The Influence of Sahara Dust Particles in the Direct Normal Irradiance Estimation Through a Total SKY Camera
Abstract
To properly operate Central Tower Solar Power (CTSP) plants, collection systems must work under appropriate weather conditions. Therefore, knowing the state of the atmosphere, and more specifically the level of incident radiation, is a very valuable information for the operation, to adapt the system for electricity production to atmospheric conditions. Sky cameras have emerged as terrestrial point technologies that can observe the changes produced in short-time intervals. In this work, we have estimated Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) using a total sky camera (TSI-880 model) under high dust load to study its effect in the DNI estimation, for next compare the results with a cloudless day without these attenuator particles. Furthermore, a CL-51 Vaisala ceilometer was used to identify the presence of this dust concentration in the atmosphere.
Keywords
Solar radiation estimation, Atmospheric attenuation, Central tower solar power plants, Sky camera, Lidar