Study of a Three-Stage Reconnection Electromagnetic Launcher Using Triggered Vacuum Switches

The reconnection electromagnetic launcher is a type of induction launcher whose propulsive force is the interaction between the eddy current induced in the projectile and the pulsed high magnetic field generated by the coil. A three-stage reconnection electromagnetic launcher system has been fabricated and tested. Box-shaped helical coils are constructed to launch the flat-plate projectile. Capacitor banks are used as the power supplies. Triggered vacuum switches (TVS) are used instead of spark gaps as the closing switches because of the advantages such as small volume, no maintenance and low electromagnetic interference. Owing to the special arc extinguishing performance of TVS, energy saving potential is studied. When the arc extinguishes at the second current zero, the remaining energy of the capacitor banks contributes to higher efficiency