COMBUSTION DRIVEN PULSED LINEAR GENERATORS FOR ELECTRIC GUN APPLICATIONS

Energy storage and pulse forming for electromagnetic and electro-therm al chemical guns has historically been accomplished through the use of complex power trains. Such power trains typical involve a prime power source, electrical or mechanical power conversion devices, capacitive or flywheel energy storage devices, and sophisticated switching and c ontrol elements. Kaman Electromagnetics (KEG) has developed concepts f or simpler pulse power systems where chemical energy is converted more directly into an electrical output which can be utilized by an electr ic gun load without further conditioning. One family of devices which has shown considerable promise is the linear flux compressor. Early wo rk with flux compressors used explosives and was suited only for micro second duration pulses. More recent efforts utilizing propellants and even conventional hydrocarbon fuels can provide millisecond duration p ulses which are well suited for electric gun type loads. Internally fu nded efforts indicate linear flux compressor pulse power supplies can be considerable smaller and lighter than conventional systems. This pa per will present the operational principles and design issues of linea r flux compressors suitable for EM guns. Point designs, performance si mulations and general scaling relationships will also be presented.