Patent ID: 6972115

Claim:
An apparatus ( 20 ) for the production of powder from a wire ( 31 ) comprising: a reaction chamber ( 100 ) in which an initial particulate is generated by an EEW process; an extractor ( 32 ) for extracting at least a portion of such particulate from a gas flowing along a gas path having: a first portion extending from the reaction chamber to tie extractor; and a second portion returning from the extractor to the reaction chamber; a multiple stage turbine ( 600 ) within the second portion of the flow path configured to drive the flow along the flow path; a wire source ( 400 ) for delivering the wire along a wire path; a first electrode ( 200 ) along the wire path within the reaction chamber; a second electrode ( 202 ) proximate a terminal end of the wire path within the reaction chamber; and an energy source ( 26 ) of electrical energy configured to be coupled to the first and second electrodes to selectively apply a discharge current between the first and second electrodes sufficient to explode a length of the wire to form said initial particulate.