Numerical Calculation Model and Efficiency Analysis of Distributed-Energy-Store Railgun

In order to study the factors affecting the launch efficiency of the distributed-energy-store (DES) railgun, a numerical calculation model of the DES railgun is established in this article. Taking the six-stage equidistant DES railgun with 4-MJ initial energy storage as an example, the simulation results show that the launch efficiency of DES railgun is 21.14%, and the resistance loss and the residual magnetic energy of rail account for a small proportion of 6.47% and 3.77%, respectively. The resistance loss of power supply and other energy losses (the losses caused by the equivalent resistance produced by the armature and its related physical effects) accounted for the highest proportions, respectively, 23.91% and 37.52%. Therefore, these two parts of losses should be reduced to further improve the system launch efficiency. The influence of system parameters on launch efficiency was analyzed, and the parameters include capacitance, charging voltage, inductance, equivalent internal resistance, rail length, interval of current feed point, armature mass, inductance gradient, and rail height. Among them, inductance gradient has the most significant impression on launch efficiency, followed by equivalent internal resistance, rail length, and interval of current feed point. The conclusions can guide the selection of the feeding mode of the electromagnetic launch system and provide reference to the further optimization of the DES railgun launch system.