ASTM_E_3006_-_15.pdf

Designation:E300615Standard Practice forUltraviolet Conditioning of Photovoltaic Modules or Mini-Modules Using a Fluorescent Ultraviolet(UV)LampApparatus1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3006;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This practice covers specific procedures and test condi-tions for performing ultraviolet conditioning exposures onphotovoltaic modules or mini-modules using fluorescent ultra-violet lamps in accordance with Practices G151 and G154.This practice covers test conditions that meet the requirementsfor UV preconditioning in initial qualification tests of photo-voltaic modules or mini-modules as published in InternationalElectrotechnical Commission(IEC)standards.1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E772 Terminology of Solar Energy ConversionG113 Terminology Relating to Natural and Artificial Weath-ering Tests of Nonmetallic MaterialsG130 Test Method for Calibration of Narrow-and Broad-Band Ultraviolet Radiometers Using a SpectroradiometerG151 Practice for Exposing Nonmetallic Materials inAccel-erated Test Devices that Use Laboratory Light SourcesG154 Practice for Operating Fluorescent Ultraviolet(UV)Lamp Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic MaterialsG177 Tables for Reference Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Distri-butions:Hemispherical on 37 Tilted Surface2.2 IEC Standards:3IEC 61215 Crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic(PV)modules design qualification and type approval,SecondEditionIIEC 61345 UV test for photovoltaic(PV)modules,FirstEditionIEC 61646 Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic(PV)modules Design qualification and type approval,Edition 2.02.3 ISO Standards:ISO 4892-3 Plastics Method of exposure to laboratorylight sourcesPart 3:Fluorescent UV lamps3.Terminology3.1 The definitions given in Terminology G113 and Termi-nology E772 are applicable to this practice.4.Summary of Practice4.1 Specimens are exposed to fluorescent ultraviolet lampsof types UVA-340 and UVB-313 as needed to achieve specificdosages of ultraviolet radiation as required by IEC qualificationstandards for photovoltaic modules and materials or by agree-ment between contractual parties.5.Significance and Use5.1 Photovoltaic modules and components must be resistantto prolonged exposure to solar radiation,moisture and heat.Degradation of polymeric components,delamination at theencapsulant and other interfaces,and moisture ingress areamong the degradation modes known to decrease the output ofphotovoltaic modules.IEC qualification standards for PVmodules include tests intended to uncover whether solarultraviolet radiation induced degradation may cause early-lifefailures.This practice provides general and specific guidanceon performing tests that meet the requirements of the ultravio-let radiation conditioning exposures in the IEC qualification1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on Solar,Geothermal and OtherAlternative Energy Sources and is the direct responsibility ofSubcommittee E44.09 on Photovoltaic Electric Power Conversion.Current edition approved Feb.1,2015.Published April 2014.DOI:10.1520/E3006-152For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from International Electrotechnical Commission(IEC),3,rue deVaremb,P.O.Box 131,CH-1211 Geneva 20,Switzerland,http:/www.iec.ch.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 standards.4Other protocols exist that may also conform to theIEC test requirements.5.2 In the qualification test sequence,this UV precondition-ing exposure is conducted prior to the thermal cycling andhumidity freeze tests.These tests were included to replicate adelamination failure observed in modules.55.3 IEC exposure methods should not be considered as longterm weathering tests.Exposure to moisture in the form ofcondensation or water spray is not a requirement of the UVexposure tests in IEC PV module qualification standards.Inclusion of moisture is typically a consideration in weatheringtests.5.4 Variation in test results may be expected when operatingconditions are varied within the acceptable limits of thisstandard.In particular,reciproci