Abstract: A self-regenerating liquid metal current limiter including solid metal electrodes for connection to an electric circuit to be protected and several compression chambers which are partially filled with liquid metal. The compression chambers are located one behind the other between the electrodes and are formed by pressure-resistant insulating bodies and by partition walls with connecting channels that are supported by the insulating bodies. The partition walls are provided with a plurality of connecting channels that are not arranged in a generally concent arrangement with respect to a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis of the current limiter, the axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the partition walls. The current limiter provides for various positions of use corresponding to a position of rotation of the current limiter about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A water heater has a pair of concentric, relatively rotatable, electrically insulating supports between which the water to be heated can pass. Each support mounts three parts of equidistantly spaced electrodes. The spaced electrodes of the first set are electrically connected in pairs and each pair is connected to a respective phase of a regulatable three-phase current supply by connection means which may include a thyristor. The spaced electrodes of the second set are electrically connected together exclusively in pairs. The sets of electrodes are spaced from each other and the water flowing therebetween provides conductive paths so that the first and second sets of electrodes are connected in a delta configuration. Means are provided to rotate one of the supports to change the relative position of the electrode sets relative to each other thereby regulating the current flow through the water.