ASTM E948-16
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Electrical Performance of Photovoltaic Cells Using Reference Cells Under Simulated Sunlight
Standard Test Method for Electrical Performance of Photovoltaic Cells Using Reference Cells Under Simulated Sunlight
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method provides a procedure for testing and reporting the electrical performance of photovoltaic cells.
5.2 The test results may be used for comparison of cells among a group of similar cells or to compare diverse designs, such as different manufacturers' products. Repeated measurements of the same cell may be used to study changes in device performance.
5.3 This test method determines the electrical performance of a photovoltaic cell at a single instant of time and the results do no imply any past or future performance.
5.4 This test method requires a linear reference cell calibrated with respect to an appropriate reference spectral irradiance distribution, such as Tables E490, or G173. It is the responsibility of the user to determine which reference spectral irradiance distribution is appropriate for a particular application.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the electrical performance of a photovoltaic cell under simulated sunlight by means of a calibrated reference cell procedure.
1.2 Electrical performance measurements are reported with respect to a select set of standard reporting conditions (SRC) (see Table 1) or to user-specified reporting conditions. In either case, the chosen reporting conditions are abbreviated as RC.
1.2.1 The RC include the cell temperature, the total irradiance, and the reference spectral irradiance distribution.
1.3 This test method is applicable only to photovoltaic cells with a linear short-circuit current versus total irradiance response up to and including the total irradiance used in the measurement.
1.4 The cell parameters determined by this test method apply only at the time of test, and imply no past or future performance level.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: E948 − 16 An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Electrical Performance of Photovoltaic Cells Using
1
Reference Cells Under Simulated Sunlight
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E948; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the elec-
E490Standard Solar Constant and Zero Air Mass Solar
trical performance of a photovoltaic cell under simulated
Spectral Irradiance Tables
sunlight by means of a calibrated reference cell procedure.
E491Practice for Solar Simulation for Thermal Balance
1.2 Electrical performance measurements are reported with
Testing of Spacecraft
respect to a select set of standard reporting conditions (SRC)
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
(seeTable1)ortouser-specifiedreportingconditions.Ineither Determine the Precision of a Test Method
case, the chosen reporting conditions are abbreviated as RC. E772Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
E927Specification for Solar Simulation for Photovoltaic
1.2.1 The RC include the cell temperature, the total
Testing
irradiance, and the reference spectral irradiance distribution.
E973Test Method for Determination of the Spectral Mis-
1.3 This test method is applicable only to photovoltaic cells
match Parameter Between a Photovoltaic Device and a
with a linear short-circuit current versus total irradiance
Photovoltaic Reference Cell
response up to and including the total irradiance used in the
E1125 Test Method for Calibration of Primary Non-
measurement. ConcentratorTerrestrial Photovoltaic Reference Cells Us-
ing a Tabular Spectrum
1.4 The cell parameters determined by this test method
E1362Test Methods for Calibration of Non-Concentrator
apply only at the time of test, and imply no past or future
Photovoltaic Non-Primary Reference Cells
performance level.
G173TablesforReferenceSolarSpectralIrradiances:Direct
Normal and Hemispherical on 37° Tilted Surface
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3. Terminology
standard.
3.1 Definitions—Definitions of terms used in this test
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
method may be found in Terminology E772 and in Specifica-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
tion E927.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- 3.2.1 effective irradiance, n—the irradiance that a solar
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. simulatorproducesasmeasuredbyacell’sshort-circuitcurrent
relative to a reference value for the cell’s short-circuit current
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
at a particular RC.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.2.1.1 Discussion—This reference value typically corre-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
sponds to a different spectral irradiance distribution than the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
solar simulator.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.2.2 reporting conditions, RC, n—the reference spectral
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
irradiance distribution, total irradiance, and cell temperature to
which the photovoltaic current-voltage performance is mea-
sured and corrected.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on Solar,
GeothermalandOtherAlternativeEnergySourcesandisthedirectresponsibilityof
2
Subcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2016. Published December 2016. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as E948–15. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E0948-16. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E948 − 16
TABLE 1 Standard Reporting Conditions
4.4 The data from the measurements are corrected to the
Reference Spectral Irradiance Total Irradiance, E Cell Temperature, T desired RC. Three possible SRC are defined in Table 1.
0 0
−2
Distribution (Wm ) (°C)
4.4.1 Measurement
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E948 − 15 E948 − 16
Standard Test Method for
Electrical Performance of Photovoltaic Cells Using
1
Reference Cells Under Simulated Sunlight
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E948; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the electrical performance of a photovoltaic cell under simulated sunlight by
means of a calibrated reference cell procedure.
1.2 Electrical performance measurements are reported with respect to a select set of standard reporting conditions (SRC) (see
Table 1) or to user-specified conditions.reporting conditions. In either case, the chosen reporting conditions are abbreviated as RC.
1.2.1 The SRC or user-specified conditions RC include the cell temperature, the total irradiance, and the reference spectral
irradiance distribution.
1.3 This test method is applicable only to photovoltaic cells with a linear response over the range of interest.short-circuit current
versus total irradiance response up to and including the total irradiance used in the measurement.
1.4 The cell parameters determined by this test method apply only at the time of test, and imply no past or future performance
level.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E490 Standard Solar Constant and Zero Air Mass Solar Spectral Irradiance Tables
E491 Practice for Solar Simulation for Thermal Balance Testing of Spacecraft
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E772 Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
E927 Specification for Solar Simulation for Photovoltaic Testing
E973 Test Method for Determination of the Spectral Mismatch Parameter Between a Photovoltaic Device and a Photovoltaic
Reference Cell
E1125 Test Method for Calibration of Primary Non-Concentrator Terrestrial Photovoltaic Reference Cells Using a Tabular
Spectrum
E1362 Test Methods for Calibration of Non-Concentrator Photovoltaic Non-Primary Reference Cells
G173 Tables for Reference Solar Spectral Irradiances: Direct Normal and Hemispherical on 37° Tilted Surface
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—Definitions of terms used in this test method may be found in Terminology E772 and in Specification E927.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 cell temperature, °C, effective irradiance, n—the temperature of the semiconductor junction of a photovoltaic
cell.irradiance that a solar simulator produces as measured by a cell’s short-circuit current relative to a reference value for the cell’s
short-circuit current at a particular RC.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on Solar, Geothermal and Other Alternative Energy Sources and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2015Nov. 1, 2016. Published March 2015December 2016. Originally approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 20092015 as
E948 – 09.E948 – 15. DOI: 10.1520/E0948-15.10.1520/E0948-16.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E948 − 16
TABLE 1 Standard Reporting Conditions
3.2.1.1 Discussion—
Total
TemperatureCell
Reference Spectral Irradiance IrradianceIrradiance,
Temperature, T
0
Distribution E
0
(°C)
−2
(Wm )
Tables G173 Direct Normal 1000 25
Tables G173 Direct Normal 900 25
Tables G173 Hemispherical 1000 25
Tables E490 1366.1 25
This reference value typically corresponds to a different spectral irradiance distribution than the solar simulator.
3.2.2 junction tempe
...
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