Performance evaluation of a building-scale LED-based solar simulator

The Zero Carbon Building Systems Lab – initiated by the Professorship of Architecture and Building Systems at ETH Zurich – is a unique state-of-the-art infrastructure. To investigate new building envelopes as well as building services components capable of heating, ventilation, lighting, and humidification, experiments are performed using a 1-to-1 building scale test cell. The test cell is surrounded by an artificial climate and an ‘artificial sun’ (LED-based high-power solar simulator) to emulate the global conditions (solar radiation, temperature, and humidity) of Singapore, Oslo, or any other place in the world. The solar simulator was developed in-house and has successfully been commissioned this year. In the next step, the detailed performance of the solar simulator (solar intensity, solar spectrum matching, light collimation, and light homogenization) on a 6m2 target will be measured using a spectroradiometer, pyranometers, and image mapping. Measurements will then be used to validate ray-tracing simulations and to inform experimental testing procedures of 1:1 building elements. **Requirements** This position involves lab work at ETH Hönggerberg and you need to be present on-site min. 3 full days per week. Start is possible immediately or by arrangement. Depending on the student's background and project needs, this opportunity can be adjusted between 2-6 months as required.

The Zero Carbon Building Systems Lab – initiated by the Professorship of Architecture and Building Systems at ETH Zurich – is a unique state-of-the-art infrastructure. To investigate new building envelopes as well as building services components capable of heating, ventilation, lighting, and humidification, experiments are performed using a 1-to-1 building scale test cell. The test cell is surrounded by an artificial climate and an ‘artificial sun’ (LED-based high-power solar simulator) to emulate the global conditions (solar radiation, temperature, and humidity) of Singapore, Oslo, or any other place in the world.
The solar simulator was developed in-house and has successfully been commissioned this year. In the next step, the detailed performance of the solar simulator (solar intensity, solar spectrum matching, light collimation, and light homogenization) on a 6m2 target will be measured using a spectroradiometer, pyranometers, and image mapping. Measurements will then be used to validate ray-tracing simulations and to inform experimental testing procedures of 1:1 building elements.

**Requirements**

This position involves lab work at ETH Hönggerberg and you need to be present on-site min. 3 full days per week. Start is possible immediately or by arrangement. Depending on the student's background and project needs, this opportunity can be adjusted between 2-6 months as required.

To establish performance maps of the solar simulator, various criteria (spectral composition, intensity distribution, etc.) will be measured under a range of different conditions (e.g. solar incidence angle, LED power, spectrum modulations). The measured data will be compared to simulated data. Finally, based on the measurements, recommendations for solar simulator operation and execution of experimental campaigns for characterizing building components will be established.

To establish performance maps of the solar simulator, various criteria (spectral composition, intensity distribution, etc.) will be measured under a range of different conditions (e.g. solar incidence angle, LED power, spectrum modulations). The measured data will be compared to simulated data. Finally, based on the measurements, recommendations for solar simulator operation and execution of experimental campaigns for characterizing building components will be established.

Illias Hischier illias.hischier@arch.ethz.ch

Illias Hischier
illias.hischier@arch.ethz.ch