Prof. Dr.-Ing. H. Lieberwirth of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg is leading research into using high-voltage pulses for comminution processes as a more sustainable alternative to conventional methods. About 7% of global energy production is used for comminution, which rarely exceeds 1% energy efficiency. Recent research has focused on using high-voltage pulses to weaken materials along grain boundaries before mechanical comminution, which shows promise. Some advantages include continuous operation, making smaller or more complex deposits economically viable, higher recovery and concentrate quality from preferential weakening, significant energy savings compared to conventional methods, reduced wear without moving parts, and recovery of valuable elements from slags.

1. Prof. Dr.-Ing. H. Lieberwirth TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Weisbachbau, Zi. 203, Tel.: 03731-39-2528 Institute of Mineral Processing Machines
Email: Holger.Lieberwirth@iam.tu-freiberg.de Lampadiusstraße 4, 09599 Freiberg
Conti-E-Impulse Comminution
Sustainable raw material processing by means of high-voltage pulses is led to industrial application
About 7% of the energy generated worldwide is used for comminution processes. The energy
efficiency rarely exceeds 1%.
An energetically favorable and resource-saving processing of raw materials by means of high-
voltage pulse technology has increasingly come into the focus of scientific research in recent
years. In particular, the hybrid technology, i.e. the weakening of the material by means of high-
voltage pulses, preferably along grain boundaries of the microstructure, in combination with
subsequent mechanical comminution appears to be promising.
Some of the relevant advantages of this technology are:
- Continuous operation
- Development of smaller or more complex deposits with strategic elements (such
as indium, tungsten, germanium) that were previously not economically viable
- Higher recovery and better concentrate quality due to the preferred weakening along
the grain boundaries
- Significant Energy savings compared to conventional methods
- Wear reduction since there are no moving parts in the processing chamber
- Recovery of valuable elements from slags
Project partners: