ARL Commissioning Experiments With a 4.5-MJ Pulsed Power Supply

Abstract

A 4.5-MJ capacitor-based, pulsed power supply has been installed at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, for railgun operations. The system consists of 18 independent modules, each with an energy capacity of 250 kJ. Half of the modules were modified from their original condition to a pulse-forming inductance of ^24 mH, while the remainder maintained their original 60-mH inductance. Another modification included a pneumatic-operated shorting system, added to enhance the safety of the system. Simulations were conducted for a variety of load conditions using a SPICE-based code. Predicted currents and velocities are in reasonable agreement with measured quantities. The complete system allows the electromagnetic launch of hypervelocity launch packages to a downrange distance of 4 km.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA406130

Entities

People

  • Miguel Del Guercio

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Capacitors
  • Coaxial Cables
  • Control Systems
  • Data Acquisition
  • Electrical Impedance
  • Energy
  • Experimental Data
  • Fiber Optics
  • High Voltage
  • Impedance
  • Inductance
  • Military Research
  • Power
  • Power Supplies
  • Simulations
  • Spark Gaps

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Computer Science.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • ballistics.

Technology Areas

  • Hypersonics
  • Hypersonics - Hypersonic Flow