Difference between pyranometer and pyrheliometer?

Pyranometers and Pyrheliometers are both instruments used to measure solar radiation energy, but they measure different physical quantities.

Pyranometers are primarily used to measure the intensity of solar radiation, i.e., the amount of solar energy received per unit area per unit time. pyranometers are passive instruments, usually consisting of a small black sphere coated with a reflective material to focus the sun's rays and direct them to the sensor.

The main function of the Pyranometer is to measure the total radiation (the sum of direct and scattered solar radiation) in the horizontal plane from the 2π cubic corner. It usually consists of a sensor, which senses solar energy, and a meter, which converts the sensed energy into readable data.

The Pyranometer typically has a measurement range of 0-2000 W/m² and a measurement accuracy within ±2%. When in use, the Pyranometer is usually placed on a level surface with the sensor facing the sun and the surface of the instrument is clean to avoid influencing the measurement results.

In addition, the Pyranometer can also be used to measure other environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and so on. By combining the measurements with those of the Pyranometer, the impact of solar radiation on climate change can be better understood.

The Pyranometer is an important meteorological measurement instrument that is widely used in the field of meteorological monitoring. By using the Pyranometer, we can better understand the impact of solar radiation on climate change, providing important data support for meteorological forecasting, environmental protection and other fields.

The Pyrheliometer, on the other hand, is primarily used to measure solar heat, which is the difference between the solar radiant energy received per unit area per unit time and the radiant energy of the blackbody.The Pyrheliometer is an active instrument that usually consists of a heater that converts the received solar radiant energy into thermal energy, and a sensor that measures the thermal energy and converts it to the solar heat.

Thus, the main difference between a Pyranometer and a Pyrheliometer is the physical quantity measured, with the former measuring the intensity of solar radiation and the latter measuring solar heat.

Pyranometer Solar Radiation Sensors data sheet

NBL-W-HPRS-Solar-Radiation-Sensor-Instruction-Manual-V3.0.pdf

NBL-W-SRS-Solar-radiation-sensor-instruction-manual-V4.0.pdf