Kipp&Zonen SHP1 Smart Direct Solar Radiometer

Overview

The Kipp & Zonen SHP1 Smart Direct Solar Radiometer is the world’s first pyrheliometer integrating embedded digital signal processing (DSP) and intelligent sensor interface capabilities. Engineered for high-accuracy direct normal irradiance (DNI) measurement, it builds upon the proven thermopile-based optical design and calibration traceability of the ISO 9060:2018 Class A CHP1 — while significantly enhancing performance for industrial automation, SCADA integration, and long-term solar resource assessment. Its core principle relies on a blackened thermopile detector housed within a precision collimator tube (5.7° field-of-view), which measures only radiation originating from the solar disk (±0.5° around the sun center), rejecting diffuse sky radiation and thermal offsets. The SHP1 operates under full compliance with ISO 9060:2018 as a Class A (First Class) instrument — the highest classification for DNI measurement accuracy, required for bankable solar energy yield modeling, CSP plant commissioning, and CPV system performance validation.

Key Features

• ISO 9060:2018 Class A (First Class) certified pyrheliometer, traceable to WRR (World Radiometric Reference)
• Integrated digital signal processing for real-time temperature compensation across –40 °C to +70 °C ambient range, applied per individual unit based on factory calibration data
• Dual-output interface: analog (0–1 V or 4–20 mA selectable) + digital RS-485 (2-wire) supporting Modbus RTU protocol for seamless integration into PLCs, data loggers, and SCADA systems
• Ultra-low power consumption (<1.5 W typical), compatible with wide input voltage range (9–36 V DC), suitable for remote, off-grid, or battery-backed installations
• Fast thermal response time (t₉₅ < 3 s), enabling accurate capture of rapid DNI transients during cloud edge events or tracker pointing corrections
• Modular mechanical design compatible with all Kipp & Zonen SOLYS 2 and 2MP solar trackers, ensuring precise solar vector alignment and minimal cosine error

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The SHP1 is designed exclusively for outdoor, continuous DNI measurement under clear-sky and variable-cloud conditions. It requires mounting on a dual-axis solar tracker with azimuth/elevation control and active sun-following capability — such as the SOLYS 2 — to maintain optimal optical alignment (±0.1° pointing accuracy). No sample preparation or consumables are involved; routine maintenance consists solely of daily dome cleaning and quarterly inspection of desiccant cartridge and window transmission. The instrument complies with IEC 61724-1:2021 (Photovoltaic system performance monitoring), ASTM E816 (Standard Test Method for Calibration of Primary Pyrheliometers), and supports audit-ready data acquisition in accordance with IEC 61215 and IEC 62109 for CSP and CPV project financing. Its calibration certificate includes uncertainty budget per ISO/IEC 17025 requirements.

Software & Data Management

The included Smart Sensor Explorer software (Windows™ only) enables configuration, diagnostics, and basic data logging for up to ten SHP1 units simultaneously via RS-485 daisy-chain topology. Users can read real-time output values, adjust scaling factors, verify temperature compensation coefficients, and export timestamped CSV files with metadata (sensor ID, firmware version, calibration date). For enterprise-scale deployment, the SHP1’s native Modbus RTU register map integrates directly with industry-standard platforms including Campbell Scientific LoggerNet, Siemens Desigo CC, and Schneider EcoStruxure Building Operation — supporting automated alarm thresholds, diagnostic flagging (e.g., dome contamination, thermal drift), and GLP-compliant audit trails when paired with validated data acquisition hardware.

Applications

• Solar resource assessment for CSP and CPV power plant site selection and P50/P90 energy yield modeling
• Real-time DNI input for heliostat field control and molten salt receiver thermal management
• Performance ratio (PR) and availability monitoring of concentrating solar thermal systems
• Calibration reference for secondary pyrheliometers and broadband pyranometers in BSRN (Baseline Surface Radiation Network) stations
• Long-term climate monitoring programs requiring traceable, stable, and interoperable DNI time series
• Research on atmospheric aerosol optical depth (AOD) and water vapor column estimation using Langley plot methodology

FAQ

Is the SHP1 compatible with third-party solar trackers?
Yes — provided the tracker delivers sub-arcminute pointing accuracy, supports programmable slew rates, and offers electrical interface for synchronization pulses (e.g., TTL shutter trigger). However, full performance validation and warranty coverage require use with Kipp & Zonen SOLYS-series trackers.
Does the SHP1 require external temperature sensors for compensation?
No — internal Pt1000 RTD and DSP firmware perform fully autonomous, unit-specific temperature correction without external inputs.
Can the SHP1 be used without a tracker?
No — direct normal irradiance measurement mandates continuous solar tracking; fixed-mount operation violates ISO 9060 definition and invalidates Class A classification.
What is the recommended recalibration interval?
Kipp & Zonen recommends laboratory recalibration every two years under standard operational conditions, or annually for sites with high dust/salt exposure or extreme thermal cycling.
Is Modbus register documentation publicly available?
Yes — complete register map, data types, and scaling conventions are provided in the SHP1 Communication Protocol Manual (Document No. MAN-SHP1-COMM-EN).