Pulsed disk alternators as energy storage devices for electrothermal chemical guns

Electrothermal chemical (ETC) guns require pulsed power supplies that deliver energy to the gun breech in the 1-5 millisecond regime. The most likely near term application for ETC gun systems is the US Navy 127 mm Mark 45 guns. Pulsed disk alternators (PDA) constitute a class of flywheel based energy storage devices that are ideally suited to the power levels, time constants and impedance matching needed by ETC guns. As a result of its unique geometry, the PDA has inherently high energy density compared to other energy stores that are under consideration for electric gun systems. PDA system elements and comparisons with capacitor based pulsed power supplies are reviewed.<
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