Solar Load Model in FLUENT 6.

23 Nov 2005 UGM, Melbourne

Outline
Solar Load Model
Solar Ray Tracing (Method 1) Discrete Ordinates Irradiation (Method 2) Both methods have the option of using the Solar Calculator in Fluent-6

Examples
Solar Load Model for Outdoor Solar Load Model for Indoor

Demonstration

Solar Load Model

Calculates the radiation intensity from the sun's rays which enter the domain. Both direct and diffuse solar radiation components are accounted for. Treats the two important bands of radiation (visible and infra-red) separately. Provides a wide range of user choices in terms of computing or specifying solar radiation components:
Directly: constant, profiles, user-defined Automatically: computed by the Solar Calculator utility

Visualisation of illuminated and shadow areas.

Solar Load Model

Two options are available using the solar load model:
Solar ray tracing Discrete ordinates (DO) irradiation

Solar ray tracing can be applied as a stand alone solar loading model, or it can be used in conjunction with one of the FLUENT radiation models (P1, Rosseland, Discrete Transfer, Surface-to-Surface, Discrete Ordinates). DO Irradiation is available only when the Discrete Ordinates (DO) radiation model is enabled.

Solar Load Model

Radiation Models

Solar Load Model

Solar Ray Tracing

Solar ray tracing is an efficient and practical way to apply solar loads as heat sources in the energy equation. Solar ray tracing algorithm:
Predicts the illumination energy source from incident solar radiation. It tracks a beam using the sun position vector and illumination values to selected wall, inlet and outlet boundaries that you specify. It performs a face-by-face shading analysis to determine well-defined shadows on all boundary faces and interior walls It then computes the heat flux on each boundary face. The resulting heat flux is coupled to the FLUENT analysis using a source term in the energy equation.

Solar Ray Tracing

Inputs required for the solar ray tracing algorithm:
Sun direction vector Direct solar irradiation Diffuse solar irradiation Spectral fraction Direct Visible and Direct IR absorptivity (opaque wall) Direct Visible and Direct IR absorptivity and transmissivity (semitransparent wall) Diffuse absorptivity and Diffuse transmissivity (semi-transparent wall) Scattering fraction (semi-transparent wall) Ground reflectivity

Solar Ray Tracing

DO Irradiation
Applies solar loads directly to the DO model. The irradiation flux is applied directly to semitransparent walls as a boundary condition. And the radiative heat transfer is derived from the solution of the DO radiative transport equation. Inputs for DO irradiation at semi-transparent walls:
Total irradiation (direct and diffuse) Beam direction Beam width Diffuse fraction

DO Irradiation

Solar Calculator
For a given time, date, and position the solar calculator computes the solar beam direction and irradiation. These values are used as inputs to both the solar ray tracing and DO Irradiation methods. Inputs required for the solar calculator are:
Global position (latitude, longitude, time zone) Starting date and time Grid orientation Solar irradiation method (Theoretical Maximum or Fair Weather Condition) Sunshine factor

Solar Calculator

Solar Calculator
Outputs are displayed on the console window whenever the solar calculator is used:
Sun direction vector Direct normal solar irradiation at earth's surface Diffuse solar irradiation - vertical and horizontal surfaces Ground reflected (diffuse) solar irradiation - vertical surface

Fair Weather Conditions:

Sun Direction Vector: X: -0.836605, Y: 0.42895, Z: -0.340725 Sunshine Fraction: 1 Direct Normal Solar Irradiation (at Earth's surface) [W/m^2]: 783.099 Diffuse Solar Irradiation - vertical surface: [W/m^2]: 52.9415 Diffuse Solar Irradiation - horizontal surface [W/m^2]: 66.5895 Ground Reflected Solar Irradiation - vertical surface [W/m^2]: 40.25

Examples

Solar Load Model for Outdoor Solar Load Model for Indoor (two cases)

Example: Outdoor
Domain
20m radius hemisphere around an object of 2m height
sky

Prediction of:
Solar heat flux on object walls located in Melbourne (22th of Sept. 2004: 9am, 12pm & 4pm)
N E

Boundary Conditions:
Ground & object: fixed temperature of 15C Surrounding: 15C still air No flow-field calculation

W S

ground

Example: Outdoor
9am

12pm

4pm

Example: Indoor
Domain
2m x 2m x 2m room interior
roof
north-wall

Simulation
Solar heat flux into a room located in Melbourne (22th of Sept. 2004: 9am, 12pm & 4pm)
west-wall

window

vent-out
east-wall

Boundary Conditions
Vent-in: air 2m/s, 15C ground: 15C Roof & side-walls: h=10W/m2K, 15C, opaque wall Window: h=10W/m2K, 15C, semi-transparent wall Flow-field & thermal calculation

vent-in

south-wall

floor

Example: Indoor
9am 9am 9am

12pm

12pm

12pm

4pm

4pm

4pm

Solar Load Model: Building Services

Solar Load Model

Ray tracing algorithm to solve solar radiant energy transport Solar calculator computes position and intensity of sun

Contours of Total Solar Heat Flux (W/m2)

FLUENT 6.2

Solar Load Model: Cabin Interior

West North

Semi-Transparent

East South

9:30 AM

Opaque

Solid Zones

Solar Heat Flux (w/m2)

Geometry
Courtesy of National Renewable Energy Laboratory DO Model used for internal reradiation of the solar energy. Natural convection also Temperature (Celsius) simulated

9:15 AM

Demonstration