Attachment 1--Technical Specifications Environmental Chamber - Level 3.pdf
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- Solicitation number
- RFQ_2025025452
- Issued by
-
Department of Energy Office of Science
About this file
This document is a technical specification for a Level 3 Large Component Reliability Testing Environmental Chamber for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The chamber is designed to perform accelerated stress testing on contemporary large format photovoltaic (PV) modules, inverters, and other equipment, with specific requirements including the ability to accommodate 8 full-size solar panels up to 1.5 m x 3 m x 5 cm, humidity control from 10-95% RH, and temperature range from -40°C to 85°C.
Key technical specifications include precise temperature and load requirements, such as heating and cooling test articles within 60-75 minutes under specific live and dead load conditions, maintaining air temperature at 10°C with 21kW load, and ensuring temperature uniformity within ±2°C for all modules. The technical requirements mandate that the equipment be listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), with the vendor responsible for providing facility requirements, specifying refrigerants, and quoting installation and commissioning separately. The delivery timeline indicates the equipment is needed by January 1, 2027, supporting NREL's Photovoltaic Reliability Core project.
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Text version
"Level 3 – 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)
OBJECTIVE
The equipment will enable NREL to perform accelerated stress testing contemporary large format PV modules It will also be capable of testing inverters and other equipment beyond modules to support reliability and durability research in general. The immediate impact will be to support the Photovoltaic Reliability Core project.
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 Level 3
• Heat test article temperature from –40°C to 85°C in 75 minutes with 8 kW live load + dead load
• Cool test article temperature from 85°C to –40°C in 75 minutes with 8 kW live load + dead load
• Heat test article temperature from –40°C to 85°C in 60 minutes
• Cool test article temperature from 85°C to –40°C in 60 minutes
• Maintain air temperature at 10°C with 21kW live load + dead load
• Cool test article temperature from 60°C to 15°C in 18 minutes with 15 kW live load + dead load
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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