Submission of proposals
U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL)
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A00-144 TITLE: Electro-Osmotic Pulse Demolition of Concrete Structures TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes OBJECTIVE: To develop a technology that weakens obsolete concrete structures for subsequent demolition with minimum use of machinery or explosives in an environmentally safe manner. The technology would apply to the demolition of such structures as obsolete missile silos, buildings, dams, etc. DESCRIPTION: A method of demolishing concrete materials through the principle of electro-osmosis, a process that uses electric potential through a porous medium, such as clay or concrete, to move water across the electrical field. The electro-osmotic pulse (EOP) method entails applying a voltage waveform that reverses the polarity of the field across a ceramic coated anode embedded in the concrete portions of a structure and one or more cathodes in the ground or in the structure. The pulse assures continuity of flow, as moisture passes through the concrete in a controlled direction. The proposed technique would apply sufficient current and potential to cause dehydration of the concrete to substantially weaken the material and permit easy removal of the structure. This application of the technology is only in the conceptual phase and involves significant problems about delivering the required power into the concrete structure. No proof of concept exists even at a bench level. PHASE I: Determine the electrical currents and potentials required to demonstrate feasibility of concept at the laboratory scale. If the concept is possible, develop and test on a small scale EOP system for demolition. Develop single-point and distributed electrodes and EOP controls. Determine through experiments and modeling the current and signal parameters that optimize demolition for various sizes and shapes of structures. PHASE II: Study the effectiveness of the technology on a full-scale structural mockup or isolated structural segment. Upon successful demonstration on one structural type, e.g. a retaining wall, experiment with other configurations, e.g. walls, ground floor slabs, and elevated floor slabs. Document the effectiveness in such varied situations as aboveground and underground portions of the structure, and for walls, columns, and slabs. Provide narrative, specification, or process options for potential incorporation into manuals for concrete demolition. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Provide technology and manuals for commercial application that encompass a representative variety of demolition conditions. Provide training and expertise for contract demonstrations of the controlled demolition of 1) military structures, such as abandoned missile silos and control buildings and 2) civil works structures, such as concrete dams, buildings, etc. OPERATING AND SUPPORT COST (OSCR) REDUCTION: Typical use of EOP demolition should result in the reduction of hundreds of equipment hours that would apply to the noisy mechanical demolition of structures. REFERENCES: The following patents and references are relevant to the process: RELEVANT PATENTS Acar, Yalcin. Electrochemical stabilization of soils and other porous media, Pat. No.: 5,616,235. Filed 97/4/1. Chang, Hsueh-Rong; Su, Tah-Mun. Surfactant Augmented In-Situ Removal of PCB’s from Soil by Electro-osmosis, Pat. No.: 5,240,570; Assignee: General Electric Company. Filed: 92/01/29. Christenson, Lowell B. Method of Directing Water by Electro-Osmosis to an Electrically Conductive Pile, Pat. No: 4,305,800. Filed: 81/01/13. Fremont, Henry A.; Dorman, William C. Continuous Dewatering Apparatus. Pat. No.:4,671,874; Assignee: Champion International Corporation. Filed: 82/03/15. Fremont, Henry A.; Dorman, William C. Continuous Dewatering Method, Pat. No.: 4,755,305; Assignee: Champion International Corporation. Filed: 86/04/11. Kristiansen, Hans. Method for Dehydrating Capillary Materials, Pat. No.: 5,755,945; Assignee: Electro Pulse Technologies of America, Inc. Filed: 96/10/11. Marks, Robert E.; Acar, Yalcin B.; Gale, Robert J. In-Situ Bio-Electrokinetic Remediation of Contaminated Soils Containing Hazardous Mixed Wastes, Pat. No.: 5,458,747; Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. Filed: 96/06/03. Miller, John B. Method for Electrochemical Treatment of Porous Building Materials, Particularly for Drying and Re-Alkalization, Pat. No.: 5,015,351; Filed: 89/06/09. Oppitz, Hans. Electro-Osmotic Movement of Polar Liquid in a Porous Structural Material, Pat. No.: 4,600,486; Assignee: ELTAC Nogler & Daum KG. Filed: 84/10/26. Utklev, Kjell. Method and Apparatus for Controlling the Relative Humidity in Concrete and Masonry Structures, Pat. No.: 5,368, 709; Assignee: Elcraft A/S. Filed 94/4/12.
Cairo, George; Larson, Dennis L; Slack, Donald C. Electro-osmotic removal of nitrates from soils. Management of Irrigation and Drainage Systems: Integrated Perspectives Manage Irrig Drain Syst Integr Perspect. Publ by ADCE, New York, NY, USA, 08-1998. Pg. No: 629-635. Eikerling, M.; Kharkats, Yu I.; Kornyshev, A.A.; Volfkovich, Yu M. Phenomenological theory of electro-osmotic effect and water management in polymer electrolyte proton-conducting membranes. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 1993. V 145, No 8. Pg. No: 2684-2699. Gazbar, S.; Abadie, J.M.; Colin, F. Combined action of electro-osmotic drainage and mechanical compression of sludge dewatering. Water Science & Technology, 08-1991. V 30, No. 8, Pt. 8. Pg. No: 169-175. Gedalin, Konstantin. Electro-osmotic oscillations. Physica D., 12-1997. V 110, No 1-2. Pg. No: 154-168. Glasstone, S., Textbook of Physical Chemistry, 2d ed., D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., Princeton, NJ, 1946. Ho, Sa V.; Athmer, Christopher J.; Sheridan, Wayne P.; Shapiro, Andrew P. Scale-up aspects of the Lassagna TM process for in situ soil decontamination. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 08-197. V 55, No 1-3. Pg. No: 39-60. Lenney, J.P.; Goddard, N.J.; Morey, J.C.; Snook, R.D.; Fielden, P.R. Electro-Osmotic flow system with integrated planar optical waveguide sensing. Sensors & Actuators B-Chemical, 02-1995. No 1-3, Pt. 2. Pg. No: 212-217. Mishchuk, N.A. Electro-osmosis of the second kind near the heterogeneous ion-exchange membranes. Colloids & Surfaces A-Physicochemical & Engineering Aspects, 06-1993. V 140, No 1-3. Pg. No: 75-89. Schoeman, J. J.; van Staden, J. F. Electro-osmotic pumping of sodium chloride solutions. Journal of Membrane Science, 04-1996. V 132, No 1. Pg. No: 1-21. Shang, J Q. Electrokinetic dewatering of clay slurries as engineered soil covers. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 08-1997. V 34, No 1. Pg. No: 78-86. Shang, J Q.; Lo, K Y. Electrokinetic dewatering of phosphate clay. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 03-1997. V 55, No 1-3. Pg. No: 117-133. Tikhomolova, K.P., Electro-Osmosis, Ellis Horwood Limited, Chichester, West Sussex, England, 1993. Van Gassen, Wim; Sego, D C. Electro-osmosis in a frozen soil. Cold Regions Science & Technology, 09-1998. V 19, No 3. Pg. No: 253-259. Vane, Leland M.; Zang, Gwen M. Effect of aqueous phase properties on clay particle zeta potential and electro-osmotic permeability: Implications for electro-kinetic soil remediation processes. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 08-1997. V 55, No 1-3. Pg. No: 1-22. Weng, D.; Wainright, J S.; Landau, U.; Savinell, R F. Electro-osmotic drag coefficient of water and methanol in polymer electrolytes at elevated temperatures. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 08-1997. V 143, No 4. Pg. No: 1260-1263. Yoshida, H. Practical aspects of dewatering enhanced by electro-osmosis. Drying Technology, 1994. V 11, No 4. Pg. No: 787-814. Zawodzinski, Thomas A.; Davey, John; Valerio, Judith; Gottesfeld, Shimshon. Water content dependence of electro-osmotic drag in proton-conducting polymer electrolytes. Electrochimica Acta,08-1997. V 40, No 3. Pg. No: 297-302. KEYWORDS: electro-osmosis, demolition, concrete, structures Download 1.22 Mb. Share with your friends:
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