Switching for electric rail guns
Abstract
The switching requirements of single-stage electric railguns powered by inductive energy stores are analyzed, and the design of a 500-kA commutation switch is shown. The closed, commutation, and off states of the switch and the reclosure function at the end of the projectile acceleration are discussed in general terms, and the specific requirements of the railgun facility at Australian National University are listed. The switch designed is essentially a railgun mounted perpendicular to the breech of the electric railgun, with the armature accelerating down copper rails at closing speeds from 50 m/sec at 100 kA to 300 m/sec at 500 kA to commutate current to the railgun. Commutation time and maximum voltage during 200 shots at 400 kA were found to be 50 microsec and 100 V; commutation inductance was 18-20 nH.
- Publication:
-
IEEE Transactions on Magnetics
- Pub Date:
- March 1984
- DOI:
- 10.1109/TMAG.1984.1063100
- Bibcode:
- 1984ITM....20..304B
- Keywords:
-
- Commutation;
- Electric Switches;
- Inductors;
- Railgun Accelerators;
- Time Response;
- Electric Energy Storage;
- High Current;
- Hypervelocity Projectiles;
- Off-On Control;
- Switching Circuits;
- Electronics and Electrical Engineering