Optimum tilt angle for the installation of solar sensor in some cities in Cameroon
The sun is the most accessible source of energy on earth. ¶For the development of solar energy in Cameroon, knowledge on solar potential and solar technologies is indispensable. The aim of this work is to find out the optimal tilt angle for solar sensor in the headquarters of the ten regions of Cameroon. ¶In this work, the average solar radiation received annually by various cities (head-quarters of the ten Regions) of Cameroon has been evaluated using the RETScreen software, then the data obtained were used to simulate the performances of a thermal solar collector for two standard days (least sunny and sunniest days) through MATLAB 2014 a software. ¶The results show that in Cameroon, the annual average of insolation on a horizontal surface varies between 4.43 Kwh/m2/day and 5.88 Kwh/m2/day. ¶ The optimal tilt angle of solar sensor is between 5° and 15° depending on the position of the Region. These results provide valuable guidelines for designers and installers of solar thermal and photovoltaic systems in Cameroon, allowing them to maximize the energy efficiency of these installations depending on the specific weather conditions of each location. This will contribute to better exploitation of the significant solar potential available in the country.
Keywords: Cameroon, Solar potential, Solar sensor, Tilt angle, Optimization
