the sun (1.5 × 1011 𝑚 ) is
𝐿
𝑠𝑢𝑛
𝑓 = 4𝜋𝑑 2

We know
𝐿𝑠𝑢𝑛 = 3.9 × 1026 𝑤
3.9 × 1026
∴𝐹=
4 × 3.14 × (1.5 × 1011 )
1370 𝑤/𝑚2
Therefore,
Observed value = 300.1 w/m2
Expected solar density = 1370 2/m2
Percentage of actual solar energy density that we receive is 21.90 %