seasonal tilt gain [RE-wrenches]

[John Raynes]

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I did some measurements over the course of the last 4 months here in So. 
Central UT, 38 deg. latitude, 6600' elevation.  I found 5-10% more 
insolation at 65 degree tilt than at 55 degree, with or without snow 
cover.  And I did see a big percentage boost after fresh snow cover, but 
surprisingly I saw the same percentage boost on a second reference sensor 
at 0 degrees!  Go figure.

I'm guessing that out here in high-elevation country, we have much stronger 
solar intensity near sun-up and sundown, relative to the high noon 
intensity.   So overcompensating on tilt provides appreciably more gain at 
either end of the day, while hardly sacrificing any around high noon.

I also did a one-day experiment, within a few days of winter solstice, 
where I manually did single-axis tracking on an extremely sunny day, at the 
65 degree tilt.  The increase was only about 12-15% or so over fixed 65 
degrees, compared to similar days during that season.

John Raynes
RE Solar
Torrey, UT



>We measured almost 20 % current boost over our traditional winter angle of 
>50 degrees. We found the optimum boost at an angle of almost 80 degrees! 
>This boost can be had off other reflective surfaces as well, (tin roofs etc.)
>
>Ray
>
>
>>I don't
>>think any of these programs factor in snow shading.  The steeper angle
>>of an array adjusted for winter angle of incidence also facilitates snow
>>shedding in snow country.
>>
>>Kurt Nelson

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