Optimization of surface orientation angles to receive maximum solar radiation at Sabha city, Libya

In this paper, the Genetic Algorithm (GA) is implemented to calculate the optimum tilt and surface azimuth angle for solar system surfaces to receive maximum solar radiation. Sabha city in Libya is selected to verify the results of GA. The optimum surface orientation angles and the flat surface input solar energies for these angles are calculated in monthly and yearly bases. Then, The comparison of different optimizations of GA and South-Facing for an inclined surface was compared with the horizontal surface in a year and the energy gained was investigated. The total extra solar energy gained in one year for the yearly optimized surface angles of GA and South-Facing compared to the horizontal surface are 10.8% and 10.3%, respectively. The total extra solar energy gained in one year for the monthly optimized surface angles of GA and South-Facing compared to the horizontal surface are 18.72% and 18.03%, respectively. The yearly optimum tilt angle of genetic algorithm was 30.4° where the azimuth was at -19°. In another result, the yearly optimum tilt angle of south-facing was 29°. It has been figured out that the yearly optimum tilt angle of both was closed to the latitude of Sabha city itself. Furthermore, the results indicate that the monthly based optimization improved the energy gain higher than the yearly based optimization. The genetic algorithm optimization performed better results than the conventional south facing optimization although the difference of the results was not significant for both yearly and monthly total incident solar radiation.