METHOD OF ACTIVE ELECTROOSMOTIC DRYING OF WALLS OF BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES FROM GROUND WATERS Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: construction and reconstruction of buildings and structures; may be used in major and minor repairs. SUBSTANCE: method includes connection of electrodes to DC source and to wall of building or structure to set up electric field, and moisture flow is formed to dry the wall. At the first stage DC source sets up field intensity which exceeds the threshold value and depending on height of moisture rise in wall at which moisture in wall capillaries is displaced and excessive moisture is removed. Upon completion of the first stage, the voltage of DC source is reduced to value ensuring counteraction to the process of capillary rise of moisture in wall under pressure of grounds and filtration waters. All anode electrodes may be separated into sections. In this case, separate independent current lead is provided in each section. Voltage in sections may vary depending on moisture content in wall. Applying various voltage values to wall different sections may result in efficient drying over the entire perimeter of building. Separation of one section of anode electrodes into two groups with alternating supply of electric energy to each group, mutual interaction of neighboring anode electrodes is reduced and drying efficiency is raised while the power consumption is reduced. With use of internal nongrounded metal structures as electrodes, the time required for wall drying is decreased. When additional sections of anode electrodes are installed at grounded metal structures, water-logging of sections of wall near these section reduces. EFFECT: efficient wall drying, reduced time for drying, and higher operating reliability. 7 cl, 4 dwg