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A plasma-hydraulic excavation system suitable for use in connection with mining operations is provided. According to the system, one or more groups of plasma-hydraulic projectors that include a reflector and a pair of electrodes are used to break an area of rock. The projectors include a connection

A plasma-hydraulic excavation system suitable for use in connection with mining operations is provided. According to the system, one or more groups of plasma-hydraulic projectors that include a reflector and a pair of electrodes are used to break an area of rock. The projectors include a connection box within which high voltage connections between the electrodes of the projector and a power supply cable may be made. Groups of projectors and supporting componentry may be housed within a common frame, to form an excavation module. Electrode insulators interconnected to the projector reflector in compression are also disclosed. A trigger circuit providing a voltage transformer for each projector in a group of projectors is utilized in connection with a series connected current source circuit to provide for the ignition of the projectors. According to an embodiment of the invention, multiple groups of projectors may be operated using a single current control switch.

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1. A plasma-hydraulic projector apparatus for breaking rock, comprising:a first group of projectors, wherein each of said projectors comprises:at least one reflector;at least two electrodes, wherein a gap is formed between said at least two electrodes;a current source circuit, wherein an electrical

1. A plasma-hydraulic projector apparatus for breaking rock, comprising:a first group of projectors, wherein each of said projectors comprises:at least one reflector;at least two electrodes, wherein a gap is formed between said at least two electrodes;a current source circuit, wherein an electrical current is supplied to said first group of projectors in series; anda trigger voltage source circuit, wherein a voltage is applied to said first group of projectors in parallel. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first group of projectors further comprises:a high voltage connection box, wherein an interconnection between a high voltage supply cable and an end of at least a first of said electrodes is established within an interior of said at least a first connection box, and wherein said interior of said connection box is sealed from an exterior environment. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a frame, wherein said first group of projectors are interconnected to said frame. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said current source circuit further comprises:at least a first main supply capacitor, wherein said at least a first main supply capacitor is interconnected to said frame. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said trigger voltage source circuit further comprises:a plurality of transformers, wherein said plurality of transformers are interconnected to said frame, and wherein at least a first transformer is provided for each of said projectors. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a second group of projectors, wherein each of said projectors comprises:a reflector;at least two electrodes;wherein said first and second groups of projectors form an array of projectors, and wherein said array of projectors is ignited by a single current source switch. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a position of at least one of said electrodes is adjustable. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a position of at least one of said electrodes is controlled by a motor. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a mechanism to rotate at least one of said at least two electrodes of each projector, wherein a size of said gap is reduced. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said electrodes is formed from a wear resistant material. 11. A method of breaking rock using plasma-hydraulic projectors, comprising:providing a first plurality of plasma-hydraulic projectors that each comprise a plurality of electrodes forming at least a first gap;providing a liquid, wherein said liquid occupies at least a portion of said at least a first gap of each of said projectors;providing a plurality of enclosures, wherein at least a first enclosure is provided for each of said plasma-hydraulic projectors;interconnecting a high voltage supply cable to an end of an electrode within an interior of each of said enclosures;providing a high voltage across a gap of each of said projectors using transformers interconnected to a voltage source in parallel;positioning said projectors adjacent a rock surface; andproviding an electrical current to each gap of said projectors from a current source interconnected to said projectors in series to ignite said projectors, wherein a breakdown voltage of said liquid is exceeded, and wherein said rock surface adjacent of said projectors is broken. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said projectors are ignited at least about 10 times per second. 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a second plurality of plasma-hydraulic projectors, wherein said first plurality of projectors are ignited at a first frequency to provide a first excavation rate, and wherein said second plurality of projectors are ignited at a second frequency to provide a second excavation rate. 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising adjusting a position of at least one of said electrodes to compensate for wear. 15. An ignition circuit for a plasma-hydraulic mining system, comprising:a plurality of pro jectors interconnected to one another in series, wherein each of said projectors includes:at least a first hot electrode;at least a first ground electrode;a gap between said at least a first hot electrode and said at least a first ground electrode;a trigger circuit, including:a voltage source;a trigger circuit switch in series with said voltage source;a plurality of primary windings interconnected to said voltage source in parallel, wherein each of said primary windings comprises a primary winding of a voltage transformer;a plurality of secondary windings, wherein each of said secondary windings comprises a secondary winding of said voltage transformer, wherein for each of said gaps a one of said secondary windings interconnects said at least a first hot electrode and said at least a first ground electrode, wherein each of said plurality of secondary windings is paired with a one of said primary windings, and wherein a polarity of each of said transformers is alternated so that a potential between interconnected electrodes is zero; anda current source circuit interconnected to said series interconnected projectors. 16. The ignition circuit of claim 15, wherein said current source circuit comprises:a vector inversion circuit; anda control switch. 17. The ignition circuit of claim 16, wherein said control switch comprises a thyratron. 18. The iginition circuit of claim 16, further comprising a control module, wherein said projectors are ignited at a selected frequency. 19. The ignition circuit of claim 16, further comprising a motor operable to adjust a position of at least one of said hot electrode and said ground electrode. 20. A method of igniting a plurality of plasma-hydraulic projector gaps, comprising:interconnecting said projector gaps to one another in series;providing a first voltage potential across said projector gaps from a voltage source circuit; andproviding a source of current to said series interconnected projector gaps, wherein a current is conducted across said projector gaps to ignite said projector gaps, whereby a plasma is created in a liquid to create a high pressure shock wave capable of fracturing rock. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein a cumulative voltage across said series interconnected projector gaps introduced by said voltage source circuit is zero. 22. The method of claim 20, wherein a voltage potential between adjacent interconnected projector electrodes not separated by a gap is zero. 23. The method of claim 20, wherein said voltage potential across said projector gaps is at about a maximum voltage at a time that a voltage provided by said source of current is at about a maximum voltage. 24. The method of claim 20, wherein said projector gaps are ignited at a frequency of about 10 Hz.