BS EN 62747:2014

BS EN
Incorporating 62747:2014
corrigendum February 2015

BSI Standards Publication

Terminology for voltage-

sourced converters (VSC)
for high-voltage direct
current (HVDC) systems
BS EN 62747:2014 BRITISH STANDARD

National foreword
This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 62747:2014. It is
identical to IEC 62747:2014, incorporating corrigendum February 2015.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical
Committee PEL/22, Power electronics.
A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained
on request to its secretary.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions
of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.
© The British Standards Institution 2015.
Published by BSI Standards Limited 2015
ISBN 978 0 580 89799 3
ICS 29.200; 29.240
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from
legal obligations.
This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards
Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 October 2014.
Amendments/corrigenda issued since publication
Date Text affected
31 March 2015 Implementation of IEC corrigendum February 2015.
Modulation index equation in subclause 8.11 updated.
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 62747
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM September 2014

ICS 29.200; 29.240

English Version

Terminology for voltage-sourced converters (VSC) for high-

voltage direct current (HVDC) systems
(IEC 62747:2014)

Terminologie relative aux convertisseurs de source de Terminologie für Spannungszwischenkreis-Stromrichter

tension (VSC) des systèmes en courant continu à haute (VSC) für Hochspannungsgleichstrom(HGÜ)-Systeme
tension (CCHT) (IEC 62747:2014)
(CEI 62747:2014)

This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2014-08-21. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization

Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels

© 2014 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.

Ref. No. EN 62747:2014 E

BS EN 62747:2014
EN 62747:2014 -2-

Foreword

The text of document 22F/301/CDV, future edition 1 of IEC 62747, prepared by SC 22F "Power
electronics for electrical transmission and distribution systems", of IEC/TC 22 "Power electronic
systems and equipment" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by
CENELEC as EN 62747:2014.

The following dates are fixed:

– latest date by which the document has to be implemented at (dop) 2015-05-21

national level by publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement

– latest date by which the national standards conflicting with (dow) 2017-08-21
the document have to be withdrawn

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such
patent rights.

Endorsement notice

The text of the International Standard IEC 62747:2014 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.

In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standards indicated:

IEC 60146-1-1 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60146-1-1.

IEC 60146-2 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60146-2.

IEC 60747 NOTE Harmonized in EN 60747 series.

IEC 60633 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60633.

IEC 62501 NOTE Harmonized as EN 62501.

1)
IEC 62751-1 NOTE Harmonized as EN 62751-1 .
1)
IEC 62751-2 NOTE Harmonized as EN 62751-2 .

1) To be published.
 BS EN 62747:2014
-3- EN 62747:2014

Annex ZA
(normative)

Normative references to international publications

with their corresponding European publications

The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

NOTE 1 When an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod),
the relevant EN/HD applies.

NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is
available here: www.cenelec.eu.

Publication Year Title EN/HD Year

IEC 60027 series Letter symbols to be used in electrical EN 60027 series
technology
IEC 60617 - Graphical symbols for diagrams - -
 BS EN 62747:2014
–4
2– IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

CONTENTS
1 Scope ............................................................................................................................5
2 Normative references.....................................................................................................5
3 Symbols and abbreviations ............................................................................................ 5
3.1 List of letter symbols ............................................................................................. 5
3.2 List of subscripts ...................................................................................................6
3.3 List of abbreviations .............................................................................................. 7
4 Graphical symbols .........................................................................................................8
5 General terms related to converter circuits ..................................................................... 9
6 VSC topologies ............................................................................................................ 10
7 Converter units and valves ........................................................................................... 10
8 Converter operating conditions..................................................................................... 16
9 HVDC systems and substations ................................................................................... 20
10 HVDC substation equipment ........................................................................................ 23
11 Modes of control .......................................................................................................... 26
12 Control systems ........................................................................................................... 27
Bibliography ....................................................................................................................... 30

Figure 1 – Converter symbol identifications ........................................................................... 7

Figure 2 – Graphical symbols ................................................................................................8
Figure 3 – Voltage-sourced converter unit ........................................................................... 11
Figure 4 – Phase unit of the modular multi-level converter (MMC) in basic half-bridge,
two-level arrangement, with submodules ............................................................................. 13
Figure 5 – Phase unit of the cascaded two-level converter (CTL) in half-bridge form ............ 14
Figure 6 – Phasor diagram showing a.c. system voltage, converter a.c. voltage and
converter a.c. current .......................................................................................................... 18
Figure 7 – Example of bipolar VSC transmission with earth return ........................................ 21
Figure 8 – VSC transmission with a symmetrical monopole illustrated with capacitive
earthing on the d.c. side ...................................................................................................... 22
Figure 9 – VSC transmission with an asymmetrical monopole with metallic return ................ 22
Figure 10 – VSC transmission with an asymmetrical monopole with earth return .................. 22
Figure 11 – Major components that may be found in a VSC substation ................................. 25
Figure 12 – Hierarchical structure of an HVDC control system ............................................. 29
BS EN 62747:2014
IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014 –5–

TERMINOLOGY FOR VOLTAGE-SOURCED CONVERTERS (VSC)

FOR HIGH-VOLTAGE DIRECT CURRENT (HVDC) SYSTEMS

1 Scope

This International Standard defines terms for the subject of self-commutated voltage-sourced
converters used for transmission of power by high voltage direct current (HVDC).

The standard is written mainly for the case of application of insulated gate bipolar transistors
(IGBTs) in voltage sourced converters (VSC) but may also be used for guidance in the event
that other types of semiconductor devices which can both be turned on and turned off by
control action are used.

Line-commutated and current-sourced converters for high-voltage direct current (HVDC)

power transmission systems are specifically excluded from this standard.

2 Normative references

The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.

IEC 60027 (all parts), Letter symbols to be used in electrical technology

IEC 60617, Graphical symbols for diagrams

3 Symbols and abbreviations

3.1 List of letter symbols

Essential terms and definitions necessary for the understanding of this standard are given
here; other terminology is as per relevant parts of IEC 60747.

The list covers only the most frequently used symbols (see Figure 1). IEC 60027 shall be
used for a more complete list of the symbols which have been adopted for static converters.
See also other standards listed in the normative references and the bibliography.

Ud direct voltage

Udc converter d.c. voltage

Udpe pole-to-earth direct voltage

Udpp pole-to-pole direct voltage

UdppN rated pole-to-pole direct voltage

UdpeN rated pole-to-earth direct voltage

UL line-to-line voltage on line side of interface transformer, r.m.s. value including

harmonics
 BS EN 62747:2014
–6– IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

ULe line-to-earth voltage on line side of interface transformer, r.m.s. value including
harmonics

ULN rated value of U L

Uv line-to-line voltage on valve side of interface transformer, r.m.s. value including

harmonics

Uve line-to-earth voltage on valve side of interface transformer, r.m.s. value including
harmonics

Uc line-to-line converter voltage, r.m.s. value including harmonics

NOTE U c is equal to U v minus the voltage drop across the phase and valve reactors. However, U c has only a
clear meaning during balanced conditions (steady state).

Uce line-to-earth converter voltage , r.m.s. value including harmonics

Uvalve voltage between terminals of a valve (any defined value)

Id direct current (any defined value)

I dN rated direct current

IL current on line side of interface transformer, r.m.s. value including harmonics

I LN rated value of I L

Iν current on valve side of interface transformer, r.m.s. value including harmonics

I νalve current through a valve

3.2 List of subscripts

0 (zero) at no load

e earth

p pole

N rated value or at rated load

d direct current or voltage

L line side of interface transformer

c converter

v valve side of interface transformer

valve through or across one valve

max maximum

min minimum

n pertaining to harmonic component of order n

BS EN 62747:2014
IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014 –7–

Positive d.c. terminal

I valve Id

U valve

U Le U ve U dpe

U ce Uc
UL IL Iv

U dpp

Uv
transformer transformer
line side valve side

I valve Id

Negative d.c. terminal

IEC

Figure 1 – Converter symbol identifications

3.3 List of abbreviations

The following abbreviations are always in capital letters and without dots.

CTL cascaded two-level converter

ERTB earth return transfer breaker

ESCR effective short-circuit ratio

FWD free-wheeling diode

HF high frequency

HVDC high-voltage direct current

IGBT insulated gate bipolar transistor

MMC modular multilevel converter

MRTB metallic return transfer breaker

MTDC multi-terminal HVDC transmission system

MVU multiple valve (unit)

NBS neutral bus switch

NGBS neutral bus grounding switch

PCC point of common coupling

PCC-DC point of common coupling – d.c. side

 BS EN 62747:2014
–8– IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

SCR short-circuit ratio

VBE valve base electronics

VCU valve control unit

VSC voltage-sourced converter

NOTE Even though the word “breaker” is used in the abbreviations, it does not necessarily imply the ability to
interrupt fault currents.

4 Graphical symbols

Figure 2 shows the specific graphical symbols which are defined only for the purposes of this
standard. IEC 60617 shall be used for a more complete list of the graphical symbols which
have been adopted for static converters.

IEC

Figure 2 – Graphical symbols

BS EN 62747:2014
IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014 –9–

5 General terms related to converter circuits

5.1
conversion
in the context of HVDC, the transfer of energy from a.c. to d.c. or vice versa, or a combination
of these operations

5.2
converter
in the context of HVDC, the device employed to transfer of energy from a.c. to d.c. or vice
versa, it connects between three a.c. terminals and two d.c. terminals

5.3
voltage-sourced converter
VSC
electronic a.c./d.c. converter having an essentially smooth d.c. voltage provided by e.g. a
common d.c. link capacitor or distributed d.c. capacitors within the converter arms

5.4
arm
converter arm
part of a converter connecting the a.c. phase terminal with the d.c. pole terminal

5.5
commutation
transfer of current between any two paths with both paths carrying current simultaneously
during this process

5.6
line commutation
method of commutation whereby the commutating voltage is supplied by the a.c. system

5.7
self-commutation
commutation where the commutating voltage is supplied by components within the converter
or the electronic switch

5.8
commutating voltage
voltage which causes the current to commutate, provided either by the system or by a
switching action of valve/semiconductor devices

5.9
commutation inductance
total inductance included in the commutation circuit, in series with the commutating voltage

Note 1 to entry: The commutation inductance is typically referred as stray inductance or loop inductance.

5.10
coupling inductance
equivalent inductance referred to the converter side of the interface transformer between the
point of common coupling (PCC) and the d.c. terminal of the valve
 BS EN 62747:2014
– 10 – IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

6 VSC topologies

6.1
two-level converter
converter in which the voltage between the a.c. terminals of the VSC unit (see 7.6) and VSC
unit midpoint (see 7.28) is switched between two discrete d.c. voltage levels

6.2
three-level converter
converter in which the voltage between the a.c. terminals of the VSC unit (see 7.6) and VSC
unit midpoint (see 7.28) is switched between three discrete d.c. voltage levels

6.3
multi-level converter
converter in which the voltage between the a.c. terminals of the VSC unit (see 7.6) and VSC
unit midpoint (see 7.28) is switched between more than three discrete d.c. voltage levels

6.4
modular multi-level converter
MMC
multi-level converter in which each VSC valve (see 7.8, 7.9) consists of a number of MMC
building blocks (see 7.11) connected in series

Note 1 to entry: See also Figure 4.

6.5
cascaded two-level converter
CTL
modular multi-level converter in which each switch position consists of more than one IGBT-
diode pair connected in series

Note 1 to entry: See Figure 5.

7 Converter units and valves

7.1
turn-off semiconductor device
controllable semiconductor device which may be turned on and off by a control signal, for
example an IGBT

7.2
insulated gate bipolar transistor
IGBT
turn-off semiconductor device with three terminals: a gate terminal (G) and two load terminals
emitter (E) and collector (C)

7.3
free-wheeling diode
FWD
power semiconductor device with diode characteristic

Note 1 to entry: A FWD has two terminals: an anode (A) and a cathode (K).

Note 2 to entry: The current through FWDs is in the opposite direction to the IGBT current.

7.4
IGBT-diode pair
arrangement of IGBT and FWD connected in inverse parallel
BS EN 62747:2014
IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014 – 11 –

Note 1 to entry: An IGBT-diode pair is usually in one common package, however, it can include individual IGBTs
and/or diodes packages connected in parallel.

7.5
converter unit
indivisible operative unit comprising all equipment between the point of common coupling on
the a.c. side (see 9.25) and the point of common coupling – d.c. side (see 9.26), essentially
one or more VSC units, together with one or more interface transformers, converter unit
control equipment, essential protective and switching devices and auxiliaries, if any, used for
conversion

Note 1 to entry: See Figure 3.

7.6
VSC unit
three VSC phase units, together with VSC unit control equipment, essential protective and
switching devices, d.c. storage capacitors, phase reactors and auxiliaries, if any, used for
conversion

Note 1 to entry: See Figure 3.

7.7
VSC phase unit
equipment used to connect the two d.c. terminals to one a.c. terminal

Note 1 to entry: In the simplest implementation, the VSC phase unit consists of two VSC valves, and in some
case, it may include also valve reactors. The VSC phase unit may also include control and protection equipment,
and other components.

7.8
VSC valve
<switch type> arrangement of IGBT-diode pairs connected in series and arranged to be
switched simultaneously as a single function unit

VSC valve VSC valve VSC valve

D.c.
capacitor

Valve Valve Valve

reactors reactors reactors
Phase Phase Phase
reactor reactor reactor

VSC valve VSC valve VSC valve

Phase Phase Phase

unit unit unit

D.c. Protective Dynamic

Converter control
capacitor devices braking valve
IEC

Figure 3 – Voltage-sourced converter unit

Note 1 to entry: In some designs of VSC, the phase reactors may fulfill part of the function of the converter-side
high frequency filter. In addition, in some designs of VSC, part or all of the phase reactor may be built into the
three “phase units” of the VSC unit, as “valve reactors”.

Note 2 to entry: In some designs of VSC, the VSC d.c. capacitor may be partly or entirely distributed amongst the
three “phase units” of the VSC unit, where it is referred to as d.c. submodule capacitors.

Note 3 to entry: Valve and/or phase reactors shown above show optional configurations which may not be
included in all schemes.
 BS EN 62747:2014
– 12 – IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

Note 4 to entry: Just a typical example of how a VSC unit could look like is shown in Figure 3, differences may
exist at all levels.

7.9
VSC valve
<controllable voltage source type> complete controllable voltage source assembly, which is
generally connected between one a.c. terminal and one d.c. terminal

7.10
VSC valve level
the smallest indivisible functional unit of VSC valve

Note 1 to entry: For any VSC valve in which IGBTs are connected in series and operated simultaneously, one
VSC valve level is one IGBT-diode pair including its auxiliaries (see Figure 4). For MMC type without IGBT-diode
pairs connected in series, one valve level is one submodule together with its auxiliaries (see Figure 5).

7.11
MMC building block
self-contained, two-terminal controllable voltage source together with d.c. capacitor(s) and
immediate auxiliaries, forming part of a MMC

7.12
switch position
semiconductor function which behaves as a single, indivisible switch

Note 1 to entry: A switch position may consist of a single IGBT-diode pair or, in the case of the Cascaded Two
Level converter, a series connection of multiple IGBT-diode pairs.

7.13
submodule
MMC building block where each switch position consists of only one IGBT-diode pair

Note 1 to entry: See Figure 4.

BS EN 62747:2014
IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014 – 13 –

Valve

MMC building block

= Submodule
= VSC valve level

Switch
position

AC

Valve
N IEC

Figure 4 – Phase unit of the modular multi-level converter (MMC)

in basic half-bridge, two-level arrangement, with submodules

7.14
cell
MMC building block where each switch position consists of more than one IGBT-diode pair
connected in series

Note 1 to entry: See Figure 5.

 BS EN 62747:2014
– 14 – IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

P
Valve

VSC valve level

MMC building block

= Cell

Switch
position

AC

Valve
N
IEC

Figure 5 – Phase unit of the cascaded two-level converter (CTL) in half-bridge form

7.15
diode valve
semiconductor valve containing only diodes as the main semiconductor devices and
associated circuits and components if any, which might be used in some VSC topologies

7.16
diode valve level
part of a diode valve composed of a diode and associated circuits and components, if any

7.17
dynamic braking valve
complete controllable device assembly, which is used to control energy absorption in a
dynamic braking resistor
BS EN 62747:2014
IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014 – 15 –

7.18
dynamic braking valve level
part of a dynamic braking valve comprising a turn-off semiconductor device and an associated
diode, or controllable switches and diodes connected in parallel, or turn-off semiconductor
devices and diodes connected to a half bridge arrangement, together with their immediate
auxiliaries, storage capacitor, if any

7.19
valve
VSC valve, dynamic braking valve or diode valve according to the context

7.20
redundant levels
the maximum number of series connected VSC valve levels or diode valve levels in a valve
that may be short-circuited externally or internally without affecting the safe operation of the
valve as demonstrated by type tests, and which if and when exceeded, would require
shutdown of the valve to replace the failed levels or acceptance of increased risk of failures

Note 1 to entry: In valve designs such as the cascaded two level converter, which contain two or more conduction
paths within each cell and have series-connected VSC valve levels in each path, redundant levels shall be counted
only in one conduction path in each cell.

7.21
d.c. capacitor
capacitor which is used as part of a voltage-sourced converter which experiences mainly d.c.
voltage between its terminals

Note 1 to entry: For valves of the controllable switch type, the d.c. capacitor is usually arranged as a single
device between the d.c. terminals. For valves of the controllable voltage-sourced type the d.c. capacitor is usually
distributed amongst the MMC building blocks.

7.22
valve reactor
reactor (if any) which is connected in series to a VSC valve of the controllable voltage-source
type

Note 1 to entry: One or more valve reactors can be associated to one VSC valve and might be connected at
different positions within the valve. According to the definition, valve reactors are not part of the VSC valve.
However, it is also possible to integrate the valve reactors in the structural design of the VSC valve, e.g. into each
valve level.

7.23
valve module
the largest factory-assembled and tested building block of the valve, consisting of one or
more VSC valve levels, submodules or cells connected electrically in series

7.24
valve structure
structural components of a valve, required in order to mechanically support the valve modules

7.25
valve support
that part of the valve which mechanically supports and electrically insulates the active part of
the valve from earth

Note 1 to entry: A part of a valve which is clearly identifiable in a discrete form to be a valve support may not
exist in all designs of valves.
 BS EN 62747:2014
– 16 – IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

7.26
multiple valve unit
MVU
mechanical arrangement of 2 or more valves or 1 or more VSC phase units sharing a common
valve support

Note 1 to entry: A MVU might not exist in all topologies and physical arrangement of converters.

7.27
valve section
electrical assembly defined for test purposes, comprising a number valve levels and other
components, which exhibits pro-rated electrical properties of a complete valve

Note 1 to entry: For valves of controllable voltage source type, the valve section includes d.c. capacitor in
addition to VSC valve levels.

7.28
VSC unit midpoint
point in a VSC unit whose electrical potential is equal to the average of the potentials of the
positive and negative d.c. terminals of the VSC unit

Note 1 to entry: In some applications, the VSC unit midpoint may exist only as a virtual point, not corresponding
to a physical node in the circuit.

8 Converter operating conditions

8.1
rectifier operation
rectification
mode of operation of a converter or an HVDC substation when energy is transferred from the
a.c. side to the d.c. side

Note 1 to entry: Phasor diagram showing a.c. system voltage, converter a.c. voltage and converter a.c. current for
rectifier operation is shown in Figure 6.

8.2
inverter operation
inversion
mode of operation of a converter or an HVDC substation when energy is transferred from the
d.c. side to the a.c. side

Note 1 to entry: Phasor diagram showing a.c. system voltage, converter a.c. voltage and converter a.c. current for
inverter operation is shown in Figure 6.

8.3
capacitive operation
operation in which the converter feeds reactive power into the a.c. system with or without
exchanging active power

8.4
inductive operation
operation in which the converter consums reactive power from the a.c. system with or without
exchanging active power

8.5
STATCOM operation
mode of operation of a converter when only reactive power (capacitive or inductive) is
exchanged with the a.c. system
BS EN 62747:2014
IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014 – 17 –

8.6
operating state
condition in which the HVDC substation is energized and the converters are de-blocked

Note 1 to entry: Unlike line-commutated converter, VSC can operate with zero active/reactive power output.

8.7
no-load operating state
condition in which the HVDC substation is energized but the IGBTs are blocked and all
necessary substation service loads and auxiliary equipment are connected
IEC 62747:2014/COR1:2015 –1–
8.8  IEC 2015
idling operating state
condition in which the HVDC substation is energized and the IGBTs are ELECTROTECHNICAL
INTERNATIONAL de-blocked but with COMM
no active or reactive power output at the point of common connection to the a.c. network
COMMISSION ÉLECTROTECHNIQUE INTERNA
Note 1 to entry: The “idling operating” and “no-load” conditions are similar but from the no-load state, several
seconds may be needed before power can be transmitted, while from the idling operating state, power transmission
may be commenced almost immediately (less than 3 power frequency cycles).
____________

Note 2 to entry: In the idling operating state, the converter is capable of actively controlling the d.c. voltage, in
contrast to the no-load state, where the behavior of the converter is essentially “passive”.
IEC 62747 IEC
Note 3 to entry: Losses will generally be slightly lower in theEdition
no-load1.0state than in the idling operating state,
2014-07 Édition 1.
therefore this operating mode is preferred where the arrangement of the VSC system permits it.

8.9 Terminology for voltage-sourced converters Terminologie relative

(VSC) for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) source de tension (V
blocked state systems courant continu à h
condition in which all valves of the VSC unit are blocked

8.10
converter charging CORRIGENDUM 1
transitional condition of the converter when the a.c. system voltage is applied to the converter
via a pre-insertion resistor
Note 1 to entry: Pre-insertion resistor may not be necessary in all applications.

8.11
modulation index
M
8.11 voltage,
ratio of the peak line to ground a.c. converter modulation index
to half 8.11to indice de mo
of the converter d.c. terminal
terminal voltage Replace, in the definition, the existing Remplacer, dans la
equation by the following new equation: existante par la
suivante:
2 ⋅⋅U
Ucc11
M =
U dc 2 ⋅ U c1
3 ⋅⋅ U dc M =
22 U
3 ⋅ dc
2
where

Uc1 is the r.m.s value of the fundamental frequency component of the line-to-line voltage U c ;

Uc is the output voltage of one VSC phase unit at its a.c. terminal;

Udc is the output voltage of one VSC phase unit at its d.c. terminals.

Note 1 to entry: Some sources define modulation index in a different way such that a modulation index of 1 refers
to a square-wave output, which means that the modulation index can never exceed 1. The modulation index
according to that definition is given simply by M·(π/4). However, that definition is relevant mainly to two-level
converters using pulse width modulation (PWM).
fr)
 BS EN 62747:2014
– 18 – IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

VLI=jXL*ILI
UCEI
ULI
ILI XL
δR
δI
ϕR
VLI ϕ I ILEI
ULEI UCEI

IEC

Figure 6 – Phasor diagram showing a.c. system voltage,

converter a.c. voltage and converter a.c. current

8.12
positive conducting state
condition of an IGBT-diode pair in which load current flows through the IGBT from collector to
emitter

8.13
negative conducting state
condition of an IGBT-diode pair in which load current flows through the free-wheeling diode
from anode to cathode

8.14
positive valve current
direction of current flow through the valve from positive d.c. terminal to negative d.c. terminal
or, in case of a diode valve, in the direction that forward biases the diode valve

8.15
negative valve current
direction of current flow through the valve from negative d.c. terminal to positive d.c. terminal

8.16
positive valve terminal
terminal of the valve that is closest to the positive d.c. terminal of the VSC unit

8.17
negative valve terminal
terminal of the valve that is closest to the negative d.c. terminal of the VSC unit

8.18
valve voltage
potential difference between the positive valve terminal and negative valve terminal

8.19
valve blocking state
condition of a valve when all IGBTs are turned off

8.20
IGBT gating
control action carried out to establish a current or interrupt a current in an IGBT
BS EN 62747:2014
IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014 – 19 –

8.21
short-circuit failure mode
condition of an IGBT in which it is no longer capable of withstanding voltage but can safely
conduct current in either direction

8.22
MMC building block operating states
possible states under which MMC building blocks can be operated

8.22.1
bypassed
operating state where the IGBT(s) of one or more switch positions are turned on such that the
valve current does not flow through the cell/submodule d.c. capacitor

8.22.2
active
operating state where the IGBT(s) of one or more switch positions are turned on such that the
valve current flows through the cell/submodule d.c. capacitor

8.22.3
protectively bypassed
emergency operating state where the valve current flows through a protective device other
than the IGBT(s)/diode(s) in order to prevent damage to the MMC building block or its
components

Note 1 to entry: Protective bypassing may be used for either permanent or temporary conditions depending on the
type of fault.

8.22.4
converter blocking
operation to initiate a mode change from operating state to blocked state of a VSC unit

8.23
valve protective blocking
means of protecting the valve or converter from excessive electrical stress by the emergency
turn-off of all IGBTs in one or more valves

8.24
converter deblocking
operation to initiate a mode change from blocked state to operating state of a VSC unit

8.25
short-circuit ratio
SCR
ratio of the a.c network short-circuit level (in MVA) at 1 p.u. voltage at the point of connection
to the HVDC substation a.c. bus, to the rated d.c. power of the HVDC substation (in MW)

8.26
effective short-circuit ratio
ESCR
ratio of the a.c. network short-circuit level (in MVA) at 1 p.u. voltage at the point of connection
to the HVDC substation a.c. bus, reduced by the reactive power of the shunt capacitor banks
and a.c. filters, if any, connected to this point (in MVAr), to the rated d.c. power of the HVDC
substation (in MW)
 BS EN 62747:2014
– 20 – IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

9 HVDC systems and substations

9.1
HVDC system
electrical power system which transfers energy in the form of high-voltage direct current
between two or more a.c. buses

9.2
HVDC transmission system
HVDC system which transfers energy between two or more geographic locations

9.3
two-terminal HVDC transmission system
HVDC transmission system consisting of two HVDC transmission substations and the
connected HVDC transmission line(s)

9.4
multiterminal HVDC transmission system
MTDC
HVDC transmission system consisting of more than two separated HVDC substations and the
interconnecting HVDC transmission lines

9.5
symmetrical monopole
single VSC converter with symmetrical d.c. voltage output on the two terminals

Note 1 to entry: The term “symmetrical monopole” is used even though there are two polarities with d.c. voltages,
because with only one converter it is not possible to provide the redundancy which is normally associated with the
term “bipole”.

9.6
asymmetrical monopole
single VSC converter with asymmetrical d.c. voltage output on the two terminals, normally
with one terminal earthed

9.7
bipole
two or more VSC asymmetrical monopoles forming a bipolar d.c. circuit

9.8
parallel converter configuration
two or more converters located in the same substation and connected to the same a.c. and
d.c. transmission system connected in parallel

9.9
series converter configuration
two or more converters located in the same substation and connected to the same a.c. and
d.c. transmission systems, connected in parallel on the a.c. side and in series in the d.c. side

9.10
bi-directional HVDC system
HVDC system for the transfer of energy in either direction

9.11
uni-directional HVDC system
HVDC system for the transfer of energy in only one direction

Note 1 to entry: Most HVDC systems are inherently bi-directional. However, some systems may be optimized to
transmit power in only one preferred direction. Such systems may still be considered as “bi-directional”.
BS EN 62747:2014
IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014 – 21 –

9.12
HVDC back-to-back system
HVDC system which transfers energy between a.c. buses at the same location

9.13
(HVDC) (system) pole
part of an HVDC system consisting of all the equipment in the HVDC substations and the
interconnecting transmission lines, if any, which during normal operation exhibit a common
direct voltage polarity with respect to earth

Note 1 to entry: See Figure 7.

9.14
(HVDC) (system) bipole
part of an HVDC system consisting of two HVDC system poles, which during normal
operation, exhibit opposite direct voltage polarities with respect to earth

9.15
bipolar (HVDC) system
HVDC system with two independently operable poles of opposite polarity with respect to earth

Pole

~ ~
DC :Line or cable

= =

~ ~
= DC :Line or cable =
Pole
IEC

Figure 7 – Example of bipolar VSC transmission with earth return

9.16
earth return
operation mode in which the return current path between neutrals of the HVDC substations is
through the earth

9.17
metallic return
operation mode in which the return current path between neutrals of the HVDC substations is
through a dedicated conductor

Note 1 to entry: The metallic return conductor may be either a dedicated neutral conductor or another high
voltage conductor.

9.18
monopolar (HVDC system)
HVDC system with only one pole
 BS EN 62747:2014
– 22 – IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

9.19
symmetrical monopolar HVDC system
HVDC system consisting of a single converter unit or a parallel connection of two or more
converter units at each substation operated such that the two d.c. output terminals are at
symmetrical voltages with respect to earth

Note 1 to entry: See Figure 8.

IEC

Figure 8 – VSC transmission with a symmetrical monopole illustrated with capacitive

earthing on the d.c. side

9.20
asymmetrical monopolar HVDC system
HVDC system consisting of a single converter unit or a parallel connection of two or more
converter units at each substation operated such that one of the two d.c. output terminals of
at least one substation is earthed

Note 1 to entry: See Figures 9 and 10.

~ ~
= =
IEC

Figure 9 – VSC transmission with an asymmetrical monopole with metallic return

~ ~
= =
IEC

Figure 10 – VSC transmission with an asymmetrical monopole with earth return

9.21
HVDC substation
HVDC converter station
part of an HVDC system which consists of one or more converter units installed in a single
location together with buildings, reactors, filters, reactive power supply, control, monitoring,
protective, measuring and auxiliary equipment

Note 1 to entry: An HVDC substation forming part of an HVDC transmission may be referred to as an HVDC
transmission substation.

9.22
HVDC transmission line
part of a pole consisting of overhead lines and/or cables connecting two HVDC substations
BS EN 62747:2014
IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014 – 23 –

9.23
earth electrode
array of conducting elements placed in the earth, or the sea, which provides a low resistance
path between a point in the d.c. circuit and the earth and is capable of carrying continuous
current for some expected period

9.24
earth electrode line
insulated line between the HVDC substation d.c. neutral bus and the earth electrode

9.25
point of common coupling
PCC
point of interconnection of the HVDC converter station to the adjacent a.c. system

9.26
point of common coupling – d.c. side
PCC-DC
point of interconnection of the HVDC converter station to the d.c. transmission line

10 HVDC substation equipment

NOTE Major components that can be found in a VSC substation are shown in Figure 11.

10.1
HVDC substation circuit breaker
circuit breaker located at the feeder from the a.c. transmission system to connect and
disconnect the HVDC substation

10.2
pre-insertion resistor
during energization of the HVDC substation, temporarily inserted resistor to reduce charging
currents of the d.c. circuit

Note 1 to entry: The pre-insertion resistor could be integrated within the substation circuit breaker.

10.3
a.c. harmonic filters
filter circuits to prevent VSC-generated harmonics – if applicable – from penetrating into the
a.c. system or to prevent amplification of background harmonics on the a.c. system

Note 1 to entry: AC harmonic filters can be installed on either the line side or the converter side of the interface
transformer.

10.4
high frequency filters
HF filters
filter circuits to prevent VSC-generated high frequency (HF) harmonics – if applicable – from
penetrating into the a.c. system

Note 1 to entry: High frequency filters can be installed on either the line side or the converter side of the interface
transformer.

10.5
interface transformer
transformer (if any) through which power is transmitted between the a.c. system connection
point and one or more VSC units

Note 1 to entry: The term “converter transformer” is also used for this equipment.
 BS EN 62747:2014
– 24 – IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

10.6
phase reactor
a reactor connected directly to the a.c. terminal of the VSC phase unit forming part of the
coupling inductance

10.7
VSC d.c. capacitor
capacitor bank (s) (if any) connected between two d.c. terminals of the VSC

10.8
common mode blocking reactor
reactor (if any) used to reduce common mode alternating currents flowing into a d.c. overhead
line or cable of an HVDC transmission scheme

10.9
d.c. harmonic filter
d.c. filters (if any) used to prevent harmonics generated by VSC valve from penetrating into
the d.c. system

10.10
d.c. reactor
a reactor (if any) connected in series to a d.c. busbar

10.11
converter unit arrester
arrester connected across the d.c. terminals of a converter unit

10.12
converter unit d.c. bus arrester
arrester connected from the high voltage d.c. bars of the converter unit to substation earth
BS EN 62747:2014
IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014 – 25 –

IEC

Key

1 Circuit breaker 9 VSC unit b

c
2 Pre-insertion resistor 10 VSC d.c. capacitor
3 Line side harmonic filter 11 DC harmonic filter
4 Line side high frequency filter 12 Dynamic braking system
d
5 Interface transformer 13 Neutral point grounding branch
6 Converter side harmonic filter 14 DC reactor
a
7+8 Converter side high frequency filter 15 DC cable or overhead transmission line
a
8 Phase reactor
a In some designs of VSC, the phase reactor may fulfill part of the function of the converter-side high frequency
filter.

b In some VSC topologies, each valve of the VSC unit may include a “valve reactor”, which may be built in to the
valve or provided as a separate component.

c In some designs of VSC, the VSC d.c. capacitor may be partly or entirely distributed amongst the three phase
units of the VSC unit, where it is referred to as the d.c. submodule capacitors.

d The philosophy and location of the neutral point grounding branch may be different depending on the design of
the VSC unit.

Figure 11 – Major components that may be found in a VSC substation

10.13
metallic return transfer breaker
MRTB
switching device used to transfer d.c. current from an earth return path to a metallic return
path
 BS EN 62747:2014
– 26 – IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

10.14
earth return transfer breaker
ERTB
switching device used to transfer d.c. current from a metallic return path to an earth return
path

10.15
neutral bus switch
NBS
switching device used to transfer d.c. current from a fault on the neutral bus into the metallic
or earth return path

10.16
neutral bus grounding switch
NBGS
switching device used to transfer d.c. current from a fault on the neutral bus or neutral
conductor into station ground

11 Modes of control

11.1
control mode
manner in which a converter unit, pole or HVDC substation is controlled in order to maintain
one or more electrical quantities at desired values

Note 1 to entry: The desired values may change with time or as a function of measured quantities and defined
priorities.

11.2
d.c. voltage control mode
control of the d.c. voltage in an HVDC substation

11.3
active power control mode
control of the active power exchanged between an HVDC substation and the connected a.c.
network

11.4
a.c.voltage control mode
control of the a.c. voltage of the a.c. network connected to an HVDC substation

11.5
reactive power control mode
control of the reactive power exchanged between an HVDC substation and the connected a.c.
network

11.6
islanded network operation mode
control mode in which the HVDC substation controls the frequency and the voltage of the
connected islanded a.c. network

11.7
frequency control mode
control of the frequency of the connected a.c. network by varying the active power exchanged
between an HVDC substation and the connected a.c. network
BS EN 62747:2014
IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014 – 27 –

11.8
damping control mode
control mode providing the damping of power oscillations or sub-synchronous oscillations in a
connected a.c. network

12 Control systems

12.1
integrated a.c./d.c. system control
control system which governs the integrated operation of a.c. and HVDC systems of a power
system

Note 1 to entry: This control system is under the responsibility of the system operator.

12.2
control system
HVDC control system
function of, or the equipment used for, controlling, monitoring or protection of main plant
equipment, such as circuit breakers, valves, interface transformers and their tap changers,
forming part of an HVDC system

Note 1 to entry: An example illustrating a typical HVDC control system hierarchy is shown in Figure 12.

12.3
HVDC system control
control system which governs the operation of an entire HVDC system consisting of more than
one HVDC substation and performs those functions of controlling, monitoring and protection
which require information from more than one substation

Note 1 to entry: See Figure 12.

12.4
multiterminal control
HVDC system control for more than two HVDC substations

12.5
(HVDC system) bipole control
control system of a bipole

Note 1 to entry: See Figure 12.

12.6
(HVDC system) pole control
control system of a pole

Note 1 to entry: See Figure 12.

Note 2 to entry: When the HVDC system has no bipole(s) but one or more poles, the pole control interfaces with
the HVDC system control.

12.7
(HVDC) station control
control system used for the controlling, monitoring and protection within an HVDC substation

Note 1 to entry: HVDC station control may be implemented at the bipole and/or pole level and may be referred to
as local control.

12.8
converter control
control system used for the controlling, monitoring and protection of a single converter unit
 BS EN 62747:2014
– 28 – IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

Note 1 to entry: See Figure 12.

12.9
valve base electronics
VBE
electronic unit, at earth potential, providing the electrical to optical conversion between the
converter control system and the VSC valves

12.10
valve control unit
VCU
electronic unit, at earth potential, providing the control and protection functions for individual
valves

Note 1 to entry: VBE and VCU functions could be combined in one unit.

12.11
valve electronics
electronic circuits at valve potential(s) which perform control and protection functions for one
or more valve levels
BS EN 62747:2014
IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014 – 29 –

IEC

Figure 12 – Hierarchical structure of an HVDC control system

 BS EN 62747:2014
– 30 – IEC 62747:2014  IEC 2014

Bibliography

IEC 60050-551, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary – Part 551: Power electronics

IEC 60146-1-1, Semiconductor converters – General requirements and line commutated

convertors – Part 1-1: Specifications of basic requirements

IEC 60146-2, Semiconductor converters – Part 2: Self-commutated semiconductor converters

including direct d.c. converters

IEC/TR 62543, High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission using voltage sourced
converters (VSC)

IEC 60747 (all parts), Semiconductor devices

IEC 60747-1, Semiconductor devices – Part 1: General

IEC 60747-2, Semiconductor devices – Discrete devices and integrated circuits – Part 2:
Rectifier diodes

IEC 60747-9, Semiconductor devices – Discrete devices – Part 9: Insulated-gate bipolar

transistors (IGBTs)

IEC 60633, Terminology for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission

IEC 62501, Voltage sourced converter (VSC) valves for high-voltage direct current (HVDC)
power transmission – Electrical testing

IEC 62751-1, Determination of power losses in voltage sourced converter (VSC) valves for
high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems – Part 1: General requirements 1

IEC 62751-2, Power losses in voltage sourced converter (VSC) valves for high-voltage direct
current (HVDC) systems – Part 2: Modular multi-level converters 2

VSC Transmission, CIGRÉ Technical Brochure No. 269

Component Testing of VSC System for HVDC Applications, CIGRÉ Technical Brochure No.
447

Voltage Source Converter (VSC) HVDC for Power Transmission – Economic Aspects and
Comparison with other AC and DC Technologies, CIGRÉ Technical Brochure No. 492

_____________

_______________
1 To be published.
2 To be published.
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