A 600kJ Pulsed Power Supply for Electromagnetic Launching Application

The impulsive acceleration of active protection elements can preferably be realized by single-stage electromagnetic launcher systems using pancake coils1. In order to produce time varying magnetic field, during the year 2004, a pulsed power system with two modular structured energy packs (300 kJ) has been built up as a basic facility for testing pancake coils systems. Each power supply module comprises 6 capacitors, an improved spark gap switch adapted to 200kA discharge current, a crowbar diodes, a high frequency PWM rectifier and a well-designed coaxial power line serving as a pulse-forming network. Two modules can be triggered independently by controller with fiber optic transmitters. The selection of the launch direction can be changed by a short delay (a few microseconds to 10 millisecond) between the trigger pulses. In order to reduce influence of electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic force and provide high flexibility reliability, we have improved the arrangement of components and structure of pulsed power module. Two modules are designed for a maximum charging voltage of 7 kV and peak current up to 200 kA per module. The paper presented here describes the test facility and the prototype arrangement of launcher system with two assembled pancake coils fed by two of the modular pulsed power supply units described above. Further, the investigations and results will be presented.

I. INTRODUCTION

A 600kJ capacitor-based pulsed power system with two independent triggered modules has been built up, each with an energy capacity of 300 kJ, as a basic facility for testing pancake coils systems. The PPS consists of the capacitor banks, spark gap switch, a PWM high-voltage charger, crowbar switch and the control system.