Energy Recovery of Air-Core Pulsed Alternators After Discharge Process

The air-core pulsed alternator with miniaturization and light-weight is the preferred pulsed power supply for mobile combat platforms which have strict restrictions on volume and weight. After the air-core machine discharges to the load, massive magnetic energy remains in the alternator and the railgun due to the high residual currents. Usually, this magnetic energy is consumed by resistors in the circuit, but it leads to a low system efficiency. In this paper, two methods are put forward to get the magnetic energy reclaimed and thereby reused in the next projectile launching. One is to control the triggering signal of the rectifier circuit so that it can work as an inverter and the magnetic energy in field windings can be recovered into the kinetic energy in rotor. The optimum triggering angle is selected based on its value range calculated. The other is to design a resistance-capacitance absorption circuit installed on the muzzle to absorb the residual discharge current and realize the conversion of the magnetic energy in rails into the electric energy in absorption capacitor, which can be reused as an ignition capacitor.