Investigation of Battery-Charged Capacitor Pulsed Power Systems for Electromagnetic Launcher, Experiments
Abstract
Candidate pulsed power systems for electromagnetic launchers constitute two broad categories: rotating machinery and nonrotating devices. Rotating machinery for this purpose is under development at several industrial and educational institutions around the world. Nonrotating hardware includes capacitors, batteries, and inductors. These too are the subject of research programs, but as yet are much larger than rotating supplies of equal power and energy capability. In 1988, system studies (Reference 1) identified several attractive pulsed power systems for electromagnetic launchers. Battery-charged capacitor pulsed power systems were among those identified as promising for electromagnetic launcher systems. The basic equations governing the battery- charging capacitor sequence and the capacitor discharge into an electromagnetic launcher are the subject of this report. A battery-charged capacitor system powering an electromagnetic launcher has also been built and tested. This experiment not only validates the system concept with presently available hardware, but can be used to establish a baseline for evaluation of future systems when technology in capacitor and battery power and energy densities improve.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA255877
Entities
People
- James B. Cornette