Abstract:Water cooling and air cooling are two major methods for outside cooling system of converter valve. Based on the project design of ± 800 kV Xinsong converter station,the technical and economic analysis and comparison between water cooling and air cooling are carried out. The results shows that,air cooling method is a water - saving and environmentally friendly method without water and pollution,and its operation and maintenance are relatively simple. Moreover,combined with the condition of station water supply,the equal annual cost in the period of using air cooling method is lower. So air cooling method is recommended for outside cooling system of converter valve in ± 800 kV Xinsong converter station.