Solar pyramidal sensor

Abstract

The use of solar radiation, as a renewable energy source, is a concern and a technological challenge of management and economic profitability. In this context it is paramount the knowledge about the position and movement of the Sun as well as the characteristics of sun radiation. Any new solution is required to bring a higher yield, better forecasting methods and better energy management, with lower technology costs and higher management effectiveness. This paper presents a simple and low-cost approach to determine the elevation and azimuth of the Sun, and the direct and diffuse radiation. This task is performed by a pyramid made of LDR sensor-coated surfaces connected to a microcontroller and a built-in mathematical model to compute the data. This device reads the radiation values of the sensors and sends them to a computer for further analysis, processing and presentation of useful information about the incoming sun radiation.