Fracturing Using a Pressure Pulse
The present invention provides for an assembly for creating a pressure pulse in a liquid-filled cavity within a fracturable material such as a boulder wherein the primary energy storage element is disposed in a tranducer at the boulder to improve the coupling of energy between the energy storage unit and the fluid in the boulder.
1 . A method for creating a pressure pulse in a liquid-filled cavity within a fracturable material, the method comprising:
providing a transducer;
disposing an energy storage component in the transducer;
delivering electric current via a cable connected to the energy storage component; and
converting the electrical current into a plasma pressure source via a plurality of electrodes.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting the energy storage component to the electrodes via a switch in the transducer.
3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a high voltage pulse via the cable from a high voltage capacitor bank.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the capacitor bank comprises a component selected from the group consisting of a spark gap, a thyratron, a vacuum gap, a pseudo-spark switch, a mechanical switch, a solid state switch, and a combination thereof.
5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a high voltage pulse via the cable from an inductive storage component.
6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting the energy storage component to the electrodes by disposing a switch in the transducer.
7 . A method for creating pressure waves in a liquid to fracture material, the method comprising:
providing a transducer;
disposing one or more sets of electrodes disposed on the transducer, the electrodes defining a gap therebetween;
passing an electrical current between the gap; and
creating pressure through expansion of liquid as the liquid undergoes a phase change to gas or plasma.
8 . The method of claim 7 further comprising arranging more than one set of electrodes in parallel.
9 . The method of claim 7 further comprising arranging more than one set of electrodes in a line or series of straight lines.
10 . The method of claim 7 further comprising arranging more than one set of electrodes in a geometric configuration.
11 . The method of claim 10 comprising selecting the geometric configuration from the group consisting of a straight line, a curve, a circle, a spiral, and a combination thereof.
12 . The method of claim 7 further comprising providing capacitance between an intermediate electrode and a ground structure of the transducer by disposing the electrode sets in the transducer.
13 . The method of claim 12 comprising providing the capacitance by disposing a liquid between the intermediate electrode and the ground structure.
14 . The method of claim 12 comprising providing the capacitance by disposing a capacitor between the intermediate electrode and the ground structure.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the capacitor comprises a solid or liquid dielectric material.
16 . The method of claim 12 comprising providing the capacitance by disposing a liquid or capacitor between the electrodes.
17 . The method of claim 7 further comprising supplying electrical energy to a multi-gap transducer by providing an integral energy storage module.
18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising connecting a cable to an energy storage device located away from the material.