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SAM IMPLEMENTATION

HST software interfaces with the pvsamv1 module within the SAM SDK for all energy simulations. The following table defines the specific SAM input variables which are set by HST software:

 

SAM Variable Value Description
6par_aisc User Defined (within User Defined Module)  Open circuit voltage temperature coefficient
6par_area User Defined (within User Defined Module)  Module area
6par_bifacial_ground_clearance_height User Defined (within User Defined Module)  Ground Clearance Height of Rack (used for bifacial model)
6par_bifacial_ground_transmission factor User Defined (within User Defined Module) Percentage of Front-side module area allowing passage of light, including gaps between modules.
6par_bifaciality User Defined (within User Defined Module)  Ratio of backside cell efficiency to frontside cell efficiency
6par_bvoc User Defined (within User Defined Module)  Short circuit current temperature coefficient
6par_celltech User Defined (within User Defined Module)  Solar cell technology type
6par_gpmp User Defined (within User Defined Module) Maximum power point temperature coefficient
6par_imp User Defined (within User Defined Module)  Maximum Power Point Current
6par_isc User Defined (within User Defined Module)  Maximum Short Circuit Current
6par_is_bifacial User Defined (within User Defined Module)  Toggle to specify if module is bifacial or not
6par_mounting Fixed = One Story Building Height or Less Array mounting height
6par_nser User Defined (within User Defined Module) Number of Cells in Series
6par_standoff Fixed = Ground or Rack Mounted  Standoff mode
6par_tnoct User Defined (within User Defined Module)  Nominal operating cell temperature
6par_vmp User Defined (within User Defined Module) Maximum power point voltage
6par_voc User Defined (within User Defined Module) Maximum Open Circuit Voltage
acwiring_loss Set to 0 All AC modeling simulated external to SAM simulation
ac_transmission_loss Set to 0 All AC modeling simulated external to SAM simulation
adjust:constant Set to 0 All AC modeling simulated external to SAM simulation
albedo Default = 0.2 Ground Albedo used only if this data is not included in hourly weather file 
cec_a_ref Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module) Nonideality factor a
cec_adjust Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module) Temperature coefficient adjustment
cec_alpha_sc Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module)  Short circuit current temperature coefficient
cec_area Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module)  Module area
cec_array_cols Fixed = 10 Columns of modules in array. Note: This parameter is not used in the energy model since cec_heat_transfer is set to use modue dimensions instead of Array dimensions
cec_array_rows Fixed = 1 Rows of modules in array. Note: This parameter is not used in the energy model since cec_heat_transfer is set to use modue dimensions instead of Array dimensions
 cec_backside_temp Fixed = 20 Module backside temperature. Note: This parameter is not used in the energy model since cec_mounting_config is set to Rack Mounted
 cec_beta_oc Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module) Open circuit voltage temperature coefficient
cec_bifacial_ground_clearance_height User Defined (within User Defined Module)  Ground Clearance Height of Rack (used for bifacial model)
cec_bifacial_ground_transmission factor User Defined (within User Defined Module) Percentage of Front-side module area allowing passage of light, including gaps between modules.
cec_bifaciality User Defined (within User Defined Module)  Ratio of backside cell efficiency to frontside cell efficiency
 cec_gamma_r Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module)  Maximum power point temperature coefficient
 cec_gap_spacing Fixed = 0.05 Module Gap Spacing Note: This parameter is not used in the energy model since cec_mounting_config is set to Rack Mounted
 cec_heat_transfer Fixed = Module Dimensions Heat transfer dimensions
 cec_height Fixed = One Story building Height or Lower  Array mounting height
cec_is_bifacial User Defined (within User Defined Module)  Toggle to specify if module is bifacial or not
 cec_i_l_ref Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module)  Light current
 cec_i_mp_ref Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module)  Maximum power point current
 cec_i_o_ref Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module)  Saturation current
 cec_i_sc_ref Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module) Short circuit current
 cec_module_length User Defined Module Length
 cec_module_width User Defined Module Width
 cec_mounting_config Fixed = Rack Mounted Mounting configuration
 cec_mounting_orientation Fixed = Structures Do Not Impede Flow Underneath Mounting structure orientation
 cec_n_s Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module)  Number of cells in series
 cec_r_s Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module)  Series resistance
 cec_r_sh_ref Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module)  Shunt resistance
 cec_standoff Fixed = Ground or Rack Mounted  Standoff mode
 cec_t_noct Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module)  Nominal operating cell temperature
 cec_temp_corr_mode Fixed = Heat Transfer Method Cell temperature model selection
 cec_v_mp_ref Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module)  Maximum power point voltage
 cec_v_oc_ref Fixed (from CEC Module Database per User Selection of Module)  Open circuit voltage
 dc_adjust:constant User Defined = Non-Ohmic DC Loss Input  DC Constant loss adjustment
 dcoptimizer_loss Fixed = 0  DC power optimizer loss
 inv_ds_eff User Defined (within User Defined Inverter)  Weighted or Peak or Nominal Efficiency
 inv_ds_paco User Defined (within User Defined Inverter)  AC maximum power rating
 inv_ds_pnt User Defined (within User Defined Inverter)  AC power consumed by inverter at night
 inv_ds_pso User Defined (within User Defined Inverter)  DC power required to enable the inversion process
 inv_ds_vdcmax User Defined (within User Defined Inverter)  Maximum DC input operating voltage
 inv_ds_vdco User Defined (within User Defined Inverter)  DC input voltage for the rated AC power rating
 inv_snl_c0 Fixed (from CEC Inverter Database per User Selection of Inverter)  Curvature between AC power and DC power at ref
 inv_snl_c1 Fixed (from CEC Inverter Database per User Selection of Inverter)  Coefficient of Pdco variation with DC input voltage
 inv_snl_c2 Fixed (from CEC Inverter Database per User Selection of Inverter)  Coefficient of Pso variation with DC input voltage
 inv_snl_c3 Fixed (from CEC Inverter Database per User Selection of Inverter)  Coefficient of Co variation with DC input voltage
 inv_snl_paco Fixed (from CEC Inverter Database per User Selection of Inverter)  AC maximum power rating
 inv_snl_pdco Fixed (from CEC Inverter Database per User Selection of Inverter)  DC input power at which AC power rating is achieved
 inv_snl_pnt Fixed (from CEC Inverter Database per User Selection of Inverter)  AC power consumed by inverter at night
 inv_snl_pso Fixed (from CEC Inverter Database per User Selection of Inverter)  DC power required to enable the inversion process
 inv_snl_vdcmax Fixed (from CEC Inverter Database per User Selection of Inverter)  Maximum DC input operating voltage
 inv_snl_vdco Fixed (from CEC Inverter Database per User Selection of Inverter)  DC input voltage for the rated AC power rating
 inverter_count HST Calculated  Number of inverters
 inverter_model Fixed (CEC Model when CEC Inverter Selected or Datasheet Model when User Defined Inverter Data Entered)  Inverter model specifier
 irrad_mode User Defined  Irradiance input translation mode
 module_model Fixed (CEC Model when CEC Module Selected or 6 Parameter Model when User Defined Module Data Entered)  Photovoltaic module model specifier
 modules_per_string HST Calculated  Modules per string
 mppt_hi_inverter User Defined (if User Defined Inverter) / Fixed (if CEC Inverter)  Maximum inverter MPPT voltage window
 mppt_low_inverter User Defined (if User Defined Inverter) / Fixed (if CEC Inverter)  Minimum inverter MPPT voltage window
 sky_model Fixed = Perez  Diffuse sky model
 solar_resource_file User Defined  Weather file in TMY2, TMY3
 strings_in_parallel HST Calculated  String in parallel
 subarray1_azimuth HST Calculated (if Optimized over Azimuth) Otherwise User Defined  Sub-array 1 Azimuth
 subarray1_backtrack User Defined  Sub-array 1 Backtracking enabled
 subarray1_dcwiring_loss HST Calculated = DC String + DC Feeder Wiring Losses  Sub-array 1 DC wiring loss
 subarray1_diodeconn_loss Fixed = 0  Sub-array 1 DC diodes and connections loss
 subarray1_gcr HST Calculated (if Optimized over Row Spacing) Otherwise User Defined  Sub-array 1 Ground coverage ratio
 subarray1_mismatch_loss Fixed = 0  Sub-array 1 DC mismatch loss
 subarray1_mod_orient User Defined (Landscape or Portrait) Sub-array 1 Module orientation for self-shading
 subarray1_nameplate_loss Fixed = 0 Sub-array 1 DC nameplate loss
 subarray1_nmodx HST Calculated  Sub-array 1 no. of modules along bottom for self-shading
 subarray1_nmody User Defined = Number of Modules Up per Rack Sub-array 1 no. of modules along side for self-shading
 subarray1_rotlim User Defined  Sub-array 1 Tracker rotation limit
 subarray1_shade_mode Fixed = Non-Linear (if Crystaline) or Linear (if Thin Film)  Sub-array 1 shading mode (fixed tilt or 1x tracking)
 subarray1_soiling User Defined (Annual or Monthly)  Sub-array 1 Monthly soiling loss
 subarray1_tilt HST Calculated (if Optimized over Tilt) Otherwise User Defined  Sub-array 1 Tilt
 subarray1_track_mode User Defined (Fixed-Tilt or Tracking)  Sub-array 1 Tracking mode
 subarray1_tracking_loss Fixed = 0  Sub-array 1 DC tracking error loss
 subarray2_enable Fixed = Disabled  Sub-array 2 Enable
 subarray3_enable Fixed = Disabled  Sub-array 3 Enable
 subarray4_enable Fixed = Disabled  Sub-array 4 Enable
 system_capacity HST Calculated = DC Nameplate Rating  DC Nameplate capacity
 system_use_lifetime_output User Defined (either 1st year or lifetime simulation)  PV lifetime simulation
 transformer_load_loss Set to 0 All AC modeling simulated external to SAM simulation
 transformer_no_load_loss Set to 0 All AC modeling simulated external to SAM simulation
use_wf_albedo Set to Yes Uses hourly Ground Albedo if included in weather file 
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