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Solar
Simulation UV Lighting Technology
UV
or Ultraviolet light is actually energy in the electromagnetic spectrum
with a wavelength just below that of visible light. For many of us, our first
experience with UV was the "black lights" we had in our
university dorm rooms. Almost all light sources include some radiation in
the UV spectrum but the human eye can not see this as
"light". The
UV spectrum is defined as the electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths
from 100nm to 400nm. The useful UV waveband, however, is really composed of
just three segments; UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C, covering the waveband from
180nm to 400nm.
In addition to the aforementioned black lights (actually black light-blue or BLB lamps), UV-A is most popular today as the light source for the infamous "bug zappers". This is because UV-A happens to encompass the spectrum that most insects seek out, specifically the wavelengths between 350nm to 370nm. UV-B light sources have become very popular recently since this spectrum includes the wavelengths that are employed by UV tanning bed lamps. The short wavelengths in the UV-C band are the highest energy and most dangerous to living tissue. UV-C energy penetrates deeply and directly attacks DNA. Until recently this wave band did not get much attention because UV-C rays are filtered by our atmosphere. This extremely harmful energy can, however, be very beneficial. For over a decade Iwasaki Electric has designed and manufactured sterilization equipment using proprietary UV-C light sources. This equipment, designed to kill harmful bacteria and viruses, is used in the food industry, municipal water purification systems, public swimming pools, and air filtration systems in hospitals. Since our atmosphere filters out UV-C wavelengths, only UV-A and UV-B wave bands are of interest for solar simulation applications. As with the visible light spectrum, the spectral irradiance distribution for UV-B and UV-A radiation is clearly defined in IEC standard 60904-3. Little, if any, of this energy is converted to electricity by PV cells. The primary reason for UV simulation systems is to test PV modules for durability. The ability of a simulation system to produce high energy levels of UV, along with the ability to operate 24 hours per day, provides significantly accelerated life testing. EYE Lighting / Iwasaki has developed UV systems that supply the equivalent energy of five (5) times the solar standard. Coupled with 24 hour operation, these systems can easily produce the weathering effects of a full year in just one month of testing. As with visible solar lighting simulation, it is important that any UV test system closely replicates the actual solar energy profile to ensure test validity and repeatability. IEC specifies a UV preconditioning test as part of the PV module design qualification and approval. For a brief description of these test requirements, please see the appropriate IEC design qualification flowcharts; 61215 (crystalline PV modules) and IEC 61646 (thin film PV modules). EYE Lighting / Iwasaki can provide UV systems to meet your particular price/performance requirements. EYE / Iwasaki Solar UV Irradiation Durability System
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