Surge Limiters for Vacuum Circuit Breaker Switchgear

The use of vacuum circult breakers In motor feeder applications (where motor terminal surge protection is not normally used) may require overvoltage surge protection within the switchgear to properly protect the motors. This need can be fulfilled by surge limiters designed for installation within the switchgear connected to the load side of the vacuum circuit breaker. This paper reviews the basic phenomena which cause vacuum switchgear related surges and dtscusses the need for surge limiters. This paper also describes the design of these surge limiters and provides information and performance data for their application.