Method and apparatus for increasing the efficiency of electro-dewatering

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of electro-dewatering substances by increasing the efficiency with which water is removed from the substances, thus permitting substances to attain higher dryness levels with the same energy input and surface area, or to attain similar dryness levels with less energy input or less surface area. The method comprises placing the substance between at least two electrodes, at least one of which is adapted to allow fluid evacuation, depositing an electrolyte at the interface between the substance and one of the electrodes, wherein the two previous steps can be performed in any order, and, before impregnation of the electrolyte into the substance can occur, submitting the substance to a combination of pressure and electrical current so as to remove liquid from the substance; wherein the electrolyte should be added in sufficient quantity to substantially reduce or prevent the voltage drop that occurs near the at least one electrode and in sufficient volume to allow dispersion over the entire surface of the substance.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.