Abstract

on sustainable technologies. The simulator is designed to achieve uniform intensity distribution on the test plane, good spectral distribution, variable intensity level and flexibility. A unique dimming arrangement allows the simulator to provide uniform intensity light under non-normal incidence angle conditions. A 2.75 m × 2.02 m × 0.35 m (length × width × depth) lamp frame consisting of 35 (575 W) metal halide lamps arranged in 7 rows of 5 lamps is capable of illuminating a test area 2.2 m × 2.0 m with a maximum intensity of up to 1200 Wm-2. A series of tests were conducted to calibrate the simulator including uniformity measurement of light intensity distribution and degree of light collimation. The uniformity of 94.3% is achieved with standard deviation of 5.7% on a 2.2 m × 1.5 m target set at distance of 1.8 m from the lamp array for normal light incident. The solar simulator has been used in testing a novel solar heat exchanger, concentrating PV systems, solar thermal systems and thermal comfort measurements.