Analysis of a capacitor-based pulsed-power system for driving long-range electromagnetic guns

Author

Bernardes, J.S. ; Stumborg, M.F. ; Jean, T.E.

Author_Institution

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Div., VA, USA

Volume

39

Issue

1

fYear

2003

Firstpage

486

Lastpage

490

Abstract

Proposed ship-based long-range electromagnetic guns require input energies greater then 100 MJ, at peak powers in excess of 50 GW, and at average power in the tens of megawatts. This paper describes a conceptual pulsed-power system for driving these types of guns. A generic design was developed based on state-of-the-art power-supply, capacitor, and switching technologies. Results of modeling and parametric studies are presented, and key issues that impact system size and configuration are explored. An assessment is made of the feasibility of integrating this type of system into an electric-drive ship.

Keywords

capacitor storage; circuit simulation; naval engineering; pulsed power supplies; railguns; weapons; 100 MJ; 50 GW; capacitor technologies; capacitor-based pulsed-power system; electric-drive ship; generic design; input energies; modeling; parametric studies; peak powers; railgun; ship-based long-range electromagnetic guns; switching technologies; Capacitors; Coaxial cables; EMP radiation effects; Electromagnetic analysis; Electromagnetic launching; Marine vehicles; Power supplies; Power system modeling; Railguns; Switches;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TMAG.2002.806380

Filename

1179873