Application of electromagnetic guns to future naval platforms

Abstract

Abstract-Designs for future naval vessels are strongly considering electric drive systems. Already employed in commercial cruise ships, electric drive offers the advantages of increased ship design flexibility, improved efficiency, reduced maintenance and allows ship prime power to be easily diverted to other electrical loads as needed. The ability to use ship prime power generation, which ranges between 40 and 150 MW depending on vessel class, for other electric loads provides the opportunity to electrify many existing functions as well as add new performance enhancing systems. The recent and ongoing emergence of electric gun and guided projectile technologies now allows very long range naval fire support functions to be evaluated for viability. In this paper, conceptual system designs for surface fire support of forces in littoral campaigns are considered. Key advantages of an EM fire support weapon over conventional technologies include reduced logistics burden and cost per round, greater lethality, shorter time of flight, improved survivability, and the ability to stow more rounds. Notional mission requirements, projectile, power supply issues, and ship integration issues are discussed. Also, other shipboard uses for the pulse power system required for these notional electric gun systems are also reviewed.

Effective mechanical properties of EM composite conductors: an analytical and finite element modeling approach

“…Compact and lightweight electromagnetic machinery (EM) has been envisioned as a critical component in future combat vehicles and weaponries [1][2][3]. One of the integral elements in the system is the electromagnetic composite conductor.…”

Study on the system efficiency of the synchronously-triggered capacitive pulsed-power supply in the electromagnetic railgun system

“…Compared to inductive pulsed-power supply (IPPS), capacitive pulsed-power supply (CPPS) have obvious advantages on mature technology, operational reliability and feasible financial condition [1][2][3], thus obtaining more widespread applications. However, the existing CPPS-based electromagnetic railgun system works with low efficiency.…”

Magnetic and conductive shielding for air‐core pulsed alternators in railgun systems

“…In recent years, the CPA‐based railgun systems have been studied as the cutting‐edge technology compared to the relatively mature energy‐storage capacitor‐based railgun systems. With increasing pulse power requirement of the railgun, the development of CPA has experienced a change from the iron‐core CPA to the air‐core CPA . The air‐core CPA stores the needed energy in the high‐speed rotor as inertia kinetic energy, which has much higher energy density compared to capacitive energy storage.…”