1、Designation: E 927 05Standard Specification forSolar Simulation for Photovoltaic Testing1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 927; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number
2、 in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This specification provides means for classifying solarsimulators intended for indoor testing of photovoltaic devices(solar cells or modules
3、), according to their spectral match to areference spectral irradiance, non-uniformity of spatial irradi-ance, and temporal instability of irradiance.1.2 Testing of photovoltaic devices may require the use ofsolar simulators. Test Methods that require specific classifica-tion of simulators as define
4、d in this specification include TestMethods E 948, E 1036, and E 1362.1.3 This standard is applicable to both pulsed and steadystate simulators and includes recommended test requirementsused for classifying such simulators.1.4 A solar simulator usually consists of three major com-ponents: (1) light
5、source(s) and associated power supply; (2)any optics and filters required to modify the output beam tomeet the classification requirements in Section 4; and (3) thenecessary controls to operate the simulator, adjust irradiance,etc.1.5 A light source that does not meet all of the definedrequirements
6、for classification presented in this document maynot be referred to as a solar simulator.1.6 Spectral irradiance classifications are provided for AirMass 1.5 direct and global (as defined in Tables G 173), or AirMass 0 (AM0, as defined in Standard E 490).1.7 The classification of a solar simulator i
7、s based on thesize of the test plane; simulators with smaller test plane areashave tighter specifications for non-uniformity of spatial irradi-ance.1.8 The data acquisition system may affect the ability tosynchronize electrical measurements with variations in irradi-ance and therefore may be include
8、d in this specification. In allcases, the manufacturer must specify with the temporal insta-bility classification: (1) how the classification was determined;and (2) the conditions under which the classification wasdetermined.1.9 The classification of a solar simulator does not provideany information
9、 about electrical measurement errors that arerelated to photovoltaic performance measurements obtainedwith a classified solar simulator. Such errors are dependent onthe actual instrumentation and procedures used.1.10 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to thehazards portion, Section 6,
10、of this specification. This standarddoes not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of thisstandard to establish appropriate safety and health practicesand determine the applicability of regulatory requirementsprior to use.
11、2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E 490 Standard Solar Constant and Air Mass Zero SolarSpectral Irradiance TablesE 772 Terminology Relating to Solar Energy ConversionE 948 Test Method for Electrical Performance of Photovol-taic Cells Using Reference Cells Under Simulated SunlightE 1036 Test
12、 Methods for Electrical Performance of Non-concentrator Terrestrial Photovoltaic Modules and ArraysUsing Reference CellsE 1328 Terminology Relating to Photovoltaic Solar EnergyConversionE 1362 Test Method for Calibration of Non-ConcentratorPhotovoltaic Secondary Reference CellsG 138 Test Method for
13、Calibration of a SpectroradiometerUsing a Standard Source of IrradianceG 173 Tables for Reference Solar Spectral Irradiances:Direct Normal and Hemispherical on 37 Tilted Surface2.2 IEC Standard:IEC 60904-9 Photovoltaic DevicesPart 9: Solar Simula-tor Performance Requirements3. Terminology3.1 Definit
14、ionsDefinitions of terms used in this specifica-tion may be found in Terminologies E 772 and E 1328.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 solar simulatorequipment used to simulate solarradiation. Solar simulators shall be labeled by their mode of1This specification is under the ju
15、risdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on Solar,Geothermal and Other Alternative Energy Sources and is the direct responsibility ofSubcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion.Current edition approved April 1, 2005. Published May 2005. Originallyapproved in 1983. Last previous edition app
16、roved in 2004 as E 927 04a.2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.1Copyright ASTM International, 100
17、 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.operation during a test cycle (steady state, single pulse ormulti-pulse) and by the size of the test plane area. A solarsimulator must fall into at least the C classification.3.2.2 simulator classificationa solar simula
18、tor may be oneof three classes (A, B, or C) for each of three categories:spectral match, spatial non-uniformity, and temporal instabil-ity. The simulator is rated with three letters in order of spectralmatch, spatial non-uniformity and temporal instability (forexample: ClassABA). Large area and smal
19、l area simulators areclassified according to the appropriate table. The simulatorclassification may be abbreviated by a single letter character-ization.Asimulator characterized by a single letter is indicativeof a simulator with all three classes being the same (forexample: a Class A simulator is th
20、e same as a Class AAAsimulator).3.2.3 test plane area, Athe area of the plane intended tocontain the device under test.3.2.4 small area solar simulatora simulator whose testplane is equal to or less than 30 cm by 30 cm or a diameter ofless than 30 cm if the test area is circular.3.2.5 large area sol
21、ar simulatora simulator whose testplane is greater than 30 cm by 30 cm or a diameter of greaterthan 30 cm if the test area is circular.3.2.6 steady-state simulatora simulator whose irradianceoutput at the test plane area does not vary more than 5 % fortime periods of greater than 100 ms.3.2.7 single
22、-pulse simulatora simulator whose irradianceoutput at the test plane area consists of a short duration lightpulse of 100 ms or less.3.2.8 multi-pulse simulatora simulator whose irradianceoutput at the test plane area consists of a series of shortduration, periodic light pulses. Note that the light p
23、ulses do notnecessarily have to go to zero irradiance between pulses; asteady-state simulator that fails the 5 % requirement in 3.2.6can be classified as a multi-pulse simulator if the irradiancevariations are periodic.3.2.9 time of data acquisitionthe time required to obtainone data point (irradian
24、ce, current, and voltage) if there is asimultaneous measurement of irradiance at each current-voltage data point. If no simultaneous measurement of theirradiance is made during the test, the time of data acquisitionis the time to obtain the entire current-voltage (I-V) curve.3.2.10 solar spectrumthe
25、 spectral distribution of sunlightat Air Mass 1.5 Direct (as defined in Tables G 173), Air Mass1.5 Global (as defined in Tables G 173), or Air Mass 0 (asdefined in Standard E 490).3.2.11 spectral matchratio of the actual percentage oftotal irradiance to the required percentage specified in Table 3fo
26、r each wavelength interval.3.2.12 spatial non-uniformity of irradiance (in percent):SNE5 100 % 3Emax2 EminEmax1 Emin(1)where Emaxand Eminare measured with the detector(s) overthe test plane area.3.2.13 temporal instability of irradiance (in percent):TIE5 100 % 3Emax2 EminEmax1 Emin(2)where Emaxand E
27、minare measured with the detector at anyparticular point on the test plane during the time of dataacquisition.3.2.14 field of viewthe maximum angle between any twoincident irradiance rays from the simulator at an arbitrary pointin the test plane.4. Significance and Use4.1 In any photovoltaic measure
28、ment, the choice of simula-tor Class should be based on the needs of that particularmeasurement. For example, the spectral distribution require-ments need not be stringent if devices of identical spectralresponse from an assembly line are being sorted according tocurrent at maximum power, which is n
29、ot a strong function ofspectral distribution.4.2 Classifications of simulators are based on the size of thetest area and the probable size of the device being measured. Ithas been shown that when measuring modules or other largerdevices the spatial non-uniformity is less important, and up to3 % non-
30、uniformity may not introduce unacceptable error forsome calibration procedures.3Accurate measurements ofsmaller area devices, such as cells, may require a tighterspecification on non-uniformity or characterization of thenon-uniformity by the user. When measuring product it isrecommended that the irr
31、adiance be measured with a referencedevice similar to the devices that will be tested on the simulatorto minimize spatial non-uniformity errors.4.3 It is the intent of this specification to provide guidanceon the required data to be taken, and the required locations forthis data to be taken. It is n
32、ot the intent to define the possiblemethods to measure the simulator spectrum or the irradiance atevery location on the test plane.4.4 Note that the letter classification scheme (see 3.2.2) doesnot include a number of important properties, especially thetest plane size, the field of view, nor the st
33、eady state or thepulsed classifications (see 3.2.3 through 3.2.8, and 3.2.14).These additional properties are included in the reportingrequirements (see Section 9). It is also recommended that theybe included in product specification sheets or advertising.4.5 Because of the transient nature of pulse
34、d solar simula-tors, considerations must be given to possible problems such asthe response time of the device under test versus the time ofdata acquisition and the rise time of the pulsed irradiance. If apulsed solar simulator includes a data acquisition system, the3Herrman, W., and Wiesner, W., “Mo
35、delling of PV ModulesThe Effects ofNon-Uniform Irradiance on Performance Measurements with Solar Simulators,”Proc. 16th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conf., European Commission,Glasgow, UK, 2000.TABLE 1 Classification of Small Area Simulator PerformanceClassificationCharacteristicsSpectral Matc
36、hto all IntervalsSpatial Non-uniformityof IrradianceTemporal Instabilityof IrradianceClass A 0.75 to 1.25 2 % 2 %Class B 0.6 to 1.4 5 % 5 %Class C 0.4 to 2.0 10 % 10 %E927052simulator manufacturer should provide guidance concerningsuch possible problems that may affect measurement results oncertain
37、test devices.4.6 The simulator manufacturer should provide I-V datashowing the repeatability of multiple measurements of a singledevice. This data should include a description of how therepeatability was determined.5. Classification5.1 A solar simulator may be either steady state or pulsed,and its p
38、erformance for each of three determined categories(spectral match, spatial non-uniformity, and temporal instabil-ity) may be one of three Classes (A, B, or C). A simulator maybe classified to multiple Classes, depending on its characteris-tics in each of the performance categories. For example, asim
39、ulator may be Class A related to spatial uniformity andClass B related to spectral distribution. Classification for allthree performance characteristics must be defined and providedby the manufacturer.5.2 The manufacturer shall provide test area information toassist in proper usage of the simulator.
40、 Tables 1 and 2 giveperformance requirements for small and large area simulatorsfor the three performance categories: spectral match to thereference spectrum at all intervals, non-uniformity of irradi-ance, and temporal instability of irradiance. Table 3 gives thespectral match requirements for spec
41、tral distribution of irradi-ance for Direct AM1.5, Global AM1.5, and AM0. The simu-lator irradiance is divided into the same wavelength intervalsand compared with the reference spectrum. All intervals mustagree within the spectral match ratio in Table 1 to obtain therespective Class.5.3 A reference
42、device should be used for determining thespatial uniformity of the simulator. The reference device musthave a spectral response appropriate for the simulator; a silicondevice is typically a good choice. A map of simulator spatialuniformity must be supplied with the simulator to assist theuser in sim
43、ulator operation and to clearly define different areasin the test plane that may have different classifications.5.4 For the evaluation of temporal instability, the dataacquisition system may be considered an integral part of thesolar simulator. When the data acquisition system of the solarsimulator
44、measures data simultaneously (irradiance, voltage,and current data measured within 10 nanoseconds of eachother), then the temporal instability may be rated A for thisclassification but the range of irradiance variation during anentire I-V measurement, including times between points, mustbe reported
45、and less than 5 %. If a solar simulator does notinclude the data acquisition system, then the simulator manu-facturer must specify the time of data acquisition as related tothe reported temporal instability classification.5.4.1 For a steady-state simulator without an integral dataacquisition system
46、this rating must be given for a period of 1second, and actual instability data must be reported for 100milliseconds, 1 minute, and 1 hour.5.4.2 In the case of a pulsed solar simulator with a dataacquisition system that measures irradiance, current, and volt-age sequentially, temporal instability mus
47、t be evaluated.5.4.3 The user of a pulsed simulator should verify that thedevice under test has reached final electrical output levels whendata acquisition has begun and that the device under test has afast enough response to follow the rapidly-changing irradiance.5.4.4 The ultimate test of the stab
48、ility of the simulator andsystem is the actual measurement of data on the total system.For simulators that include an integral data acquisition system,a repeatability measurement should be made on the significantmeasured parameters such as voltage, fill factor, and current toverify the correction be
49、ing applied on each data pair isrepeatable from measurement to measurement. The manufac-turer should specify how repeatability was measured and reportthe results.6. Hazards6.1 The use of a solar simulator involves several safetyhazards. A partial description of potential hazards follows:6.1.1 Electrical hazards due to the high voltage associatedwith starting, flashing or operating xenon arc lamps.6.1.2 Ultraviolet radiation from xenon arc lamps that can bevery harmful to bare skin and especially to eyes.6.1.3 The very high temperature of the bulb.6.1.4 Many bulbs may b
