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The pyranometer has been designed to
provide a wide spectral response, an good cosine response and low susceptibility to
inaccuracies caused by rain drop and dirt effects.
It can be supplied free standing, |
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| The pyranometer uses an polycrystalline silicon solar cell to
measure the incoming global solar radiation. This gives good accuracy without the
expense and maintenance required by a thermopile pyranometer. It also provides a flatter spectral response than the photo diodes that are frequently used for this type of sensor. (see spectral response graph). The pyranometer has a relatively large surface compared to many photo diode sensors. This minimizes inaccuracies caused by the effect of rain drops and dirt on the surface. The sensor has a slightly domed top to facilitate rain drainage. Dirt sitting on the surface of the sensor is dispersed by rain flowing off the dome. |
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Spectral Response Graph
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Spectral Response The full terrestrial solar spectrum
deposits measurable energy at the earth's surface in the range from 287 nanometers (nm) to
beyond 4000 nm. However, as can be seen from the spectral response graph, the pyranometer measures the radiation between
300 and 1100 nanometers. As over 90% of the solar energy is between 300 to 1100 nm, the pyranometer is calibrated so as to estimate
the short-wave component of the solar radiation. |
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| Cosine Response
Graph
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| Cosine
Response An ideal pyranometer collects radiation from horizon to horizon and should therefore have a reception angle of 180° in all directions. In reality, some low angle radiation will not be detected because of the geometry of the sensor but this has been minimized by the sensor head design. As can be seen from the cosine response graph, the cosine error for this pyranometer is typically less than 3% from vertical to 85° in all directions. |
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| Other sources
of error. The polycrystalline silicon solar cells have a temperature coefficient of 0.15% per 1° C. The pyranometer is calibrated at 20° C giving a possible 3% error from 0° C to 40° C The output of all radiation sensors
tends to decrease over time as the detector ages. Our calculations estimate that the
average decrease of the sensor is between 1% and 2 % per year. |
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