Atmospheric Transmittance Model for a Solar Beam Propagating Between a Heliostat and a Receiver

摘要

This report presents formulae that provide reliable estimates of the percent energy loss P/sub L/ (or, equivalently, the transmittance tau) of a solar beam propagating between a heliostat and a receiver. These formulae are wavelength-independent, functional fits to the tabulated results of Vittitoe and Biggs, which in turn are the results of numerical integrations of spectral transmittance data calculated with the aid of the computer code LOWTRAN 3. The formulae allow for interpolation and extrapolation and have a form characteristic of atmospheric transmittance models. (ERA citation 09:022208)