Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a high-voltage pulse system (1), preferably a system (1) for the fragmenting and/or weakening of material (2) by means of high-voltage discharges, with an energy store (3) for providing the energy for the high-voltage pulses and a charging device (4) for charging the energy store (3). According to the method, in the intended high-voltage pulse operation, a sequence of high-voltage pulses is generated with the system (1) and thereby the energy store (3) is discharged completely at each high-voltage pulse and is only after the expiry of a charging pause (LP) recharged again for the next high-voltage pulse by means of supplying charging energy with the charging device (4). By means of the operating method according to the invention, a time window is created between two successive high-voltage pulses each, in which the energy store(s) are substantially completely discharged and no charging-voltage is applied.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a high-voltage pulse system (1), preferably a system (1) for the fragmenting and/or weakening of material (2) by means of high-voltage discharges, with an energy store (3) for providing the energy for the high-voltage pulses and a charging device (4) for charging the energy store (3). According to the method, in the intended high-voltage pulse operation, a sequence of high-voltage pulses is generated with the system (1) and thereby the energy store (3) is discharged completely at each high-voltage pulse and is only after the expiry of a charging pause (LP) recharged again for the next high-voltage pulse by means of supplying charging energy with the charging device (4). By means of the operating method according to the invention, a time window is created between two successive high-voltage pulses each, in which the energy store(s) are substantially completely discharged and no charging-voltage is applied.

Abstract: A method for fragmenting and/or weakening of pourable material by means of high-voltage discharges is disclosed. Thereby, a material flow of the pourable material is, immersed in a process liquid, guided past a high-voltage electrode assembly with one or more high-voltage electrodes, while high-voltage punctures through the material are produced by means of charging of the high-voltage electrodes with high-voltage pulses. The zone of the material flow in which the high-voltage punctures through the material are produced is delimited laterally by substantially unmoved zones of the same material as viewed in a guiding-past direction. With the disclosed method, it becomes possible to fragment and/or weaken pourable material in a continuous process by means of high-voltage punctures in a low-wear and low-contamination manner.

Abstract: A method for fragmenting and/or weakening pourable material includes guiding a material stream of pourable material immersed in a process liquid along an annular or arcuate channel past a high-voltage electrode assembly. The high-voltage electrode assembly, which includes one or more generators, generates high-voltage punctures through the material flow. Material is supplied to the material stream upstream of the high voltage electrode arrangement. Material is guided away from the material stream downstream of the high-voltage electrode assembly.

Abstract: A method for fragmenting and/or weakening material by high-voltage pulses is provided. The material and a processing fluid are arranged in a processing zone formed between two electrodes such that the entire processing zone is flooded with processing fluid, and high-voltage pulses are applied to the electrodes such that high-voltage breakdowns occur between the two electrodes and/or such that predischarge channels are formed without breakdowns. An electrode with a metallic conductor is chosen for at least one of the two electrodes, the conductor being provided partially or completely with an insulator or insulating coating at the working end of the electrode that is in contact with the processing fluid, the permittivity of the insulator/insulating coating being at least 75% of the permittivity of the processing fluid.

Abstract: A method for fragmenting and/or weakening of pourable material by means of high-voltage discharges is disclosed. Thereby, a material flow of the pourable material is, immersed in a process liquid, guided past a high-voltage electrode assembly with one or more high-voltage electrodes, while high-voltage punctures through the material are produced by means of charging of the high-voltage electrodes with high-voltage pulses. The zone of the material flow in which the high-voltage punctures through the material are produced is delimited laterally by substantially unmoved zones of the same material as viewed in a guiding-past direction. With the disclosed method, it becomes possible to fragment and/or weaken pourable material in a continuous process by means of high-voltage punctures in a low-wear and low-contamination manner.

Abstract: A method for the fragmentation and/or weakening of a piece of material by means of high-voltage discharges includes immersing the piece of material in a process fluid, guiding the material past a matrix formed by a number of high-voltage electrodes, which are supplied with high-voltage pulses. As such, high-voltage disruptive discharges occur through the piece of material whilst same is guided past the matrix. The high-voltage electrodes can be moved independently from one another along movement axes running substantially perpendicular to the passing direction of the work piece. And the electrodes are moved whilst the piece of material is guided past and whilst the high-voltage disruptive discharges are generated, in such a way that each follows the contour of the piece of material at a determined distance and are thereby immersed in the process fluid.

Abstract: A method for fragmenting and/or weakening pourable material with high-voltage discharges includes guiding an annular or arcuate material flow past a high-voltage electrode assembly while immersed in a process liquid, by means of which high-voltage electrode assembly high-voltage punctures through the material flow are produced in that high-voltage pulses are applied to the high-voltage electrodes of the high-voltage electrode assembly by means of a high-voltage generator. Material is fed to the flow upstream of the high-voltage electrode assembly, and material is led away from the flow downstream of the high-voltage electrode assembly. This enables a continuous process, in which the speed of the material and the intensity of the high-voltage punctures can be set in wide ranges, and any insufficiently processed material can be fed back to the process zone over a short distance and practically without additional space requirement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fragmenting material (1) by means of high-voltage discharges (6). The material (1) to be fragmented is guided through a process zone (5) formed between two electrodes (3, 4), while high-voltage discharges (6) are generated between said electrodes (3, 4) for fragmenting the material (1). The high-voltage discharges (6) are triggered subject to a continuously determined process parameter, which represents the situation with respect to the material (1) located in the process zone (5). In this way, the process can be guided such that high-voltage discharges (6) are only triggered if there is a situation in the process zone (5) in which a specified fragmentation work can be performed. By this, the energy efficiency of the process can be considerably improved, and an excessive fragmentation of the material (1) can be prevented.

Abstract: A method of fragmenting a material by means of high voltage discharges includes feeding the material through a process zone arranged between two electrodes flooded with a process liquid. High voltage discharges are generated between the electrodes and process liquid is fed into and discharged from the process zone. In that state, a degree of turbidity of the process liquid discharged is determined and compared with a reference value. In case a deviation from the reference value is detected, one or more parameters of the generation of high voltage discharges and/or of the feeding of the material through the process zone are changed such that, when after the changing of the parameters the determination of the degree of turbidity and the comparing with the reference value is repeated, the deviation which is detected is reduced or no deviation is detected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fragmenting and/or weakening material by means of high-voltage pulses, the material and a processing fluid being arranged in a processing zone formed between two electrodes such that the entire processing zone is flooded with processing fluid, and high-voltage pulses being applied to the electrodes such that high-voltage breakdowns occur between the two electrodes and/or such that predischarge channels are formed without breakdowns. An electrode with a metallic conductor is chosen for at least one of the two electrodes, the conductor being provided partially or completely with an insulator or insulating coating at the working end of the electrode that is in contact with the processing fluid, the permittivity of the insulator/insulating coating being at least 75% of the permittivity of the processing fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sample holder having an insulation body (10; 50) and a first electrode (3; 33) and a second electrode (4; 34), wherein the first electrode (3; 33) and the second electrode (4; 34) project into the sample container (2; 32), the first electrode (3; 33) and the second electrode (4; 34) are connected to each other via the insulation body (10; 50), the sample container (2; 32) is filled with a dielectric liquid (5; 35), and the first electrode (3; 33) is assigned to a gas collection chamber (6; 36). The invention further relates to an assembly for the electrodynamic fragmentation of samples (38), having such a sample container (2; 32), a process container (22; 41), and means (24, 27; 39, 39.1, 39.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement with a high voltage electrode (1) and a process vessel (2) assigned to the high voltage electrode (1), wherein the high voltage electrode (1) and the process vessel (2) can be positioned relative to each other in such a manner that the high voltage electrode (1) with its operational electrode end (5) in an operating position is immersed in the process vessel (2) and in a non-operating position is located outside the process vessel (2). Furthermore, the arrangement includes a grounding device (3), which is designed in such a manner that upon a positioning in the non-operating position it automatically is brought into contact with the operational electrode end (5) for grounding the high voltage electrode (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a sample holder having an insulation body (10; 50) and a first electrode (3; 33) and a second electrode (4; 34), wherein the first electrode (3; 33) and the second electrode (4; 34) project into the sample container (2; 32), the first electrode (3; 33) and the second electrode (4; 34) are connected to each other via the insulation body (10; 50), the sample container (2; 32) is filled with a dielectric liquid (5; 35), and the first electrode (3; 33) is assigned to a gas collection chamber (6; 36). The invention further relates to an assembly for the electrodynamic fragmentation of samples (38), having such a sample container (2; 32), a process container (22; 41), and means (24, 27; 39, 39.1, 39.