A field based, self-excited compulsator power supply for a 9 MJ railgun demonstrator

Author

Walls, W.A. ; Pratap, S.B. ; Brinkman, W.G. ; Cook, K.G. ; Herbst, J.D. ; Manifold, S.M. ; Rech, B.M. ; Thelen, R.F. ; Thompson, R.C.

Author_Institution

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

Volume

27

Issue

1

fYear

1991

fDate

1/1/1991 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

335

Lastpage

349

Abstract

Fabrication efforts have begun on a field-based compulsator for firing 9 MJ projectiles from a railgun launcher. The machine is designed to store 200 MJ kinetic energy and fire a salvo of nine rounds in three minutes at velocities between 2.5 and 4.0 km/s. Prime power required to meet this firing schedule is 1.865 kW, and will be supplied by a gas turbine engine. It is also possible to fire a burst of two shots in rapid succession, if desired. Operating speed of the machine is 8250 r/min and it has design ratings of 3.2 MA peak current and 20 GW peak power into a 9 MJ railgun load. A two-pole configuration is used for pulse-length considerations, and selectivity passive compensation is used to produced a relatively flat pulse and limit peak projectile acceleration to about 980000 m/s². Other distinguishing features include an air core magnetic circuit, separate rotor armature windings for self-excitation and railgun firing, ambient temperature field coils, and excitation field magnetic energy recovery capability. A detailed description of the machine as designed, and its auxiliary and control systems, is provided. Fabrication and assembly methods are reviewed, and the current status of the project is discussed

Keywords

alternators; compensation; electromagnetic launchers; gas turbines; magnetic circuits; power supplies to apparatus; pulse generators; pulsed power technology; 1.865 kW; 20 GW; 200 MJ; 3.2 MA; 9 MJ; EM launchers; acceleration; air core magnetic circuit; alternators; assembly; design; excitation field magnetic energy recovery; fabrication; firing; gas turbine; kinetic energy; passive compensation; projectiles; railgun; rotor armature windings; self-excited compulsator power supply; Acceleration; Engines; Fabrication; Fires; Firing; Kinetic energy; Power supplies; Projectiles; Railguns; Turbines;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.101052

Filename

101052