Mobile pulse power systems for electric gun tests

The authors describe the design and construction of an 11 MJ mobile pulse power unit, based on state-of-the-art components. The power supply is constructed using 0.7 J/g energy density capacitors and is designed to fire ETC (electrothermal chemical) guns with calibers ranging from 30 mm to 155 mm. The system has been used successfully to fire a 5 in ETC gun and the 60 mm rapid-fire Navy ETC gun. The different requirements in the power level, pulse shape and duration, and repetition rate between these two tests demonstrate the versatility of the system.<>