Spectral Sun Measurements
In the photovoltaic (PV) sector of the solar energy industry researchers and engineers are continually striving to improve the efficiency of solar panels. However, materials and technologies perform differently under varying atmospheric conditions.
When it is cloudy or hazy, or there is pollution in the air, the spectrum of light from the sun and sky changes and more of the radiation available is in the near infrared band. Some types of panels respond better to this than others. On a bright, clear, sunny day there is more ultraviolet radiation and some panels are more efficient at converting UV radiation to electrical power. Therefore, it is becoming important not only to measure all the available direct radiation with a CHP 1 pyrheliometer, but also the spectrum of that radiation.
The PGS-100 sun photometer measures the spectrum of the direct solar radiation in the range of 350 nm to 1050 nm wavelength, from the UVA to the near infrared. The instrument is connected to a PC that runs the operating software to acquire, store and display the spectral data.
PGS-100 can be fitted to the SOLYS 2 sun tracker with an accessory mounting kit. It can be fitted to the tracker on its own, or mounted on the opposite side to a CHP 1, as shown in the picture below.
Published: 12/03/2012 13:48