Solar Simulator

SOLAR  SIMULATOR – Make:  Microtech Industries

The main objective of solar simulation technology is to produce illumination approximating natural Sun light in order to provide a controllable indoor test facility under laboratory conditions.

The instrument used to simulate sunlight in a laboratory setting is called a solar Simulator[ some times called a Sun Simulator] . A Solar Simulator has a light source that is designed to offer similar intensity and spectral composition to that of natural sunlight .

The setup consists of three parts –

1. Illumination chamber : LED Panel of 200 W
   • Facility  for illumination control.
   • Facility for fan speed control.
2. Solar panel : 3 W
3. Solar simulator

It measures performance of Soar panel characteristic under artificial illumination, it consists of :

1. Microcontroller based Multifunction Meter, which measures :
   • Solar Voltage
   • Solar Current
   • Solar Power
   • Temperature
2. Temperature probe.
3. Variable Load.

The following experiments to be done :

1. Solar panel characteristics
   • Measurement of
     1. open circuit voltage V_oc
     2. Short circuit current Isc
     3. Maximum Power Pmax
     4. Voltage at Maximum Power Vmp
     5. Current at Maximum Power I_mp
2. Calculation of Solar panel Efficiency  &  Fill Factor (FF)
3. Effect of Temperature on Solar panel