Standards Development

Scope

IEC 63532 applies to stationary, fixed or built-in InterLink Converters (ILC) used to interconnect two different power systems, one AC power system with or without connection to the grid and one DC power system with connection to DC sources and DC loads, as described in IEC 60364-8-82:2022 and IEC 60364-8-82:2022/AMD1:2026

The goal of this document is to reduce risks of fire, electric shock, thermal, energy and mechanical hazards during use and operation and, where specifically stated, during service and maintenance (including reasonably foreseeable misuse). This product standard is harmonized with the applicable parts of group safety publication IEC 62477-1:2022 for power electronic converter systems and contains modified and additional requirements relevant to ILC. It applies to an ILC with one AC port with a voltage not exceeding 1 000 V AC and one DC port with a voltage not exceeding 1 500 V DC.

NOTE 1 The multiport ILC can be covered in a later edition.

NOTE 2 Some functional requirements defined in this standard can apply to a MV AC to LV DC ILC when a dedicated MV/LV transformer is used to isolate the ILC.

It applies to ILCs with or without galvanic isolation between the AC port and the DC port.

NOTE 3 The AC port can be single phase, 2 or 3 phases, with or without neutral. The DC port can have 2 or 3 active wires.

It applies to both unidirectional or bidirectional ILCs with or without ancillary services (see IEV 617-03-09) for the grid.

It applies to permanently connected ILCs, whether consisting of a system of interconnected units or of independent units, subject to installing, operating and maintaining the ILC in the manner prescribed by the manufacturer.

It applies to ILCs intended to be installed both in an area accessible by an ordinary person (see IEC 62477-1:2022 3.43) and to an ILC installed in a restricted access area (see IEC 62477-1:2022 3.63). This document specifies requirements to ensure safety for the ordinary person and, where specifically stated, for the skilled person who comes into contact with the ILC.

It also specifies minimum functional and performance requirements and more specifically power quality for the supply of a DC subpart of the installation as defined in in IEC 60364-8-82:2022 and IEC 60364-8-82:2022/AMD1:2026.

This document does not cover:

–        ILCs between DC power systems;

–        ILCs that have multiple AC ports or multiple DC ports;

–        pluggable ILCs;

–        class II and class III (IEV 195-06-36, IEV 195-06-37) ILCs;

–        active front end converters for a specified set of DC loads such as the sub-drive input modules (SDIM) as defined in § 3.1.20 of IEC 61800-9-2:2025;

–        and ILCs with grid forming capability for AC system islanded mode.

NOTE 4 Even if the ILC term is defined in 3.101 with a broader scope, this document only covers ILCs with one AC port and one DC port and do not cover ILCs with two DC ports or two AC ports.

NOTE 5 The control and design of the ILC with the ability to grid form on both the DC side and the AC side is very complex and at an early stage of study so this first edition will not cover this case.