bifacial_radiance.RadianceObj#

class bifacial_radiance.RadianceObj(name=None, path=None, hpc=False)[source]#

The RadianceObj top level class is used to work on radiance objects, keep track of filenames, sky values, PV module configuration, etc.

Parameters
  • name (text to append to output files) –

  • filelist (list of Radiance files to create oconv) –

  • nowstr (current date/time string) –

  • path (working directory with Radiance materials and objects) –

__init__ : initialize the object
_setPath : change the working directory
__init__(name=None, path=None, hpc=False)[source]#

initialize RadianceObj with path of Radiance materials and objects, as well as a basename to append to

Parameters
  • name (string, append temporary and output files with this value) –

  • path (location of Radiance materials and objects) –

  • hpc (Keeps track if User is running simulation on HPC so some file) – reading routines try reading a bit longer and some writing routines (makeModule) that overwrite themselves are inactivated.

Returns

none

Methods

__init__([name, path, hpc])

initialize RadianceObj with path of Radiance materials and objects, as well as a basename to append to

addMaterial(material, Rrefl, Grefl, Brefl[, ...])

Function to add a material in Radiance format.

analysis1axis([trackerdict, singleindex, ...])

Loop through trackerdict and runs linescans for each scene and scan in there.

appendtoScene([radfile, customObject, text])

Appends to the Scene radfile in folder objects the text command in Radiance lingo created by the user.

exportTrackerDict([trackerdict, savefile, ...])

Use _exportTrackerDict() to save a TrackerDict output as a csv file.

genCumSky([gencumsky_metfile, savefile])

Generate Skydome using gencumsky.

genCumSky1axis([trackerdict])

1-axis tracking implementation of gencumulativesky.

gendaylit(timeindex[, metdata, debug])

Sets and returns sky information using gendaylit.

gendaylit1axis([metdata, trackerdict, ...])

1-axis tracking implementation of gendaylit.

gendaylit2manual(dni, dhi, sunalt, sunaz)

Sets and returns sky information using gendaylit.

getEPW([lat, lon, GetAll])

Subroutine to download nearest epw files to latitude and longitude provided, into the directory EPWs based on github/aahoo.

getSingleTimestampTrackerAngle(metdata, ...)

Helper function to calculate a tracker's angle for use with the fixed tilt routines of bifacial_radiance.

getfilelist()

Return concat of matfiles, radfiles and skyfiles

loadtrackerdict([trackerdict, fileprefix])

Use bifacial_radiance.load._loadtrackerdict to browse the results directory and load back any results saved in there.

makeCustomObject([name, text])

Function for development and experimenting with extraneous objects in the scene.

makeModule([name, x, y, z, modulefile, ...])

pass module generation details into ModuleObj().

makeOct([filelist, octname])

Combine everything together into a .oct file

makeOct1axis([trackerdict, singleindex, ...])

Combine files listed in trackerdict into multiple .oct files

makeScene([module, sceneDict, radname, ...])

Create a SceneObj which contains details of the PV system configuration including tilt, row pitch, height, nMods per row, nRows in the system...

makeScene1axis([trackerdict, module, ...])

Creates a SceneObj for each tracking angle which contains details of the PV system configuration including row pitch, hub_height, nMods per row, nRows in the system...

printModules()

readWeatherFile([weatherFile, starttime, ...])

Read either a EPW or a TMY file, calls the functions readTMY or readEPW according to the weatherfile extention.

returnMaterialFiles([material_path])

Return files in the Materials directory with .rad extension appends materials files to the oconv file list

returnOctFiles()

Return files in the root directory with .oct extension

save([savefile])

Pickle the radiance object for further use.

set1axis([metdata, azimuth, limit_angle, ...])

Set up geometry for 1-axis tracking.

setGround([material, material_file])

Use GroundObj constructor class and return a ground object