Development of a Software Tool for Estimating Solar Radiation and Flat Plate Collector Performance

Abstract

Abstract

This research article focuses on designing a computer program capable of estimating various solar radiation and thermal performance metrics for specific locations. The program aims to calculate beam diffuse and total radiation hourly every day in a location from sunrise to sunset, considering local data such as sunrise time and day length. Additionally, it estimates the hourly thermal performance of flat plate collectors, taking into account collector specifications and working fluid data. The program's validity is validated through comparisons with measured and

experimental results in Khartoum city, Sudan, showing a reasonable agreement. The program is essential for solar energy projects as it aids in selecting the optimal location and technology for the system. Moreover, it facilitates the repetition of experiments for flat plate collectors, helps identify and rectify system faults, and suggests design modifications to improve collector performance, providing expected sunset local time and day length calculations for specific locations.

Keywords: Solar radiation, flat plate collector, performance, theoretical approach, programming procedure