Analysis of a solar simulator based on the electrodeless sulfur lamp for photovoltaic devices

At the present time, there has been an intensive growth in the use of solar energy, which is the most affordable renewable energy source for humanity. In this regard, there is a need for testing of solar cells and modules used to collect solar energy. In the laboratory conditions for testing of the photovoltaic devices are used of solar simulations, which have very close parameters to the solar radiation. The basic element of the solar simulation is artificial light sources. The output spectrum of the solar radiation simulator should be close to the spectral distribution of sunlight in the wavelength range (400-1100 nm) under AM 1.5G conditions, as defined in ASTM G173-03 standard. The goal of this paper is to determine the spectral match based on ASTM E927-10 standard in the 400 nm - 700 nm region for a powerful electrodeless sulfur lamp with microwave excitation, which is proposed as a light source for a solar radiation simulator. The sulfur lamp has a continuous quasisolar spectrum of optical radiation in the visible range, where the spectral sensitivity of the solar cells is most effective. © 2018 by Begell House, Inc.