Solar Irradiance Determination Using Camera and Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining global irradiance of solar radiation in arbitrary planes, especially in solar technology applications, face challenges with precision and accuracy due to the need for complex and high-maintenance measurement technologies, and existing systems struggle to accurately decompose global irradiance into direct normal, diffuse, and reflected components in inclined planes.
Innovation Solution
A method and device utilizing a combination of a radiation sensor unit and a camera with a 180° field of view, where the sensor unit and camera are aligned on a north-south axis, allowing for the measurement and conversion of global irradiance into its components in horizontal and inclined planes, using weighted RGB channels, internal and external calibrations, and accounting for refraction effects to achieve high accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pyranometer is used to measure global irradiance in horizontal plane, then measurement accuracy is improved, but adaptability to inclined planes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture images of the sky dome, creating a visual copy of the radiation distribution. This image data is then processed to calculate irradiance values for inclined planes, effectively copying the measurement capability from horizontal to inclined orientations without physically repositioning the sensor
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of physically tilting the pyranometer with an optical-computational approach using camera images and transposition models. Instead of mechanically adjusting the sensor orientation, the system uses image processing and mathematical models to calculate inclined plane irradiance from horizontal plane measurements
2Adaptability or versatility
If transposition models are used to estimate GTI from GHI, then measurement capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the input parameters for transposition models by incorporating camera-derived sky radiance distribution and cloud cover information. These additional parameters improve the accuracy of GTI estimation by providing more detailed information about the sky conditions, moving beyond simple GHI-based transposition
3Loss of information
If additional measurement technology (pyrheliometer, shadow ball) is used to measure DNI and DHI, then measurement completeness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the camera serve multiple functions: capturing sky radiance distribution, detecting cloud cover, and providing input for calculating both DNI and DHI. This multi-functional use of a single device reduces overall system complexity while maintaining measurement completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image processing algorithms and transposition models as intermediaries that extract radiation component information from camera images. These computational intermediaries enable the derivation of DNI and DHI without requiring additional physical sensors
4Adaptability or versatility
If decomposition models are used to obtain DNI and DHI from GHI, then measurement capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurement of sky radiance distribution and cloud cover conditions using the camera before applying decomposition models. This preliminary information about the actual sky state improves the accuracy of subsequent DNI and DHI calculations by providing realistic boundary conditions for the models
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise determination of global irradiance and its components in arbitrary planes with reduced uncertainty and cost, using a synchronized measurement setup that excludes the solar disk and corrects for camera sensitivity, achieving accuracy comparable to pyranometer measurements.
Implementation Method 1
The radiation sensor unit is provided for determining the irradiance of solar radiation in a field of view of 180° above a plane
Implementation Method 2
The camera is designed to detect a field of view of 180° over a plane
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a device are provided for determining a global irradiance of solar radiation, and/or at least one of the components thereof, in a plane, wherein the components include direct radiation, diffuse radiation, and radiation reflected on the ground, with a device including at least one radiation sensor unit, a camera, and an evaluation unit which is provided for evaluating measurement data from the radiation sensor unit and/or from the camera. The radiation sensor unit for determining the irradiance of solar radiation is provided in a field of view of 180° over a plane. The camera for detecting a field of view of 180° is provided over a plane. A global irradiance of the solar radiation is measured and converted into the global irradiance and/or into one or more of the components thereof in the horizontal plane and/or in the plane inclined with respect to the horizontal plane.