A summary of non-sustained disruptive discharges (NSDD) in vacuum switchgear

This document described the phenomenon, the interpretation and the assessment of non-sustained disruptive discharges (NSDD). The first approach is to analyze the phenomenon, based on available tests standards and on real testing results. We will look at NSDD in models for capacitance switching, their theoretical relations to overvoltages in capacitive circuits, then to tests for certification of equipment. A list of experimental results is given, and a proposal for the assessment of NSDD is suggested.