The Research of an Equivalent Load Used for Testing an Air-Core Pulsed Alternator

Abstract

The air-core pulsed alternator has the integrated advantages of high energy density and high power density. It has important applications in new concept kinetic energy weapons such as electromagnetic launching and has become the research focus of many countries at present. However, the air-core machine with a current up to mega-ampere level still lacks testing, it is impractical and unscientific for the machine to drive the railgun directly without any experimental basis, and its huge risk and cost for testing must be taken into consideration. This paper presents an equivalent load instead of the electromagnetic railgun, which is used to accomplish the relevant testing research and theoretical verification. In this text, the design scheme for the equivalent load is proposed according to performance requirements, and it is composed of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder with a coaxial configuration. Then, the design is carried out by taking parameters of resistance, inductance, maximum temperature rising, stress, and length into consideration. Finally, it is necessary to develop simulations to verify electrical and mechanical performances of the load. The results provide a technical guidance and support for the actual railgun testing. It is helpful to promote the development of the air-core pulsed alternator, directly driving the electromagnetic railgun.