In an electric power conversion device which performs power conversion between multiphase AC and DC, a first converter cell of a first arm for each phase of a power converter includes: a capacitor; a Leg A having upper and lower arms having switching elements; and a Leg B having upper and lower arms one of which has a switching element and the other of which has only a diode, and a second converter cell of a second arm includes: a capacitor; and a Leg Aa having upper and lower arms having switching elements. A control device has a steady mode and a protection mode. When short-circuit between DC terminals of the power converter is detected, the control device switches from the steady mode to the protection mode, turns off all the switching elements of the first converter cell of the first arm, and controls the second converter cell of the second arm so as to perform reactive power compensation operation.