twoaxistracking.shaded_fraction#

twoaxistracking.shaded_fraction(solar_elevation, solar_azimuth, total_collector_geometry, active_collector_geometry, min_tracker_spacing, tracker_distance, relative_azimuth, relative_slope, slope_azimuth=0, slope_tilt=0, max_shading_elevation=90, plot=False, return_geometries=False)#

Calculate the shaded fraction for any layout of two-axis tracking collectors.

Parameters
  • solar_elevation (float) – Solar elevation angle in degrees.

  • solar_azimuth (float) – Solar azimuth angle in degrees.

  • total_collector_geometry (Shapely Polygon) – Polygon corresponding to the total collector area.

  • active_collector_geometry (Shapely Polygon or MultiPolygon) – One or more polygons defining the active collector area.

  • min_tracker_spacing (float) – Minimum distance between collectors. Used for selecting possible shading collectors.

  • tracker_distance (array-like) – Distances between neighboring trackers and reference tracker.

  • relative_azimuth (array-like) – Relative azimuth between neigboring trackers and reference tracker.

  • relative_slope (array-like) – Slope between neighboring trackers and reference tracker. A positive slope means neighboring collector is higher than reference collector.

  • slope_azimuth (float, optional) – Direction of normal to slope on horizontal [degrees]. Used to determine horizon shading.

  • slope_tilt (float, default : 0) – Tilt of slope relative to horizontal [degrees]. Used to determine horizon shading.

  • max_shading_elevation (float, default : 0) – The maximum elevation angle for which shading may occur. Specifying the max_shading_elevation skips the calculations for which the solar elevation angle is higher and sets the shaded fraction to zero. This reduces the calculation time and results in the same output assuming the correct value has been provided.

  • plot (bool, default: False) – Whether to plot the projected shadows and unshaded area.

  • return_geometries (bool, default: False) – Whether to return the geometries of the unshaded area and the shading areas.

Returns

  • shaded_fraction (float) – Shaded fraction for the specific solar position and field layout.

  • geometries (dict) – A dictionary with the keys {‘unshaded_geometry’, ‘shading_geometries’}. unshaded_geometry is a shapely Polygon or MultiPolygon representing the unshaded subset of active_collector_geometry. shading_geometries is a list of shapely Polygons representing the total_collector_geometries of neighboring collectors within the shaded collector’s field of view. Only returned if return_geometries is True.