Reluctance Accelerator Efficiency Optimization via Pulse Shaping

IEEE Access

Bernard T. Bristoll¹  Liam M. Cooper¹  Abigail R. Van Cleef¹  Paul A. Bartlett¹ 

[1] Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, London, U.K.;

关键词: Reluctance accelerators;    Electromagnetic launchers;    linear accelerators;    pulse shaping;   

DOI  :  10.1109/ACCESS.2014.2359996

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Reluctance accelerators are used to apply linear forces to ferromagnetic projectiles via solenoids. Efficiency increases for a single-stage reluctance accelerator were produced by manipulating the input current pulse supplied by a discharging capacitor. The development of a theoretical model allowed for the calculation of optimized pulse shapes. A digital pulsewidth modulated switching method was used to control the current pulse shape using an Arduino Uno microcontroller, which supplied signals to the gate of a MOSFET transistor that controlled the current to the system solenoid. An efficiency increase of 5.7% was obtained for a reluctance accelerator with an optimized current pulse shape in comparison to a capacitor discharge with no pulse shaping.

【 授权许可】

Unknown