Abstract
The Thunderbolt program facility will provide 60 MJ of energy at 21 kV from capacitor banks for powering breech-fed or distributed energy railgun electromagnetic launchers. After discharge from the capacitor banks, the energy pulse is shaped with room-temperature solenoidal inductors, with switching being provided by D and E-sized ignitrons. Fast recharging of the capacitor banks could permit repetitive operation. A screened room provides protection for the control and data acquisition equipment, while a single-point ground scheme protects against ground loops. A substantial foundation provides support for the catch tank, while high-vacuum equipment will permit operation at high velocities with the round-bore railgun. Preinjection of the test projectiles to velocities of about 1 km/s is provided by a helium gas gun to minimize damage to the breech section of the railgun. In addition to providing details on Thunderbolt, operating experience and results obtained with a subscale launcher are described.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">></ETX>
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
