Interested in Cell Measurements?
Interested in Cell Measurements?
Photovoltaic (PV) module measurements at NREL include current versus voltage (I-V) under simulated and outdoor conditions to increase measurement accuracy and reduce uncertainty.
Interested in Cell Measurements?
Interested in Cell Measurements?
Simulated Module Current versus Voltage
We use two I-V measurement systems to assess the performance parameters for PV modules under simulated conditions:
- Spire 5600 SLP pulsed solar simulator
- Large-area continuous solar simulator.
The following table is a condensed list of characteristics for module I-V measurements under simulated light.
|
System |
Special Features |
Light Source |
Dimensions |
Voltage |
Bias |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0.2- to 1-sun module I-V |
30- to 100-ms flash; sweep both directions |
2 xenon flash lamps |
200 cm × 137 cm |
1 mV /250 V |
0.1 mA / 25 A |
|
1-sun modules |
100% duty-cycle continuous light allows the sample to be in any state prior to measurements; spectral irradiance measured; user-controlled bias |
25-kW xenon lamp |
170 cm × 130 cm |
5 mV / ±300 V |
± 1 µA to ±60 A |
Outdoor Module Current versus Voltage
We use three I-V measurement systems to assess the performance parameters for PV modules under natural sunlight:
- Standard outdoor measurement system
- Prototype concentrator evaluation test bed
- Daystar DS-10/125 portable I-V curve tracer.
The following table is a condensed listing of characteristics for module I-V measurements instrumentation.
|
System |
Special Features |
Light Source |
Dimensions |
Voltage Bias |
Bandwidth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Unattended periodic I-V measurements of prototype concentrator modules and cells mounted in a two-axis tracker; translation equations, stability, and performance of concentrator |
Up to 10 samples at a time; spectral irradiance and meteorological parameters; multiple temperature channels |
Sunlight |
61 cm × 120 cm |
0.01 mV to 100 V |
20 nA to 20 A |
|
I-V measurements under outdoor conditions |
Portable; may be powered either with a 120-Vac line or with a 12-Vdc battery |
Sunlight |
Unlimited |
12 mV to 600 V |
5 mA to 125 A |