Below is an excerpt from Eaton, MV switchgear to minimize the impact of the very fast transient attributable to the vacuum circuit breakers switching transient.
Recommendations from manufactureres suggest that the combination of metal oxide arrester (zinc Oxide - ZnO) in parallel with a resistor (R) and also connected in series with a surge capacitor to form a device known as ZORC.
The resistor R is sized to match surge impedance of the load cables,typically 20 to 30 ohms and here is a simplify explanation how this device works to mitigate the overvoltage:
1) Under normal operating conditions, impedance of the capacitor is very high, effectively “isolating” the resistor R and ZnO from the system.
2) Under high frequency transient conditions, the capacitor offers very low impedance, thus effectively “inserting” the resistor R and ZnO in the power system as cable terminating network.
The resistance minimizing reflection of the steep wave-fronts of the voltage transients and prevents voltage doubling of the traveling wave. The ZnO element limits the peak voltage magnitudes.
The combined effects of R, ZnO, and Capacitor of the ZORC device provides optimum protection against high frequency transients by absorbing, damping, and by limiting the peak amplitude of the voltage wave-fronts.
Please note that the ZORC is not a lightning protection device. If lightning can occur or be induced in the electrical system, a properly rated and applied