Custom Systems

These chambers allow testing of single cells up to large modular arrays. Chambers accommodate sizes from 100 cm² to 10 m² or greater. Tests can be designed to equal previously introduced and acknowledged test methods. To obtain information on the performance, reliability and service life of PV cells, modules and systems, or solar thermal collectors and their components, a wide variety of national and international qualification test procedures has been developed, specifying exposure to simulated solar radiation.

Furthermore, numerous manufacturers design their own solar simulation tests to best meet their specific needs. Since 1979, we have been developing and installing specific irradiation systems for various test applications. Each installation is based on our SolarConstant design, a special luminary configuration to match the requirements of simulated environmental tests with solar radiation. The spectrum of the daylight (so-called Global Radiation) is accurately reproduced, due to a harmonized configuration of Metal Halide Lamp, reflector system, and power supply technology.

Specific test method requirements for exposure to a higher portion of UV irradiation, relative to Global Radiation, may be met with an alternative light source.

Atlas excels at meeting individual customer requirements through our custom lighting concepts. The modular nature of our lighting system components can be easily combined according to the customer's special requirements. Atlas designs solar simulation systems ranging from small units for single cells to multiple luminary systems for one or more modules. Systems can have radiation areas from 100 cm² up to 10 m².

Atlas uses its internally developed, computer aided design software, SolarSim™ to determine the optimal configuration for individual simulation systems.

For R&D purposes, CESORA™ software can calculate the solar radiation on the earth’s surface for each geographic location, time of day or season and as a function of meteorological parameters. Additionally, the calculated solar spectrums can be evaluated with spectral response functions. As spectral measurements in the field are expensive and labor intensive, generating spectral irradiance distributions with CESORA facilitates designing, evaluating and predicting the performance of PV devices in the real world.