Development of Lightweight Prime Power Source Components for Pulsed Applications

This paper discusses some state-of-the-art approaches and options for development of very lightweight prime power source components and sub-systems suitable for pulsed applications. Prime power refers to components which convert available energy (typically kerosene based fuel) into useful electrical power for pulsed systems (high power radars (HPRs), high power microwaves (HPM), lasers or kinetic energy weapons (KEWs)). A discussion of two projects undertaken by BRDEC will illustrate some of the approaches available to achieve high power density prime power systems. These projects include: a. The design effort for a 1 MW power source for a conceptual airborne application. This effort is discussed in Part 1. b. The Tech Base high speed, high power density Bendix alternator effort. This is discussed in Part 2.