ASTM E1171 Environmental Test Chamber Test Method For Photovoltaic Module

ASTM E1171 Environmental Test Chamber Test Method is a standard published by the American Society for Materials and Testing (ASTM International) that standardizes test methods for environmental testing chamber  The ASTM E1171 test method provides procedures for applying stress to photovoltaic modules in simulated temperature and humidity environments. Environmental tests are used to simulate accelerated aging of module materials. This test method defines three separate environmental test procedures: a heat cycle procedure, a wet-freeze cycle procedure, and an extended wet-heat procedure. Electrical bias is used during thermal cycling to simulate stresses known to occur in modules deployed in the field.

Test equipment

1.Environmental test chamber - One or more chambers in which modules are installed during environmental tests.
2.The air temperature in the entire working volume should be controlled within the specified temperature of ±2 ° C.
3.The relative humidity should be controlled within ±5% of the specified temperature. When the temperature is lower than 80 ° C, no relative humidity control is required.
4.Provisions for monitoring and recording chamber temperature and relative humidity should be provided throughout the environmental test.
5.Temperature measuring equipment - one or more instruments used to measure the temperature of the module during environmental tests with a resolution of at least 0.1 ° C and a total error of readings less than ±2 ° C
6.Temperature sensors suitable for the test temperature range, such as thermocouples or thermistors, should be installed in the part of the module that is likely to display the longest thermal time constant. For flat modules, mount the sensor near the middle of the front or back of the module.
7.If multiple modules with the same design and structure are tested at the same time, it is not necessary to monitor the temperature of all the same modules.
8.Test framework - The framework that supports the test module in the environment room during the test process.

Thermal cycle program

1. Install the test module in the environmental testing chamber.
2. Connect the test module to the biased power supply. When the temperature of the test module is lower than 20 ° C, check whether the bias is interrupted.
3. Perform a thermal cycle test of the module from -40°C to +85°C according to the outline shown in Figure 1 and the following requirements.
4.The temperature should change approximately linearly with time, the rate should not exceed 100 ° C /h, and the period should not exceed 6 hours (from ambient temperature to 40 ° C to +85 ° C to ambient temperature).
5. Because current bias causes the test module to dissipate heat, it may be necessary to adjust the ambient chamber temperature distribution to prevent the maximum temperature of the module in Figure 1 from being exceeded.
6. When the temperature is above 25℃, the indoor relative humidity is not more than 50%.
7. The minimum holding time under extreme temperature should be 0.5h.
8. Continue the heat cycle until the specified number of cycles is completed.
9. When the module temperature is 25±5 ° C, the temperature cycle can be interrupted, and the chamber can be opened for visual or electrical retest, or both. This interruption usually occurs every 50 cycles.
10. Disconnect the bias power supply and remove the environment room module.

Humidity-Freeze Cycle Procedure:

1. The test module is installed in the environmental test chamber, and the wet-freezing cycle test is carried out on the module according to the curve shown in Figure 2.
2. Continue the wet freezing cycle until the desired number of cycles is completed.
3. Remove the environment chamber module.

Damp Heat Exposure Procedure:

1. Raise the air temperature and relative humidity of the equipment room to 85±2 ° C and 85±5%.
2. Continuous exposure for 1000 hours.
3. Remove the environment chamber module.
4. After removing the module, perform the post-exposure dielectric voltage test within 3±1 hour (see 6.2.3). To meet this requirement, the exposure time can be increased by up to 60 hours.

JOEO environmental test chamber, a walk-in environmental testing chamber for testing the performance of full-size solar panels or other large products, Can be use for panels 1.2m x 2m or larger., available in many pre-designed and custom sizes to meet your exact test requirements, Models available for environmental chamber testing include a wide range of temperature ramp rates, humidity levels, and many standard and optional features, including temperature cycling, steady-state testing, and rapid rates of change. Other options include access ports, explosion-proof, quiet mode, additional shelving, battery safety options, dry air purge, dehydrated water filtration system and more
Widely used in solar photovoltaic, electronic products, pcb, semiconductor, automotive, aerospace and other industries.
Capacity (L)：100-3000L
Temperature Range：-70 to 200C
Humidity Range：10%～98%（R.H./5% ～98% R.H,is a special optional condition,need Dehumidifier）
Meet standard：IEC 61215, UL-1703 ASTM E1171 MIL-STD-2164, MIL-2164A-19, NABMAT-9492, GJB-1032-90, GJB/Z34-5.1.6, UN 38.3, SAE J2464,IEC 60086-4,UL1642,ect