Vacuum Switchgear

Book excerpt: Drawing from his 40 years of experience in the field, Greenwood (engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic) describes the development of vacuum switchgear technology from its earliest origins to the most recent designs now offered by companies around the world. The volume begins with a foundation in the physics of the vacuum arc, in vacuum breakdown, and in the fundamentals of current interruption in vacuum. A chapter on applications spans all devices from contactors through switches and reclosers to power circuit breakers. Maintenance is also addressed. There are four chapters on different aspects of design and another on testing. The chapter on manufacturing concentrates on the interrupter as its manufacture is so entirely different from that required for oil and gas-blast circuit breakers. Thoroughly illustrated. Distributed by INSPEC. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR