A Compact Pulsed Power Supply for ETI Applications

Recent developments in high-energy capacitors and other high-voltage components have allowed practical demonstration of a pulsed power supply suitable for integration into a combat vehicle to support electrothermal ignition (ETI), a low-energy variation of electrothermal chemical propulsion. A programmable high- voltage charger, based on standard commercial power electronic building blocks, offers a low-cost means of charging the system from variable-voltage prime power sources, such as a vehicle battery pack or battery-to-bus converter. A flexible control scheme allows for remote control over fiber optics, or direct interface with a host vehicle fire control system. The pulsed power system was installed in a combat vehicle and used to fire over twenty 120 mm ETI rounds under remote control. In addition, the system was used to fire into an in-chamber dummy round while controlled by a man in the commander's seat. Experimental results show negligible interaction of the pulsed power supply with vehicle electronic systems, and good confinement of electromagnetic fields inside the high-voltage pulse output cable and firing pin. This effort, funded in part by US Army ARDEC, Picatinny Arsenal, has proven out several concepts that contribute toward fielding a compact pulsed power supply, and suggests areas where further development would prove beneficial to future systems.