Solar Radiation Advanced
- Zuzana Bielčiková
General overview
This module brings semi-automatic tools for the recognition of several issues in data.
Tracker malfunction
The tracker malfunction issue occurs when the instrument for tracking sun position is not working properly. The duration of this malfunction can be very short (a few minutes), but it can also take several days. For the automatic detection you need to provide a GHI which serves as a reference. The DNI and DIF parameters can be checked. In case you do not have a DIF, set this parameter to “Do not use“.
After clicking on Auto detection, the model recognizes tracker malfunction and creates a mask to save. The mask is highlighted in green color. This module is to be run after Time reference control, basic Solar radiation check and Shading detection are done.
The user can add to the mask by selecting data and clicking "Add to mask". Similarly, the user can remove from the mask, by selecting data and clicking on "Remove from mask". The selected data have pink color. This detection can run from a few seconds up to a few minutes based on the volume of data.
Component | Description |
Bottom plot | Area where data are visualized as time series plot. |
Top plot | A plot of the selected column as a function of day and time. Mask and selected candidates are highlighted in green and pink color, respectively. |
Toolbar - Interactive navigation | Navigation toolbar, which can be used to navigate through the data set. |
GHI | The global horizontal radiation used for the tracker malfunction detection. The GHI is used as a reference to check the tracker malfunction on DIF and DNI. |
DNI | The direct normal radiation to be checked for the tracker malfunction. |
DIF | The diffuse radiation. If there is no measured DIF or you do not wish to use it for detection, then its value can be set to "Do not use". |
Model | Issue detection to run, in this case, "Tracker issue". |
Column in upper chart | Radiation to show in upper chart. |
Columns to show/flag | Checkbox selects the columns which are shown in the bottom plot. The small flags indicate which columns should be flagged. |
Load background data | Opens the dialog for loading data from other datasets currently loaded in the project. |
Selectable flags | Displays value, color, and description of flags for the given dataset as loaded from dataset's flag scheme. User can select via checkbox which flags are selectable by given detection - which flags the detection can change. |
Undo | undo the last action. |
Deselect | Deselect selected data. |
Add to mask | Add selected data to mask. |
Remove from mask | Remove selected data from the mask. |
Overview | Statistics for a selected column. |
Run model | Runs the automatic detection of the tracker malfunction issue. |
Quality report | Open Quality report dialog. |
Save | Save user changes to data. |
Limitations
Limitation | Probability | Severity |
The partial tracker issue (when the instrument "sees" part of the sun) cannot be fully flagged. The flagging needs to be manually completed. | Low | High |
Tracker malfunction identification can sometimes flag data with other issues e.g. shading. | Medium | Low |
Cloudy weather in low sun elevations can be misidentified as tracker malfunction. | Low | Medium |