IEC 60904-9:2020 pdf free download – Photovoltaic devices
1 Scope
lEC standards 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 determining simulator 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 measurementsin PV manufacturing and in qualification testing. Class A+ has been introduced because itallows for reduction in the uncertainty of secondary reference device calibration，which isusually performed in a calibration laboratory. Measurement uncertainty in PV production lineswill directly benefit from a lower uncertainty of calibration，because production linemeasurements are performed using secondary reference devices.
In 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 bymaking 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 instability of 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 addressesthe 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 technoiogy (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 production/sale is required. Thisdocument is referred to by other lEC standards, in which class requirements are laid down forthe 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:
Note 2 to entry: lrradiance corrections，such as those of IEC 60891,are often used to minimize the effects ofirradiance fluctuations on PV module output power measurements. The uncertainty related to irradiance correctionwill depend on the difference “measured irradiance -target irradiance”” and the precision of relevant l-V correctionparameters of the PV device. For other applications,the use of such corrections should be considered togetherwith requirements for solar simulator temporal instability.