CHP1 Pyrheliometer
The sun irradiates the Earth's upper atmosphere with an average intensity of 1367 W/m². As it passes through the atmosphere, this radiation is absorbed and scattered. This causes different radiation components to reach the Earth's surface. The direct component is a straight beam from the sun, while the diffuse component comes from all directions due to scattering by the atmosphere.
A pyrheliometer is an instrument specifically designed to measure direct solar radiation, with a field of view limited to 5°. This is achieved through the shape of the collimating tube, precision apertures, and the detector element.
The front aperture is equipped with a quartz window that protects the device and acts as a filter, allowing solar radiation only in the wavelength range from 200 nm to 4000 nm to pass through. The CHP1 is equipped with a rain cover and integrated adjustment aids.
Each CHP1 pyrheliometer is equipped with both a Pt-100 and a 10K thermistor as standard, allowing for the temperature behavior documented individually for each device to be taken into account. The connector on the signal cable and the screw-in desiccant cartridge significantly simplify installation and maintenance of the instrument.
Its specifications exceed ISO and WMO performance requirements for First Class instruments. Each CHP1 is supplied with a calibration certificate traceable to the WMO (World Radiation Reference).
The CHP1 pyrheliometer exceeds the requirements for high-end solar radiation networks, such as the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN). These networks require the most accurate long-term measurements to study climate change.
The industrial sector of renewable energies has similar requirements. Research into photovoltaic systems and materials requires precise data on solar radiation. For example, the amount of energy received over a period of one year is a crucial factor in selecting suitable locations for solar farms.
A pyrheliometer must always be precisely aligned with the sun, so that the solar disk is always directly above its field of view. The Kipp & Zonen tracking systems (SOLYS 2 and 2AP) ensure that the CHP1 pyrheliometer is always correctly aligned for direct irradiance measurements.
SHP1 pyrheliometer
The sun irradiates the Earth's upper atmosphere with an average intensity of 1367 W/m². As it passes through the atmosphere, this radiation is absorbed and scattered. This causes different radiation components to reach the Earth's surface. The direct component is a straight beam from the sun, while the diffuse component comes from all directions due to scattering by the atmosphere.
The combination of CHP1 sensor technology with a Smart Interface makes the SHP1 the best pyrheliometer in its class.
The Smart Interface not only offers a wide range of outputs, but also features an integrated temperature sensor and digital polynomial functions that correct the temperature dependence of the detector element for the range -40 °C to +70 °C. The response time has been improved and the output standardized, allowing interchangeability between devices during recalibration. Thanks to the Modbus® protocol, detailed information on instrument status and configuration is available with selectable options.
SHP1 pyrheliometers feature extremely low power consumption, so internal sensor heating does not affect detector performance. They operate with a wide voltage supply range, making them ideal for power-critical applications. All inputs and outputs are protected against reverse polarity and overvoltage and short circuits.
The SHP1 pyrheliometer is available in two versions: one with a 0-1 V analog output and the other with a 4-20 mA output. Both have a 2-wire RS-485 interface with Modbus® (RTU) protocol.
The analog output can be easily connected to almost any data logger or current-sensitive mV inputs. Modbus® communicates directly with RTUs, PLCs, SCADA systems, industrial networks, and data acquisition systems. A recalibrated instrument retains its analog and digital calibration values, eliminating the need to recalibrate the data acquisition system. The SHP1 is supplied with a comprehensive, traceable calibration certificate.
Each SHP1 pyrheliometer comes standard with a 10 m cable. The connector on the signal cable and the screw-in desiccant cartridge significantly simplify installation and maintenance of the instrument.
The SHP1 pyrheliometer exceeds the requirements for high-end solar radiation networks, such as the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN). These networks require the most accurate long-term measurements to study climate change.
