The dual climate chamber is a device that we use at DEVINN to test headlights (especially prototype headlights) to ensure that the headlight of a vehicle in the final development phase will not fog up during operation and therefore its functionality and lifetime will not be compromised in any way.
DEVINN gives us a glimpse into its test room, where it tests the resistance of parts to sunlight (the so-called SoSi test).
THE SUNSHINE GIVES THE PARTS A HARD TIME
Sunlightcauses degradation of materials (e.g. fading), but at the same time, parts exposed to the sun become extremely overheated and can deform. An example of overheating is the steering wheel behind the glass of a car, which can get up to 70 °C in the sun at an ambient temperature of 30 °C. These phenomena are caused by ultraviolet light, which tends to 'tan', and infrared light, which tends to 'heat'.
THE SUN IN THE LABORATORY
ForSoSi (Solar Simulation) test we have a special climate chamber in DEVINN supplemented with high power light emitters with adjustable intensity with maximum power 1300W/m2 in the wavelength range 270-3000nm. We can thus simulate intensities ranging from the winter sun in the Arctic Circle to a hot summer beach in the Canaries. Moreover, in combination with a certain humidity, a rainforest or desert environment can be achieved. The chamber has a volume of 600 litres, i.e. entire assemblies can be tested. In our case, the most frequently tested part is the headlight. By adding intensity we significantly reduce the time required for testing. A few days of SoSi testing can replace a year of real sunshine.
OTHER BENEFITS AND USES
The mainadvantage is, as in the case of the climate chamber, 100% repeatability of conditions that we can never achieve in outdoor conditions. In particular, we test whether the materials from which the car parts are made can withstand high temperatures and the effects of infrared and ultraviolet radiation (deformation of plastic parts, greying of reflectors, fogging, etc.). We can thus again compare individual designs at different stages of development under the same ambient conditions. For example, to compare functionality after design or material changes.
Another interesting application may be, for example, in testing the efficiency of solar panels (their efficiency) as a function of solar radiation intensity and ambient temperature.
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