Electrohydropulse technology of destruction of concrete structures

Trakonta ltd, 54031 Ukraine, Nikolaiv city, Electronnay street 81/4, E-mail: trakonta@gmail.com Tel: +380512714945; Mob, Viber: +380503180260

                     Destruction of concrete structures

    The electrohydropulse technology is based on the impact on the destroyed object of shock waves and water flows generated during a high-voltage discharge in the interelectrode gap. To do this, use a remote (distance can reach 10-27 m) coaxial electrode-fuse, which is inserted into a hole filled with water. The principle of operation is based on the use of high-voltage discharges in a liquid, accompanied by a complex of physical phenomena called the electrohydraulic effect, which is an electric explosion in a liquid, thus ensuring the destruction of materials. Since the rate of pressure rise in the discharge channel, as well as the energy released in it, is an order of magnitude lower than during an explosion, this makes it possible to safely use this technology near the operating equipment without stopping the latter or in residential premises.
     Electro-hydraulic impulse technology of destruction is comparable in speed and efficiency with drilling and blasting. And on the implementation of safe work with the technology of using non-explosive destructive agents (NDA). The advantage over the drilling and blasting technology lies in the reduction of the set of safety measures, the absence of seismic effects and the insignificant radius of expansion of concrete pieces during destruction. The advantage over the technology of using NDAs is in the rate of destruction of objects, as well as in the fact that concrete loses its solidity and cracks from high-voltage impulses. When concrete is exposed to high-voltage pulses in accordance with the selected drilling pattern, pieces weighing 20-400 kg are separated from it. When exposed to reinforced concrete, pieces of concrete are held by reinforcing bars and released with jackhammers or hydraulic hammers.

                                                                                             Trakonta ltd
                                   Destruction of concrete structures

Electrohydropulse technology provides for the following operations: preparation of an object for destruction and installation for operation, destruction and removal of chipped pieces of material.
When preparing the foundation for destruction, first of all, it is necessary to free one of its sides from the ground or make a ledge in it for dumping and removing pieces. Then boreholes with a diameter of 42-45 mm are drilled in the object. The drilling step and depth are selected depending on the characteristics of the object in terms of quality, conditions and the required degree of crushing (concrete grade, location of reinforcement, availability of working equipment, people, etc.).

For the destruction of oversized mineral rocks, as well as reinforced concrete structures in places where the use of an explosion is not permissible (in workshops without stopping production, residential buildings, at facilities with increased requirements for fire and explosion safety, etc.), it is most advisable to use a mobile electro-hydraulic pulse unit.

The installation has the following main characteristics:

- productivity in the destruction of reinforced concrete structures, m3 / h - up to 6;
- specific power consumption no more, kW-h / m3 - 0.4;
- number of attendants - 2 people;
- power consumption, kW - 6.
The installation is mobile, easily moves from place to place.

Preparing the installation for operation involves placing it in the work area, supplying power and checking in idle mode, laying out the cables of the electrodes-fuses and installing the latter in the holes, laying out rubber hoses for filling and replenishing the holes with water (usually from the water supply network of the enterprise). The object is destroyed by single or a series of high-voltage pulses fed from the power unit to the fuse electrode. To completely break off pieces of concrete from unreinforced objects, 1-3 pulses are enough. When reinforced objects are destroyed, after 4-6 impulses are applied, cracks are formed through which water is poured out of the borehole. The chipped concrete pieces are removed manually or using lifting equipment into storage tanks. As the reinforcement rods and other metal objects are released, they are cut off.
Scope of using: quarries for the extraction of granite and other mineral rocks, reconstruction of industrial and residential structures, zero-cycle construction works, road and hydraulic engineering, dredging, recycling of reinforced concrete products, in places where it is impractical or unacceptable to use blasting operations.