DR03 pyrheliometer

DR03 compact fast response first class pyrheliometer

DR03 is a solar radiation sensor that is applied in high accuracy measurement of the solar radiation received by a plane surface from a 5 ° full field of view angle. This quantity, expressed in W/m², is called “direct” solar radiation or DNI (direct normal irradiance). Pyrheliometers like DR03 are generally employed outdoors under the sun. It is necessary to keep the instrument pointed at the sun by using a two-axis tracker. Due to its short response time, DR03 is ideally suited for concentrated PV or concentrated thermal applications, where it will match the response time of the panel or receiver. Typical DR03 applications include solar energy resource assessment and system performance monitoring (in particular for concentrated solar energy), scientific solar climate observations and outdoor materialtesting.

Benefits and operation

Besides its short response time, DR03 offers two more distinguishing features with benefits:

• DR03 window assembly is equipped with a heater which reduces measurement errors caused by (early-morning) dew deposition
• its compact size improves compatibility with small sized trackers

DR03 can be connected directly to commonly used data logging systems. The irradiance in W/m² is calculated by dividing the instrument output, a small voltage, by the sensitivity. This sensitivity is provided with DR03 on its product certificate. DR03 pyrheliometer is optionally equipped with a temperature sensor and is optionally characterised for its temperature dependence. This can be used to increase the accuracy of the measurement.

DR03 Pyrheliometer design

The pyrheliometer features a precision ground and polished quartz window, a compact sized collimated tube and a thermopile sensor with black coated surface. DR03 also features a thermally isolated low power heater in the window assembly.