Analysis of a capacitor-based pulsed-power system for driving long-range electromagnetic guns

Proposed ship-based long-range electromagnetic guns require input energies greater then 100 MJ, at peak powers in excess of 50 GW, and at average power in the tens of megawatts. This paper describes a conceptual pulsed-power system for driving these types of guns. A generic design was developed based on state-of-the-art power-supply, capacitor, and switching technologies. Results of modeling and parametric studies are presented, and key issues that impact system size and configuration are explored. An assessment is made of the feasibility of integrating this type of system into an electric-drive ship.