Overview
IEC TR 60146-1-2:2019 - "Semiconductor converters – General requirements and line commutated converters – Part 1-2: Application guidelines" - is a technical report that provides application guidance and background information to support the specifications in IEC 60146-1-1:2009. It is primarily focused on line‑commutated converters and is intended to help suppliers, purchasers and designers extend the main specification in a controlled way for special cases. This fifth edition adds annexes on converter transformers and fuses for overcurrent protection, refines calculation methods for inductive voltage regulation and aligns transformer loss descriptions with the latest transformer standards.
Key Topics and Technical Coverage
The report covers practical and calculation-oriented topics that affect converter selection, design and system integration:
- Application guidance for semiconductor converters, including equipment specification data and terminal marking requirements.
- Converter transformers and reactors: selection, rating, magnetic circuit and guaranteed load/short‑circuit losses (annex material added).
- Calculation factors: voltage ratios, transformer current factors, inductive direct voltage regulation and magnetic circuit considerations.
- Power factor and reactive power: displacement factor, reactive power consumption and compensation needs.
- Direct voltage regulation and the impact of AC system impedance, with guidance on information exchange between supplier and purchaser.
- Harmonics and waveform distortion: commutation notches, harmonic current estimation, transformer phase shifts and operation of multiple converters on the same supply.
- Power loss evaluation and test methods: short‑circuit testing procedures and multiple test method options for loss estimation.
- Performance requirements: peak load current presentation, virtual junction temperature calculations and methods for continuous and cyclic loads.
- Converter operation and faults: stabilization, dynamic control properties, double‑converter operation, transition currents and fault protection guidance.
- Immunity class selection, DC short‑circuit current calculation and harmonic filter considerations.
Practical Applications
IEC TR 60146-1-2 is used when integrating or specifying line‑commutated semiconductor converters in power systems and industrial drives. Typical practical uses include:
- Preparing technical specifications and tender documents for converters and converter transformers.
- Sizing and selecting transformer ratings, fuses and protective devices for converter installations.
- Calculating voltage regulation, reactive power compensation and harmonic impacts on the supply system.
- Defining test procedures for power loss verification and checking peak load capability of semiconductor devices.
- Evaluating converter operation modes, protection strategies and fault management.
Who Should Use This Standard
- Power electronics designers and manufacturers (converters, rectifiers, inverters)
- Transformer designers and suppliers for converter applications
- Utility engineers and system integrators assessing grid interaction and reactive power needs
- Test engineers, procurement specialists and standards writers specifying converter equipment
Related Standards
- IEC 60146-1-1:2009 (primary specification this TR supports)
- Relevant IEC transformer and power quality standards (referenced in the TR for loss and impedance consistency)
This report is informative (not a normative specification except for certain auxiliary components) and is essential for engineers seeking robust, standards‑based guidance for integrating line‑commutated semiconductor converters into electrical systems.