High-power switches could lead to safer laboratory products

Safety switches able to operate at higher power levels could see laboratory products made safer in the years to come.

Researchers at Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) have been working on raising the limits on power in devices protected by automatic safety switches.

The switches are designed to stop sparks that could cause explosions, but have previously only been suitable for low-power laboratory products operating at 2 W or below.

Such incidents can be triggered by the presence of particles in the air in the form of mist, dust or vapour and in processes ranging from pharmaceutical development to oil and chemical handling.

Now the scientists have created a concept design that they say indicates the use of the technology at up to 50 W.

Project leader Udo Gerlach says: "Complex, expensive constructural safety measures can now be replaced with the new technology."

The PTB is a national institute for metrology, providing technical and scientific services to German organisations.