Analytical Model for a Brushless Air-Core Compensated Pulse Alternator

Abstract

The air-core compensated pulse alternator (CPA) as a high power pulsed power supply, has broad applications in many fields such as electromagnetic launch technology, electromagnetic gun, laser weapons, and so on. The structure, design, control method, and performance characteristics of the air-core CPA are quite different from those of the traditional electric machines. Most of the available literature on the air-core CPA mainly focuses on theoretical and simulation research, and the research methods primarily made use of the finite element method and the multiphysics coupling analysis. High calculation precision is the main advantage of the finite element method and its complex modeling and prolonged computation time are its downsides. If the parameters of the electric machine changes, the finite element model have to be rebuilt. In this article, the author introduces a universal calculation method of the winding inductance of the air-core CPA using a brushless air-core CPA as an example. The article establishes the machine’s analytical model and also calculates the self and the mutual inductance of the windings according to the machine design parameters. The analyzation of its no-load and discharge characteristics by use of the machine’s analytical model is also demonstrated. Finally, the article also compares the calculation results of the analytical method with those of the finite element method. The comparative results verify the correctness of the inductance calculation method and the machine’s analytical model.