This part of IEC 60146 specifies the requirements for the performance of all semiconductor power converters and semiconductor power switches using controllable and/or non controllable electronic valve devices.

The electronic valve devices mainly comprise semiconductor devices, either not controllable (i.e. rectifier diodes) or controllable (i.e. thyristors, triacs, turn-off thyristors and power transistors). The controllable devices can be reverse blocking or reverse conducting and controlled by means of current, voltage or light. Non-bistable devices are assumed to be operated in the switched mode.

This document is primarily intended to specify the basic requirements for converters in general and the requirements applicable to line commutated converters for conversion of AC power to DC power or vice versa. Parts of this document are also applicable to other types of electronic power converter provided that they do not have their own product standards.

These specific equipment requirements are applicable to semiconductor power converters that either implement power conversion or use commutation (for example semiconductor self-commutated converters) or involve particular applications (for example semiconductor converters for DC motor drives) or include a combination of said characteristics (for example direct DC converters for electric rolling stock).

This document is applicable to all power converters not covered by a dedicated product standard, or if special features are not covered by the dedicated product standard. Generally dedicated product standards for power converters refer to this document.

NOTE 1 This document is not intended to define EMC requirements. It covers all phenomena and therefore introduces references to dedicated standards which are applicable according to their scope.

NOTE 2 For the information on converter transformers, related to this document, see IEC 61378-1.

NOTE 3 All the terms listed in Clause 3 are not necessarily used in this document, however they are necessary to establish a common understanding in the application of semiconductor converters.