Solar Energy Potential on Surfaces with Various Inclination Modes in Saudi Arabia: Performance of an Isotropic and an Anisotropic Model
The present work investigated the performance of an isotropic (Liu–Jordan, L–J) and an anisotropic (Hay) model in assessing the solar energy potential of Saudi Arabia. Three types of solar collectors were considered: with southward fixed-tilt (mode (i)), with fixed-tilt tracking the Sun (mode (ii)),...
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/11/5356 |
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| author | Ashraf Farahat Harry D. Kambezidis Mansour Almazroui Emad Ramadan |
| author_facet | Ashraf Farahat Harry D. Kambezidis Mansour Almazroui Emad Ramadan |
| author_sort | Ashraf Farahat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present work investigated the performance of an isotropic (Liu–Jordan, L–J) and an anisotropic (Hay) model in assessing the solar energy potential of Saudi Arabia. Three types of solar collectors were considered: with southward fixed-tilt (mode (i)), with fixed-tilt tracking the Sun (mode (ii)), and with varying-tilt tracking the Sun (mode (iii)). This was the first time such a study was conducted for Saudi Arabia. The average annual difference between anisotropic (Hay) and isotropic (L–J) estimates is least ≈38 kWhm<sup>−2</sup> year<sup>−1</sup> over Saudi Arabia for mode (i), and therefore, the L–J model can be used effectively. In modes (ii) and (iii), the difference is greater (≈197 and ≈226 kWhm<sup>−2</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>, respectively). It is, then, up to the solar energy engineer to decide which model is to be used, but it is recommended that the Hay model be utilised for mode-(iii) solar collectors. These results fill a research gap about the suitability of models in practice. An interesting feature for the ratio of the annual mean solar energy yield of Hay over L–J as function of the latitude, φ, and the ground albedo, ρ<sub>r</sub>, is the formation of a “well” for 29° ≤ φ ≤ 31° and 1.15 ≤ ρ<sub>r</sub> ≤ 1. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:31:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ab0492357dd4406af3ed4a518ae0f50 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:31:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ab0492357dd4406af3ed4a518ae0f502023-11-23T13:40:17ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-05-011211535610.3390/app12115356Solar Energy Potential on Surfaces with Various Inclination Modes in Saudi Arabia: Performance of an Isotropic and an Anisotropic ModelAshraf Farahat0Harry D. Kambezidis1Mansour Almazroui2Emad Ramadan3Department of Physics, College of General Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran SA-31261, Saudi ArabiaAtmospheric Research Team, Institute of Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, GR-11810 Athens, GreeceCentre of Excellence for Climate Change Research, Department of Meteorology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah SA-21589, Saudi ArabiaCentre of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran SA-31261, Saudi ArabiaThe present work investigated the performance of an isotropic (Liu–Jordan, L–J) and an anisotropic (Hay) model in assessing the solar energy potential of Saudi Arabia. Three types of solar collectors were considered: with southward fixed-tilt (mode (i)), with fixed-tilt tracking the Sun (mode (ii)), and with varying-tilt tracking the Sun (mode (iii)). This was the first time such a study was conducted for Saudi Arabia. The average annual difference between anisotropic (Hay) and isotropic (L–J) estimates is least ≈38 kWhm<sup>−2</sup> year<sup>−1</sup> over Saudi Arabia for mode (i), and therefore, the L–J model can be used effectively. In modes (ii) and (iii), the difference is greater (≈197 and ≈226 kWhm<sup>−2</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>, respectively). It is, then, up to the solar energy engineer to decide which model is to be used, but it is recommended that the Hay model be utilised for mode-(iii) solar collectors. These results fill a research gap about the suitability of models in practice. An interesting feature for the ratio of the annual mean solar energy yield of Hay over L–J as function of the latitude, φ, and the ground albedo, ρ<sub>r</sub>, is the formation of a “well” for 29° ≤ φ ≤ 31° and 1.15 ≤ ρ<sub>r</sub> ≤ 1.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/11/5356transposition modelsisotropic modelanisotropic modeloperation modes of solar collectorssolar energy potentialSaudi Arabia |
| spellingShingle | Ashraf Farahat Harry D. Kambezidis Mansour Almazroui Emad Ramadan Solar Energy Potential on Surfaces with Various Inclination Modes in Saudi Arabia: Performance of an Isotropic and an Anisotropic Model Applied Sciences transposition models isotropic model anisotropic model operation modes of solar collectors solar energy potential Saudi Arabia |
| title | Solar Energy Potential on Surfaces with Various Inclination Modes in Saudi Arabia: Performance of an Isotropic and an Anisotropic Model |
| title_full | Solar Energy Potential on Surfaces with Various Inclination Modes in Saudi Arabia: Performance of an Isotropic and an Anisotropic Model |
| title_fullStr | Solar Energy Potential on Surfaces with Various Inclination Modes in Saudi Arabia: Performance of an Isotropic and an Anisotropic Model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solar Energy Potential on Surfaces with Various Inclination Modes in Saudi Arabia: Performance of an Isotropic and an Anisotropic Model |
| title_short | Solar Energy Potential on Surfaces with Various Inclination Modes in Saudi Arabia: Performance of an Isotropic and an Anisotropic Model |
| title_sort | solar energy potential on surfaces with various inclination modes in saudi arabia performance of an isotropic and an anisotropic model |
| topic | transposition models isotropic model anisotropic model operation modes of solar collectors solar energy potential Saudi Arabia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/11/5356 |
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