AN EVALUATION OF EMPIRICAL CONSTANTS OF TEMPERATURE BASED PREDICTION MODEL FOR EFFICIENT APPLICATIONS OF SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY IN NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA
The success of solar energy applications depends heavily on the quantity and quality of resource data such as incoming solar radiations (insolations) data. However, in view of the shortcomings and the scarcity of direct observations and measurement it becomes necessary to generate and calibrate empirical relationship capable of estimation using known meteorological variables. In this paper, minimum and maximum ambient temperature (oC) ground measurement data and the monthly average daily global solar radiation on horizontal surface (kW/m2/day) were received from six locations in the North western Nigeria situated 8o and 14o north of the equator and 3.5o and 11o east of meridian. The data was used to derive empirical constants using Angstrom-Prescott model and Micro soft plotter and validate using R2, RMSE and CRM. The derived constants are a = 0.373, b = 0.223; a = 0.373, b = 0.223; a = 0.277, b = 0.201; a = 0.624, b = 0.022; a = 0.546, b = 0.085 and a = 0.654, b = 0.195 for Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Gusau, Sokoto and Yelwa-Yawuri respectively. Validation show high percentages of the R2 except in the case of Yelwa-Yawuri location where it has as low as 0.3583 and there is over estimation in the case of Yelwa-Yawuri in Kebbi state as confirmed by CRM being high up to 43.2942. The derived and validated empirical constants values and estimated insolations data are therefore recommended for similar climatic conditions in the design and application of solar energy system, energy efficient buildings and weather forecasting.
Authors : D. Abdulsalam*, F. O. Anafi2, S. Umaru and J. K. Mohammed
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 3(1) Date Uploaded : 25th March 2018