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Title: Using an Absolute Cavity Pyrgeometer to Validate the Calibration of a Secondary Standard Pyrgeometer Outdoors, Independent from the Reference Value of the Atmospheric Longwave Irradiance

Journal Article · · Atmospheric and Climate Sciences
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
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Accurate measurements of broadband outdoor longwave irradiance are important for renewable energy applications and the study of the atmosphere and climate change. A unique method of pyrgeometer calibration has been developed to improve the measurement uncertainty [1]. The results of this method yielded irradiance values within ±3 W/m2 of those traceable to the World InfraRed Standard Group (WISG). This article describes a technique for validating this pyrgeometer calibration method using two Absolute Cavity Pyrgeometers (ACPs). The ACPs and pyrgeometer model PIR were deployed outdoors and the irradiance measured by the PIR was compared against the average irradiance measured by the two ACPs. The irradiance measured by the PIR was calculated using two equations, NREL equation and the Physikalisch Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos (PMOD) equation. The uncertainty with 95% confidence level (U95) of the irradiance measured by the PIR using NREL equation equaled ±3.51 W/m2 with respect to SI and using PMOD equation U95 equaled ±2.99 W/m2 with respect to SI. These results suggest that the PIR calibration method might be useful in addressing the international need for a secondary standard pyrgeometer traceable to SI.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1677423
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-1900-77810; MainId:30725; UUID:0bbd3df5-eaac-46ef-8149-8b64b9f6f307; MainAdminID:18524
Journal Information:
Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, Vol. 10, Issue 4; ISSN 2160-0414
Publisher:
Scientific Research Publishing Inc. (SCIRP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Figures / Tables (9)

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Table 1(p. 7)table Table 1

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
absolute cavity pyrgeometer
ACP
atmospheric longwave irradiance
calibration
pyrgeometer
SI units