Characterization of CPV cells on a high intensity solar simulator: A detailed uncertainty analysis

The authors modified a large area pulsed solar simulator to a high intensity pulsed solar simulator, moving the test measurement plane to various distances close to the xenon lamp. Measurement results reported in this work have confirmed the r^-2 dependence of the total irradiance on the cell-to-lamp distance, up to the maximum measured intensity at 3000X. Classification of the solar simulator based on the international standard IEC 60904-9 is reported. Though the standard procedure for current-voltage measurements of non-concentrating cells prescribes a calibrated reference cell to detect the total irradiance independently, a “self-reference” method is usually preferred at high intensities by the CPV community. In this work the authors apply a detailed uncertainty analysis to both the procedures. The result highlights the pros and contra of the two methods, giving a useful tool in the pre-normative work for the preparation of norms and standard procedures for terrestrial CPV cells characterization.