Tracking Sunlight Analysis

Javier Ignacio Camacho

Apparent Motion of the Sun
Because the rotation and the orbital motion of the Earth around the Sun,
the apparent position of the Sun in the sky changes over time.
In order to utilize the solar energy efficiently we have to perform an analysis and understand the
apparent motion of the Sun.
Rotation of Earth : Definition of Latitude and Longitude
This motion is due to the rotation of the Earth on its axis.
In order to simplify the problem the Earth is considered as a perfect sphere rotating with a constant
angular velocity on a fixed axis.
The axis of rotation of the Earth crosses the surface of Earth at two points:
North Pole and Soth Pole.
The great circle perpendicular to the axis is the Equator.
A location on Earth can be specified by two coordinates, the Latitude ( ) and the Longitude ().
The Longitude specifies a Meridian (a half of great circle passing through the two poles and the
location),requires an origin as zero point,the Prime Meridian.
The zero point of longitude,is defined as the meridian passing through the Royal Greenwich
Observatory.
The Latitude is defined by the poles and equator.
The convention of sign is: eastward is positive and westward is negative.

VBI
9.53 :=
VBI
55.52 :=
world READPRN "world.prn" ( ) :=
world
0
( )
:= world
1
( )
:=
Global Position of the VBI Building
[Northward Latitude ] [Eastward Longitude]

.VBI
55
52
13.36
|

\
|
|
|
.
DMS 0.975 = :=
.VBI
9
53
10.32
|

\
|
|
|
.
DMS 0.173 rad = :=
100 0 100
90
60
30
0
30
60
90
Global Position of a VBI Building

VBI

VBI

Celestial Sphere
From the point of view of an observer on Earth, the Sun is located on a sphere with a large radius.
This imaginary sphere is called Cel estial Sphere.
There are two commonly used coordinate systems to describe the position of the Sun (or any star) on
the celestial sphere, The Horizont System and The Equatorial System.
The extension of the center of Earth and an observer O into the sky is poiting to the Zenith Z and the
plane perpendicular to that line or the corresponding great circle is the Horizon.
The Horizon divides the sphere into two hemipheres. The upper hemisphere is visible to the observer
and the lower is hidden below the horizont.
The angular distance of a celestial body above the horizon is its Height (h)( altitude or elevation).The
height of the North Pole P equals the geographical latitude of the observer ( ).
To completely identify the position of a celestial body X,we need another reference point. The greater
circle connecting the zenith with the North Pole is called the Meridian. It intersects the horizon at
point S, the south point of the horizont.
To identify the position of the celestial body with respect to the south point, we draw a great circle
through the zenith and the star, which intersects the horizon at point C.
The angle SC is defined as the Azimuth A, or the horizontal direction of the celestial body. The azimuth
of the Sun always increases over time.
The Horizon Coordinate System defines the position of a celestial body as directly perceived by
the observer. However, because Earth is round and rotating on its axis, those coordinates depend on
the location of the observer and vary over time. In Equatorial Coordinate System, on the other
hand, the position of the Sun is relatively independent of the location of the observer.
The coordinates of the Sun in the horizon system can be obtained using a coordinate transformation
from its coordinates in the horizontal system.
In the equatorial system, the coordinate equivalent to the latitude of the Earth is the declination and
the coordinate equivalent to the longitude of the Earth for a fixed observer is the hour angle .
Notation in Positional Astronomy
Latitude ( ): Geographical coordinate -
Longitude(): Geographical coordinate -
Height(h): Altitude or elevation to the horizont -
Azimuth(A): Horizontal direction or bearing -
Declination(): Angular distance to the equator -
Hour Angle(): In radians, westward -
Sunset hour Angle(
s
): In radians, always positive -
East-West hour Angle(
ew
): In radians, always positive -
Right Ascension(): Absolute celestial coordinate -
Mean Ecliptic Longitude(l): On ecliptic plane -
True Ecliptic Longitude(): On ecliptic plane -
Eccentricity of Orbit(e): Currently 0.0167 -
Obliquity of Eliptic(): Currently 23.44 -
Coordinate Transformation: Spherical Trigonometry
To study the location of the Sun with respect to a specific location on Earth, we will correlate the
coordinates of the location on the terrestrial sphere of Earth with the location of the Sun on the
celestial sphere. The mathematical tool of this study is Spherical Trigonometry.
Focus on the spherical triangle PZX, with three arcs:
p=ZX -
z=XP -
x=PZ -
The relations between the elements of the spherical triangle and the quantities of interest are:
P= -
Z=180 - A -
p=90 - h -
z=90 - -
x=90 - -
First, consider the case of given declination and hour angle in the equatorial
system to find the height h and the azimuth A in the horizontal coordinates system.
The latitude of the observer's location is a necessary parameter.
Cosine Formula
cos p ( ) cos x ( ) cos z ( ) sin x ( ) sin z ( ) cos P ( ) + =
Substitution from the relations between the elements yield
sin h ( ) sin ( ) sin ( ) cos ( ) cos ( ) cos ( ) + = EQ #1
Sine Formula
sin Z ( )
sin z ( )
sin P ( )
sin p ( )
=
Substitution from the relations between the elements yield
cos h ( ) sin A ( ) sin ( ) cos ( ) =
Applying Formula C
sin x ( ) cos Z ( ) cos z ( ) sin p ( ) sin z ( ) cos p ( ) cos X ( ) = EQ #2
Substitution from the relations between the elements yield
cos h ( ) cos A ( ) sin ( ) cos ( ) cos ( ) cos ( ) sin ( ) = EQ #3
Next, we consider the case of given height h and azimuth A in the horizon coordinate
system to find declination and hour angle in the equatorial system.Again the
latitude of the obsever's location is a necessary parameter.
Cosine Formula
cos z ( ) cos p ( ) cos x ( ) sin p ( ) sin x ( ) cos Z ( ) + =
sin ( ) cos h ( ) cos A ( ) cos ( ) sin h ( ) sin ( ) + = EQ #4
cos ( ) sin ( ) cos h ( ) sin A ( ) =
sin z ( ) cos P ( ) cos p ( ) sin x ( ) sin p ( ) cos x ( ) cos Z ( ) = EQ #5
cos ( ) cos ( ) cos h ( ) coa A ( ) sin ( ) sin h ( ) cos ( ) + = EQ #6
Treatment in Solar Time
The Solar Time ( t

), which is based on the hour angle of the Sun, is an intuitive measure of time and
was used for thousands of years in all cultures of the world.
Becasue the apparent motion of the Sun is nonuniform and depends on location, it is not an accurate
measure of the time.
The difference between solar time and standard time as used in everyday life, even with a proper
alignment, can be more than 15 min.
To make an estimation of solar radiation, sometimes high accuracy is not required.

s

t

12
12
|

\
|
|
.
=
t

12 12

s

+ =
Obliquity and Declination of the Sun
The orbital plane of the Earth arround the Sun, the Ecliptic, is at an angle called the Obli quity ()
from the Equator.
Currently: 23.44 (This is what causes the seasons)
Related to the motions of the Sun over a calendar year, there are four cardinal points.
Vernal Equinox, the trajectory of the Sun intersects the celestial equator, -
heading north.
Summer Solstice, the trajectory of the Sun reaches its northernmost point, which is about -
23.44 above the celestial equator.
Autmnal Equinox, the trajectoyr of the Sun intersects the celestial equator -
, heading south.
Winter Solstice, the trajectory of the Sun reaches its lowest point, which is about 23.44 below -
the celestial equator.
In line with the concept of solar time, the motion of the Sun along its orbital can be described by
the Mean Longitude (l).
Vernal Equinox l=0 -
Summer Solstice l=/2=90 -
Autmnal Equinox l==180 -
Winter Solstice l=3/2=270 -
Declination Approximation Formula
The next formula is a simple approximation by assuming that the declination varies sinusoidally
with the mean longitude l and consequently is linear according to the number of the days in a year.
The error could be as large as 1.60, but it is accceptable in this application.
23.44 =
sin l ( ) sin
2 N 80 ( ) [ ]
365.2422

(
(

=
N INT
275 M
9
|

\
|
|
.
K INT
M 9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D + 30 =
Where :
M=Number of month
N= Number of day
D= is the day of the month
K=2(common year)/K=1(leap year)
INT=means taking the integer part of the number
The number 80 is the of the day of the vernal equinox(March 20 or 21)
Sunrise and Sunset TIme
Sunrise (or Sunset)
The condition of sunrise is the time when the height of the Sun is zero
sin ( ) sin ( ) cos ( ) cos ( ) cos ( ) + 0 =
cos
s
( )
tan ( ) tan ( ) ( ) =
In terms of angle

s
acos tan ( ) tan ( ) ( ) ( ) =
In terms of of the 24-h solar time
t
s
12
12

acos tan ( ) tan ( ) ( ) ( ) +

(
(

12
12

acos tan ( ) tan ( ) ( ) ( )

(
(

=
Direct Solar Radiation on South Face of VBI Building
General Formualtion
cos()=sin()(sin( )cos()-cos( )sin()cos())+cos()(cos( )cos()cos()
+sin( )sin()cos()cos()+sin()sin()sin()
Simplifications

VBI
0deg := Azimuth angle
cos ( ) sin
.VBI

PVC

( )
sin ( ) cos
.VBI

PVC

( )
cos ( ) cos ( ) + =

PVC

2
= Polar Angle
cos
VBI
( )
cos
.VBI
( )
sin ( ) sin
.VBI
( )
cos ( ) cos ( ) + =
Direct Daily Solar Radiation Energy
An important application in terms of solar time is the computation of the direct solar radiation
energy H
D
on a surface on a clear day.
The effect of clouds and scattering is not considered in this case..
On a clear day, on a surface perpendicular to the sunlight, the power is 1kW/m
2
and the total
radiation energy in an hour is 1 kWh/m
2
.
When the sunlight is tilted with an angle , the radiation energy is reduced to cos x 1kWh/m
2
.
Therefore, the daily direct solar radiation energy in units of kWh/m
2
is the integration of cos over
24h.
VBI Building Direct Daily Solar Radiation Energy
Global Position of the VBI Building
[Northward Latitude ] [Eastward Longitude]

.VBI
0.975 =
.VBI
0.173 =

PVC

2
:= Polar Angle

VBI
0 deg = Azimuth angle
Year 2013
January
D
1
1 1 1 + , 31 .. :=
M
1
1 := K 2 :=
23.44 0.409 = := Obli quity
Sun Declination
Number of Day
N
1
D
1
floor
275 M
1

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
1
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
1
+ 30 :=
1
D
1
sin
2 N
1
D
1
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
s
)

s1
D
1
acos tan
1
D
1
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
1
D
1
24

cos
1
D
1
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
s1
D
1
|
\
|
.

s1
D
1
sin
1
D
1
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
February
D
2
1 1 1 + , 28 .. := M
2
2 :=
Number of Day Sun Declination
N
2
D
2
floor
275 M
2

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
2
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
2
+ 30 :=
2
D
2
sin
2 N
2
D
2
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
s
)

s2
D
2
acos tan
2
D
2
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
2
D
2
24

cos
2
D
2
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
s2
D
2
|
\
|
.

s2
D
2
sin
2
D
2
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
March
D
3
1 1 1 + , 20 .. := M
3
3 :=
Number of Day Sun Declination
N
3
D
3
floor
275 M
3

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
3
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
3
+ 30 :=
3
D
3
sin
2 N
3
D
3
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
s
)

s3
D
3
acos tan
3
D
3
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
3
D
3
24

cos
3
D
3
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
s3
D
3
|
\
|
.

s3
D
3
sin
3
D
3
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
Vernal Equinox
D
VX
21 21 1 + , 31 .. :=
Number of Day
N
VX
D
VX
floor
275 M
3

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
3
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
VX
+ 30 :=
Sun Declination

VX
D
VX
sin
2 N
VX
D
VX
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
ew
)

ew
D
VX
acos
tan
VX
D
VX
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )
|

\
|
|
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
VX
D
VX
24

cos
VX
D
VX
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
ew
D
VX
|
\
|
.

ew
D
VX
sin
VX
D
VX
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
April
D
4
1 1 1 + , 30 .. := M
4
4 :=
Number of Day
N
4
D
4
floor
275 M
4

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
4
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
4
+ 30 :=
Sun Declination

4
D
4
sin
2 N
4
D
4
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
ew
)

ew4
D
4
acos
tan
4
D
4
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )
|

\
|
|
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
4
D
4
24

cos
4
D
4
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
ew4
D
4
|
\
|
.

ew4
D
4
sin
4
D
4
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
May
D
5
1 1 1 + , 31 .. := M
5
5 :=
Number of Day
N
5
D
5
floor
275 M
5

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
5
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
5
+ 30 :=
Sun Declination

5
D
5
sin
2 N
5
D
5
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
ew
)

ew5
D
5
acos
tan
5
D
5
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )
|

\
|
|
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
5
D
5
24

cos
5
D
5
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
ew5
D
5
|
\
|
.

ew5
D
5
sin
5
D
5
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
June
D
6
1 1 1 + , 30 .. := M
6
6 :=
Number of Day
N
6
D
6
floor
275 M
6

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
6
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
6
+ 30 :=
Sun Declination

6
D
6
sin
2 N
6
D
6
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
ew
)

ew6
D
6
acos
tan
6
D
6
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )
|

\
|
|
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
6
D
6
24

cos
6
D
6
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
ew6
D
6
|
\
|
.

ew6
D
6
sin
6
D
6
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
July
D
7
1 1 1 + , 30 .. := M
7
7 :=
Number of Day
N
7
D
7
floor
275 M
7

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
7
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
7
+ 30 :=
Sun Declination

7
D
7
sin
2 N
7
D
7
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
ew
)

ew7
D
7
acos
tan
7
D
7
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )
|

\
|
|
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
7
D
7
24

cos
7
D
7
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
ew7
D
7
|
\
|
.

ew7
D
7
sin
7
D
7
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
August
D
8
1 1 1 + , 31 .. := M
8
8 :=
Number of Day
N
8
D
8
floor
275 M
8

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
8
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
8
+ 30 :=
Sun Declination

8
D
8
sin
2 N
8
D
8
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
ew
)

ew8
D
8
acos
tan
8
D
8
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )
|

\
|
|
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
8
D
8
24

cos
8
D
8
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
ew8
D
8
|
\
|
.

ew8
D
8
sin
8
D
8
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
September
D
9
1 1 1 + , 22 .. := M
9
9 :=
Number of Day
N
9
D
9
floor
275 M
9

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
9
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
9
+ 30 :=
Sun Declination

9
D
9
sin
2 N
9
D
9
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
ew
)

ew9
D
9
acos
tan
9
D
9
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )
|

\
|
|
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
9
D
9
24

cos
9
D
9
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
ew9
D
9
|
\
|
.

ew9
D
9
sin
9
D
9
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
Autumn Equinox
D
AX
23 23 1 + , 30 .. :=
Number of Day
N
AX
D
AX
floor
275 M
9

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
9
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
AX
+ 30 :=
Sun Declination

AX
D
AX
sin
2 N
AX
D
AX
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
ew
)

s
D
AX
acos tan
AX
D
AX
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
AX
D
AX
24

cos
AX
D
AX
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
s
D
AX
|
\
|
.

s
D
AX
sin
AX
D
AX
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
October
D
10
1 1 1 + , 31 .. := M
10
10 :=
Number of Day
N
10
D
10
floor
275 M
10

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
10
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
10
+ 30 :=
Sun Declination

10
D
10
sin
2 N
10
D
10
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
s
)

s10
D
10
acos tan
10
D
10
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
10
D
10
24

cos
10
D
10
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
s10
D
10
|
\
|
.

s10
D
10
sin
10
D
10
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
November
D
11
1 1 1 + , 30 .. := M
11
11 :=
Number of Day
N
11
D
11
floor
275 M
11

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
11
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
11
+ 30 :=
Sun Declination

11
D
11
sin
2 N
11
D
11
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
s
)

s11
D
11
acos tan
11
D
11
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
11
D
11
24

cos
11
D
11
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
s11
D
11
|
\
|
.

s11
D
11
sin
11
D
11
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
December
D
12
1 1 1 + , 31 .. := M
12
12 :=
Number of Day
N
12
D
12
floor
275 M
12

9
|

\
|
|
.
K floor
M
12
9 +
12
|

\
|
|
.
D
12
+ 30 :=
Sun Declination

12
D
12
sin
2 N
12
D
12
80
|
\
|
.

365.2422

(
(
(

(
(
(

:=
Sunset hour Angle(
s
)

s12
D
12
acos tan
12
D
12
|
\
|
.
tan
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
Di rect Daily Solar Radiation Energy
HD
12
D
12
24

cos
12
D
12
|
\
|
.
sin
.VBI
( )
sin
s12
D
12
|
\
|
.

s12
D
12
sin
12
D
12
|
\
|
.
cos
.VBI
( )

|
\
|
.
:=
Daily Solar Radiation on a Vertical Surface Facing South
0 100 200 300
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
VBI Direct Daily Solar Radiation Energy(HD(kWh/m^2))
Months
k
W
h
/
m
^
2