What I know as a "vacuum breaker" is from steam turbine applications: Condensing exhaust casings operate well below atmospheric

pressure - typically 1 or 2 psia (in other words 13 or 14 psi below atmospheric pressure). If the turbine is "tripped" (shut down), a solenoid vacuum breaker in the exhaust casing will open and allow air to "break the vacuum", halt the residual expansion of steam, and also slow the turbine rotation due to the increased aerodynamic braking. This is important in case the resistance of the driven equipment suddenly drops, as with a generator going off-line without warning. The intention is to prevent the turbine from spinning to a destructive overspeed.