Implementation of an Economic System to Measure Solar Radiation
Mohamed Darwish1, Omar G. Angulo Castro2, Ricardo Valenzuela3, Alejandro Ortega4,
Gildardo Jimenez5.
División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación
Instituto Tecnológico de Nogales
Ave. Tecnológico #911 Col. Granja
Nogales, Sonora México. CP 84065
1
Mohamed.Darwish@brunel.ac.uk
2
omar@icag.biz
3
rivalenz@depiitn.edu.mx
4
aortega@depiitn.edu.mx
5
gildardojimenez@depiitn.edu.mx
Abstract
The present work shows the implementation of an
economic system in order to measure the solar
radiation with the intention of quantify the amount
solar energy received in this particular area. In order
to accomplish that objective it was developed a data
acquisition system based on a pyranometer, data
acquisition board and a computer to record and
display the data. Measurements obtained allowed the
comparative analysis of this economic system versus
the Meteorological Station currently used by the
Instituto Tecnologico de Nogales.
1. Introduction.
Our planet has suffered a series of transformation
due to natural causes but mainly caused by humans, as
a result of these causes the climate around the globe
has considerable change in different regions along with
other natural disasters associated to different regions.
Thus there is one particular phenomenon that is the
focus of this paper: Solar Radiation.
In many parts of the world it has been observed
relevant changes related to ambient temperature; as it
is known solar radiation can increase the temperature
of a particular place or world regions. Climatologists,
Electric Utility companies and companies of
Environment and Conservation, it is extremely
important monitor solar radiation, since that data will
allow to determine the feasibility of using electricity to
support ecologically and sustainable development and
also detect potential problems associated to global
978-1-4799-3254-2/13/$31.00©IEEE
warming, contamination, changes in vegetation,
deterioration in human health, etc.
In this work the obtained results show the
implementation of an economic system to measure
solar radiation connected to a portable computer with
an embedded interface based in Lab View. The data
obtained was used as a base line comparison with the
data of the weather station located at the Instituto
Tecnológico de Nogales and then to analyze the entire
data set that can give us additional information in order
to take advantage of this energy and evaluate the
feasibility of its potential applications.
2. System description.
For this work a system made up of a pyranometer
acquired by the Institute for Earth Science Reasearch
and Education (IESRE) [1] as shown in figure 1
which is based in a solar cell that was calibrated by the
IESRE so the system can provide with accurate
readings.
This type of instrument has been used by the IESRE
[1] in order to take measurements of solar radiation on
the earth.
The pyrosensor is the core do the system, which is
relatively economic y already calibrated, its cost is
$75.00 USD, the software used as a part of the graphic
interface was LAbView using the evaluation version at
a cost of $0.00 USD, and the only disadvantage is that
the evaluation version is active for one month.
However the graphic interface can be implemented in
variety of free different platforms such as: c, c++, java,
ruby, python, perl, php, etc.
 • NI-DAQmx Base Driver
Compatible with the following softwares:

• ANSI C/C++
• LabVIEW
• LabVIEW SignalExpress
• LabWindows/CVI
• Measurement Studio
The basic system developed for the graphic
interface (block diagram) is shown in figures 3 and 4.

Figure 1: Solar radiation assembled

pyranometer already calibrated by IESRE.

The data acquisition was performed via the system

National Instruments USB-6008 (Figure 2), which
allows an easy connection to a Laptop or PC through
the USB port, and consists of 8 analog inputs (12-bit,
10 kS/s), 2 analog outputs (12-bit, 150 S/s); 12 I/O
digital ports and a 32 bit counter.
Figure 3: First part of the graphic interface

Figure 2: National Instruments Data Acquisition Figure 4: Second part of the graphic interface
USB-6008 used to get sensor data.
Compatible with standard USB 2.0, this device is
power up via the USB bus at +5V and 500 mA While the visual part used to interact between user-
(maximum). computer is shown in figure 5.
Its configuration is play and plug therefore is easy
to recognize by the computer.
The computer basic requirements to make it
functional with the GPIB are [2]:
• Windows 2000/XP, Windows 7,
Windows CE, Windows Mobile,
Windows Vista x64, Windows Vista x86
• USB 1.1 o 2.0 available.
 Graphs 1 and 2 shows the results of solar radiation
measured between the 10th and 11th of January 2012,
these output values (volts) of the pyranometer allow us
to have a better understanding of the solar radiation
intensisty as a function of time.

Figure 5: Monitor display showing the solar

radiation developed via LabView.

The pyranometer was physically located on the top

of the roof of the postgraduate studies building, which
it was connected to the GPIB through a 5 meter cable,
making sure that no interference was affecting the
radiation readings.
In figure 6 it is shown the sensor location on the top
of the building and the computer programmed to take Graph 1: Solar radiation variation (volts) during
readings every 30 minutes of alternate intervals during
10th of January.
33 days in the months of January, March, April and
May thus getting enough data to generate the solar
radiation analysis in this particular area of Nogales.

Graph 2: Solar radiation variation (volts) during

11th of January..
Figure 6: Physical location of the pyranometer at
the top of the building.

3. Results
Measurements were taken during a period of 411
hours distributed in 33 days, eliminating the night
readings. All measurements were initiated early
morning at 6:0am. The daily measurement range was
12 hours.
Nogales is located at 31.19’07’’N and 110.56’45’’O
at an altitude greater than1000m [3,4] above sea level. Graph 3: Data from the meteorological station
Its topography is very particular since it is only hills so located in the ITN for the day January 10.
there is no uniformity in its territory.
 Graph 4: Behavior of the amount of radiation
Graph 6: Solar radiation in W/m^2 in January
received during the January 11 obtained by the
11.
meteorological .
Now, with regard to measurements of the day
In order to validate the results obtained during this
January 11, 2012 we can see that in both cases was
period these values were compared with the values
detected an irregularity in the values obtained by a
taken from the meteorological station of the Instituto
party to the data interpreted by the station of the
Tecnológico de Nogales [5].
Institute indicate that the maximum reading
The cost of the sensor used in the weather station is
corresponds to 626 W / m ^ 2 at 13 hours [5] while the
$ 160.00 USD, but can only be used if you have the
maximum value obtained by our sensor is 633.9 W / m
Vantage Pro or Vantage Pro2 which cost about $
^ 2 shortly after 12:20 pm.
1000.00 USD. The equipment used in the ITN is the
Yet we can see how it behaves the amount of solar
Vantage Pro2.
radiation as a function of time and thus the time that
Now using a conversion factor of 4030 W/m2 per
have the highest amounts of sunlight reaching the
volt output that provides the sensor we are using [6] we
earth's surface at this location.
can make a representation of the values obtained in the
In the analysis made during the entire sampling
same unit system as shown in Graphs 5 and 6.
period, power was calculated in each reading time
As shown in Graphs 5 and 6 in comparison with
daily and the average power per day, at the end of a
Graphs 3 and 4 there is a good agreement between both
graph is made for each day of measurement as shown
readings. The maximum read value obtained by ITN
in Graph 7, obtaining an average power in the 33 days
station on January 10 up to 638W/m^2 [5] at 13 hours.
of 520W/m^2.
approximately, while the maximum reading for the
These data show a panorama of opportunity to
sensor was 595.32W/m^2 and it was around 12:48 pm,
exploit the solar resource in the generation of
having a relative error of 6.68% for the consideration
electricity for domestic, public and even industrial
of that reading was not taken in both cases at the same
applications.
time.

Graph 5: Results of solar radiation obtained by

the pyranometer in W/m2 during January 10. Graph 7. Compilation of the average power
radiated every day throughout the sampling period.
4. Conclusions
A low cost system to effectively measured solar
radiation was implemented. Results show good
agreement in comparison with the meteoroligical
station located at the Instituto Tecnologico de Nogales,
the data of January 10 the highest incidence has a
margin of less than 7% variation from one instrument
to another, while in for the day January 11, 2012 is less
than 2%.
The operation cost of this proposed system is well
under the cost of a professional station such as the one
currently used by the Instituto Tecnologico de nogales.
The use/storage of solar energy is feasible within 9
hours per day or so with reference to the equivalent of
more than 100W/m^2 reception site. In some cases the
presence of clouds could vary this period of time
effective and therefore the amount of light absorbed by
a photovoltaic system. The absorption time starts from
8:18 in the morning until 16:48 hrs approximately.
5. Future Work
We can use this study to design an energy
conversion system which implements a mechanism on
which are mounted solar panels and make it an
automated tracking parabolic motion with which to
maintain the angle of maximum sunlight reception to
maximize the amount of radiation absorbed by solar
cells raising its effectiveness. Similarly one can
develop a routine of work for various projects of this
nature in which the restriction is effective hours of
operation due to light reflected from the surface [7].
Another potential application is the development of
an autonomous and self-sustained system for feasibility
studies or monitoring in remote areas or where they
simply do not have the resources to acquire a
professional weather station due to its high cost. This is
roughly in the implementation of pyranometer, a solar
cell, a mechanism for monitoring, temperature sensors,
humidity, etc.., and a data processing system. The
function of this system is to collect measurements of
the amount of incident sunlight in a given area and
climatic conditions in general to be processed and get a
full analysis of their behavior over a period of time and
count on it as a tool for decision making on the
implementation of other technologies that depend on
sunlight.
6. References
[1] Institute for Earth Science Research and Education.
Pyranometers and broadband/near-IR reflectometers.
December 2006. Última visita realizada el día 29 de Enero
del 2012. http://www.instesre.org/getPyranometer.htm
[2] National Instruments. 12-Bit, 10 kS/s Low-Cost
Multifunction DAQ. NI USB-6008 datasheets.
http://sine.ni.com/ds/app/doc/p/id/ds-218/lang/en
[3] Nogales. Limites del municipio y ubicación geográfica.
Información revisada el día 26 de Enero del 2012.
http://www.municipiodenogales.org/castellano/sociedad/local
izacion.htm
[4] Google. Ubicación geográfica de Nogales, Sonora.
Enero 26 del 2012. Recopilación de
es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nogales_(Sonora).
[5] Instituto Tecnológico de Nogales. Estación
Meteorológica. Última revisión 29 de Enero del 2012.
http://clima.depiitn.edu.mx/grp.php?Tipo=Radiacion%20Sol
ar .
[6] Brooks David. Measuring Sunlight at Earth’s surface:
Build your own Pyranometer. Institute for Earth Science
Research and Education. February, 2007. Last modification
on May 06, 2012.
[7] FORDECYT. Estudio sobre el uso de la energía solar en
aplicaciones residenciales, industriales y comerciales en
diferentes estados del país CONACYT, 2008.