Traceability of measurement systems for the assessment of HVDC converter efficiency

Since HVDC transmission is considered as the most favourable solution for the interconnection of several transmission grids over long distances, e.g. in offshore wind farms, the need for traceability for converter efficiency and HVDC metering has increased. Not least the economic consideration of loss distribution in such HVDC grids leads to the necessity of a metrological background for HVDC applications. To enable a comprehensive consideration of HVDC converter losses as well as those of the transmitted DC energy, several measurement systems and calibration services has been established and are briefly presented in this paper Measurement setups for calibrating efficiency measurement systems, consisting of a multi-channel power analyser and associated AC and DC sensors are described. The loss behaviour in HVDC IGBT valves is investigated using a new high voltage test bench.