Electrode Arrangement for Electrodynamic Fragmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrodynamic fragmentation systems face high operating costs due to expensive electrode manufacturing and require large high-voltage generators for coarse fragmentation, leading to inefficient material comminution and unwanted fines production.
Innovation Solution
An electrode arrangement with a through-opening or passage channel designed to allow high-voltage discharges between electrodes with a smallest distance smaller than the diameter of a sphere, enabling fragmentation of material to a specific target size while allowing smaller pieces to pass through and retaining larger pieces, using multiple electrode pairs and projections for efficient fragmentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If bottom and wall electrodes are designed as sieves with screen openings, then material can be removed at target size, but manufacturing costs increase and sieve opening size increases during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive sieve electrodes with simple plate electrodes that have no precision requirements. The electrodes are designed as simple flat plates or slightly curved surfaces without screen openings, dramatically reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining fragmentation functionality through high-voltage discharge alone
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sieving function from the electrodes themselves and separates it into a distinct screen structure positioned at the outlet. This allows the electrodes to be simple conducting plates without screen openings, eliminating the conflict between electrode manufacturing complexity and target size control
2Length of moving object
If electrode spacing is made large for coarse fragmentation, then larger target sizes are achieved, but expensive high-voltage generators are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces protruding electrode elements that create localized small gaps at critical positions within the fragmentation zone. These localized small spacings generate intense electric fields for effective fragmentation without requiring large overall electrode spacing, thereby avoiding the need for expensive high-voltage generators while still achieving coarse fragmentation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from considering only the overall electrode spacing dimension to incorporating the vertical dimension with protruding elements. By creating multiple fragmentation zones at different heights with varying local spacings, the system achieves effective fragmentation at smaller overall spacing, reducing power requirements
3Duration of action of stationary object
If sieve opening size increases during operation, then electrode wear occurs, but target size control changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sieving function from the electrodes and places it in a separate screen structure at the outlet. This separation means electrode wear no longer affects opening size, as the screen structure remains stationary and defines the target size, while electrodes only need to provide electrical discharge functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The simple plate electrode design without precision screen openings is much more resistant to wear effects that would change opening dimensions. Even if the electrodes wear over time, their function as discharge surfaces is not critically dependent on maintaining precise geometric dimensions like sieve openings are
Data Source
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to an electrode arrangement for an electrodynamic fragmentation plant having a through-passage opening (1) for fragmentation material (3) and having a plurality of electrode pairs (4a, 5a; 4a, 5b; 4b, 5c; 4b, 5d; 4c, 5e; 4c, 5f; 4d, 5g; 4d, 5h), by means of which, by subjecting the electrodes (4a-4d, 5a-5h) thereof to high-voltage pulses, in each case high-voltage discharges can be generated within the through-passage opening (1) in order to fragment the fragmentation material (3). In this case, the through-passage opening (1) is formed in such a way and the electrodes (4a-4d, 5a-5h) of the electrode pairs are arranged therein in such a way that for each electrode pair (4a, 5a; 4a, 5b; 4b, 5c; 4b, 5d; 4c, 5e; 4c, 5f; 4d, 5g; 4d, 5h) a ball (K) can pass through the through-passage opening (1) in the region of the shortest connecting line (L) between the electrodes of each electrode pair, the diameter of said ball (K) being greater than the length of this respective shortest connecting line (L). With such an electrode arrangement, it is possible to carry out an electrodynamic fragmentation of fragmentation material in an economical manner with comparatively small high-voltage pulses. This also results in the possibility of expanding the realizable target value range of existing plants considerably in the direction of larger target values by retrofitting such plants with the electrode arrangement according to the invention.