Peter Ehrhart

Compact modular power supplies for superconducting inductive storage and for capacitor charging

The power supply systems for future electric weapons in mobile applications require energy storage devices that feature high power densities. These can either be superconducting inductive energy storage systems or high-voltage capacitors. In future mobile applications these pulse storage devices will most likely be energized from an intermediate storage buffer, like the magnetodynamic storage (MDS), a flywheel type storage device. In order to match impedances during the charging process, electronic power supply units are required as interfaces. This paper presents an 80 kVA/2000 A power supply needed to charge a superconducting coil as well as a 200 kVA power supply for charging a 200 kJ/24 kV capacitor. Both power supply systems are designed to meet the requirements of future vehicle applications, as far as volume, mass and shock tolerances are concerned. The switches are liquid-cooled high-speed IGBTs. A resonant topology is used to minimize the switching losses of the IGBTs. A useful feature is the modular architecture with the possibility to operate several of the power supply units in parallel, synchronized by a master unit.

Superconducting inductive pulsed power supply for electromagnetic launchers: design aspects and experimental investigation of laboratory set-up

The principle of the superconducting inductive energy storage and of superconducting pulse switching is reviewed. Design criteria are discussed by introducing two different laboratory set-ups. Special emphasis will be laid on the methods of charging the energy storage and on the pulse switching. The layout and dimensioning of an experimental pulsed power supply with an energy capacity of 4 MJ are described. First experimental results are presented and future development steps are discussed.

Demonstration of a superconducting inductive pulsed power supply at simulated load conditions

A laboratory set-up of a 0.5 MJ superconducting pulsed power supply is described. This combination of a superconducting inductive energy storage system with a superconducting pulse switch is performed using standard NbTi technology. Two principles of laboratory pulse loads are introduced, which simulate voltage and current conditions similar to those of ETC applications. The experimental results of pulse discharge experiments confirm good compatibility of inductive energy storage and the load simulators. Further experimental results demonstrate the possibility of pulse conditioning by sequential discharge of storage modules.

The magnet-motor energy supply system for EML together with a new coil-accelerator concept

The components developed by Magnet-Motor GmbH for the energy supply of electromagnetic launchers are explained, and their connection to a mobile energy supply system is presented. A multiple electronic permanent-magnet motor and generator, magnetic dynamic storage, and superconducting inductive storage are considered. A report on a new coil gun launcher concept is also presented. >