2010年6月12日星期六

Solar Simulator Standard Testing for Solar Panels

I attended the seminar entitled “Solar Simulator Standard Testing for Solar Panels” which organized by Solar Energy Technology Support Centre (SETSC) of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP). The content was summarized for sharing below.

Ms. Abby Chen (Development Engineer, All Real Technology Co. Ltd., Taiwan) was the trainer presented the principle and operation of the steady state solar simulator for I-V measurement.


Overview of Solar Energy related standards were briefed.


Measurement standard:
- IEC 60891 Photovoltaic devices – Procedures for temperature and irradiance corrections to measured I-V characteristics
- IEC 60904-1 to -10 Photovoltaic devices

Quality standard:
- IEC 61215:2005 Crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules –Design qualification and type approval
- IEC 61646:2008 Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules - Design qualification and type approval
- IEC 62108:2007 Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules and assemblies – Design qualification and type approval

Safety standard:
- IEC 61730:2007 Photovoltaic (PV) module safety
- UL 1703:2002 Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels
- TUV Class II – Safety Class II testing of PV Modules
IEC 60904-9:2007 Photovoltaic devices –Part 9: Solar simulator performance requirements were mentioned.
The purpose of this standard is to define classifications of solar simulators for use in indoor measurements of terrestrial photovoltaic devices, solar simulators are classified as A, B or C for each of the three categories based on criteria of spectral distribution match, irradiance non-uniformity on the test plane and temporal instability.

Definition of solar simulator classifications was shown.
Spectral match of a solar simulator is defined by the deviation from AM 1,5 reference spectral irradiance as laid down in IEC 60904-3.

Non-uniformity (%) = { (max irradiance – min irradiance) / (max irradiance + min irradiance)} x 100%

Temporal Instability (%) = { (max irradiance – min irradiance) / (max irradiance + min irradiance)} x 100%
It is defined by two parameters below:
Short term instability (STI)
Long term instability (LTI)

The simulator classification example is shown as follows:
Spectral match is C: 1.74 in 900 – 1100 nm (worst case)
Non-uniformity is B: 2.8%
Temporal instability is B: STI – 0.5% (A) but LTI – 3.5% (B)
Then the simulator is classified as CBB.

Safety operation practices were briefed.
The lamp may explode in either the hot or cold state (Wear face mask when examining the lamp house or the lamp bulb)
Check the windlass lock position before and after loading PV module)
Solar Simulator Illumination Principle was mentioned.

Each single lamp set illuminates the same area (the whole effective test area) on the testing plane

She introduced Solar Simulator operation process and the standards IEC 61646:2008 & IEC 61215:2005.


10.4 Measurement of temperature coefficients

10.6 Performance at STC and NOCT
Performance at STC: 1000W/m2, close shutter until stable; keep module below 25C; open shutter and illuminate it up to 20C, using I-V Tracer measure the characteristic of the curve
Performance at NOCT: 800W/m2, close shutter until stable; keep module below NOCT; open shutter and illuminated up to NOCT, using I-V Tracer measure the characteristic of the curve

10.7 Performance at low irradiance
Using 200 W/m2, close shutter until stable; keep module below 25C+2C; illuminate it up to 25C+2C; using I-V Tracer measure the characteristic of the curve

10.9 Hot-spot endurance test
Condition: 800-1000W/m2, I-V Tracer P>0.99Pmax1; shade a cell and measure the following parameters.
α: Temperature coefficient of Isc
β: Temperature coefficient of Voc
δ: Temperature coefficient of Pmax


10.19 Light-soaking

Testing equipment included
- Class BBB solar simulator (IEC 60904-9)
- I-V Tracer (IEC 60904-1)
- Reference Device (IEC 60904-2)
- Thermometer and temperature control system
- Shutter, etc.


Laboratory Practice Section

Mr. Li-Yuan Liao (Assistant Manager, All Real Technology Co. Ltd., Taiwan) demonstrated how solar simulator work in PV test laboratory in HKSTP.

Setup Solar Panel


Turn on the Solar Lamps



Measure the I-V curve


Background information:
For PV testing (terrestrial use), the Standard Test Condition (STC) is defined as an insolation of 1000W/m2 (1 SUN) at 25 °C and with a solar spectral distribution equivalent to global AM1.5, per ASTM G173-03 and IEC 60904-3.
(Air Mass is the measure of how far light travels through the Earth's atmosphere. One air mass, or AM1, is the thickness of the Earth's atmosphere. Air mass zero (AM0) describes solar irradiance in space, where it is unaffected by the atmosphere. The power density of AM1.5 light is about 1,000W/m2; the power density of AM0 light is about 1,360W/m2, which is considered to be the solar constant.)

Normal Operating Cell Temperature (NOCT): The estimated temperature of a solar PV module when it is operating under 800 W/m2 irradiance, 20°C ambient temperature and a wind speed of 1 meter per second. NOCT is used to estimate the nominal operating temperature of a module in the field.


For more information:
HKSTP Laboratory: www.lab.hkstp.org
All solar related IEC standards mentioned in the seminar.

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