A theoretical and practical study for the incident solar radiation intensity in the Basrah province (south of Iraq)

Abstract

-A theoretical and practical study was conducted to the incident solar radiation intensity on a horizontal surface and another making an angle 30 o with the horizontal at Basra province, Iraq, during the years 2006 and 2011. The results showed that the intensity of solar radiation increased significantly (p<0.05) as daylight hours increasing reaching a maximum value of 740 `W/m 2 at midday and then decreased after that. This was found to be the trend throughout all months of the two years of our investigation. The intensity of solar radiation varied from one month to another. In addition, the solar radiation falling on the inclined surface is higher than that falling on a horizontal surface. The study also found that there was a significant difference in the intensity of solar radiation between 2006 and 2011. Empirical equations of the fourth order were developed to predict the incident solar radiation on a horizontal, as well as another inclined surface in the Basra province (south of Iraq)

Experimental Study on Thermal Efficiency of Parabolic Trough Collector (PTC) Using Al₂O₃/H₂O Nanofluid

“…Unless the collector is continuously turned to face the sun, sun's changing altitude and azimuth will reduce the collected heat below the maximum potential [1]. The thermal efficiency of these collectors is limited by the absorption properties of the working fluid.…”