Device for producing electrical discharges in an aqueous medium
View Patent ↗A device for producing electrical discharges in an aqueous medium which comprises a first electrode and a second electrode comprised of a superalloy having a cobalt content of greater than 8% by weight or optionally a nickel content of greater than 8% by weight. A high electrical voltage is applied to the electrodes to produce a voltage discharge into the medium that creates a pressure wave in the medium. The electrodes of the device exhibit high thermal shock resistance during discharge thereby reducing tip burnout.
1. A device for producing electrical discharges in an aqueous medium, the device comprising:
a first electrode and a second electrode, where each of the electrodes comprises a superalloy having a cobalt content of greater than 8% by weight, the device producing a voltage discharge into the medium when a high electrical voltage is applied to the electrodes, the voltage discharge creating a pressure wave in the medium.
2. The device according to claim 1 , where the superalloy has a cobalt and a nickel content of greater than 12% by weight.
3. The device according to claim 1 , where the superalloy has a tungsten content of 0.1–15% by weight.
4. The device according to claim 1 , where the superalloy has a titanium content of 0.1–5% by weight.
5. A device for producing electrical discharges in an aqueous medium, the device comprising: a first electrode and a second electrode, where each of the electrodes comprises a superalloy having a nickel content of greater than 8% by weight, the device producing a voltage discharge into the medium when a high electrical voltage is applied to the electrodes, the voltage discharge creating a pressure wave in the medium.
6. The device according to claim 5 , where the superalloy has a tungsten content of 0.1–15% by weight.
7. The device according to claim 5 , where the superalloy has a titanium content of 0.1–5% by weight.
8. A device for producing electrical discharges in an aqueous medium, the device comprising: a first electrode and a second electrode, where each of the electrodes comprises thermal-worked steel having a vanadium content of greater than 0.05% by weight and a chromium content of greater than 1% by weight, the device producing a voltage discharge into the medium when a high electrical voltage is applied to the electrodes, the voltage discharge creating a pressure wave in the medium.
9. The device according to claim 8 , where the thermal-worked steel has a vanadium content of 0.07–3.5% by weight.
10. The device according to claim 8 , where the thermal-worked steel has a chromium content of 1–15% by weight.
11. The device according to claim 8 , where the thermal-worked steel has a tungsten content of 1–10% by weight.
12. A device for producing electrical discharges in an aqueous medium, the device comprising: a first electrode and a second electrode, where each of the electrodes comprises stainless steel having a chromium content of greater than 12.5% by weight, the device producing a voltage discharge into the medium when a high electrical voltage is applied to the electrodes, the voltage discharge creating a pressure wave in the medium.
13. The device according to claim 12 , where the stainless steel has a chromium content of less than 30% by weight.
14. The device according to claim 12 , where the stainless steel has nickel component of 2–25% by weight.