Hail simulator for testing solar cells and operation method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a hail simulator for testing solar cells and a method to simulate the impact of atmospheric precipitation, for example, hail on a surface of a solar cell. The device comprises a plurality of hail imitating balls attached by a flexible joint to a rotating shaft connected to a motor. When the shaft rotates, the centrifugal force strains the flexible joint and the balls are moving in the circular trajectory at a certain linear speed. When the ball hits the test surface, the ball speed becomes almost zero in a short time interval, resulting in impact conditions. At that moment the maximum impact force is realized. Devices, working this way, would work like natural hail in series of chaotic impacts. Depending on the material, shape, mass and number of hail imitating balls and geometry of flexible joints, number of shafts, their arrangement and rotation dynamic parameters, it becomes possible to achieve impacts on the surface of a solar cell of different frequency, rhythm, strength, and angle of attack imitating natural hail. The invention can be applied to the conveyor production of solar cells, when the elements being tested test pass through the hail simulator nonstop.