Design and Development of 4-MJ Capacitor Bank-Based Pulsed Power System for Electromagnetic Launcher

Abstract

A capacitor-based pulsed power system of 4 MJ was designed and developed to propel projectiles of mass above 100 g to hypervelocites. The system used the modular approach, by integrating ten 400-kJ capacitor bank modules. A number of simulation studies were carried out viz., performance analysis of the system using Microcap simulation package, design of various pulsed power subsystems using ANSYS Maxwell simulation tool, and finite element transient analysis for current diffusion through the in-house developed software. Power transfer lines, coaxial cables, and pulse-shaping inductor were designed and fabricated. Various electromagnetic (EM) launchers were designed, developed, and fabricated. Modules are arranged on various racks and are integrated with the EM launcher. Launchers are initially test fired with four modules and then with ten modules. The data acquisition system was developed to measure module currents, in-bore position, velocity, and acceleration of armature. The pulsed power system was experimented up to 1.1-MA current pulse and was successfully test fired to accelerated 120-g mass projectile at a muzzle velocity of 2024 m/s.