Switching Surge Voltage Distribution in Superconducting Generators

This paper is focused on describing how to calculate voltage surges caused by vacuum circuit breaker interruption in an air-core armature winding. The method developed is based on a simplified lumped parameter model of the winding and a simplified model of vacuum circuit breaker behavior. It is necessary to estimate the surge voltage distribution and turn-to-turn insulation requirement to obtain a rational design before such a winding can be designed and built. In this study the Fast Fourier Transform method is used to compute the surge voltage waveform. The 10 MVA superconducting generator built at MIT for the Department of Energy is used as an example.