Numerical 3D Simulation of a Full System Air Core Compulsator-Electromagnetic Rail Launcher

Abstract

Multiphysics problems represent an open issue in numerical modeling. Electromagnetic launchers represent typical examples that require a strongly coupled magnetoquasistatic and mechanical approach. This is mainly due to the high velocities which make comparable the electrical and the mechanical response times. The analysis of interacting devices (e.g., a rail launcher and its feeding generator) adds further complexity, since in this context the substitution of one device with an electric circuit does not guarantee the accuracy of the analysis. A simultaneous full 3D electromechanical analysis of the interacting devices is often required. In this paper a numerical 3D analysis of a full launch system, composed by an air-core compulsator which feeds an electromagnetic rail launcher, is presented. The analysis has been performed by using a dedicated, in-house developed research code, named “EN4EM” (Equivalent Network for Electromagnetic Modeling). This code is able to take into account all the relevant electromechanical quantities and phenomena (i.e., eddy currents, velocity skin effect, sliding contacts) in both the devices. A weakly coupled analysis, based on the use of a zero-dimensional model of the launcher (i.e., a single loop electrical equivalent circuit), has been also performed. Its results, compared with those by the simultaneous 3D analysis of interacting devices, show an over-estimate of about 10–15% of the muzzle speed of the armature.

Analytical study on discharge process of multiphase air-core pulsed alternators

“…First, with all phase firing angles of 0°, figures 7 and 8 demonstrate the comparison of field current and discharge current between simulation result and the theoretical calculation by expressions (12)(13)(14), (16)(17)(18)(19)(20), in which the excitation resistance is not considered.…”

“…Paper [15] obtains the appropriate firing angles by the trial and error method within a FEM-Circuit Co-Simulation system. Paper [16] presents a numerical 3Danalysis of a compulsator system using EN4EM (Equivalent Network for Electromagnetic Modeling). However, the methods in [15] and [16] are timeconsuming compared with the numerical method.…”

“…Paper [16] presents a numerical 3Danalysis of a compulsator system using EN4EM (Equivalent Network for Electromagnetic Modeling). However, the methods in [15] and [16] are timeconsuming compared with the numerical method. Paper [17] obtained a formula of the peak value of each phase current relating to firing angles for a four-phase air-core pulsed alternator.…”

Modeling and Design Optimization of Energy Transfer Rate for Hybrid Energy Storage System in Electromagnetic Launch

“…The pulsed power system plays a crucial role in the electromagnetic launch system. To date, there is much literature about pulsed power technologies with different technical approaches [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. To meet both the high-energy density and high-power density requirements of the electrical pulse energy supply chain for the electromagnetic launch, a hybrid energy storage technology is widely utilized [2,[11][12][13][14][15].…”

Numerical Analysis of a Transposed Multiwired Armature in Electromagnetic Rail Launchers

“…Since the coefficient matrices are densely populated, this may require (relatively) long computational times to get the solution. The formulation has been used in the numerical analysis of a number of devices and systems [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31]. It is worth to mention that the introduction of the equivalent network allows the use of advanced analysis techniques for the evaluation of the sensitivity of the response with respect to parameter variation.…”