Estimation of Global Solar Radiation on Horizontal Surfaces using Temperature-Based Model in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

In this study, the Solar Irradiation received was estimated in Illorin, Kwara, Nigeria, using the maximum and minimum temperature measured by an Arduino-based solar power parameter measuring system. The Extraterrestrial, Global and Diffuse Solar Radiation were estimated monthly using the Hargreaves and Samani model. This model also required the daily temperature, clearness index, and extraterrestrial solar irradiation in its use alongside the maximum and minimum temperatures. In using this model, we resolved the graphs of the three types of Solar Irradiation over ten days. For the selected days, the estimated extraterrestrial solar irradiation varies from 10.41kWh/m2 to 10.47 kWh/m2, while the mean extraterrestrial solar irradiation is 10.44 kWh/m2. The estimated global solar irradiation varies from 4.42 kWh/m2 to 5.677kWh/m2, while the estimated mean global solar irradiation is 5.19kWh/m2 per day. The estimated diffuse solar irradiation varies from 3.46kWh/m2 to 5.48kWh/m2, while the mean diffuse solar irradiation is per day is 4.61kWh/m2.