Explosive Pulsed Power: An Enabling Technology
Abstract
The modern army is currently striving to make their weapon systems smaller, lighter, and cheaper and at the same time more powerful. One of the enabling technologies that permit this is Explosive Pulsed Power (EPP). Explosive Pulsed Power consists of those devices that convert the chemical energy in explosives into electrical energy. In 2004, a series of Army Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Programs were initiated to develop several types of very compact EPP Generators. Based on these recent efforts, we now have a better understanding of the weaknesses and strengths of these small generators. As a result, we can now build reliable generators that provide consistent output currents and voltages. In this paper, a brief introduction to these generators will be given along some of the most recent advances in our understanding of them. This paper will only report on advances made by Army and Navy researchers and that of their contractors. A description of an explosive driven high power microwave test bed built at Texas Tech will be presented. A brief description of some applications of EPP will also be presented.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA504423
Entities
People
- L. L. Altgilbers
Organizations
- United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command