ENEA-Indoor/outdoor characterization facilities for CPV solar cells. modules and optical elements

 
The ENEA CPV Indoor characterization facility assures I-V characterization of single and multi junction solar cell under different working temperature. Indoor Optical performance analysis of optical concentrators. The Outdoor characterization facility assures complete operative performance analysis in outdoor condition of PV-C lens, solar cells, PV- C modules , and array –string of PV-C systems

MAIN FEATURES

INDOOR I-V FACILITIES

CPV Solar simulator: continuos lighting

Thermal controlled, flash time adjustable solar simulator for concentrating PV-C cells patented by ENEA

• irradiance adjustable between 10 W/square cm and 25 W/square cm; on an area 1.6 x1.6 and 1.1 x 1.1 cm2 cm2;
• light source non-stability < 6%; uniformity on the target plane >70%;
• control of the measuring time (2s - 8) and of the flash time;
• device under test temperature control (15°C-80°C)

CPV Solar simulator: flash lighting

Thermal controlled, flash time solar simulator for concentrating PV-C cells

• irradiance adjustable between 3 W/square cm and 25 W/square cm; on an area variable from 2 x 2 cm2 up to 1x1 cm2 in dependence of the concentration level,
• flash time ~10 ms,
• device under test temperature control (15°C-80°C)

Qyield

• for single junction/double junction/ (range 300-1150 nm)
• double/triple junction (range 250-1800 nm)

Optical bench for lens performance:

• Optical bench for PV_C lens and SOE efficiency measurements
• evaluation of dependence of optical efficiency in dependence of the direct light incidence angle.

OUTDOOR I-V FACILITIES

The outdoor facilities are based on the following sun trackers all them with tracking based on Sun-sensor and Calculation mode

• Phocus tracker area 32 m2 accuracy +/- 0.1 °
• Atec Robotic Solar tracker 2x2 m2 accuracy +/- 0.02 °
• EKO Sun Tracker STR-22 accuracy +/-0.01° Payload 15 Kg balanced
• Pirelli HCPV System
• Greenetica CVPT  EOS1 single-axis tracking collector; surface area 9.65 m²; nominal power 2.5 kWe + 5 kWth
• Absolicon X10PVT linear solar collector ; surface area 10.37 m²; nominal power 1 kWe + ∼4.5 KWth

HCPV Pirelli system is currently used for Energy rating and testing procedure campaign. The two sun trackers are used for PV-C module I-V characterization, the last one for outdoor I-V characterization of PV-C solar cells and optical efficiency, the experimental focal length measurement of concentration lens, and energy rating and performance characterization of PV-C solar cells:

• solar cell temperature can be varied by 20°C up to 80 °C.
• a specific procedure developed by Enea can also assure the change in direct incident light intensity.
• the characterization of solar tracker alignment accuracy respect sun position is assured by a sun pointer probe developed and patented by Enea and based on a PSD detector having an accuracy of 0.01.
• The temperature of PV_C modules is measured by PT-100, and the IR Vision can also assure the thermal mapping.
• The direct solar irradiance and global irradiance is acquired through First class Pyrheliometr/ pyrhanometr Eko while the solar Spectrum is acquired in the range 200-1700 nm through a Dual-DSR StellarNet Spectroradiometer.

ENEA is also conducting activities  for the "Development and testing of Hybrid CPV-T systems for the combined production of electricity and thermal energy suitable to their applications in agriculture and services. The project funded by the MoE (Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea) includes the development and testing, in conjunction with  industrial operators of  CPV-T systems. Currently two PV-T systems are installed in Portici.

LIMITATIONS OR CONSTRAINTS:

• The access will be allowed with technical and scientific assistance from ENEA in the frame of joint projects or bilateral agreement

TYPICAL SERVICES OR RESULTS

• The Indoor characterization facility assures I-V characterization of single and multi junction solar cell under different working temperature (15-80°C). Evaluation of thermal coefficient . Indoor Optical performance analysis of prismatic- fresnels and hybride prismatic-fresnel lens
• The Outdoor characterization facility assures complete operative performance analysis in outdoor condition of PV-C lens, solar cells, PV- C modules , and array –string of PV-C systems. The facility currently participate to round robin procedures.

Participation to Research Projects:

• Partecipation to several national/international projects concering CPV (FP7-APOLLON, FP7-NGCPV, FP7-ECOSOLE, SCOOP)
• Round robin performance testing of CPV solar cells, CPV modules

Address

ENEA CR Portici|  DTE-FSN-FOSG |  P. E. Fermi, 1 |  80055-Portici (NA) | Italy

Main contact

GRADITI Giorgio

Other contacts

CANCRO Carmine

FUCCI Raffaele

ROMANO Antonio