Title :
The development of mega-amp contact structures for an electromagnetic launcher
Author :
Calvin, Hugh A. ; Anderson, Jeffrey J. ; Slade, Paul G.
Author_Institution :
Westinghouse Marine Div., Sunnyvale, CA, USA
Abstract :
An electromagnetic launcher requires mega-ampere peak currents with millisecond durations. The launcher segments require high current joints to carry the mega-ampere currents and to transfer the current from the distributed pulsed power capacitor banks to the railgun. The evolution of the high current contact design is discussed. It is shown that the extrapolation of basic contact design criteria used for contact structures over 100 kA can be extended to mega-ampere joints.<>
Keywords :
electrical contacts; electromagnetic launchers; pulsed power technology; switchgear; 100 kA; distributed pulsed power capacitor banks; electromagnetic launcher; high current contact design; mega-amp contact structures; railgun; Copper; Electromagnetic launching; Electromagnetic transients; Feeds; Magnetic fields; Power capacitors; Projectiles; Railguns; Rails; Thermal resistance;
Conference_Titel :
Electrical Contacts, 1992., Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth IEEE Holm Conference on
Conference_Location :
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-0576-0
DOI :
10.1109/HOLM.1992.246939
