Comparison of switching technologies for a tactical EML application

Author

Singh, H. ; Carter, J.L. ; Creedon, J.

Author_Institution

Pulse Power Branch, Army Res. Lab., Fort Monmouth, NJ, USA

Volume

33

Issue

1

fYear

1997

fDate

1/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

513

Lastpage

518

Abstract

Capabilities of switches to meet pulser requirements for a high energy tactical application are reviewed. Characteristics of solid state and non-solid state switching devices are discussed with respect to their rating limits when operated in an electromagnetic launcher system at a peak voltage of 15 kilovolts, a peak current of 3.6 million amperes and a pulse width of 4 milliseconds. The switch types compared were selected for their ability to conduct high peak current at high coulomb levels while operating in mobile tactical system having severe volumetric constraints. A series-parallel arrangement of silicon controlled rectifiers was considered to offer the best approach for the tactical system

Keywords

electromagnetic launchers; military equipment; power supplies to apparatus; pulsed power switches; 15 kV; 3.6 MA; 4 ms; coulomb levels; electromagnetic launcher system; high energy tactical application; mobile tactical system; peak current; pulser requirements; rating limits; series-parallel arrangement; switching technologies; tactical EML application; volumetric constraints; Current density; Laboratories; MOSFETs; Silicon carbide; Solid state circuits; Space vector pulse width modulation; Switches; Thyratrons; Thyristors; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.560065

Filename

560065