IEC 60904-9-2020 pdf free download – Photovoltaic devices – Part 9: Classification of solar simulator characteristics.
IECstandards for photovoltaic devices require the use of specific classes of solar simulatorsdeemed appropriate for specific tests. Solar simulators can be either used for performancemeasurements’ of PV devices or endurance irradiation tests. This part of lEC 60904 providesthe definitions of and means for determiningsimulator classifications at the requiredirradiance levels used for electrical stabilization and characterisation of PV devices.
This document is applicable for solar simulators used in PV test and calibration laboratoriesand in manufacturing lines of solar cells and PV modules. The A+ category is primarilyintended for calibration laboratories and is not considered necessary for power measurements in PV manufacturing and in qualification testing. Class A+ has been introduced because itallows for reduction in the uncertainty of secondaryreference device calibration，which isusually performed in a calibration laboratory. Measurement uncertainty in PV production lines will directlybenefit from a lower uncertaintyof calibration， because production linemeasurements are performed using secondary reference devices.
ln the case of PV performance measurements，using a solar simulator of a particular classdoes not eliminate the need to quantify the influence of the simulator on the measurement by making spectral mismatch corrections and analysing the influences of spatial non-uniformityof irradiance in the test plane and temporal stability of irradiance on that measurement. Testreports for PV devices tested with the simulator report the class of simulator used for themeasurement and the method used to quantify the simulator’s effect on the results.
The purpose of this document is to define classifications of solar simulators for use in indoormeasurements of terrestrial photovoltaic devices. Solar simulators are classified as A+，A,Bor C based on criteria of spectral distribution match，irradiance non-uniformity in the testplane and temporal instabilityof irradiance. This document provides the requiredmethodologies for determining the classification of solar simulators in each of the categories.A solar simulator which does not meet the minimum requirements of class C cannot beclassified according to this document.
For spectral match classification a new procedure has been added.This procedure addresses the actual need for an extended wavelength range，which is arising from advances in solarcell technology (such as increased spectral responsivity below 400 nm) as well as solarsimulator technology (use of component LEDs). The procedure of the second edition of thisstandard is still valid, but is only applied if backward compatibility of classification for solarsimulators already in use and for solar simulators in productionlsale is required. Thisdocument is referred to by other lEC standards, in which class requirements are laid down for the use of solar simulators. The solar simulator characteristics described in this documentare not used in isolation to imply any level of measurement confidence or measurementuncertainty for a solar simulator application (for example，PV module power measurement).Measurement uncertainties in each application depend on many factors, several of which areoutside the scope of this document:
• Characteristics of the solar simulator, possibly including characteristics not covered by this document;
•Methods used to calibrate and operate the solar simulator;
•Characteristics of the device(s) under test (for example, size and spectral responsivity);
•Quantities measured from the device(s) under test, including equipment and methods used for measurement;IEC 60904-9 pdf download.