ASTM E1362-15(2019)
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Calibration of Non-Concentrator Photovoltaic Non-Primary Reference Cells
Standard Test Methods for Calibration of Non-Concentrator Photovoltaic Non-Primary Reference Cells
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 It is the intent of these test methods to provide a recognized procedure for calibrating, characterizing, and reporting the calibration data for non-primary photovoltaic reference cells that are used during photovoltaic device performance measurements.
5.2 The electrical output of photovoltaic devices is dependent on the spectral content of the source illumination and its intensity. To make accurate measurements of the performance of photovoltaic devices under a variety of light sources, it is necessary to account for the error in the short-circuit current that occurs if the relative spectral response of the reference cell is not identical to the spectral response of the device under test. A similar error occurs if the spectral irradiance distribution of the test light source is not identical to the desired reference spectral irradiance distribution. These errors are quantified with the spectral mismatch parameter M (Test Method E973).
5.2.1 Test Method E973 requires four quantities for spectral mismatch calculations:
5.2.1.1 The quantum efficiency of the reference cell to be calibrated (see 7.1.1),
5.2.1.2 The quantum efficiency of the calibration source device (required as part of its calibration),
Note 1: See 10.10 of Test Method E1021 for the identity that converts spectral responsivity to quantum efficiency.
5.2.1.3 The spectral irradiance of the light source (measured with the spectral irradiance measurement equipment), and,
5.2.1.4 The reference spectral irradiance distribution to which the calibration source device was calibrated (see G173).
5.2.2 Temperature Corrections—Test Method E973 provides means for temperature corrections to short-circuit current using the partial derivative of quantum efficiency with respect to temperature.
5.3 A non-primary reference cell is calibrated in accordance with these test methods is with respect to the same reference spectral irradiance distribution as that of the calibration source device. Prima...
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover calibration and characterization of non-primary terrestrial photovoltaic reference cells to a desired reference spectral irradiance distribution. The recommended physical requirements for these reference cells are described in Specification E1040. Reference cells are principally used in the determination of the electrical performance of a photovoltaic device.
1.2 Non-primary reference cells are calibrated indoors using simulated sunlight or outdoors in natural sunlight by reference to a previously calibrated reference cell, which is referred to as the calibration source device.
1.2.1 The non-primary calibration will be with respect to the same reference spectral irradiance distribution as that of the calibration source device.
1.2.2 The calibration source device may be a primary reference cell calibrated in accordance with Test Method E1125, or a non-primary reference cell calibrated in accordance with these test methods.
1.2.3 For the special case in which the calibration source device is a primary reference cell, the resulting non-primary reference cell is also referred to as a secondary reference cell.
1.3 Non-primary reference cells calibrated according to these test methods will have the same radiometric traceability as that of the calibration source device. Therefore, if the calibration source device is traceable to the World Radiometric Reference (WRR, see Test Method E816), the resulting secondary reference cell will also be traceable to the WRR.
1.4 These test methods apply only to the calibration of a photovoltaic cell that demonstrates a linear short-circuit current versus irradiance characteristic over its intended range of use, as defined in Test Method E1143.
1.5 These test methods apply only to the calibration of a photovoltaic cell that has been fabricated using a single photovoltaic junction.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as stan...
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E1362 − 15 (Reapproved 2019) An American National Standard
Standard Test Methods for
Calibration of Non-Concentrator Photovoltaic Non-Primary
Reference Cells
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1362; 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 1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
1.1 These test methods cover calibration and characteriza-
standard.
tion of non-primary terrestrial photovoltaic reference cells to a
desired reference spectral irradiance distribution. The recom-
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
mended physical requirements for these reference cells are
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
described in Specification E1040. Reference cells are princi-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
pallyusedinthedeterminationoftheelectricalperformanceof
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
a photovoltaic device.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.2 Non-primaryreferencecellsarecalibratedindoorsusing 1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
simulated sunlight or outdoors in natural sunlight by reference dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
toapreviouslycalibratedreferencecell,whichisreferredtoas ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
the calibration source device. Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1.2.1 Thenon-primarycalibrationwillbewithrespecttothe mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
same reference spectral irradiance distribution as that of the Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
calibration source device.
1.2.2 The calibration source device may be a primary
2. Referenced Documents
reference cell calibrated in accordance with Test Method
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E1125, or a non-primary reference cell calibrated in accor-
E490Standard Solar Constant and Zero Air Mass Solar
dance with these test methods.
Spectral Irradiance Tables
1.2.3 For the special case in which the calibration source
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
device is a primary reference cell, the resulting non-primary
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
reference cell is also referred to as a secondary reference cell.
E772Terminology of Solar Energy Conversion
1.3 Non-primary reference cells calibrated according to
E816Test Method for Calibration of Pyrheliometers by
these test methods will have the same radiometric traceability
Comparison to Reference Pyrheliometers
as that of the calibration source device. Therefore, if the
E927Classification for Solar Simulators for Electrical Per-
calibrationsourcedeviceistraceabletotheWorldRadiometric
formance Testing of Photovoltaic Devices
Reference (WRR, see Test Method E816), the resulting sec-
E948Test Method for Electrical Performance of Photovol-
ondary reference cell will also be traceable to the WRR.
taic Cells Using Reference Cells Under Simulated Sun-
light
1.4 These test methods apply only to the calibration of a
E973Test Method for Determination of the Spectral Mis-
photovoltaiccellthatdemonstratesalinearshort-circuitcurrent
match Parameter Between a Photovoltaic Device and a
versus irradiance characteristic over its intended range of use,
Photovoltaic Reference Cell
as defined in Test Method E1143.
E1021TestMethodforSpectralResponsivityMeasurements
1.5 These test methods apply only to the calibration of a
of Photovoltaic Devices
photovoltaic cell that has been fabricated using a single
E1040Specification for Physical Characteristics of Noncon-
photovoltaic junction.
centrator Terrestrial Photovoltaic Reference Cells
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on Solar,
GeothermalandOtherAlternativeEnergySourcesandisthedirectresponsibilityof
Subcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved April 1, 2019. Published April 2019. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as E1362-15. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E1362-15R19. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E1362 − 15 (2019)
E1125 Test Method for Calibration of Primary Non- ∆T—temperature difference, (°C),
ConcentratorTerrestrial Photovoltaic Reference Cells Us- λ—wavelength (nm or µm), and
ing a Tabular Spectrum Θ(λ)—partial derivative of quantum efficiency with respect
–1 –1
E1143Test Method for Determining the Linearity of a to temperature (electrons per photon·°C or %·°C ).
Photovoltaic Device Parameter with Respect To a Test
4. Summary of Test Method
Parameter
G173TablesforReferenceSolarSpectralIrradiances:Direct
4.1 The calibration constant, C, of a photovoltaic refer-
Normal and Hemispherical on 37° Tilted Surface
erence cell is defined as the ratio of its short-circuit current to
the total irradiance when illuminated with a reference spectral
3. Terminology
irradiance distribution (such as Standard E490 or Tables
3.1 Definitions—Definitions of terms used in these test
G173). In integral form, the calibration constant is:
methods may be found in Terminology E772.
A R λ E λ dλ
* ~ ! ~ !
I A 0
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
SC
C 5 5 (1)
E
3.2.1 calibration source device, photovoltaic, n—the refer- 0
E ~λ!dλ
*
ence cell used to measure the incident irradiance during the
4.2 A reference cell is used to measure irradiance through
calibration.
Eq 2:
3.2.2 monitor solar cell, n—a solar cell used to measure the
E 5 I ⁄C (2)
SC
irradianceofthesolarsimulatorduringthecalibration;priorto
the calibration procedure, the monitor solar cell is compared 4.3 Errors and difficulties associated with measuring A and
against the calibration source device using a transfer-of- R (λ)in Eq 1 can be avoided by comparing the short-circuit
A
calibration procedure. current of a reference cell to be calibrated (I ) against that of
D
a previously calibrated reference cell (that is, the calibration
3.2.3 non-primary reference cell, photovoltaic, n—a photo-
source device, I ), while both cells are illuminated with a test
R
voltaic reference cell calibrated against another reference cell
light source. The calibration constant of the calibration source
in accordance with Test Method E1362. E772
device transforms short-circuit current to total irradiance so
3.2.4 primary reference cell, photovoltaic, n—a photovol-
that Eq 1 becomes:
taic reference cell calibrated in sunlight in accordance with
I
Test Method E1125. E772 D
C 5 (3)
D
I ⁄C
R R
3.2.5 secondaryreferencecell,photovoltaic,n—aphotovol-
4.4 For calibrations in natural sunlight, the calibration
taicreferencecellcalibratedagainstaprimaryreferencecellin
source device and the cell to be calibrated are placed on a
accordance with Test Method E1362. E772
normal incidence tracking platform, and the short-circuit cur-
3.2.6 test light source, n—a source of radiant energy used
rents of both devices are measured simultaneously.
for the secondary reference cell calibration, either natural
4.5 For calibrations in simulated sunlight, the calibration
sunlight or a solar simulator.
source device is first placed in the test plane, and a transfer-
3.3 Symbols:
of-calibration procedure is performed to a monitor solar cell.
3.3.1 Thefollowingsymbolsandunitsareusedinthesetest
The calibration source device is then replaced with the cell to
methods:
2 be calibrated in the same location, and the non-primary
A—active area, reference cell (m ),
2 −1 calibration is then performed.
C—calibration constant, Am W ,
4.6 CalibrationTemperature—Theseproceduresassumethe
C —transfer calibration ratio (dimensionless),
T
calibration temperatures, T , of both the calibration source
D—as a subscript, refers to the reference cell to be
calibrated, device and the cell to be calibrated are 25 °C; other calibration
−2
temperatures may be substituted if desired.
E—irradiance, (Wm ),
E —total irradiance, reference spectral irradiance distribu-
4.7 Calibration Data Collection—Raw calibration constant
−2
tion (Wm ),
data are corrected for spectral and temperature differences
E (λ)—reference spectral irradiance distribution
using the spectral mismatch parameter, M (see 5.2 and Test
−2 –1 –2 –1
(Wm µm or Wm nm ),
Method E973).
i—as a subscript, refers to the ith calibration data point,
4.8 Light Soaking—Newly manufactured reference cells
IorI —short-circuit current, (A),
SC
must be light soaked at an irradiance level greater than 850
I —short-circuit current, monitor solar cell (A),
M 2
W/m for 20 h prior to initial characterization.
M—spectral mismatch parameter (dimensionless),
n—total number of calibration data points, 4.9 Characterization—Prior to calibration, the non-primary
Q(λ,T)—quantum efficiency (electrons/photon or %), cell is characterized using the following procedures:
R—as a subscript, refers to the calibration source device, 4.9.1 Quantum efficiency at the calibration temperature,
–1
R (λ)—absolute spectral response (AW ), Q(λ,T ), determined in accordance with Test Methods E1021.
A 0
s—standard deviation, 4.9.2 Partialderivativeofquantumefficiencywithrespectto
T—temperature, (°C), temperatureΘ (λ)=∂Q /∂T(λ), determined in accordance with
D D
T —calibration temperature, (°°C), Annex A1 of Test Methods E973.
E1362 − 15 (2019)
4.9.3 Linearity of short-circuit current versus irradiance, total and spectral irradiances vary with the apparent motion of
determined in accordance with Test Method E1143. the sun and changes of atmospheric conditions such as clouds.
Calibrations in a solar simulator can be done at any time and
5. Significance and Use
provide a stable spectral irradiance. Disadvantages of solar
simulatorsincludespatialnon-uniformityandshort-timevaria-
5.1 It is the intent of these test methods to provide a
recognized procedure for calibrating, characterizing, and re- tions in total irradiance. The procedures in these test methods
have been designed to overcome these disadvantages.
porting the calibration data for non-primary photovoltaic
reference cells that are used during photovoltaic device perfor-
mance measurements. 6. Apparatus
5.2 The electrical output of photovoltaic devices is depen- 6.1 Normal Incidence Tracking Platform (for calibrations
dent on the spectral content of the source illumination and its conducted in natural sunlight) —A platform that holds the
intensity. To make accurate measurements of the performance calibration source device, the cell to be calibrated, and the
of photovoltaic devices under a variety of light sources, it is spectral irradiance measurement equipment (see 6.7) coplanar
necessary to account for the error in the short-circuit current during the calibration procedure. Using two orthogonal axes,
thatoccursiftherelativespectralresponseofthereferencecell such as azimuth and elevation, the platform must follow the
isnotidenticaltothespectralresponseofthedeviceundertest. apparentmotionofthesunsuchthattheanglebetweenthesun
Asimilar error occurs if the spectral irradiance distribution of vector and the normal vector is less than 0.5°.
the test light source is not identical to the desired reference
6.1.1 For calibrations performed in direct sunlight, the cells
spectral irradiance distribution. These errors are quantified and the spectral irradiance measurement equipment shall have
with the spectral mismatch parameter M (Test Method E973).
collimators that meet the requirements of Annex A1 of Test
5.2.1 TestMethodE973requiresfourquantitiesforspectral Method E1125.
mismatch calculations:
6.1.2 For calibrations performed in hemispherical sunlight
5.2.1.1 The quantum efficiency of the reference cell to be
conditions, energy reflected from surrounding buildings or any
calibrated (see 7.1.1),
other surfaces in the vicinity of the tracking platform shall be
5.2.1.2 The quantum efficiency of the calibration source
blocked for the duration of the calibration period. Such
device (required as part of its calibration),
conditions can result in spatially non-uniform illumination
between the cell to be calibrated and the calibration source
NOTE1—See10.10ofTestMethodE1021fortheidentitythatconverts
device.
spectral responsivity to quantum efficiency.
6.1.2.1 Care shall be taken to conduct the calibration in a
5.2.1.3 Thespectralirradianceofthelightsource(measured
location or manner such that a condition of high ground
with the spectral irradiance measurement equipment), and,
reflectance is avoided. If significant reflection can occur, a
5.2.1.4 The reference spectral irradiance distribution to
horizon shield shall be used. This horizon shield shall consist
which the calibration source device was calibrated (see G173).
of a black nonreflecting surface, and shall block the view
5.2.2 Temperature Corrections—Test Method E973 pro-
downwardfromthelocalhorizontothelowestextremesofthe
videsmeansfortemperaturecorrectionstoshort-circuitcurrent
field of view.
using the partial derivative of quantum efficiency with respect
6.2 SolarSimulator(forcalibrationsconductedinsimulated
to temperature.
sunlight)—A light source that meets the requirements of a
5.3 Anon-primaryreferencecelliscalibratedinaccordance
Class BAA solar simulator per Specification E927.
with these test methods is with respect to the same reference
spectral irradiance distribution as that of the calibration source 6.3 Temperature Measurement Equipment—An instrument
device. Primary reference cells may be calibrated by use of or instruments used to measure the cell temperatures of the
Test Method E1125. calibrationsourcedeviceandthereferencecelltobecalibrated
that has a resolution of at least 0.1 °C, and a total error of less
NOTE2—NoASTMstandardsforcalibrationofprimaryreferencecells
than 61 °C of reading.
to the extraterrestrial spectral irradiance distribution presently exist.
6.3.1 Sensors used for the temperature measurements must
5.4 A non-primary reference cell should be recalibrated
belocatedinpositionsthatminimizeanyte
...
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