4826 - Comparative Analysis of Three Solar Models for Tunisia PDF

This paper summarizes the results of a comparative analysis for three models utilized to predict solar radiation in Tunisia. The three models include the Kasten model, the Zhang and Huang model, and a neural network-based model. The analysis was based on measured solar data for Sidi Bou Saîd (close to Tunis, Tunisia). The measured hourly solar radiation data were obtained from the Tunisian Institut National de la Meterologie (INM) for the year 1997 and include global, direct, and diffuse solar radiation. Non-solar weather data for the same site were obtained from the US National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). The results of the validation analysis indicate that the Zhang and Huang model is suitable for predicting solar radiation in Tunisia.

Units: SI