Development of an Electrical Substitution Pyrheliometer

The study of solar radiation is of fundamental importance within the context of global climate change and its applications range from understanding the planet's climate to optimizing energy systems. This work describes part of the development of an electrical substitution pyrheliometer to measure solar irradiance using a cavity-type thermal sensor. The pyrheliometer has a total field of view of 5° and can be operated in both atmosphere and vacuum. The blackened Nickel Phosphorus sensor element was fully developed at the institute and has an absorbance greater than 99.9 %. This radiometer will serve as the basis for the development of a pyrheliometer for measuring solar irradiance on board a satellite.