Attachment 1--Technical Specifications Enviro Chamber - Level 1.pdf
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- Solicitation number
- RFQ_2025025450
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Department of Energy Office of Science
About this file
This technical specification document details requirements for a Level 1 Large Component Reliability Testing Environmental Chamber for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The chamber is intended to support photovoltaic (PV) reliability research, specifically designed to accommodate contemporary large-format solar modules up to 1.5 m x 3 m x 5 cm, with a capacity to hold 8 full-size solar panels and associated racking. Key technical specifications include humidity control from 10-95% RH, temperature range from -40°C to 85°C with specific heating and cooling ramp times, and the ability to maintain temperature uniformity within ±2°C for all modules.
The environmental chamber is part of a SETO lab call agreement (52785) focused on PV reliability research, with a milestone completion date of 6/30/27 and delivery needed by 1/1/27. Technical requirements mandate that the equipment be listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), with vendors required to specify facility requirements, refrigerants used, and provide installation and commissioning as a separate line item. The chamber's objective extends beyond module testing to support broader reliability and durability research, including potential inverter and equipment testing, addressing the evolving needs of the PV market with increasingly large and potentially less robust module designs.
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"Level 1 – Large Component Reliability Testing Environmental Chamber"
June 24, 2025
BACKGROUND
Environmental chambers which can control temperature and humidity are a cornerstone of PV reliability research into accelerated testing. They are used for running numerous existing IEC and UL module stress tests, and are anticipated to be needed for development and validation of future revisions of such tests at NREL.
The PV market is moving to large format modules, with current modules up to 2.4 x
1.2 m. At the same time, these large format modules may present a reliability risk;
they are often made with 2 mm glass with reduced heat strengthening (in contrast to 3.2 mm glass found on smaller and older modules)
Purchase and commissioning fulfills Milestone 3.5.1 from SETO lab call agreement 52785: PV Reliability: R&D to Ensure a Scientific Basis of Qualification Tests and Standards.
• Milestone Description: Large chamber fully operational and calibrated
• Date: 6/30/27
• Milestone Criteria: This milestone will be satisfied when a module with one dimension larger than 2m has been tested in the new, larger environmental chamber according to at least one of the accelerated stress tests in IEC 61215 or IEC 61730 (e.g. thermal cycling, humidity freeze, damp heat, etc.).
• Baseline and Value: Please see milestone 1.4.1 for baseline description of large module capabilities. This milestone shows that NREL new large environmental chamber is fully operational and performing useful tests, including all equipment functions, temperature and humidity calibrations, and software that controls the stress conditions and logs data.
OBJECTIVE
The equipment will enable us to test contemporary PV modules that don’t fit in 4 of 5 of our current chambers. It will also be capable of testing inverters and other equipment beyond modules to support reliability and durability research in general.
SPECIFICATIONS:
REQUIRED CAPABILITIES
• Dead load / test article is 8 full size solar panels + racking. Solar panel mass is equivalent to 294 kg glass. Racking mass is equivalent to 91 kg steel.
• Room for 8 full size solar panels + racking. Module dimensions up to 1.5 m x 3 m x 5 cm. Assume racking dimensions extend 50cm beyond the envelope of the modules. Vendor to specify the distance required between modules for adequate airflow to meet temperature ramps plus excess around racking envelope.
• Humidity control from 10–95% RH
• Option to control temperature based on temperature probe affixed to device under test
• Temperature at the end of all specified ramps shall be stable and uniform for all 8 modules ±2°C
• Chamber shall have a floor drain
• Chamber shall include 4 ports to allow wires etc. to be run into the chamber
• All temperature and humidity setpoints or readings shall be remote programmable or readable into customer’s software.
• Water inlet to enable customer-built spray capability
Required Capabilities
• Heat test article temperature from –40°C to 85°C in 105 minutes
• Cool test article temperature from 85°C to –40°C in 105 minutes
TECHNICAL OR SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
• Vendor shall include facility requirements in quote
• Equipment shall be listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory
(NRTL) or field evaluated by a NRTL to ensure compliance with applicable codes and standards
• Vendor shall specify all refrigerants used in the quoted systems
• Vendor shall quote installation and commissioning as a separate line item
TIMELINE
• TM: Delivery needed by January 1, 2027
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