A survey of HVDC operating and maintenance practices and their impact on reliability and performance

A questionnaire about operating, maintenance, and spare parts practices and substation performance was sent to all HVDC converter substations worldwide. This survey is sponsored by IEEE Working Groups 15.05.08, Economics and Operating Strategies, and 17, Reliability of HVDC Converter Stations. Responses from thirty-eight substations are analyzed, and information about the most popular practices is reported. One important conclusion is that energy contracts, AC power system constraints, and dedicated generation frequently have strong influences on the operation and maintenance practices of HVDC substations. A search is made for correlations between the operating, maintenance, and spare parts practices, including spending, and the substations' performance and availability. No conclusions about the most cost-effective practices can be made. The results are compared with those of a study published in 1992 which covered a few of the same topics.