Natural sunlight is the cornerstone for the growth of all things, but it also builds an "invisible high wall" for scientific research and production - photovoltaic engineers are forced to suspend experiments due to rainy days, aerospace researchers repeatedly try and make mistakes to reproduce space light, and agricultural growers helplessly watch their crops decline due to insufficient seasonal sunlight... When "relying on the weather for a living" has become a common problem restricting development, the solar simulator developed by Saifan Optoelectronics over the past two decades, with its hard-core capabilities of "precise replication, stable output, and flexible adaptation", has transformed into a "light blade" that breaks the shackles, bringing controllable sunlight into laboratories, production lines, and fields, allowing innovation in various industries to completely break free from the constraints of natural light.
Photovoltaic research and development: Tackling the efficiency "tough nut" with "precise light", accelerating the application of technology by 40%
The perovskite solar cell R&D team of a leading photovoltaic enterprise was tormented by a set of "contradictory data" for an entire month: during outdoor tests, the conversion efficiency of the same batch of cells fluctuated repeatedly between 22.1% and 23.8%, with a deviation of over 7% within a week, and the R&D direction could never be focused. Natural light is like a "willful child". The spectrum and intensity in the morning and afternoon are different. The data measured today cannot be reproduced tomorrow. The team leader said helplessly. It was not until the introduction of the Saifan solar simulator that the research and development finally saw the light.
This device from Saifan can be regarded as a "master of precise replication of light" : It covers the full spectrum from 400nm to 1100nm. From the energy fluctuation of 0.1nm in the ultraviolet band to the spectral distribution pattern in the near-infrared region, all can be accurately restored through the 5th generation intelligent spectral fitting algorithm. The spectral matching degree reaches the A + level (0.875-1.125). Even the near-infrared "blind zone" of 780-1100nm, which is often overlooked by traditional devices, can clearly present the energy change curve. More importantly, it is its "stability" - a light intensity fluctuation rate of ±0.3% per hour, which is equivalent to a continuous test for 12 hours, with the light intensity change not exceeding "the brightness of a burning match". The ±2% spatial uniformity ensures that every part of the battery cell receives the same light, and the data deviation is strictly locked within 1%.
With this "stabilizing anchor", the team identified the root cause of the problem in just one week: the battery's absorption efficiency in the near-infrared band was 14% lower than expected. After targeted adjustment of the material formula, the battery conversion efficiency exceeded 27.6% at one go. The related achievements were not only published in "Solar RRL", but also rapidly advanced to the mass production stage. On the production line, an automated test line composed of 10 Saifan simulators efficiently screens batteries at A speed of 60 cells per minute, raising the A-grade product rate from 87% to 95%. This reduces the loss of defective products by over 18 million yuan annually and increases the speed at which high-efficiency photovoltaic technology moves from the laboratory to the production line by 40%.
Aerospace testing: Building a "safety wall" with "extreme adaptability" to make space exploration more confident
When a certain team of China Aerospace was testing the solar cell wings of a lunar exploration spacecraft, they encountered a "fatal bottleneck" : when simulating the extremely low temperature environment of -183 ℃ on the moon, the light intensity of the traditional simulator fluctuated by more than 5%, which deviated too much from the actual light on the moon, making it impossible to accurately assess the in-orbit lifespan of the cell wings. "After the spacecraft is launched into space, the failure of every component may lead to the failure of the entire mission. Ground tests must be 100% accurate." " The team's chief engineer said seriously. The customized solution of Saifan Optoelectronics has become the key to breaking the deadlock.
The Saifan simulator adopts a military-grade 6061-T6 aluminum alloy body, and is equipped with an airtight packaging design for the optical chamber and transmission chamber. It is like putting on an "aerospace-grade protective suit" for the equipment, capable of stable operation in conventional extreme environments ranging from -40 ℃ to 60℃. In response to the special requirements of the lunar exploration mission, the technical team also installed an ultra-low temperature adaptation module. By optimizing the heat dissipation of the optical path and the sensitivity of the sensor, even in an extremely cold environment of -183 ℃, the fluctuation of light intensity can still be controlled within ±1.5%. When simulating the AM0 spectrum of the moon, the device precisely eliminates the atmospheric filtration effect, restoring the pure radiation of the sun in the universe. It is equipped with a 0.1ms-level high-sensitivity sensor to correct the changes in light intensity in real time. After 1000 hours of continuous testing, the data curve remains stable without any fluctuations.
With this "core strength", the team has fully captured the aging laws of the battery wing material under extremely low temperatures and strong radiation. The new protective coating selected has extended the in-orbit life of the battery wing by five times, providing a core guarantee for the safety of the power system of the lunar exploration mission. In the Mars exploration mission, the Saifan team completed the development of the "AM0 + Mars Atmosphere Filtration" customized module in just five days, perfectly replicating the light characteristics on the Martian surface. The power generation efficiency of the optimized Mars rover's solar panels increased by 25%, completely solving the energy supply problem for deep space exploration.
Scientific research and Agriculture: Unlocking "New possibilities" with "flexible customization power", making the value of innovation visible
When Professor Li's team from Qingdao University was researching "photocatalytic degradation of plastics", they were stuck for half a year due to the "rigidity" of traditional equipment. We need to gradually increase the proportion of the ultraviolet band from 5% to 20%, and at the same time, combine it with near-infrared light of a specific intensity to observe the influence of different light qualities on the degradation efficiency. However, ordinary simulators can only output a fixed spectrum, which is far from meeting the experimental requirements. The "Spectrum Customization" function of the Saifan solar simulator has brought a turning point to the experiment.
This device is like a "magician of light" : the ultraviolet-visible and near-infrared bands can be adjusted with 1% precision, the light intensity can be freely switched from 0.1sun to 2sun, and it can also simulate the alternation of day and night, seasonal changes, and even support special modes such as pulsed light and gradient light. Through precise regulation for three consecutive months, Professor Li's team finally discovered that when the ultraviolet band accounted for 18% and the near-infrared light intensity was 0.8sun, the plastic degradation efficiency reached the highest, increasing by 45% compared with the initial scheme. The related results were published in "Applied Catalysis B: "Environmental" provides a brand-new technical path for the governance of plastic pollution.
In the agricultural sector, the Saifan simulator has transformed into an "intelligent light fertilizer", turning the concept of "increasing income through light" into reality. Lao Wang, a blueberry grower in Yunnan, once looked worried due to insufficient winter sunlight: "The sweetness of the blueberries in the greenhouses is only 11Brix, the yield per mu is less than 1,500 kilograms, and the selling price per jin is less than 20 yuan. After deducting the costs, it's almost unprofitable." " After the introduction of Saifan equipment, technicians customized a lighting scheme of "60% red light + 15% blue light + 5% ultraviolet light" based on the growth characteristics of blueberries, supplementing the customized spectrum for 8 hours every day. Three months later, the sweetness of Lao Wang's blueberries soared to 16Brix, the yield per mu exceeded 1,800 kilograms, and the price per jin rose to 35 yuan. The annual income of his 20 mu of land increased by more than 300,000 yuan. Nowadays, more and more local farmers have followed Lao Wang's lead in using Saifan "light fertilizer", and the once "frowning fields" have turned into "income-increasing fields".
Full-cycle service: Be a "companion" with "thoughtful companionship" to ensure worry-free cooperation throughout the entire process
Saifan Optoelectronics is well aware that good equipment requires good service support. Eight regional spare parts centers across the country have over 98% of commonly used components in stock. The 7× 24-hour response mechanism ensures that equipment malfunctions can be repaired within 24 hours. When a simulator on the production line of a certain photovoltaic enterprise suddenly broke down, engineers from Saifan arrived at the scene within 1.5 hours and completed the repair within 2.5 hours, without affecting the production of the day. In response to the special needs of research institutions, Saifan also offers "one-on-one" customized training. After a laboratory of a certain university purchased equipment, engineers provided on-site guidance for five consecutive days, teaching from spectral calibration to data export, step by step. This enabled the team to master the operation of the equipment proficiently within a week and quickly engage in experiments.
Today, Saifan solar simulators have served over 300 customers worldwide. The repurchase rate of core customers has reached 86%, and 90% of new customers come from referrals by existing customers. From the efficient operation of photovoltaic production lines to the safe execution of space missions, from scientific research breakthroughs in laboratories to the joy of harvest in farmlands, Saifan Optoelectronics has always broken the "light shackles" on the road of innovation with "controllable light", allowing all industries to no longer "wait for the sky to clear up". If your innovation is also trapped by the light problem, this "light" from Saifan is the key for you to break through the boundaries.
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