SVC valve testing for UK transmission applications

There are not at present, any internationally agreed testing standards for SVC valves; it was therefore necessary to agree a suitable testing programme which would verify that the electrical, thermal and mechanical performance requirements of the valve are satisfied under steady state and transient conditions. Many of the tests performed on an SVC valve are similar to those performed on other power apparatus. However, the tests to demonstrate satisfactory performance under operational conditions are very specific to thyristor valves, and require different test circuits. The authors discuss these tests and some of the test circuits and test results are described.