Solar Simulator, Class AAA, IEC/JIS/ASTM, 1600 W Xe, 12 x 12 in., CPV

The 94123A-CPV is the Sol3A Class AAA solar simulator with a 1600 Watt  Xenon, Ozone Free source illuminated over a 12 inch x 12 inch area. This model has an excellent collimation angle ideal for concentrator photovoltaic cell characterization, and includes an AM 1.5D filter which doesn't account for scattered light through the atmosphere. An AM1.5G filter can be ordered separately for applications requiring scattered light spectral content.

The 94123A-CPV is certified to IEC 60904-9 Edition 2 (2007), JIS 8904-9 (2017), and ASTM E927-10 (2015) standards for Spectral Match, Spatial Non-Uniformity of Irradiance, and Temporal Instability of Irradiance. This model uses a single lamp design to meet not one or two, but all three performance criteria without compromising the 1 SUN output power, providing true Class AAA performance.

Class A Spectral Match

Spectral match is indicated by the first letter in the solar simulators class rating. An ideal spectral match for a solar simulator is based on the percentage of the integrated light intensity in 6 spectral ranges. A solar simulator with a Class A spectral match may not deviate more than 0.75 to 1.25 times the ideal percentage in each spectral range. Spectral match for all Oriel® solar simulator models installed with the AM 1.5G spectral correction filter is shown to easily meet IEC, JIS, and ASTM Class A requirements.

Class A Spatial Uniformity of Irradiance

The irradiance uniformity over the working area is indicated by the second letter in a solar simulator class rating, and is the most difficult requirement to achieve and maintain. Hot spots can lead to significant errors in measured cell efficiency and can cause inaccurate binning of cells. The Class A spatial uniformity performance standard is designed to minimize the impact of hot spots and has a very stringent requirement of ≤2%. The plot shows the uniformity of the irradiance across a typical 2 x 2 inch simulator working area. Each unit will come with a plot of irradiance non-uniformity.

Class A Temporal Stability

Temporal stability is the third performance parameter of solar simulators. It requires that the output light be stable over time in order to ensure that the lamp fluctuations do not distort the measurement of solar cell efficiency. The Oriel Sol3A easily meets the requirements for temporal stability as defined by the IEC, ASTM, and JIS standards. The IEC 60904-9 (2007) has the most stringent requirements for short term instability with a maximum allowable level of 0.5%. Shown is a typical instability response of 0.369% at 50 ms intervals for an 1.6 kW Sol3A solar simulator.

Integrated Partial Sun Attenuator

A Variable Aperture feature is integrated into all Sol3A simulators that provides user variable partial sun illumination capability. The range of attenuation is from 0.1 - 1.0 SUN. Uniformity at partial illumination maintains a minimum Class B uniformity per the IEC, JIS, and ASTM standards. The simple to use dial control provides infinite control of attenuation. Spectral performance and temporal stability maintain Class A performance at any attenuation.

The 94123A-CPV uses a black non-reflective finish to minimize stray light and incorporates captive screws for all panels requiring user access to facilitate lamp replacement, alignment, and filter changes. Safety interlocks prevent inadvertent exposure to UV light.

Installation and Training service, Field Recertification service, and Extended Warranties are available for this product. Contact Newport Sales for further information.