This International Standard applies to all line-commutated high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations used for power exchange in utility systems. This standard presumes the use of 12-pulse thyristor converters but can, with due care, also be used for 6-pulse thyristor converters.

In some applications, synchronous compensators or static var compensators (SVC) may be connected to the a.c. bus of the HVDC converter station. The loss determination procedures for such equipment are not included in this standard.

This standard presents a set of standard procedures for determining the total losses of an HVDC converter station. Typical HVDC equipment is shown in Figure 1. The procedures cover all parts, except as noted above, and address no-load operation and operating losses together with their methods of calculation which use, wherever possible, measured parameters.

Converter station designs employing novel components or circuit configurations compared to the typical design assumed in this standard, or designs equipped with unusual auxiliary circuits that could affect the losses, shall be assessed on their own merits.