A 4-MJ mobile pulse power facility for electrothermal-chemical gun research

In support of advanced electric gun research in progress within the US Army, a mobile pulsed power system has been developed and made operational as part of the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) electric gun research facility. This mobile system has a maximum energy storage capability of 4 MJ, and it can deliver gigawatt levels of pulsed power over time periods of several milliseconds. The configuration of the system is that of a pulse-forming network (PFN) that is comprised of a bank of 80 high-energy capacitors, pulse-shaping inductors, switches and other electronic components which are designed to provide a variety of pulsed power profiles for electric propulsion research. The prime power for the PFN consists of a 1 MW diesel generator interconnected with a 27 kV constant voltage power supply. The system is controlled and monitored with electronic instrumentation from a remote control station which makes use of optical fiber signal transmission techniques. Recently acquired experimental pulsed power data from the facility are presented and discussed.