The latest radiation sensor solution from Japan-based EKO Instruments provides continuous measurements in the field. It is well suited for bifacial PV systems and supports the measurement of global horizontal irradiance, diffuse horizontal irradiance and direct normal irradiance, even in reflective and cloudy conditions.
Japanese scientific equipment company EKO Instruments has introduced a new pyranometer solution called MS-80SH Plus+ to enable in-situ continuous radiation measurements, with functionality that makes it suitable for bifacial PV installations.
“The unique ability to continuously measure diffuse irradiance, especially in dynamic weather conditions, is crucial for bifacial modules, which benefit from light collected on both sides,” an EKO Instruments spokesperson said. pv magazine.
The MS-80SH Plus+ solar monitoring solution features a motorized rotating shade band made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), combined with the ECO instruments MS-80SH Class A pyranometer sensor, which was a winner of the 2022 pv magazine Award in the balance-of-system category.
The control unit is housed in an IP67 housing with an integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) on a leveling base plate. The 4.5 kg instrument supports a wavelength range of 285 nm to 3000 nm with a measurement interval of 15 seconds.
Solar irradiance measurements such as global horizontal irradiance (GHI), diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI) and direct normal irradiance (DNI) are covered, and these parameters help to meet the best practices outlined in IEC 61724-1:2021 for bifacial modules, according to EKO Instruments.
The system does not require a solar tracker or multiple sensor units to provide the required data, nor does it have a comprehensive sensor characterization and calibration setup, the manufacturer said.
In addition to irradiation measurements, metadata are also recorded, such as temperature, slope, longitude, solar altitude and azimuth. Data from the MS-80SH Plus+ system can be shared via a Modbus 485 RTU output with multi-format data compatible with resource assessment tools.
The MS-80SH+ Plus is manufactured in Japan. There is a 5-year recalibration period. The operating temperature range is -20 C to 70 C, the power consumption is less than 6 W and the power supply is 12 V or 24 V.
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