This Technical Report provides general guidance on the dynamic performance of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems. Dynamic performance, as used in this specification, is meant to include those events and phenomena whose characteristic frequencies or time domain cover the range between transient conditions and steady state. It is concerned with the dynamic performance due to interactions between two-terminal HVDC systems and related a.c. systems or their elements such as power plants, a.c. lines and buses, reactive power sources, etc. at steady-state or transient conditions. The two-terminal HVDC systems are assumed to utilize 12-pulse converter units comprised of three-phase bridge (double way) connections. The converters are assumed to use thyristor valves as bridge arms, with gapless metal oxide arresters for insulation coordination and to have power flow capability in both directions. Diode valves are not considered in this specification. While multi-terminal HVDC transmission systems are not expressly considered, much of the information in this specification is equally applicable to such systems.

Only line-commutated converters are covered in this report, which includes capacitor commutated converter circuit configurations. General requirements for semiconductor line-commutated converters are given in IEC 60146‑1‑1, IEC 60146‑1‑2 and IEC 60146‑1‑3. Voltage-sourced converters are not considered.

This report (IEC 60919‑3) which covers dynamic performance, is accompanied by publications for steady-state (IEC 60919‑1) and transient (IEC 60919‑2) performance. All three aspects should be considered when preparing two-terminal HVDC system specifications.

A difference exists between system performance specifications and equipment design specifications for individual components of a system. While equipment specifications and testing requirements are not defined herein, attention is drawn to those which would affect performance specifications for a system. There are many possible variations between different HVDC systems, therefore these are not considered in detail. This report should not be used directly as a specification for a specific project, but rather to provide the basis for an appropriate specification tailored to fit actual system requirements for a particular electric power transmission scheme. This report does not intend to discriminate between the responsibility of users and manufacturers for the work specified.