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Converting output from gencumulativesky to kWh/m²

asked 2015-08-26 09:06:46 -0600

dgleeson's avatar

updated 2015-11-09 14:14:43 -0600

Hi,

I've been experimenting with gencumulativesky and the -S1/-S2 switches to chose between the "smeared" representation of the sun and the "binned" representation of the sun. The version of gencumulativesky I have has a -r switch which the help text tells me divides the output by 179000 to convert from (I think) W/sr.m² to kWh/m².

The issue I have is that this does not appear to be applied to the SunFile.rad file which is generated as a result of chosing the binned option. Thus when I generate an image using the sky and sun output from gencumulativesky I get really big numbers (W/sr.m²).

I've experimented with feeding my image into pcomb and setting the -s factor to be 1/179000 (5.587e-6) and this appears to convert my numbers into the right ball park for kWh/m².

However I'm not entirely sure that what I've done is actually numerically correct. Does anyone have any guidance on the correct way to work with gencumulativesky with the binned suns and produce output in kWh/m²?

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answered 2015-08-28 04:48:23 -0600

updated 2015-08-28 10:24:45 -0600

Hi @dgleeson. I think you need to email Christoph Reinhart or Darren Robinson directly about this. I'm not sure if they will ever check unmethours. You may have a better chance to get a reply if you send this question to radiance mailing-list (I know we decided to give unmethours a try but here are the cases that mailing list will probably work better for you.)

Not the answer to your question but you may find Radiance's gandaymtx as a very useful alternate to gencumulativesky.

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Thanks Mostapha, I'll take a look at gendaymtx and give the mailing list a shot. I'll report back here if I have any success.

dgleeson's avatar dgleeson  ( 2015-08-28 07:40:48 -0600 )edit
3

I hate to be UH Police, but technically @Mostapha Roudsari you should change your answer to a comment on @dgleeson 's post.

rpg777's avatar rpg777  ( 2015-08-28 10:35:10 -0600 )edit

Thank's @rpg777! Noted! I tried to change it to a comment now but there is no option. Will do after this.

Mostapha Roudsari's avatar Mostapha Roudsari  ( 2015-08-28 12:27:14 -0600 )edit

Yes, good to know. I wasn't sure where to put advice or redirection (as opposed to an answer).

GregWard's avatar GregWard  ( 2015-08-30 23:08:15 -0600 )edit

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Asked: 2015-08-26 09:06:46 -0600

Seen: 346 times

Last updated: Aug 28 '15