Design of Vacuum Interrupters to Eliminate Abnormal Overvoltages

The generation of overvoltages by current chopping has long been acknowledged as a serious disadvantage in applying vacuum interrupters in inductive circuits. A study to determine the physical mechanism of current chopping in vaccum, and the influence of circuit parameters on the overvoltage generated thereby, has revealed that acceptable limits. It may be fairlpy stated that the current chopping problem in vacuum circuit breakers has been solved.