Overview

EN IEC 61803:2026 - Determination of Power Losses in High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Converter Stations is a key international standard developed by CLC and IEC. It offers standardized methods for calculating power losses in HVDC converter stations, covering both line-commutated converter (LCC) and voltage-sourced converter (VSC) technologies. The standard enables consistent, comparable, and verifiable assessment of equipment efficiency, ensuring fairness in procurement and aiding in optimizing HVDC system designs across the power transmission sector.

HVDC converter stations are essential for modern electrical transmission, supporting efficient, long-distance, and high-capacity power flows. The accurate determination of power losses in these stations is crucial for operational efficiency, system reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

Key Topics

Applicability: Covers HVDC converter stations with both 12-pulse (and, by extension, 6-pulse) LCCs and MMC-based VSCs. Excludes loss determination for auxiliary devices like synchronous compensators or STATCOM.
Types of Losses Defined:
- Equipment operating losses
- Equipment no-load operation losses
- Auxiliary and station service losses
Calculation Methodology:
- Focuses on summing calculated losses for each equipment item rather than unreliable total station measurements.
- Utilizes measured parameters and standardized reference conditions for temperature, air pressure, and operating scenarios.
Components Analyzed:
- Thyristor and VSC valve losses
- Transformer losses (no-load and operational)
- AC/DC filter and shunt equipment losses
- Reactor and phase reactor losses
- Auxiliary power losses
Ambient and Operating Conditions: Standardizes reference points for ambient temperature, coolant temperature, and air pressure to ensure loss calculations are comparable and reflect realistic operational environments.
Bid Comparison and Verification: Supplies utilities and purchasers with a robust framework to compare tenders and verify manufacturer performance claims.

Applications

EN IEC 61803:2026 is applied throughout the lifecycle of HVDC converter stations, including:

Design and Specification: Helps engineers specify equipment with optimal efficiency for new HVDC projects.
Tendering and Procurement: Provides a transparent method for comparing bids and selecting HVDC solutions based on verified loss data.
Commissioning and Type Testing: Supports performance verification through loss calculations based on measured values from individual components under standard conditions.
Operation and Maintenance: Informs maintenance strategies by identifying major contributors to system losses and efficiency bottlenecks.
Regulatory Compliance and Reporting: Assists in meeting regulatory requirements for efficiency and environmental impact by clearly defining and quantifying electrical losses.

Related Standards

EN IEC 61803:2026 references and is complemented by several international standards relevant to HVDC equipment and power loss determination:

IEC 60076-1 - Power transformers: General requirements
IEC 60076-6 - Power transformers: Reactors
IEC 60633 - HVDC terminology
IEC 60700-1 - Thyristor valves for HVDC power transmission: Electrical testing
IEC 60871-1 - Shunt capacitors for AC power systems
IEC 62747 - Terminology for VSC HVDC systems

Experts, utilities, manufacturers, and system operators engaged in the design, procurement, or operation of HVDC converter stations will benefit from the structure and clarity provided by EN IEC 61803:2026. Utilizing this standard ensures the efficient determination of HVDC system losses, enabling energy-efficient and cost-effective power transmission across modern electric grids.

Overview

Key Topics

Applicability: Covers HVDC converter stations with both 12-pulse (and, by extension, 6-pulse) LCCs and MMC-based VSCs. Excludes loss determination for auxiliary devices like synchronous compensators or STATCOM.
Types of Losses Defined:
- Equipment operating losses
- Equipment no-load operation losses
- Auxiliary and station service losses
Calculation Methodology:
- Focuses on summing calculated losses for each equipment item rather than unreliable total station measurements.
- Utilizes measured parameters and standardized reference conditions for temperature, air pressure, and operating scenarios.
Components Analyzed:
- Thyristor and VSC valve losses
- Transformer losses (no-load and operational)
- AC/DC filter and shunt equipment losses
- Reactor and phase reactor losses
- Auxiliary power losses
Ambient and Operating Conditions: Standardizes reference points for ambient temperature, coolant temperature, and air pressure to ensure loss calculations are comparable and reflect realistic operational environments.
Bid Comparison and Verification: Supplies utilities and purchasers with a robust framework to compare tenders and verify manufacturer performance claims.

Applications

EN IEC 61803:2026 is applied throughout the lifecycle of HVDC converter stations, including:

Design and Specification: Helps engineers specify equipment with optimal efficiency for new HVDC projects.
Tendering and Procurement: Provides a transparent method for comparing bids and selecting HVDC solutions based on verified loss data.
Commissioning and Type Testing: Supports performance verification through loss calculations based on measured values from individual components under standard conditions.
Operation and Maintenance: Informs maintenance strategies by identifying major contributors to system losses and efficiency bottlenecks.
Regulatory Compliance and Reporting: Assists in meeting regulatory requirements for efficiency and environmental impact by clearly defining and quantifying electrical losses.

Related Standards

EN IEC 61803:2026 references and is complemented by several international standards relevant to HVDC equipment and power loss determination:

IEC 60076-1 - Power transformers: General requirements
IEC 60076-6 - Power transformers: Reactors
IEC 60633 - HVDC terminology
IEC 60700-1 - Thyristor valves for HVDC power transmission: Electrical testing
IEC 60871-1 - Shunt capacitors for AC power systems
IEC 62747 - Terminology for VSC HVDC systems

EN IEC 61803:2026 PDF

Technical details

Abstract

Overview

Key Topics

Applications

Related Standards

Related standards

Abstract

Overview

Key Topics

Applications

Related Standards

Related standards

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