EML switching technology

Author

Kolm, Henry ; Mongeau, Peter ; French, Richard ; Millas, Christina

Author_Institution

Electromagn. Launch Res. Inc., Hudson, MA, USA

Volume

25

Issue

1

fYear

1989

fDate

1/1/1989 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

309

Lastpage

315

Abstract

It is reported that pure arc commutation can be made to work nondestructively to the 100 kA level if attention is paid to armature velocity and commutation line width, but that at the megampere level required in railguns it is necessary to incorporate a massive resistor element and to ensure that a significant fraction of the arc current is diverted into this element. It has also been found expedient to separate opening switches into distinct elements which perform the three functions of charging, opening, and reconnection (crowbarring), because these three functions have conflicting requirements. The three types of switches and their actuation mechanisms and control are discussed

Keywords

commutation; electromagnetic launchers; power supplies to apparatus; pulsed power technology; actuation mechanisms; armature velocity; charging; commutation line width; crowbarring; electromagnetic launches; opening; pulsed power; pure arc commutation; railguns; reconnection; resistor element; switches; Circuit breakers; Contacts; Magnetic materials; Physics; Railguns; Resistors; Superconducting materials; Switches; Switching circuits; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.22556

Filename

22556