Yes they do:
http://www.solyndra.com/Products/More-Electricity
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Tube solar collectors
From: Joel Davidson <joel.david...@sbcglobal.net>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
Date: 2009/7/21 09:46
Hello Kelly,
Thanks for the feedback. Does anyone know if the Solyndra CIGS modules
collect light from the backside?
Joel Davidson
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kelly Keilwitz, Whidbey Sun & Wind"
<ke...@whidbeysunwind.com>
To: "RE Wrenches listserve" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2009 11:15 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Tube solar collectors
Joel,
We frequently will orient tube collectors on east or west facing roofs
with
very good results. However, pointing a solar collector toward the
south will
always produce more energy, as we all know that the greatest solar
energy is
concentrated around noon.
The choice of whether to tilt comes down to efficiency, cost, and
aesthetics
- and sometimes overheating issues. With a tube system care must be taken
not to oversize the collector in proportion to the tank. If a customer
wants
to maximize heating throughout the year I recommend a larger collector
tilted steeply toward the winter sun angle. This not only maximizes
winter
production but, more importantly, attenuates summer heat gain.
It's interesting to note that, as Apricus tubes have the collector
surface
circumferentially, they will collect heat from the backside (a
significant
factor during northern summers).
Another design factor is that the heat pipes must always maintain a slope
for heat transfer. Thus, tilting up on the east or west-facing roof is
necessary if the tubes are to be oriented N-S.
-Kelly
Kelly Keilwitz, P.E.
Whidbey Sun & Wind, LLC
Renewable Energy Systems
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
987 Wanamaker Rd,
Coupeville, WA 98239
PH & FAX 360-678-7131
sunw...@whidbeysunwind.com
On 7/20/09 8:09 AM, "Joel Davidson" <joel.david...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Hello Kelly,
I saw your website photos (nice work). Do you think that tubes
oriented (1)
east-west would and (2) flat would perform as well as your tilted
north-south tubes?
Joel Davidson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kelly Keilwitz, Whidbey Sun & Wind" <ke...@whidbeysunwind.com>
To: "RE Wrenches listserve" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Monday, July 20, 2009 12:12 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Tube solar collectors
All,
Apricus ET's have a cylindrical absorber surface, which are
significantly
better at capturing low angle of incidence energy. I have both a
Thermomax
(with flat collector plate internal to the tube) and Apricus
collector in
parallel on my own home and see significantly better temperatures
early and
late in the day on the Apricus collector.
IMO, ET's have a distinct advantage in our cool, windy, and low-snow
environment (northern Puget Sound).
Kelly Keilwitz, P.E.
Whidbey Sun & Wind, LLC
Renewable Energy Systems
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
987 Wanamaker Rd,
Coupeville, WA 98239
PH & FAX 360-678-7131
sunw...@whidbeysunwind.com
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