Following the success of the SMP series of smart pyranometers released last year, Kipp & Zonen is continuing to develop smart instruments. Now, Kipp & Zonen proudly presents the new SHP1 smart pyrheliometer for measuring Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) from the sun.

SHP1 pyrheliometer mounted on a SOLYS 2 sun tracker With the SHP1 Kipp & Zonen adds smart measurement of the direct component of solar radiation (DNI), to the smart measurements of Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) and Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI). In Solar Energy applications the Direct Normal Irradiance is an essential input for power plants based on concentrating mirror or lense systems.

SHP1 is based on the well-known CHP 1 model but features digital signal processing, additional interfaces, faster response and improved temperature specifications. SHP1 has an amplified analogue signal output and digital RS-485 interface with Modbus® protocol, making it the most versatile pyrheliometer to integrate into system networks.

All SHP1 pyrheliometers have the same calibrated output range, which makes it easy to exchange instruments in the field. In addition to the radiation value in W/m2, temperature, power supply voltage and other information can be obtained over the serial bus.

All Kipp & Zonen smart radiometers are individually addressable and can be linked together in a multi-drop configuration to a single RS-485 cable that can be hundreds of metres in length. This makes installation easier and saves on cable costs. SHP 1 can be mounted on a Kipp & Zonen sun tracker and linked to smart pyranometers to make a complete digital solar monitoring station.