A Study on Solar Radiation and Efficient Solar Panel of Icosahedron-based Hemispherical Dome

Abstract

Solar power is being spotlighted recently as a new energy source due to environmental problems and applications of solar power to curved structures are increasing. Solar panels installed on curved surfaces have different efficiencies depending on its position and the efficient positioning of solar panels plays a critical role in the design of solar power generation systems. In this study, the changing characteristics of solar irradiance were analyzed for hemispherical dome with a large curvature and the positioning of solar panels that can efficiently utilize solar energy was investigated. With an icosahedron-based hemispherical dome consisting of triangular elements as target model, a program for calculating solar irradiance using a normal vector of the solar module on each face was developed. Furthermore, the change of solar irradiance according to the sun's path was analyzed by time and season, and its effects on shades were also examined. From the analysis results, the effective positioning could be determined on the basis of the efficiency of the solar panels installed on the dome surfaces on solar irradiance.