# pvl_SAMLibraryReader_SNLInverters

Open a System Advisor Model (SAM) Sandia Inverter Library

## Contents

- Syntax
- Description
- Input
- Output
- Notes
- Sources
- See also

## Syntax

- `[SNLInverterDB, InverterNames] = pvl_SAMLibraryReader_SNLInverters()`
- `[SNLInverterDB, InverterNames] = pvl_SAMLibraryReader_SNLInverters(LibraryFile)`

## Description

`pvl_SAMLibraryReader_SNLInverters` reads a System Advisor Model (SAM) [1] library of Sandia inverter model parameters [2]. Reads from the `.samlib` file format used by SAM2014.1.14 and earlier.

## Input

- `LibraryFile` - An optional input string to select which SAM library to read. If omitted, a user dialog box will prompt the user to browse and select a module library. Note that if LibraryFile is input to the function, the standard MATLAB precedence order applies.

## Output

- `SNLInverterDB` - The parameters in the SAM inverter library. SNLInverterDB is a column vector of size [NumberOfLibraryEntries, 1], where each element is a struct with the following fields. These fields may be described in more detail in [2].
- `name` - Name of the module entry in the library. Generally the name may consist of the manufacturer, model (and OEM if necessary), AC voltage, data source, and year of entry into the library
- `Vac` - Nominal AC voltage for the output of the inverter (V)
- `Pac0` - Maximum AC power "rating" for the inverter at nominal operating condition (W)
- `Pdc0` - DC power level at which the AC power rating (Pac0) is achieved (W)
- `Vdc0` - DC voltage level at which the AC power rating is achieved (V)
- `Ps0` - DC power required to start the inversion process, or self-consumption by the inverter (W)
- `C0` - Parameter defining the curvature (parabolic) of the relationship between AC power and DC power at the reference operating condition (1/W)
- `C1` - Empirical coefficient allowing Pdc0 to vary linearly with DC voltage input (1/V)
- `C2` - Empirical coefficient allowing Ps0 to vary linearly with DC voltage input (1/V)
- `C3` - Empirical coefficient allowing C0 to vary linearly with DC voltage input (1/V)
- `Pnt` - Power consumed by the inverter when no DC input power is present (e.g. at night), also known as "night tare" or "tare loss" (W). Note that in the SAM library (and the preceding Sandia database) some Pnt values are positive, while others are negative, thus it may be necessary to use the absolute value of Pnt to ensure a consistent sign.
- `Vdcmax` - Maximum DC voltage allowed to the inverter (V)
- `Idcmax` - Maximum DC current allowed to the inverter (A)
- `MPPTLow` - Low voltage limit for maximum power point tracking (V)
- `MPPTHi` - High voltage limit for maximum power point tracking (V)
- `LibraryType` - Library type as listed in the header information of the SAM library file.
- `LibraryName` - Library name as listed in the header information of the SAM library file.

- `InverterNames`* - A cell array of size [NumberOfLibraryEntries, 1] with the names of the inverters in the SAM library.

## Notes

If this function detects that the selected input library is not of type "SNLInverter", it will display a warning to the command window and continue to try and read the library.

The PV_LIB team would also like to thank the SAM team for maintaining the inverter parameter library and allowing for interaction with the library files.

## Sources

[1] System Advisor Model web page. https://sam.nrel.gov.

[2] King, D. et al, 2007, "Performance Model for Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Inverters", SAND2007-5036, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM.

## See also

`pvl_snlinverter`

Copyright 2015 Sandia National Laboratories