METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLASMA BLASTING

摘要

Method and apparatus for plasma blasting (10) comprises a capacitor bank (28 ) for storing electrical charge to which is coupled an inductance (60) which delivers the electric charge as a current through a sw itch to an explodable conductor (16) comprising a portio n of a probe (14). The explodable conductor (16) is a ribbon helically wound aroun d a cylindrical mandril (108), the ribbon having a given length to cross section ratio of the inductance to the capacitance in order to ensu re efficient dissipation of an optimal amount of the ele ctrical energy stored in the capacitance.