Optimization design and research of a hybrid excitation compulsator

A compulsator is the best pulse power supply of an electromagnetic gun, into which the energy storage, electromechanical energy conversion, and pulse shaping are integrated. Compulsators were usually electrical excitations. A permanent magnetic excitation is introduced to simplify the structure and remove brushes and slip rings based on an individual electrical excitation compulsator. The existent hybrid excitation compulsator is analyzed, and some experiments are performed. Some resulting problems are presented, such as the no-load voltage waveform distortion, the inhomogeneous magnetic field distribution, and the complicated end compensation structure. The hybrid compulsator is optimized by arranging its armature and field windings in different form, and increasing the axial length of shield instead of the original structure. The influences on permanent magnet (PM) during high-current pulse discharge are researched, and the method to check the safety of the PM is presented. The self-excitation control mode of experimental prototype is developed. The special self-excitation process and realization mode are elaborated. Comparing with electrical excitation compulsators, seed current is not required during which the hybrid excitation compulsator establishes the self-excitation process.