Lightening Impulse Breakdown of Vacuum Gaps in Series—Part I: Partial Breakdown

Partial breakdown (PB) has been reported in breakdown of vacuum gaps in series but has not been fully understood. The objective of this article is to investigate the influence of PB on breakdown of vacuum gaps in series under lightening impulse voltages. Two commercial vacuum interrupters (VIs) of the same model were connected in series with various gap distance arrangements. Experimental results show that four breakdown types could be classified, i.e., repeatedly PB without final full breakdown of the series gaps (type I), two PBs before final full breakdown (type II), one PB before final full breakdown (type III), and no PB before final full breakdown (type IV). Breakdown voltage of the vacuum gaps in series decreases with the increasing difference between the two gaps and could be even lower than breakdown voltage of the larger gap alone. This is explained by analyzing the three stages of transients induced by a PB. A model was established to simulate transients induced by PB of the vacuum gaps in series. The simulated results could match the experimental results well. An evolution process from a PB to the four breakdown types was deduced. The influence of PB on insulation coordination and breakdown voltage of the vacuum gaps in series was analyzed according to the abovementioned analysis.