Modeling of an Air-Core Compulsator and the Pulse Shaping Using Optimization Algorithm

Compensated pulsed alternator (compulsator) plays a significant role in the field of pulsed power supply. Different kinds of compulsators have been used to drive high-energy weapons. In this paper, the mathematical model of a two-phase four-pole air-core compulsator is established, taking the current coupling, the change of rotor speed and changing load characteristics into account. Both the self-excitation process and the discharge process are modeled. Simulation results indicate that our model has high accuracy in comparison with the results of the co-simulation method using finite-element method and circuit principle. Moreover, the usage of the mathematical model can improve the simulation efficiency and flexibility. The current pulse requirements of electromagnetic rail gun (EMRG), flash lamp, and electro-thermal-chemical gun (ETCG) are analyzed, respectively, and the pulse shape optimization problem is studied based on the intelligent optimization algorithm. For EMRG and flash lamp, the term “acceleration ratio” is introduced to identify whether a pulse is flat or spiked. For ETCG, the conception of “shape variance” is proposed to evaluate the fitness of its pulse shape. With the help of suitable objection function and intelligent optimization algorithm, the optimal discharge pulse for specific load can be obtained easily.