METAL WATER CHEMICAL-REACTION COUPLED TO A PULSED ELECTRICAL-DISCHARGE

Capacitor-stored energy is transferred to a wire conductor surrounded by a mixture of a reactive metal powder and water. The overload current pulse quickly explodes the small wire conductor, initiating a chemical reaction in the mixture. The discharge after the explosion is made through a highly condensed state undergoing chemical reaction (producing both heat and hydrogen gas). In this type of discharge the heat and gas from the reaction help the reacting medium maintain some conductance necessary for effective dissipation of the electrical energy. The coupling of the discharge to the reaction is found to be crucial to sustain the reaction.