sanity checking pitch values with shadow length calculations

Utilities/Shading.py

@@ -125,6 +125,15 @@ def get_solar_data(c):
     return solar_positions, clearsky_data
 
 
+def sanity_check_minimum_pitch(c):
+    solar_positions, _ = get_solar_data(c)
+    zenith = solar_positions["zenith"].values
+    solar_positions["shadow_length"] = c["panel"]["dimensions"]["length"] * math.tan(
+        zenith
+    )
+    return solar_positions
+
+
 def calculate_energy_production_vertical(c):
     c = calculate_required_system_size(c)
     panel_coordinates, no_of_panels = define_grid_layout(c, panel_tilt=90)

main.py

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import matplotlib.pyplot as pl
 from Utilities.Shading import (
     calculate_energy_production_horizontal,
     calculate_energy_production_vertical,
+    sanity_check_minimum_pitch,
 )
 from Utilities.Optimisation import optimise_vertical_panel_pitch
 
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ logger.info(
 logger.info(f"No. of panels for vertical orientation: {int(no_of_panels_vertical)}")
 
 # overlay horizontal and vertical energy production
-pl.figure(figsize=(10, 6))
+pl.subplot(2, 1, 1)
 pl.plot(
     horizontal_energy.index,
     horizontal_energy.values,
@@ -69,4 +70,13 @@ pl.title("Energy Production Comparison")
 pl.xlabel("Time")
 pl.ylabel("Energy Production (kWh)")
 pl.legend()
+
+solar_positions = sanity_check_minimum_pitch(c)
+pl.subplot(2, 1, 2)
+pl.plot(solar_positions.index, solar_positions["shadow_length"], label="Shadow Length")
+pl.title("Shadow Lengths Throughout the Day")
+pl.xlabel("Time")
+pl.ylabel("Shadow Length (m)")
+pl.legend()
+
 pl.show()