ANALYSIS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF RAIL ACCELERATORS
Abstract
Application of possible energy loss mechanisms to the rail accelerator problem has shown how large amounts of energy could be consumed and not become available as axial kinetic energy. Axial kinetic energy vs specific impulse plots indicate that a specific impulse of 10,000 sec would require a kinetic energy of 40 Joules. For the conditions considered, radial kinetic energy and the plasma formation and heat energy are negligible by comparison. Thus, an efficiency of 10 to 20% based on absorbed energy is implied depending upon emissivity up to a 50% reduction. The range of efficiency is in good agreement with experimental results. Two of the mechanisms considered, Joullian heating of the rails and radio frequency electromagnetic radiation, were found completely negligible. Although the relative energy contained in radial motion at the velocities considered is small compared to the thermal radiation energy losses, a reduction in radial velocity has a corresponding effect on the radiation by re ucing the radiating surface area for a given time interval. A marked improvement in efficiency could be realized by utilizing a cold plasma so that lo ses based on temperature could be reduced. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1961
- Accession Number
- AD0267221
Entities
People
- George M. Palmer
Organizations
- General Motors