Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.7836/kses.2016.36.6.047

Comments on the Computation of Sun Position for Sun Tracking System  

Park, Young Chil (Department of Electrical & Information Engineering, Seoul National University of Science & Technology)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society / v.36, no.6, 2016 , pp. 47-59 More about this Journal
Abstract
As the usage of sun tracking system in solar energy utilization facility increases, requirement of more accurate computation of sun position has also been increased. Accordingly, various algorithms to compute the sun position have been proposed in the literature and some of them insist that their algorithms guarantee less than 0.01 degree computational error. However, mostly, the true meaning of accuracy argued in their publication is not clearly explained. In addition to that, they do not clearly state under what condition the accuracy they proposed can be guaranteed. Such ambiguity may induce misunderstanding on the accuracy of the computed sun position and ultimately may make misguided notion on the actual sun tracking system's sun tracking accuracy. This work presents some comments related to the implementation of sun position computational algorithm for the sun tracking system. We first introduce the algorithms proposed in the literature. And then, from sun tracking system user's point of view, we explain the true meaning of accuracy of computed sun position. We also discuss how to select the proper algorithm for the actual implementation. We finally discuss how the input factors used in computation of sun position, like time, position etc, affect the computed sun position accuracy.
Keywords
Sun tracking system; Computation of sun position; Accuracy of computed sun position;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Michalsky, J. J., The Astronomical Almanc's Algorithm for Approximate Solar Position (1950-2050), Solar Energy, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 227-235, 1988.   DOI
2 Blanco-Muriel, M., Alarcon-Padilla, D. C., Lopea-Moratalla, T., and Lara-Coria, M., Computing the Solar Vector, Solar Energy, Vol. 70, No. 5, pp. 431-441, 2001.   DOI
3 Reda, I. and Andreas, A., Solar Position Algorithm for Solar Radiation Applications, NREL/TP-560-34302, 2008.
4 Blanc, Ph. and Wald, L., The SG2 Algorithm for a Fast and Accurate Computation of the Position of the Sun for Multi-Decadal Time Period, Solar Energy, Vol. 86, No. 10, pp. 3072-3083, 2012.   DOI
5 Grena, R., Five New Algorithms for the Computation of Sun Position from 2010 to 2110, Solar Energy, Vol. 86, No. 5, pp. 1323-1337, 2012.   DOI
6 Armstrong, P. and Izygon, M., An Innovative Software for Analysis of Sun Position Algorithms, Energy Procedia, Vol. 49, pp. 2444-2453, 2014.   DOI
7 Seong, J. C., Sun Position Calculator(SPC) for Landsat Imagery with Geodetic, Computers & Geosciences Vol. 85, Part A, pp. 68-74, 2015.   DOI
8 Bretagnon, P. and Francou, G., Planetary Theories in Rectangular and Spherical Variables. VSOP 87 Solutions, Astronomy and Astrophysics Vol. 202, No. 1-2, pp. 309-315, 1988.
9 Meeus, J. Astronomical Algorithms, Second Ed. Willmann-Bell Inc., Richmond, VA, USA, 1998.
10 Muir, L. R., Comments on 'The Effect of Atmospheric Refraction in the Solar Azimuth', Solar Energy, Vol. 30, No. 3, p. 295. 1983.   DOI
11 Ilyas, M., Solar Position Programs: Refraction, Sidereal Time and Sunset/Sunrise, Solar Energy, Vol. 31, No. 4, pp. 437-438, 1983.   DOI
12 Wilkinson, B. J., Re: 'Solar Position Programs: Refraction, Sidereal Time and Sunset/Sunrise', Solar Energy, Vol. 33, No. 3-4, p. 383, 1984.   DOI
13 Pascoe, D. J. B., Comments on 'Solar Position Programs: Refraction Sidereal and Sunset/Sunrise', Solar Energy, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 205-206, 1984.   DOI
14 Spencer, J. W., Comments on 'Solar Position Programs: Refraction Sidereal and Sunset/Sunrise', Solar Energy, Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 385, 1984.
15 Lipcanu, M., A Direct Method for the Calculation of Astronomical Refraction, Proc. of the Romanian Academy, Series 4, Vol. 6, No. 2, 2005.
16 Yu, Y., Qi, Z. X., Mao, Y. D., Tang, Z. H., and Zhao, M., The Method of Differential Measurement of Astronomical Refraction and Results of Trial Observations, Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics, Vol. 33 Issue 3, pp. 322-332, 2009.   DOI
17 Rustemli, S., Dincer, F., Unal, E., Karaaslan, M., and Sabah, C., The Analysis on Sun Tracking and Cooling Systems for Photovoltaic Panels, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 22, pp. 598-603, 2013.   DOI
18 Walraven, R., Calculating the Position of the Sun, Solar Energy, Vol. 20, No. 5, pp. 393-397, 1978.   DOI