Xenon flash lamp for sun simulation and weathering

Xenon flash lamp for sun simulation and weathering

Environmental testing to ensure longevity and quality to a consumer is a critical factor in many of today’s markets, particularly Textiles, Solar Panels and Automotive.
Xenon lamps from Noblelight are widely used for sun simulation and weathering, since the spectral output is closely matched to the output of the Sun, and can be used to perform UV ageing tests of materials or the light source for class AAA simulators, for the testing of Solar Cells and Modules.

Your advantages by using Xenon lamp for sun simulation and weathering:

  • Standard sunlight simulation from UV to IR
  • Stable and repeatable output, from pulse to pulse
  • Uniform output distribution

About the McNair Aerospace Centre

The University of South Carolina's McNair Centre is a university centre focused on aerospace-related education, research, K-12 STEM support, workforce development, and industry engagement. The McNair Centre research team includes over 30 faculty from mechanical, chemical, civil and electrical engineering. Named in honour of scientist and explorer Ronald E. McNair, a South Carolina native, the McNair Centre was established in 2011 through generous endowments from Darla Moore and Anita Zucker and has been further enhanced with support from alumna Marva Smalls. A dedicated team of professionals now guides our research, education and partnership efforts.

How did you hear about humm3®, and what convinced you to get a system?

Heraeus reached out to the University with the offer of a technical partnership. Through that partnership we received one of the first humm3® (6kW) prototype systems to test with dry carbon fibre and carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastics. After finding success with the initial system the conversation to acquire a more powerful more streamlined version of the humm3® began. Today we are working with the 9kW version of the humm3®. With the increased power we have been able to successfully process many thermoplastic carbon and glass reinforced materials.

How has working with humm3® benefited your work?

Humm3 installed at McNAIR Aerospace Center

The humm3® system has allowed us to continue researching high temperature thermoplastic materials. humm3® has helped to solve thermoplastic AFP material processing, in both the ability to reach temperature for laydown and tack of material, increase deposition rate, safety, and ease of process parameter development for layup.

The ability to safely operate automated fibre placement and humm3® systems from the original operations console has allowed us to continue teaching undergraduate and graduate students in a very hands-on manner as well aiding in research activities.

What future developments and initiatives are planned for your humm3®?

We hope to start working with newer high temperature materials such as ceramic matrix composites and carbon-carbon composites. Partnering with Heraeus and material suppliers we hope to be the first ones to attempt to manufacture as many cutting-edge composite materials as possible.

Interview contributions

Brandon Seay
Associate Engineer - Automated Fiber Placement programmer/operator, composite curing equipment coordinator, and main composite manufacturing process developer.

Jessie Pandher
Researcher - Specialties in thermoplastic composites, induction welding, composite structures testing and characterizing, and high temperature thermoplastic processing

Xenon lamp for sun simulation

The testing of solar cells and panels requires standard sunlight simulation across the full spectrum of wavelengths from short UV through to infrared. Throughout the test period the measurements need to be stable and repeatable. Excelitas Noblelight is already working with leading Solar Test Equipment manufacturers and understands their needs in testing solar cells and modules.

We are able to tailor the product by working to your requirements

  • linear or ring lamps
  • uniform output distribution across the lamp
  • for tests of single cells and solar modules
  • lamp output closely matches the solar spectrum

Xenon lamp for weathering

Various samples are exposed to the light for long periods. These Flash lamps are operated in both pulsed and CW mode. Due to the high intensity of light output of Xenon Flash lamps accelerated aging tests can be performed to check the durability of materials that are exposed to the sun.