ISO 9846:2025

Solar energy — Calibration of a pyranometer using a pyrheliometer Published (Edition 2, 2025)

Abstract

This document specifies calibration methods for a pyranometer using a pyrheliometer as a reference instrument. Three methods are specified in this document.

1. a)Alternating sun and shade method. This method uses a shading disc to alternately shade and unshade a pyranometer to compare with the tracking pyrheliometer. The test pyranometer can be horizontal, on a fixed tilt or tracking alongside the pyrheliometer.
2. b)Continuous sun and shade method. In this method, a shaded calibrated reference pyranometer is used in addition to the reference pyrheliometer. The test pyranometer can be horizontal, on a fixed tilt or tracking alongside the reference pyrheliometer, but the reference pyranometer must be mounted in the same plane as the test pyranometer (most often on the horizontal).
3. c)Collimation tube method. In this method, the test pyranometer is mounted on a solar tracker and is equipped with a collimation tube designed to allow the test pyranometer to have the same geometric view as the reference pyrheliometer for a direct comparison of the two instruments.

The methods in this document are applicable for calibration of all pyranometers provided that a proper uncertainty evaluation is performed. Unlike spectrally flat pyranometers, non-spectrally flat pyranometers have a sensitivity that strongly depends on the solar spectrum. Therefore, the calibration result can be valid under a more limited range of conditions.

The result of a calibration is the instrument sensitivity accompanied by an uncertainty. This document includes suggestions for uncertainty evaluation.