Monte-Carlo Simulation of Overvoltage Generation in the Inductive Current Interruption by Vacuum Interrupters

The voltage escalation phenomenon and the three phase simultaneous interruption in the inductive current interruption by vacuum interrupters are the main sources of switching overvoltages. Since these phenomena are closely related to the circuit conditions and the statistical properties of vacuum interrupters, a Monte-Carlo simulation program was developed to estimate the appearance probability of switching overvoltages for a given circuit condition and a vacuum interrupter. The simulation program was found to be useful by comparing the calculated results with the experimental results for a single phase inductive load circuit and a three phase motor circuit.