Method of fragmenting and/or weakening of material by means of high voltage discharges

US10029262B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• selFrag AG · CH

Inventors

• Helena Ahlqvist Jeanneret · Bollion, CH
• Reinhard Müller-Siebert · Bern, CH
• Heiko Feitkenhauer · Hamburg, DE
• Alexander Weh · Engen, DE
• Fabrice Monti Di Sopra · Zürich, CH
• Peter Hoppe · Sunnyvale, US
• Josef Singer · Buchloe, DE
• Harald Giese · Blankenloch, DE
• Klaus Leber · Karlsdorf-Neuthard, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 10, 2011
• Grant date: Jul 24, 2018
• Expiry date: Aug 13, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B02C2019/183
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method of fragmenting and/or weakening of material is provided that utilizes high voltage discharges. The material is together with a process liquid introduced into a process area, in which two electrodes face each other at a distance, and is arranged therein in such a manner that the area between the two electrodes is filled with the material and process liquid. Between the two electrodes high voltage discharges are generated for fragmenting or weakening of the material. During the fragmenting or weakening, respectively, of the material, process liquid is discharged from the process area and process liquid is fed into the process area. The process liquid which is fed has a lower electrical conductivity than the process liquid which is discharged.