UPM-CPV Lab test

UPM Indoor and Outdoor CPV performance test facilities at Instituto de Energia Solar, Madrid is currently used to perform studies of  CPV  performance such as

• Studies of CPV performance such as:
1. Performance of concentrator modules at standard test and operating conditions
2. Performance of concentrator cells under different operating conditions: uniform and non-uniform light, temperature, spectrum
3. Effect of temperature on CPV optics performance
4. Characterization of misalignments distributions and its effect on module performance
• Module optimization for enhanced performance
• Development of new concentrator technologies
• Development of novel characterization techniques
• CPV Standards development

MAIN FEATURES

EQUIPMENT

A. Pulsed Solar Simulator for CPV Modules and Optics:

• Large area (2m diameter) highly collimated (±0.4°) light source for indoor measurement at standard test conditions.
• Irradiance adjustable to 1200W/m2.
• I-V curve measurement system synchronized to flash.
• Spectral monitoring to ensure match to standard conditions.
• Rotation structure for direct transmission curve measurement.
• Large temperature controlled chamber for lighted testing of modules and optics up to 100°C
• Imaging setup for directly measuring concentrated light flux map of lenses and glass optics.

B. Module optical analyzer

• Characterization of the 2D Angular Transfer Function of each optics-cell unit and the entire module
• Detection of manufacturing and alignment defects in the module
• Determination of the misalignments in each optics-cell unit in the module an its influence in the performance.
• Evolution of misaligments and optical performance with module temperature

C. Pulsed Solar Simulator for Cells and Receivers
(including secondary optics)

• Concentrated light (up to 1000 suns) with spectral monitoring.
• Single and multi-flash lighted I-V curve system.
• Thermally controlled measurement plane.
• Collimated light in combination with primary CPV optics for receiver. (including secondary optics) characterization.

D. Outdoor CPV Test Bench

• Test tracker with 10m2 aperture and reconfigurable frame and 0.1degree accuracy.
• Continuous measurement of I-V curves for up to four modules at sub-minute time intervals, along with up to eight temperature sensors.

E. CPV test field

• Test tracker with 10m2 aperture and reconfigurable frame and 0.1 degree accuracy
• Continuous measurement of I-V curves for up to four modules at sub-minute time intervals, along with up to eight temperature sensors.

F, Meteorological station

• Equipped with redundant pyrheliometers as well as other standard equipment.
• Continuous spectral monitoring with spectrometer and isotype cells.

LIMITATIONS OR CONSTRAINTS :

The access will be allowed with technical and scientific assistance from staff of the Instituto de Energía Solar (UPM)

TYPICAL SERVICES OR RESULTS:

Studies of CPV performance such as

• Measurement of CPV module or cells: maximum power and acceptance angle at standard conditions, or other conditions as required.
• Characterization and evaluation of misaligments inside the module and its influence on performance, its causes and potential improvement in the production line.
• Combined system and component level testing to determine causes of performance losses.
• Determination of sensitivity of modules, cells, and optics sensitivities to spectrum and temperature.
• Module optimization for energy generation at a particular site.
• Monitoring of module characterization during outdoor exposure.

LIST OF SERVICE AGAINST PAYMENT:

• Prices will be provided on specific services under request.

Participation to Research Projects:

The infrastructure has taken part in:

•  FP7-SOPHIA EU project "PhotoVoltaic European Research Infrastructure" (grant agreement 262533) providing transnational access in several project with the CPV industry
• EU projects funded by the EU Commission (NACIR, FP7-NGCPV, FP7-ECOSOLE,CPV MATCH
• more than 10 national project funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
• tens of private collaborations with the CPV industry

Address

UPM CPV lab Test -Avda. Complutense, 30. 28040 Madrid /Spain

Main contact

ANTÓN HERNÁNDEZ Ignacio