Solar Simulator – Environmental Chamber Lab

The only facility of its kind worldwide, the Solar Simulator–Environmental Chamber enables researchers and industry leaders to investigate solar energy applications and advanced structural envelopes with the goal of developing cost-effective, net-zero energy buildings that produce as much energy as they use.

A $4.6-million overall investment has the facility equipped with cutting-edge technology to rate the ability of a building’s envelope to store heat and to resist frost/thaw damage, air infiltration, condensation and other adverse conditions. The chamber is also equipped to test composite materials and structures, such as floors and windows with special coatings.

Researchers are able to conduct experiments within days at the facility located within the basement of the Henry F. Hall building at the downtown campus, instead of the months it would likely take outdoors. Lab conditions ensure the greater accuracy and repeatable circumstances essential for high-quality research.

Solar Simulator

• One of just five worldwide to accurately test solar systems under standard test conditions with simulated full sun.
• Can test air and water collectors, photovoltaic systems, windows with different coatings, as well as advanced components such as semitransparent photovoltaics (that generate electricity while eliminating ultraviolet and infrared radiation).
• Has eight special lamps individually controllable with artificial sky to remove infrared heat from lamps

Environmental Chamber

• Can be used to test building envelope components, such as advanced wall systems that may include solar energy utilization components, under a range of conditions from Arctic to desert.
• Can test equipment from -40° to 50°C under specific conditions within 1°C and relative humidity ranging from two to 95 per cent depending on temperature.
• Specially designed windows on one side of the chamber admit solar light produced by a six-lamp mobile solar simulator.
• Can test wall systems such as curtain walls up to 4.5 m by 7 m high and test-huts up to 3.5 m wide, 6 m long and 6 m high for HAM (heat, air, moisture) response and energy performance, including possible heat and electricity output.
• Can be used to develop test methods and design standards for predictable relative hydrothermal performance and durability of different building envelope systems under various climatic conditions.

Other Equipment

• Mobile test room with removable test façade to evaluate the performance of advanced window or wall systems.
• Solar air-collector testing platform.
• Data acquisition and energy measurement equipment.