Prediction and Assessment of Direct and Diffse Radiation Fractions for Hourly, Daily and Monthly Average Global Radiation at Diffrent Latitude Locations in Libya

Abstract

As in today´s world, the dramatic increase in world’s population, the rapid depleting of conventional fuels (Fossil Fuels) as well as the environmental impact have lef us no choice but to discover alternative energy sources. In fact, this would ensure a better and safer life on this earth and this will only be accomplished by using the best option of nonconventional and non-exhaustible sources of energy, which is the solar energy. Th current study is aimed at evaluating the availability and potentiality of direct and diffsesolar radiations in three diffrent locations in Libya within diffrent latitudes. Thee diffrent locations with diffrent values of measured daily solar radiation are opted for comparison purposes. This daily solar radiation data are used to create an hourly database of solar radiation. Th mathematical framework for the prediction and assessment has been chosen to be the Microsof Excel. The resultant monthly, daily and hourly diffse fraction relative to their clearance indexes have been in very good agreement with existing research. Moreover, one of the main fidings of this attempt is that this study has claimed and justifid the usefulness of direct radiation in operating the concentrating solar power (CSP) plants, attributed to its overall magnitude of approximately 75% of the global radiation, particularly at the summer season.