Superhigh Direct Current Switching Failure

Abstract

A technician was injured by steam and boiling water when the cooling jacket exploded on a shorting switch. The shorting switch was being used to make 130,000 amps d.c. bypass an electrochemical cell so the cell could be removed from the production line for repairs. Prior problems had resulted in a cold soldered joint in the connecting arm for the switch. Then when the current overheated the electrically weakened joint mechanical strain on the arm caused part of the cable to loosen rapidly increasing the heat and causing explosive failure of the water jacket.