Best Tilt Angle for Winter Performance

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The plot above shows the power output by day for collectors tilted from 45 degrees to vertical.  The plot shows the power output per day for a Heliodyne flat plate collector in KWH per sq meter of collector area.  The plot is done for Billings, Montana.

 

The effect of beneficial reflections off snow fields is not included, and would improve the performance of the vertical and perhaps the 75 degree tilt collectors some in the mid-winter months.

 

Based on this, I used 65 degree tilt for the studies with Andy's simulation. 

But, I think that in general, vertical collectors are very good for solar space heating -- especially in climates where there is normally snow on the ground in front of the collectors.