Supply circuit for electrolytic cell comprising a short-circuit device and a disconnector

A circuit for supplying electrical power at a rated direct current of between 20 kA and 100 kA to an electrolysis cell comprising an upstream busbar by which the current arrives from the previous cell, a downstream busbar connected to the upstream busbar of the next cell, said two upstream and downstream busbars being connected to each other by means of a short-circuiting device which, when closed under the action of an actuating mechanism, allows the two busbars to be electrically connected to each other in order to cut off the electrical power supply to the cell, an anode bar equipped with an anode connection interface for connection to the anode of the cell, and a cathode connection interface for connection to the cathode of the cell,

• wherein the cathode connection interface is connected to the downstream busbar by means of a flexible electrical connector and the circuit comprises means for absorbing the movement of the various constituent elements of the circuit due to thermal expansion, a disconnector connected, on the one hand, to the upstream busbar and, on the other hand, to the anode bar, said disconnector is opened by an actuating mechanism and electrically disconnects said upstream busbar and said anode bar from each other after a non-zero time interval Tm when the short-circuiting device has been closed, the time interval Tm corresponding to the time of establishment of the rated current in the short-circuiting device.