Modeling of Incident Radiation on a Solar Collector at Different Tilt Angles

A model was developed to predict the amount of solar radiation incident on a solar collector’s surface. A Python based model tracked the sun’s location and determined how much energy would strike a surface at any orientation. As a demonstration several fixed tilt angles and a tracking case were simulated for Schenectady, NY. Results followed the expected trends. Future goals for the model are to confirm its results numerically with experimental data and use it to determine optimal arrangements for bifacial solar collectors.https://digitalworks.union.edu/srps_2020/1009/thumbnail.jp