Single shot switch performance on the cannon caliber electromagnetic gun program

Author

Hotz, T.J. ; Penney, C.E. ; Kitzmiller, J.R. ; Werst, M.D.

Author_Institution

Center for Electromech., Texas Univ., Austin, TX, USA

Volume

35

Issue

1

fYear

1999

fDate

1/1/1999 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

346

Lastpage

351

Abstract

The Cannon Caliber Electromagnetic Gun (CCEMG) program at The University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics incorporates two solid state switch modules. The 95 MW rectifier/inverter bridge (RIB) generates the field inside of the compulsator (CPA) and the 825 kA gun switch module (GSM) is the main closing switch between the CPA and the launcher. Since commissioning the CCEMG system, nearly 400 discharges have been performed using these switches. These tests produced a significant amount of information which will be very useful for the design of future solid-state switching systems on other electromagnetic launch programs. This paper presents the basic design, testing and lessons learned from the commissioning of the CCEMG system switches

Keywords

electromagnetic launchers; pulsed power supplies; pulsed power switches; 825 kA; 95 MW; cannon caliber electromagnetic gun; closing switch; commissioning; compulsator; design; gun switch module; rectifier/inverter bridge; single-shot switch performance; solid-state pulsed power switch modules; testing; Bridge circuits; Coils; Earth Observing System; GSM; Railguns; Solid state circuits; Switches; Switching systems; System testing; Thyristors;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.738429

Filename

738429