Effects of armature material and armature-coil distance on the performance of electromagnetic reconnection launcher

The armature of the electromagnetic reconnection launcher (EMRCL) is a critical factor in accelerating large-mass loads, which can convert electromagnetic energy into kinetic energy. In order to design high-efficiency armatures that launch large-mass payloads, the effects of armature material, armature, and coil distance on EMRCL performance are analyzed. A three-stage EMRCL platform is built to verify the accuracy of the simulation results. Simulation and experimental results show that the efficiency improvement of copper material is more significant as the payload mass increases. Simulation results show that when the coil is not in contact with the armature, the smaller the distance, the higher the efficiency. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation results, which provide a valuable reference for the design of the EMRCL large-mass payload armature.