Abstract: A circuit for supplying electrical power (20) at a rated direct current of between 20 kA and 100 kA to an electrolysis cell (21) comprising an upstream busbar (25), a downstream busbar (26), the two upstream (25) and downstream (26) busbars being connected to each other by means of a short-circuiting device (22) which, when closed under the action of an actuating mechanism (229), allows the two busbars to be electrically connected to each other in order to cut off the electrical power supply to the cell (21), an anode bar (213) equipped with an anode connection interface (215) for connection to the anode (211) of the cell, and a cathode connection interface (214) for connection to the cathode (212) of the cell.

Abstract: Contact device adapted to be inserted between two contact surfaces of two conductors of an electrical connection provided with at least one bolt, the device being formed by a metal foam plate to reduce electrical resistance of the connection. The surface area of the metal foam plate is at least equal to the surface area in contact with the two conductors, and is approximately 1 to 2 mm thick. The metal foam plate includes at least one circular opening intended to contain the bolt and at least one first pre-cut located between the opening and an outer edge of the contact device. The pre-cut is made by cutting the foam plate over a part of its thickness so that it can be easily broken along the pre-cut, the pre-cut allowing the bolt to be passed through it during the installation of the contact device.

Abstract: Contact device adapted to be inserted between two contact surfaces of two conductors of an electrical connection provided with at least one bolt, the device being formed by a metal foam plate to reduce electrical resistance of the connection. The surface area of the metal foam plate is at least equal to the surface area in contact with the two conductors, and is approximately 1 to 2 mm thick. The metal foam plate includes at least one circular opening intended to contain the bolt and at least one first pre-cut located between the opening and an outer edge of the contact device. The pre-cut is made by cutting the foam plate over a part of its thickness so that it can be easily broken along the pre-cut, the pre-cut allowing the bolt to be passed through it during the installation of the contact device.

Abstract: An electrical connection powder comprising particles obtained by pulverizing a skeleton of open cell metal foam chosen from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel and the alloys of same covered with at least one coating of tin or indium or one of the alloys of same. The paste is formed from this powder dispersed in a binder such as grease. The powder or paste is particularity useful for improving the conductivity of an electrical connection consisting of a terminal (20) linked to a cable (24) consisting of a plurality of strands (30, 32, 34) by means of a crimping ring (26).

Abstract: A disconnecting device having a plurality of modules for disconnecting an electrical supply line of an intensity higher than 1000 A. Each module includes a tight contact casing (10) having at least one fixed-contact conductive element (12, 14) in contact with a mobile-contact conductive element (20, 26), and a mechanism for interrupting the contact between the fixed-contact element and the mobile-contact element so as to disconnect the supply line; metal connection bars (60, 62, and 64, 66) for connecting to a current input and to a current output; and intermediate conductive elements such as blades (68, 70, et 72, 74) connected to the connection bars and to the casing. At least one of the mobile-contact elements includes a silver pellet fixed to the surface of the element, allowing the contact resistance between the mobile-contact element and the fixed-contact element to be reduced by half.

Abstract: A disconnecting device having a plurality of modules for disconnecting an electrical supply line of an intensity higher than 1000 A. Each module includes a tight contact casing (10) having at least one fixed-contact conductive element (12, 14) in contact with a mobile-contact conductive element (20, 26), and a mechanism for interrupting the contact between the fixed-contact element and the mobile-contact element so as to disconnect the supply line; metal connection bars (60, 62, and 64, 66) for connecting to a current input and to a current output; and intermediate conductive elements such as blades (68, 70, et 72, 74) connected to the connection bars and to the casing. At least one of the mobile-contact elements includes a silver pellet fixed to the surface of the element, allowing the contact resistance between the mobile-contact element and the fixed-contact element to be reduced by half.

Abstract: An electrical connection powder comprising particles obtained by pulverising a skeleton of open cell metal foam chosen from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel and the alloys of same covered with at least one coating of tin or indium or one of the alloys of same, The paste is formed from this powder dispersed in a binder such as grease. The powder or paste is particularity useful for improving the conductivity of an electrical connection consisting of a terminal (20) linked to a cable (24) consisting of a plurality of strands (30, 32, 34) by means of a crimping ring (26).

Abstract: An electrical connection device, including two conductors (12 and 14), in which at least one of the two conductors is made of aluminum, each conductor has a contact surface, and a conductive element (1) is inserted between the contact surfaces of the conductors. The inserted conductive part has a foam skeleton having open cells of a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, and the alloys thereof, directly covered with at least one coating of copper, tin, indium or one of the alloys thereof.

Abstract: An electrical connection device, including two conductors (12 and 14), in which at least one of the two conductors is made of aluminum, each conductor has a contact surface, and a conductive element (1) is inserted between the contact surfaces of the conductors. The inserted conductive part has a foam skeleton having open cells of a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, and the alloys thereof, directly covered with at least one coating of copper, tin, indium or one of the alloys thereof.

Abstract: A contact device for enhancing the conductance of an electrical connection which includes two conductors (21 and 23) in contact with each other essentially including an interposed conductive element arranged between the two contact surfaces (22 and 24) of the two conductors (21 and 23) of the connection. The interposed conductive element is made of electrically conductive foam (10) which includes one or more materials with high porosity and deformability so as to reduce the electrical resistance of the connection.

Abstract: A contact device for enhancing the conductance of an electrical connection which includes two conductors (21 and 23) in contact with each other essentially including an interposed conductive element arranged between the two contact surfaces (22 and 24) of the two conductors (21 and 23) of the connection. The interposed conductive element is made of electrically conductive foam (10) which includes one or more materials with high porosity and deformability so as to reduce the electrical resistance of the connection.

Abstract: The invention concerns a cooling system for a high intensity electric circuit designed to power an electrolysis vessel with high intensity current. Said system comprises a tube (18) made of conductive metal in series and/or in parallel in the electric circuit, conveying the high intensity current and liquid circulating circuit (34) comprising a pump with variable flow rate (28) maintaining a liquid flow in the tube for recovering the heat released by the passage of high intensity current in said tube and a heat exchanger (30) for evacuating the heat recovered in the tube and restore it to the electrolysis vessel for maintaining its temperature above a crystallisation threshold of the electrolysis, the variable flow rate of the pump being able to be adapted based on the value of the intensity of the high intensity current.

Abstract: The novel jumper switch means of the invention is directed to by-passing an electrolyzer in a row of electrolyzers electrically connected in series to permit removal of the by-passed electrolyzer for maintenance. The jumper switch means comprises one or more internal bus bars connected to suitable arrays of switches, the internal bus bars being dimensioned in such a way that when substantially all the electrolysis current flows through the jumper switch means, the voltage at its two connection terminals and therefore at the contact points of the by-passed electrolyzer, is close to, but in any case lower than the voltage spontaneously reached by the electrolyzer when electrolysis current is no more fed. Further, the present invention offers the possibility of housing the array of switches and said internal bus bars in a structure having a U-shape wherein the planar part has a limited height which does not hinder the lateral removal of the by-passed electrolyzer by a suitable fork-lift truck.

Abstract: A telemeeting system comprises a terminal connected to the telephone network by telephone lines attributed to participant telephone sets. A console connected to the telephone set of one of the participants acting as organizer assists the latter in reflecting remarkable operations carried out by the terminal. These operations are indicated in a display board of indicator lights on the console and can be the result of commands transmitted by the organizer telephone set, such as a calling of a participant, inaccessibility of a line or the programming of a terminal operating mode, and of signallings such as the seizing or releasing of a line by a participant. The system also permits transmission of indications from each of the participants to the organizer, even if the participant does not have the right to speak, consultation of call number lists and time intervals of telemeetings in the terminal from the organizer, and automatic setting-up of participant calls for a telemeeting from the terminal.

Abstract: A method for by-passing a monopolar electrolyzer out of a plurality of monopolar electrolyzers connected in series to an electrical power source, which electrolyzers consist of individual electrolysis cells each having anodic and cathodic contact points, using a jumper switch means comprising an internal circuitry and multiplicity of extension arms for connection to the electrolyzers immediately preceding and following the electrolyzer to be by-passed while preventing a shift in current through individual cells of the electrolyzers adjacent to the electrolyzer to be by-passed and to prevent damage to the electrolyzers by avoiding reversed current flow.