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commutateur à fermeture à air sous pression

English translation: compressed air switch/ commutator

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French term or phrase:	commutateur à fermeture à air sous pression
English translation:	compressed air switch/ commutator
Entered by:	Wendy Leech

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12:10 Oct 29, 2009

French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Energy / Power Generation

French term or phrase: commutateur à fermeture à air sous pression

How an impulse generator works:

Les alimentations pulsées emmagasinent lentement de l’énergie électrique pour la restituer en un temps très bref par commutation (commutateur à fermeture à air sous pression).

Thanks.

Wendy Leech KudoZ activity Questions: 545 (2 open) (31 closed without grading) Answers: 141 United Kingdom
Local time: 18:23

compressed air switch/ commutator

Explanation:
I assume this is referring to high voltage systems, though I'm not sure what you mean by an "impulse generator". When switching large voltages, huge arcs can form. This means that the distance these switches have to travel is very large, plus the airlines supplying them are made of plastic or rubber, and hence insulating: handy for high voltages. In addition the arc is often quenched by a blast of compressed air.

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Note added at 45 mins (2009-10-29 12:55:30 GMT)
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More commonly "high voltage pulse generator", without the "im". "Impulse" is frequently reserved for mechanics, where the "impulse" is the product of force and time.