Investigation of the Effect of the Discharge Channel Orientation on the Destruction Efficiency of Electronic Printed Circuit Boards

摘要

This paper presents the results of crushing of electronic printed circuit boards (PCB) through high-voltage pulsed discharges to millimeter-sized fractions suitable for subsequent separation of metal from the dielectric. Crushing was performed by a high-voltage pulse-periodic generator with an output voltage level up to 230 kV and stored energy up to 200 J. Two configurations of an electrode system with a sharply inhomogeneous electric field were studied. Main difference is orientation of the discharge channel across or along the PCB plane. Changing the orientation of the discharge channel leads to change the prevailing type of deformation and, consequently, change the crushing efficiency. Experimental results show a twofold increase of the productivity of the crushing process when changing the orientation of the discharge channel from across to along. Also the efficiency of converting stored energy into mechanical work is increase in twice. This leads to a change in the fractional distribution of crushing products.