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Class AAA Small Area Solar Simulator
HCPS-100 is a small illumination area type solar simulator with class AAA performance. It is designed for advanced solar cell research that requires a small illumination area, like perovskite solar cells.
HCPS-100 is composed of a 100 W Xe lamp light source with a light homogenizer and a high-performance power supply. With advanced optical optimization, HCPS-100 has very high performance with a compact system size. The illumination area can be larger than or equal to 40 mm x 40 mm. The irradiance spectrum and irradiance stability over time are class A according to ASTM, IEC, and JIS international standards evaluations.
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At the same time, the irradiance spatial uniformity can also be better than class A (≤2 %) within 400 mm 2.The compact system design makes HCPS-100 suitable for many novel energy research fields, such as perovskite solar cells, organic solar cells, photocatalysts, photosynthesis, or photochromic, etc.
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Features
Class A irradiance spectral match
The irradiance spectrum match is a key factor in solar simulators. To better evaluate the spectrum performance of a solar simulator, the IEC 60904-9 (2007) standard divided the solar spectrum into different segments with 100nm or 200nm bandwidth from 400nm to 1100 nm. However, with the development of high-efficiency solar cell technologies, the irradiance spectral match of the solar simulator is becoming increasingly necessary.
In 2020, IEC released the latest solar simulator evaluation standard, IEC 60904-9:2020, which evaluates the irradiance spectrum of the solar simulator with a broader wavelength range (300nm to 1200nm) and narrower band segments. For details on the evaluation method, please see our “Solar Simulator- Basic Knowledge and Working Principles” and the section “What is AAA solar simulator”. The Class A spectral match requires the deviation of each wavelength band to be within 0.75 to 1.25 for both the old and latest IEC 60904-9 standards. The spectral match evaluations of HCPS-100 by the old IEC 60904-9:2007 (Old, easier) or the latest IEC 60904-9:2020 (Latest, more difficult) both reach Class A from 300 nm to 1200 nm. This is due to Enlitech’s advanced AM 1.5G filter technology, which makes the irradiance spectrum and sustainability of the HCPS-100 solar simulator much better than other brand solar simulators at the same level.
Figure 1. The irradiance spectrum of HCPS-100 solar simulator.
Figure 2. The spectral match evaluation of HCPS-100 solar simulator with the old IEC 60904-9:2007.
The wavelength range extends from 400 nm to 1100 nm and is divided into 6 bands. The class A classification requires that the evaluation values at each wavelength band are all within a 0.75 to 1.25 deviation. The results show that all band evaluations for the HCPS-100 solar simulator are either A or A+.
Figure 3 The spectral match evaluation of HCPS-100 solar simulator with the latest IEC 60904-9:2020.
The wavelength range is from 300 nm to 1200 nm and is divided into 6 bands. It covers a much more extensive wavelength range, making it more challenging to achieve good classification. Even so, the HCPS-100 still has outstanding spectral match performance, which is much better than the class A level. This proves that the critical spectral performance of the HCPS-100 solar simulator is extraordinarily great, not constrained by its compact size design.
Class A spatial irradiance uniformity
The spatial irradiance uniformity is the second index for solar simulator classification. It is the most difficult of all the parameters. The spatial irradiance uniformity hot spot can greatly affect the power conversion efficiency testing result and misclassify the binning of the solar cells. HCPS-100 uses Enlitech’s advanced homogenizer technology, which can convert the irregular light beam spot into a uniform spatial beam illumination area and reduce the irradiance hot spot distributions. The spatial irradiance uniformity of the HCPS-100 solar simulator can achieve IEC, ASTM, and JIS standards’ class A level, which is ≦ 2% within 400 mm2. For more details, please see our technical article: “Solar Simulator- Basic Knowledge and Working Principles” and the section “What is AAA solar simulator”. The illumination area size of the HCPS-100 solar simulator is quite suitable for many novel solar cell research projects, most of which begin from a small active area such as 2mm x 2 mm.
Figure 4 Class A spatial Uniformity of HCPS-100 solar simulator.
It shows the one-sun equivalent irradiance spatial distribution, achieving class A (<2%) within a 400 mm² area.
Class A irradiance temporal stability
The third important parameter is the temporal stability of irradiance over time. The temporal stability of the solar simulator’s output illumination directly affects the current-voltage (IV) tracing curve of the solar cell under test. Unstable light illumination on the device under test can impact the accuracy of the solar cell’s conversion efficiency value.
The HCPS-100 solar simulator adopts a high-stability Xe lamp power supply system, which can maintain high temporal stability of the Xe lamp’s irradiance output without the need for an optical feedback control system.
Figure 5 The short-term irradiance temporal instability of HCPS-100 solar simulator.
The red and blue lines indicate the lower and upper limit boundaries of Class A classification. The results show that HCPS-100 meets the Class A requirements.
Max irradiance intensity ≥ 1400 W/m2 (1.0 sun)
With a highly efficient optical design and components, the maximum output AM1.5G irradiance of the HCPS solar simulator can be over 1400 W/m² (> 1.0 sun). This is much higher than other compact size solar simulators, which are usually smaller than 1.2 sun (1200 W/m²).
According to IEC and ASTM standards, the characterization testing of PV and solar cells should be conducted under STC (Standard Testing Conditions). The STC conditions are an AM1.5G spectrum, 1000 W/m² (1sun), and 25 degrees C.
In general, the lamp of the solar simulator needs to be replaced when the output irradiance intensity of the solar simulator is less than one sun (1000 W/m²). This makes the characterization experiment of the solar cell unable to proceed under STC conditions. At this moment, the lamp is still emitting photons and irradiance, but it cannot reach 1000 W/m². The higher maximum output irradiance allows the HCPS-100 solar simulator to have a longer operating time period. This makes the HCPS-100 more cost-effective than other compact size solar simulators.
| Brand | Enlitech | N Brand | Y Brand | S Brand | S Brand | S Brand | H Brand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | HCPS-100 | 9xx | Yxx | Xxx | Sxx | Sxx | Hxx |
| Effective Illuminance Area | 40*40 mm | 38*38 mm | 50*50 mm | 40*40 mm | 50*50 mm | 50*50 mm | 50*50 mm |
| Spectral Match | A | A | A | A | A | A | B, 0.60-1.40 |
| Spatial Uniformity | A (20*20 mm) | B | A | A | A | A | C, <± 10% |
| Illuminance Stability | A | B | A | A | A | A | A |
| Power Consumption | Good (100W) | Good (100W) | Poor (180W) | Poor (150W) | 150W | 300W | 300W |
| Max. Illuminance | 1.4 SUN | 1.0 SUN | 1.0 SUN | 1.0 SUN (±30%) | 1.0 SUN | 2.0 SUN | 1.0 SUN |
| Variable Attenuator | 0.2-1.0 SUN | N/A | 0.1-1 SUN | 0.1-2 SUN | N/A | ||
| Variable Aperture | 15~100% | N/A | 10~100% | 10~100% | N/A | ||
| Beam Direction | Up/Down/Right/Left Adjustable | Downward only (Beam turning accessories need to be purchased additionally) | Downward only | Up/Down/Right/Left Adjustable | Down/Horizontal | Down/Horizontal | Up/Down/Right/Left Adjustable |
| Device Configuration | All in one | External power supply required | External power supply required | All in one | External power supply required | External power supply required | External power supply required |
| Manual Shutter | Y(Optional Motorized shutter) | Y(Optional Motorized shutter) | Y | Y(Optional Motorized shutter) | Y | ||
| Working Distance(mm) | 100mm | 150-180mm(6~8 in) | 350±15mm | 380±15mm | N/A | ||
| AM 1.5G | Y | Y | Need to be purchased additionally | Need to be purchased additionally | Y | ||
| Software | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional | N/A | ||
| Price | Contact us | High | High | High | High | High | High |
System Design
Adjustable output irradiance function
The HCPS-100 solar simulator can use an AM1.5G filter to generate irradiance over 1 sun intensity. The light intensity can be adjusted by a built-in mechanical iris. By adjusting the opening of the mechanical iris, the irradiance can be set to AM1.5G 1 sun (1000 W/m²).
Users can also choose the optical plate and the optical rod module to adjust the height and distance between the HCPS-100 and the testing plane. Changing the distance can easily alter the light intensity. This makes the HCPS-100 applicable to many advanced research fields.
Figure 6 HCPS-100 solar simulator can easily be mounted on the optical rod module and optical plate.
(Optical rod and plate sold separately)
Manual optical shutter
HCPS-100 solar simulator has a built-in optical shutter. It can be used to turn ON or OFF of HCPS-100 irradiance output.
Easy installation and maintenance
Unlike other compact solar simulators, these must be screwed onto an optical breadboard or another plate for solid installation due to the unbalanced mechanical mass center of the system. The HCPS-100 solar simulator can stand solidly on any flat table due to its balanced mechanical design. It also provides a screw trench for an M6 screw to fix on any plane for the user’s experimental purposes. This greatly increases flexibility for users to apply the HCPS-100 solar simulator to their field of application. Maintenance of the HCPS-100 is also simple. The Xe lamp is a factory-built optical reflector type, so users do not need to adjust the lamp position within the optical reflector when replacing the lamp.
- 4 flexible illumination directions: up, down, left, and right directions
- Reference Cells for irradiance calibration
A reference cell is a standard unit typically used to calibrate the irradiance intensity of solar simulators to 1 sun (1000 W/m²). Enlitech provides a wide variety of reference cells, all packaged with WPVS type. The calibration of these reference standard cells is traced to NREL and to SI units. Enlitech is accredited through MRA and conforms to the ISO 17025:2017 calibration laboratory standard, providing users with the most reliable testing results.
Specification and Options
- Irradiated area: Irradiated area can be >40 mm × 40 mm square light spot
- Spectral match: AM1.5 G, Class A
- Spatial radiation uniformity: ≤ 2%, Class A @400mm²
- Temporal instability: ≤2%, Class A
- Irradiation mode: Light can be emitted upward, downward, leftward and rightward
- 100 W ozone-free xenon lamp light source
- Collimation angle: Half angle ≦ 6 degrees
- Working distance: 10 cm
- Typical output irradiance: 1 sun intensity, up to 1000 W/m²
- Shutter switch (manual)
- Automatic overheating protection
- Manual light intensity output adjustment
- Input voltage (V): 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, Capacity 5A
| Options | ||
|---|---|---|
| Optical breadboard plates (Al) | ||
| Height adjustment clamp and rod | The clamp and rod can fix the optical breadboard plate and adjust the height of HCPS-100 on the plate. | |
| Stage and fixtures | Enlitech can help user to design and make any or customized stages and test fixtures. | “Contact Us” |
| AM0 filter | ||
| Color filters | Enlitech can provide many different wavelength band filters. | |
| Additional filter mount | ||
| IV testing software | IVS-KA6000 | Capable with controlling Keithley or Keysight SMU |
| Spare Xe lamp | 100 W Xe Lamp |
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