IEC TR 60146-1-2:2011

Overview - IEC TR 60146-1-2:2011 (Semiconductor converters application guide)

IEC TR 60146-1-2:2011 is a technical report from IEC that provides guidance for extending and applying the general requirements given in IEC 60146-1-1:2009. It focuses primarily on line commutated converters (rectifiers/inverters) and explains controlled variations to the main specification for special cases. This document is an application guide - not a prescriptive standard - except for limited auxiliary component data where other standards lack information. The fourth edition was reissued to comply with current directives and to correct errors.

Key topics and technical guidance

This application guide covers practical and technical issues relevant to semiconductor converters and power-electronics systems, including:

• Application and specification data
  • Conversion equipment, system interfaces and required supplier–purchaser information
  • Terminal markings and unusual service conditions
• Converter transformers and reactors
  • Voltage ratios, current factors and magnetic circuit considerations
• Power factor, reactive power and voltage regulation
  • Displacement factor, conversion factors, and direct voltage regulation with system impedance
• Harmonics and waveform distortion
  • Commutation notches, harmonic currents, interaction of multiple converters, and transformer phase shifts
• Reactive power compensation and filtering
  • Capacitor banks, detuning reactors, resonant frequency estimation, and ripple carrier effects
• Thermal and performance evaluation
  • Methods to estimate device thermal behaviour (virtual junction temperature), peak load capability and power-loss testing (short-circuit methods)
• Testing, immunity and protection
  • Test procedures, immunity class guidance, converter fault definitions and fault-current protection
• Operational behaviour
  • Control system dynamics, single/double converter modes, circulating current suppression and transition limits

Practical applications and users

IEC TR 60146-1-2 is valuable to:

• Power-electronics and design engineers specifying or integrating line-commutated rectifiers/inverters
• Transformer and reactor designers working with converter-connected equipment
• System integrators, utilities and industrial plant engineers managing reactive power, harmonics and voltage regulation issues
• Test labs and quality engineers developing test plans for converter performance, losses and immunity
• Manufacturers and procurement specialists preparing equipment specifications and supplier agreements

Typical application areas include industrial motor drives, DC power supplies, HVDC components, electrochemical plants and utility-connected power conversion systems.

Related standards

• IEC 60146-1-1:2009 (General requirements) - the primary specification this report supports
• Other IEC standards on transformers, harmonic limits and electromagnetic compatibility (refer to IEC catalogue for up-to-date links)

For implementers, use IEC TR 60146-1-2 together with the normative IEC 60146-1-1 text and applicable regional grid codes to ensure reliable converter integration and compliance.