Australian Solar Radiation Data Handbook Edition 4.Australian Solar Radiation solar radiation, n the emission and diffusion of actinic rays from the sun. Overexposure may result in sunburn, keratosis, skin cancer, or lesions associated with photosensitivity. Data Handbook Edition 4. Compiled by Energy Partners in association with Adelaide Applied Algebra. NSW NSW New South Wales Noun 1. NSW - the agency that provides units to conduct unconventional and counter-guerilla warfare Naval Special Warfare : Australian and New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. Solar Energy solar energy, any form of energy radiated by the sun, including light, radio waves, and X rays, although the term usually refers to the visible light of the sun. Society (ANZSES ANZSES Australia and New Zealand Solar Energy Society ), 2006. ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 0 642 19121 2. Available in hardcopy or CD. http://www.anzses.org Schools have an increasing interest in the use of sustainable energy
Sustainable energy sources are energy sources which are not expected to be depleted in a timeframe relevant to the human race, and which as both an educational topic and for improving their own environmental performance. Solar energy is the most abundant sustainable energy source, so access to reliable solar radiation data is imperative. This data is available in Australia in the form of the AUSOLRAD Manual and Software. It can be purchased from the Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society www.anzses.org. Data has been taken from 28 Bureau of Meteorology meteorology, branch of science that deals with the atmosphere of a planet, particularly that of the earth, the most important application of which is the analysis and prediction of weather. sites around Australia for typical years. I have been using this resource in my teaching within TAFE TAFE (in Australia) Technical and Further Education and Universities for many years and have found it invaluable. The AUSSOLRAD package consists of a user guide and program that uses the Microsoft.NET framework. It is easy to install and can import and export data to spreadsheets for example. Data tables in the software include climatic averages such as temperature, humidity and cloud cover, as well as processed solar radiation data for standard orientations (north, south, east and west) and inclinations (horizontal or latitude angle). Processed data includes: * Degree heating and cooling days--used to assess the need for space heating Space heating is the heating of a space, usually enclosed, such as a house or room. A space heater keeps the air and surroundings at a comfortable temperature for people or animals, or even plants in a greenhouse. and cooling in buildings. * Solar irradiance ir·ra·di·ant adj. Sending forth radiant light. [Latin irradi (power in W/[m.sup.2]) for each hour and total irradiation (energy in MJ/[m.sup.2]) over an average day for each month for planes of fixed orientation and inclination in 10 degree increments e.g., average daily irradiation in July falling on a solar collector plane facing 40 East of North and tilted at 20 degrees to the horizontal. * Sun angles (azimuth azimuth (ăz`əməth), in astronomy, one coordinate in the altazimuth coordinate system. It is the angular distance of a body measured westward along the celestial horizon from the observer's south point. and altitude) defining the position of the sun in the sky hour by hour. * Solar irradiation that is broken into direct (or beam) and diffuse (or scattered) components. This information is used for sun tracking systems, that is, solar energy systems where the solar collectors move to point perpendicular to the sun's rays throughout the day. * Solar heat gain through windows of any orientation and tilt with simple horizontal shades. There is also a calculator that allows estimation of average solar radiation on walls or heat gain through windows of any orientation and tilt. There are many uses for this data and the table below summarises some of these. Some examples of how I have used the data in class include: * Simple exercises in comparing the effect of orientation on solar gain in buildings and the need for appropriate shading of windows, summer to winter. * Comparing the effect of changing the tilt angle of the collectors from summer to winter on solar system performance. * Estimating the output of fixed photovoltaic The generation of voltage by a material that is exposed to light in the visible and invisible ranges. See photoelectric and photovoltaic cell. systems for power generation into the electricity grid. Many schools now have their own such systems so estimates can be compared to actual measured data.
Example of Data Use
Solar irradiance (power) and To examine how the solar resource
irradiation (energy) for each hour varies over the day and year.
on any plane.
Total irradiation (energy) for an To estimate the average
average day each month for fixed performance of solar energy
planes of orientation or systems such as photovoltaic
inclination in 10 degree (electric) systems and solar water
increments. heaters set at fixed orientations
and tilts.
Total irradiation and the beam The total irradiation is used to
and diffuse components for sun estimate performance of
tracking systems. photovoltaic tracking systems and
to compare their performance with
fixed collectors. Beam components
are used for concentrating solar
collectors that produce high
temperature steam for power
generation or process heat.
Solar heat gain through windows. Allows estimation of the effects
of window placement and shading
on space heating and cooling of
buildings.
Who is this data applicable to? Science, maths and environmental educators should be able to make good use of this package with their classes, for example, in assessing and using solar radiation data for their region or to compare regions across Australia. Trevor Berrill Environmental Educator and Renewable Energy Systems Consultant |
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