Green Building Forum - spinning solar cells Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:56:48 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158318#Comment_158318 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158318#Comment_158318 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:58:42 +0100 RobinB
http://inhabitat.com/v3solars-photovoltaic-spin-cell-cones-capture-sunlight-all-day-long/ !

"The V3 Spin Cell is currently undergoing refinement through collaboration with industrial design team Nectar Design before it is made commercially available. Once refined, the company believes that the Spin Cell could be a game-changer in its market. On their website V3 explains that if one places a 20x solar concentration on a flat, static solar panel then “the temperature quickly reaches 260 degrees F, the solder melts within ten seconds, and the PV fails. With the same concentration on the Spin Cell, the temperature never exceeds 95 degrees F.” "]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158338#Comment_158338 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158338#Comment_158338 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 21:57:01 +0100 SteamyTea Be interesting to see where the efficiency gains are, probably at the bottom of the scale (no bad think). I think they are looking for funding at the moment.
A couple of years back I played with a mirror and a PV system, it worked well and could allow for smaller amounts of panels and a tracking mirror system.]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158366#Comment_158366 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158366#Comment_158366 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:15:05 +0100 RobinB spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158368#Comment_158368 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158368#Comment_158368 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 09:55:20 +0100 SteamyTea Still got the thermal mass one running in the back yard, as well as my new gas powered camping shower running in the parking area (neighbours are out as it may be explosive as it is un-vented) :bigsmile:]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158374#Comment_158374 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158374#Comment_158374 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:44:14 +0100 fostertom Posted By: SteamyTeaIt is the fastest, cheapest and most conclusive way to get to the truthYes, life is one big experiment that we're all doing. Unfortunately the truth dies with us and has to be rediscovered time and again (like, just try advising the children about bringing up the grandchildren).]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158375#Comment_158375 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158375#Comment_158375 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:00:15 +0100 RobinB spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158384#Comment_158384 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158384#Comment_158384 Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:42:41 +0100 SteamyTea
I am not sure of knowledge does die with people (though corporate knowledge seems to).

Scaling is a problem as surface area does not scale in a linear fashion (working out the losses from a slab shows this, but it gets to a size where any more increase makes no difference. May be possible from out energy use thread to work out some scaling, we will know when heating starts to come on. The more that join in the better.

I also have 3 samples of insulation plaster need to test out.]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158424#Comment_158424 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158424#Comment_158424 Sat, 06 Oct 2012 10:52:09 +0100 CWatters spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158425#Comment_158425 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158425#Comment_158425 Sat, 06 Oct 2012 10:59:32 +0100 Seret spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158430#Comment_158430 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158430#Comment_158430 Sat, 06 Oct 2012 12:20:12 +0100 Sprocket Wouldn't it be easier, simpler, and just as efficient to blow air over them?]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158432#Comment_158432 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158432#Comment_158432 Sat, 06 Oct 2012 13:35:44 +0100 SteamyTea Posted By: SprocketWouldn't it be easier, simpler, and just as efficient to blow air over them?
Don't be silly, you can't get funding for the bleeding obvious :wink:]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158479#Comment_158479 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158479#Comment_158479 Sun, 07 Oct 2012 18:54:53 +0100 Seret Posted By: SprocketI must be missing something.
Wouldn't it be easier, simpler, and just as efficient to blow air over them?

They seem to claim that spinning the actual PV cells through light and shadow makes them more efficient. Sounds a bit iffy but you never know. Any semiconductor geeks care to weigh in on that?

I guess the main advantage is that by addressing 360deg it works as a tracking system (in azimuth anyway).]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158488#Comment_158488 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158488#Comment_158488 Sun, 07 Oct 2012 20:45:26 +0100 jms452
I guess the main advantage is that by addressing 360deg it works as a tracking system (in azimuth anyway).'

Well it helps stop them getting hot so does make them more efficient, the breeze will help too for the same reason. There will also be a threshold below which there will be no power generation due to leakage within the cell which the lenses may help with too.

Overall though IMHO a lot of extra complexity for a marginal efficiency gain.]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158492#Comment_158492 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158492#Comment_158492 Sun, 07 Oct 2012 21:30:03 +0100 SteamyTea ]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158494#Comment_158494 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158494#Comment_158494 Sun, 07 Oct 2012 22:15:13 +0100 Ed Davies spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158527#Comment_158527 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158527#Comment_158527 Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:47:15 +0100 fostertom
I suspect we haven't grasped its principle yet - and the website sets out to obfuscate.]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158535#Comment_158535 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158535#Comment_158535 Mon, 08 Oct 2012 19:47:28 +0100 jms452 Posted By: fostertomthe website sets out to obfuscate.

This is generally a rather bad sign]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158537#Comment_158537 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158537#Comment_158537 Mon, 08 Oct 2012 20:08:31 +0100 SteamyTea Posted By: jms452
Posted By: fostertomthe website sets out to obfuscate.


This is generally a rather bad sign
Posted By: SteamyTeaI think they are looking for funding at the moment.
]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158665#Comment_158665 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158665#Comment_158665 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 10:42:06 +0100 dickster spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158674#Comment_158674 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158674#Comment_158674 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:22:49 +0100 fostertom spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158677#Comment_158677 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158677#Comment_158677 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:14:55 +0100 Ed Davies spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158678#Comment_158678 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158678#Comment_158678 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:17:07 +0100 djh Posted By: Ed Davies1/Ï€ ~= 31.83% so 27% is not a bad guess (ignoring the increased reflection from the surface of the cells when they're at steep angle).
That reflection probably accounts for the 4.83% difference :bigsmile:]]> spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158715#Comment_158715 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158715#Comment_158715 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 20:28:37 +0100 SteamyTea spinning solar cells https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158743#Comment_158743 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9660&Focus=158743#Comment_158743 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 09:41:22 +0100 Triassic
Read more here - http://newenergyandfuel.com/http:/newenergyandfuel/com/2012/10/12/a-hot-new-solar-cell/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NewEnergyAndFuel+%28New+Energy+and+Fuel%29&utm_content=Google+UK]]>