Prediction and Appraisal of Solar Radiations and Its Intensity in South East Geopolitical Region, Nigeria

Abstract

This research work shows the variability of solar parameters. The parameters that are solar radiation, sun intensity and temperature were optimized and predicted in other to investigate its influence in Permanent site of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, South Eastern part of Nigeria. The research was conducted for the period of five days, 6:00am to 6:00pm daily on 6th to 10th December, 2017. Measuring the intensity of solar radiation is one of the directions used at an investigation of solar power and necessary for the implementation of photovoltaic systems in a particular geographical 'area. Instrument used for measuring the solar radiation is solarimeter which is based on the thermal or photovoltaic principles. The device harness two main components for measuring solar radiation, namely- direct radiation and diffuse radiation, with sensors based on the photovoltaic principles. The research tends to optimize and to develop the intended sun intensity and solar radiation principles and properties of the environs. From the optimization results, the maximum sun intensity of the geographical area is 957.620 w/m2 while the minimum sun intensity of the area is 2 w/m2. However, the maximum temperature of the geographical area is 39.4˚С while the minimum temperature of the geographical area is 18.8˚С. The average sun intensity of the case study is 356.644 w/m2. The optimization technic employed will ensure the efficiency of solar radiation, sun intensity and temperature variability of the geographical area in the study as a key to climatic issues and solar systems manufacturing.