Research on a high energy utilization efficiency electromagnetic aircraft launcher with an ultracapacitor bank

Energy utilization efficiency (EUE) is low when an ultracapacitor bank directly supplies power for an electromagnetic aircraft launcher (EMAL). To solve this problem, a boost converter is added between the ultracapacitor bank and the linear acceleration motor of the EMAL. The difference between the terminal voltage of the ultracapacitor bank and the peak back electromotive force of the linear motor is used to control the boost converter. System modeling and parametric design are presented. Simulation results show the ultracapacitor bank can discharge fast over a wide terminal voltage range and EUE is improved remarkably.