Method and device for fragmenting and/or weakening pourable material by means of high-voltage discharges

The invention relates to a method for fragmenting and/or weakening pourable material (1) by means of high-voltage discharges. According to said method, an annular or arcuate material flow (4) of the material (1) is formed and said material flow is guided past a high-voltage electrode assembly (2) while immersed in a process liquid (5), by means of which high-voltage electrode assembly high-voltage punctures through the material flow (4) are produced in that high-voltage pulses are applied to the high-voltage electrodes of the high-voltage electrode assembly by means of a high-voltage generator (3). Material (1) is fed to the material flow (4) upstream of the high-voltage electrode assembly (2), and material (1) is led away from the material flow (4) downstream of the high-voltage electrode assembly (2). The method according to the invention enables a continuous process, in which the speed at which the material (1) is led through the process zone and the intensity with which high-voltage punctures are applied