Patent ID: 7959094

Claim:
A method for electrocrushing particles comprising: suspending the particles in a fluid flow, the fluid comprising dielectric properties different than dielectric properties of the particles; the difference in dielectric properties providing for an enhancement of the electric field in the particles compared to the fluid; disposing a plurality of electrodes in the fluid; sending an electric pulse to the electrodes to provide a voltage sufficient to create an electric field internal to the particles that exceeds the dielectric strength of the particles without exceeding the dielectric strength of the fluid; the resulting loss of dielectric strength of the particles causing the particles to conduct, thereby removing their contribution to a net insulation between the electrodes; the loss of contribution of insulation between the electrodes from the particles causing electric fields in the fluid to exceed the dielectric strength of the fluid, thus causing the fluid and particles to conduct current directly through the particles and thereby electrocrushing the particles.