PV Module Preconditioning / Durability Performance Testing

Since it is common for PV panels to be specified for 20 or more years of service, it is critical that the assessment their performance over prolonged exposure is understood. This is difficult to predict without actual empirical data and it is financially impossible to wait 5 or 10 years while this data is acquired. To ensure PV panel reliability, accelerated life testing must be performed. EYE Lighting / Iwasaki can provide systems designed specific to your product configuration, your test requirements, and your budget.

This large-capacity UV accelerated life-cycle test chamber can measure the deterioration progress of solar cells/modules by irradiating them with a constant UV power up to five (5) times standard solar energy. Operating the chamber 24/7 produces an acceleration factor greater than 12. The impact of a full year of solar UV irradiation can be evaluated in just a month of testing. * Joint patent pending with JET (Japan Electrical Safety & Environment Technology Laboratory)

EYE / Iwasaki Solar UV Irradiation Preconditioning / Durability Systems

• Automatically controls UV ray irradiance. The lamp output is automatically adjusted to the prescribed strength (1-5SUN) by feedback from
  the value monitored by the UV ray irradiation sensor installed inside the chamber.

• Automatically recreates the conditions specified by the verification standards. Select the pre-programmed verification standard,
  "press the button" and automatically start the test according to the pre-set conditions such as temperature and irradiation strength.

• Constantly monitors the test progress according to the requirements for cumulative UV ray irradiance level prescribed by the IEC standard.
  As the cumulative UV ray level by each spectral range subject to monitoring is calculated from the value obtained by the UV ray irradiation
  sensor and the remaining time is displayed, the test progress can be monitored as needed.

See section on UV Simulation Lighting for more information:

 

This chamber can accommodate multiple panels,  or a single panel up to 1,850mm x 1,700mm

Control Panel

XY radiation strength sensor supplies feedback to accurately control the irradiation level.

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PV Module Material Durability Testing

UV and weather durability testing is a necessity for any product that must endure the harsh treatment of Mother Nature. UV rays are the greatest cause of product deterioration. Whether it's the prolonged hot dry sun of Phoenix or the humid, wet irregular sun of Cleveland, EYE Lighting / Iwasaki can provide the best systems to recreate these environmental conditions for repeatable testing. With solar module useful life expectances now reaching beyond 30 years, it is more critical than ever to fully test laminate materials and components to verify durability under extended outdoor exposure. The problem is that this testing has been very time consuming. The SUV-W151 super acceleration UV chamber is one of the solutions from EYE Lighting. This system provides acceleration factors more than 10 times typical Xenon chambers. With the capability to deliver more than 30 times natural sunlight UV energy, this system can simulate three (3) years of outdoor exposure in only nine (9) days of testing.

Regardless of your product, EYE Lighting / Iwasaki can dramatically reduce your testing time, improving your quality and profitability.

EYE / Iwasaki Super Accelerating UV Durability Systems

• EYE Lighting/Iwasaki proprietary metal halide based high output UV lamp delivers 10 times
  the acceleration of typical weathering chambers.

• Correlated acceleration factors up to 100 times natural solar UV irradiation provides efficient
  extended outdoor exposure evaluation testing.

• Spectral filtering cuts UV irradiation below 295nm to replicate natural sunlight.

• Electronic feedback system ensures constant energy to target material.

• Built in data-logger for data storage and simple transfer to common programs such as MS-Excel.

• Fully programmable including temperature, humidity, rainfall, UV power, and custom cycle setup.

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