Use of inductive energy storage for electric pulse destruction of solid materials

An inductive energy storage switch system for the destruction of solid materials is reported. This is based on creating a pulsed electric breakdown in the solid dielectric, which then propagates in the specimen. This scheme provides a higher destruction effectiveness compared to a capacitive energy storage system. The higher energy efficiency is attributed to a different discharge behavior during the discharge build-up in the solid material. A higher applied voltage causes a breakdown of a larger number of voids in a heterogeneous solid dielectric. The energy transfer to partial discharges, when using the inductive storage system, is faster than for the capacitive energy storage system, due to a shorter risetime of the discharge current.