Design and optimization of the pulsed power supply system used for electromagnetic railgun

Based on the analysis of electromagnetic launch principle, the technical requirements on pulsed power supply of electromagnetic railgun are proposed. The capacitor-based power supply used in the railgun is researched. Two topological structures are theoretically analyzed and compared. The current rise and the current fall are described. The relation of the factors such as capacitance, inductance, resistance, peak value of current pulse, current density of the armature, acceleration of the projectile, etc. are influenced mutually. Adopting the railgun structures of high inductance gradient, used the railgun as the load of the PPS, the mathematical model is set up. The working process is simulated and analyzed. The computed results such as the muzzle velocity, muzzle residual current, peak current of the different parameters are taken into consideration. The tradeoffs in the parameters of PPS are weighed against one another to achieve desired railgun performances.