Orientacion Al Sol

ORIENTING YOURSELF TO THE SUN
1
© Timothy J. Cochran, P.E.
OBJECTIVES
 Distingush clock time and solar time.

 Determine the sun path with respect to a
collector.
 Use the sun path diagram to determine
shading.
2
LATITUDE
φ
Greek phi, (fy)
 angular location north (positive) or south
(negative) of the equator.
3
SOLAR TIME
Solar noon is when the sun it at it’s highest in
a given locality.
Most solar energy calculations will be based
around solar time.
Solar noon occurs at clock noon in only one
longitude within a time zone.
4
TIME ZONES
Since there are 24 time zones (one for each

hour of the day), and 360° around the
earth…
Each time zone is 360°/24hr=15° wide.
 Time zones start at multiples of 15°
 ie: 0° 15° 30° 45° 60° 75° …
 Actual time zones are a political decision
based on the ideal time zones.
5
US TIME ZONES
Eastern Time Meridian = 75°W

Central Time Meridian = 90°W
Mountain Time Meridian = 105°W
Pacific Time Meridian = 120°W
Alaska Time Meridian = 135°W
 Spans several 15° time zones.
Hawaii Time Meridian = 150°W
6
120°
105°
90°
75°
Meridians added and

approximate.
7
US LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE
8
SOLAR TIME CALCULATION
First, find linear interpolation for desired longitude compared to
standard time meridian.
15° ⇒ 60 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
Standard time
The sun will
∆𝐿𝐿 ⇒ ∆𝑡𝑡 for the zone is
reach here
set here.
later so clock
time will be
later than Sun
solar time.
Westerly Local Easterly
Standard Longitude Standard
Time Zone Time Zone
Boundary meridian
(every 15°) (every 15°)
9
SOLAR TIME EXAMPLE
The peak sun’s already
The peak sun hasn’t
been here.
reached here yet.
Solar Time = 11:56 Solar Time = 12 noon Solar Time = 12:04

Clock Time = 12 noon Clock Time = 12 noon Clock Time = 12 noon
76° Eastern 74°

Standard
Time Zone
meridian
ELET 4224 © Timothy J. Cochran 75°
10
SOLAR TIME CALCULATION
 Using proportional interpolation…

min ttsolar
60min
60 −ttstandard
solar −
=
= standard
15
15 
LLmeridian − LLlocal
meridian − local
ttsolar −ttstandard
solar − standard ==
60min
60 min


(LLmeridian
meridian −− L
L local
local
)
15
15
ttsolar =
= tt +
+ 4
4 min ××(LL
min − LLlocal
− )
solar standard
standard °° meridian
meridian local
ELET 4224 © Timothy J. Cochran

11
EQUATION OF TIME
 Previous equation assumes Earth makes a

perfectly circular orbit.
 However Earth is tilted in an elliptical orbit.
 “E” accounts for these as the Equation of
Time.
 http://www.analemma.com/Pages/framesPage.html
 This can shift the solar time calculation by

up to 17 minutes.
12
EQUATION OF TIME, MODEL FIT
0.000075 
+ 0.001868 cos(B ) 
 
E = 229.2 × − 0.032007 sin (B ) 
 
 − 0 . 014615 cos (2 B )
− 0.04089 sin (2 B ) 
You won’t memorize this equation, but know how to use the graph
that follows.
13
“B”
 a conversion between the day number and

an angle.
360°
B = (n − 1)
365
14
EQUATION OF TIME GRAPH
Equation of Time
20.00
15.00
10.00
Correction (E) in minutes
5.00
0.00
-5.00
-10.00
-15.00
-20.00
0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360
Day of the Year (n)
15
TIME CONVERSION EQUATION
Two corrections
 longitude
 Equation of Time
t solar = t standard + 4 min × (Lmeridian − Llocal ) + E

°
16
DAY OF THE YEAR
 “n” is the day of the year number

 January 1 = 1
 December 31 = 365
 Leap year not included.
31- 31- 28- 31- 30- 31- 30- 31- 30- 30- 31- 30- 31-
Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
365
= 0 31 59 90 120 151 181 212 242 273 304 334 365
17
EXAMPLE
 What is the solar time when it is 12 noon EST on
February 2nd?
Alfred New York
 http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/latitude-longitude.html
Latitude
 42° 15' 15“ NORTH or 15' 15"
42 + 
+ = 42.254
 Longitude 60 3600
 77° 47' 25“ WEST or
47' 25"
77 +
+ = 77.79 
60 3600
18
SOLAR TIME EXAMPLE
 February 2nd = 31 + 2  n = 33
  E = - 13.34
°
t solar = 12 : 00 + 4 min (75° − 77.79°) − 13.34 min
°
t solar = 12 : 00 − 24.5 min
t solar = 11 : 35 : 30 AM When the clock says noon, it is still 24.5
minutes until Alfredians see solar noon.
19
CLOCK TIME
 One could ask at what time on the clock (EST)
will solar noon occur in Alfred?

°
12 : 00 = t EST + 4 min (75° − 77.79°) − 13.34 min
°
t EST = 12 : 00 − 4 min (75° − 77.79°) + 13.34 min
°
t EST = 12 : 00 + 0 : 11.16 + 0 : 13.34
t EST = 12 : 24 : 30 PM As expected from the previous result.
20
PV POWER FOR A SUNNY DAY
15-minute power values for 9-Feb-2009 for Sweet Home Senior High School, Array #1
Note that noon

solar time is
after 12 noon
EST.
Source:
www.schoolpowernaturally.org 21
PV CURVE TIME CALCULATION
Sweet Home High School is in Amherst, NY
Amherst Longitude = 78.78 W
°
t solar = 12 : 00 + 4 min × (75° − 78.78)° − 14 min
°
t solar = 11 : 31
A clock says noon, but the peak of the sun, solar noon, is still 29 minutes away.
Thus solar noon will occur at 29 minutes after clock noon, 12:29 PM, EST.
22
PV POWER FOR A SUNNY DAY
15-minute power values for 21-Aug-2008 for Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Array #1
This school is in
Poughkeepsie, NY at
Here solar noon 73.9° W, near the 75°
and 12 noon EST W EST meridian.
appear to be the
same.
www.schoolpowernaturally.org
Source:
23
FIND SOLAR TIME TO CLOCK TIME
 12 noon solar time is what clock time for
Poughkeepsie NY on August 21st?
 Poughkeepsie Longitude = 73.9° W
 Day Number = 231  E = -5min
°
t solar = 12 : 00 + 4 min × (75° − 73.9°) − 4.06 min
°
t solar = 12 : 00 + 4.4 min − 4.06 min
t solar = 12 : 00 : 20 Call it the same.
24
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
 Most calculations to follow are shown with

respect to the Northern Hemisphere.
 Collector points south
 December winter solstice
 Southern Hemisphere references change.
 Collector points north
 June winter solstice
25
GOAL: MAKE A SUN PATH GRAPH
fig_06_17 Alternative Energy Systems, Hodge

This graph is for
33 ° N Latitude.
The morning is a
mirror image of the
afternoon.
26
GREEK ALPHABET
 Some variable
assignments will use
Greek alphabet
characters.
 Variable symbols follow the
convention of Duffie and Beckman’s
text.
27
DECLINATION
 δ Greek lower case delta

 Angle of deviation of sun from directly
above the equator.
 Maximum
• at summer solstice (+23.45°)
• and winter solstice (-23.45°) .
 Minimum, 0°, at spring and fall equinox.
28
EQUINOX
Declination = 0°
Earth’s
Axis
Sun’s rays
Tropic of Cancer
Equator
Tropic of Capricorn
29
WINTER SOLSTICE
Declination = -23.45°
Sun’s rays
30
SUMMER SOLSTICE
Declination = 23.45°
31
APPROXIMATIONS
 Typically we assume:
 Winter Solstice = December 21st
 Spring Equinox = March 21st
 Summer Solstice = June 21st
 Fall Equinox = September 21st
However, solstices and equinox are not days, but a specific
time when the declination is a certain angle. The actual
date could be +/- two days.
https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/seasons.html
32
DECLINATION EQUATION

δ = 23.45 sin 360°
 (n − 80 ) 

 365days 
n = day of the year
The spring equinox is approximately the

80th day of the year.
n = January + February + March 21
31 + 28 +21 = 80
33
DECLINATION GRAPH
Earth's Declination
25
20 Summer
Solstice
15
10
Declination [degrees]
-5
Equinox
-10
Northern
-15 Hemisphere.
Winter
-20
Solstice Switch summer
and winter for the
-25 Southern
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Day of the Year Hemisphere.
34
HOUR ANGLE
 ω  omega
360° 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
 There are = 15° �ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
24 ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
 Assign ω = 0° as 12 noon.
 Then each hour away from noon is another 15°.
 11 AM = -15° 1 PM = 15°
 10 AM = -30° 2 PM = 30°
t − 12
ω= 360°
Where “t” is the time in 24 hour
decimal format. Thus 3:30 PM is
24hours 15.50 hours.
35
HOUR ANGLE SIGN
Some references have negative hour angles

for afternoon.
 Photovoltaic Systems Engineering, Messenger & Ventre
 Generally it doesn’t matter since equations use

the cosine of the hour angle.
36
SOLAR ALTITUDE
 αs Alpha
 compliment of solar zenith angle
 angle from horizon to sun
 some references “elevation”
θ z + α = 90°
θz
αs
37
SOLAR ALTITUDE CALCULATION
sin 𝛼𝛼𝑠𝑠 = sin 𝛿𝛿 × sin 𝜙𝜙 + cos 𝛿𝛿 × cos 𝜙𝜙 × cos 𝜔𝜔
𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤:
𝛿𝛿 = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝜙𝜙 = 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
𝜔𝜔 = ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
38
SOLAR AZIMUTH
 γS (gamma)
 angle along the horizon toward sun (usually)
from south = 0°
 Becareful on the reference and sign. Other
sources use different conventions.
 PVWatts: South = 180°, as does a compass
39
SOLAR AZIMUTH
Observer
+90°
West
 facing South
-90°
East
The sun is about

45° West
Azimuth. It is
afternoon. γs
0°
South
Top View
40
COLLECTOR AZIMUTH
 perpendicular from collector face along

horizon
 γ, gamma
 Since, in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun
is toward the South…
 Choose South = 0°
 East = -90°
 West = +90°
41
COLLECTOR AZIMUTH
Angle from south to perpendicular of collector surface
Top View
+90° -90°
West East
γ
Collector facing
Collector facing South
South 0°
0°
Northern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere South
South
42
SOLAR AZIMUTH CALCULATION
sin 𝛼𝛼𝑠𝑠 sin 𝜙𝜙 − sin 𝛿𝛿

cos 𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠 =
cos 𝛼𝛼𝑠𝑠 cos 𝜙𝜙
To solve for the angle, the arccosine function will
choose the positive result. Recall cos(-45) =
cos(+45). When using this equation you must decide
if the hour angle is before solar noon and thus the
azimuth is a negative angle.
Duffie and Beckman form.
43
SUN PATH DIAGRAM
 Calculate solar altitude and azimuth for 21st

day of each month and each hour of the day
for a given location.

44
EXAMPLE SUN PATH DIAGRAM
The colored 12 noon

11 AM 1 PM
traces are for
the 21st day of 10 AM 2 PM
the months.
9 AM 3 PM
8 AM 4 PM
7 AM 5 PM
6 AM The black 6 PM
lines are the
hours.
45
ARC COSINE
When finding the angle whose cosine is a given number, there is more than one
answer. Calculators will return the positive number.
46
WHICH ANGLE?
 Azimuth angles referenced to South = 0° will

be positive in the afternoon and negative in
the morning.
 A computer program could test the hour
angle to determine if the azimuth should be
positive or negative.
47
COLLECTOR SLOPE
 β, beta
 between horizon and collector
 Practical: 0° (flat) to 90° (vertical).
 Beyond 90° collector is facing the ground
48
IDEAL COLLECTOR SLOPE
 The ideal collector slope is
when β is perpendicular to the
sun’s beam.
𝛽𝛽 = 90° − 𝛼𝛼𝑠𝑠
β αs
β
49
ANGLE OF INCIDENCE
 Calculates the angle between a collector

surface and the sun.
 The angle of incidence is the angle to the
sun from a perpendicular to the collector’s
surface.
50
ANGLE OF INCIDENCE EQUATION
cos θ = sin δ × sin φ × cos β

− sin δ × cos φ × sin β × cos γ
+ cos δ × cos φ × cos β × cos ω
+ cos δ × sin φ × sin β × cos γ × cos ω
+ cos δ × sin β × sin γ × sin ω
51
SPECIAL CASE: HORIZONAL COLLECTOR
Slope =0° and collector azimuth = 0°.
cos θ = sin δ × sin φ + cos δ × cos φ × cos ω
recall α = 90° − θ ⇒ cos θ = sin α
sin α = sin δ × sin φ + cos δ × cos φ × cos ω
This is the equation for the solar altitude!
52
SUNRISE & SUNSET HOUR ANGLE
 The sun rises or sets when the solar
altitude, α, is zero.
 Using the solar altitude equation:
sin 0° = 0 = sin 𝛿𝛿 sin 𝜙𝜙 + cos 𝛿𝛿 cos 𝜙𝜙 cos 𝜔𝜔𝑠𝑠
 divide the equation by cos 𝛿𝛿 cos 𝜙𝜙
 0 = tan 𝛿𝛿 tan 𝜙𝜙 + cos 𝜔𝜔𝑠𝑠
cos 𝜔𝜔𝑠𝑠 = - tan 𝛿𝛿 tan 𝜙𝜙
𝜔𝜔𝑠𝑠 = cos −1 − tan 𝛿𝛿 tan 𝜙𝜙
53
HOURS OF SUNLIGHT
1 ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝜔𝜔𝑠𝑠
𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 2 × 𝜔𝜔𝑠𝑠 × = ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
15° 7.5
Doubled because sunlight is symmetric about solar noon.
Sunlight includes hours the sun would be visible without obstacles like hills or
trees or buildings.
Daylight is defined as adding in twilight before and after sunrise.
54
ANGLE CALCULATOR
 Here’s an Internet resource to do solar angle

calculations.
 From NOAA, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
http://www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/sunrise/azel.html
55
MULTIPLE ARRAY SELF-SHADING

How far apart should the rows of arrays be to
minimize shading from row to row?
Assume the collector slope, β, and the collector

dimensions have already been determined.
d
56

First, determine when shading is acceptable.
Typical choice, allow no shading after 10 AM on the day
when the sun in lowest in the sky: December 21st for
northern hemisphere.
Determine the solar altitude, α, for that date and
time.
57
ℎ = 𝑙𝑙 sin 𝛽𝛽
ℎ
𝑑𝑑 =
tan 𝛼𝛼
l
α h
β
d
58
EXAMPLE: SOLARWORLD SW 275
 SW 275 photovoltaic
modules are mounted
at a slope of 30º in
Washington, DC.
How far apart can
the rows be to have
no shading after 9:30
AM, solar time?

59
SOLUTION
 Find the altitude at 9:30 AM on

December 21st. This will be the
lowest annual sun angle at that time.
 Washington DC latitude: 38.897º
(White House Lawn)
 n = 355
60
SOLUTION
 ℎ = 𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝛽𝛽 = 1675 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 sin 30° = 837.5 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

 Declination: lowest value  -23.45°
15°
 𝜔𝜔 = 9 30⁄60 − 12 = −37.5°
1 ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜
 𝛼𝛼 = sin−1 [sin −23.45 sin 30 +
61
EXAMPLE: SHADING
 The top of a tree is found to be at an angle

of 20° between the horizontal and the corner
of a collector and at an azimuth angle of -
60°. If the site is at a latitude of 30°N,
determine the months, if any, when the tree
will shade the array at the point from which
measurements are taken.
62
POSSIBLE SOLUTION
Generate altitude vs. azimuth curve.

Plot tree on graph.
Where does tree intersect lines?
63
SHADING
64
SUN SHADING
 from plot
 December: None
 Jan-Nov: before 7:20 the trunk blocks
 Feb-Oct: between 8 AM and 9:30 AM
 Mar-Sept: between 7:30 and 9:45 AM
 No shading on other months.
65
SOLAR PATHFINDER SOLUTION
 Instrument to determine shading.

 Often required for certified installation to qualify
for tax breaks.
 http://www.solarpathfinder.com/
66
PATHFINDER
Shows reflection of
objects over a sun
path diagram.
Building
shadow blocks
some morning
sun.
67
PATHFINDER SETUP
Setup in 3
steps:
1. Declination
2. Compass
3. Level
68
PERCENT SHADING
Number
shows the
percent of
the
irradiance
shaded for
that month.
For
example, if
shade
blocked
10:30 to 11
AM, then
7% of
March is
shaded.
69

Orientacion Al Sol

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Orientacion Al Sol

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ORIENTING YOURSELF TO THE SUN

 Distingush clock time and solar time.

Since there are 24 time zones (one for each

Eastern Time Meridian = 75°W

Meridians added and

Solar Time = 11:56 Solar Time = 12 noon Solar Time = 12:04

76° Eastern 74°

 Using proportional interpolation…

ELET 4224 © Timothy J. Cochran

 Previous equation assumes Earth makes a

 This can shift the solar time calculation by

 a conversion between the day number and

t solar = t standard + 4 min × (Lmeridian − Llocal ) + E

 “n” is the day of the year number

t solar = t standard + 4 min × (Lmeridian − Llocal ) + E

Note that noon

 Most calculations to follow are shown with

fig_06_17 Alternative Energy Systems, Hodge

 δ Greek lower case delta

The spring equinox is approximately the

Some references have negative hour angles

 Generally it doesn’t matter since equations use

sin 𝛼𝛼𝑠𝑠 = sin 𝛿𝛿 × sin 𝜙𝜙 + cos 𝛿𝛿 × cos 𝜙𝜙 × cos 𝜔𝜔

The sun is about

 perpendicular from collector face along

sin 𝛼𝛼𝑠𝑠 sin 𝜙𝜙 − sin 𝛿𝛿

Duffie and Beckman form.

 Calculate solar altitude and azimuth for 21st

© Timothy J. Cochran, P.E.

The colored 12 noon

 Azimuth angles referenced to South = 0° will

 Calculates the angle between a collector

cos θ = sin δ × sin φ × cos β

This is the equation for the solar altitude!

Doubled because sunlight is symmetric about solar noon.

Daylight is defined as adding in twilight before and after sunrise.

 Here’s an Internet resource to do solar angle

MULTIPLE ARRAY SELF-SHADING

Assume the collector slope, β, and the collector

MULTIPLE ARRAY SELF-SHADING

ELET 4224 © Timothy J. Cochran

 Find the altitude at 9:30 AM on

 ℎ = 𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝛽𝛽 = 1675 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 sin 30° = 837.5 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

 The top of a tree is found to be at an angle

Generate altitude vs. azimuth curve.

 Feb-Oct: between 8 AM and 9:30 AM

 Mar-Sept: between 7:30 and 9:45 AM

 No shading on other months.

 Instrument to determine shading.

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