Mechanical Analysis and Evaluation of Compulsator

Compulsator is the best pulse power supply of electromagnetic gun, into which the energy storage, electromechanical energy conversion, and pulse shaping are integrated. Due to the unique machine configuration, nature of pulse power generation, and potentially large impulse forces and torques, the mechanical analysis of compulsator is essential and different from that of the traditional electrical machine. Based on the iron-core and air-core prototypes, mechanical analysis of iron-core and air-core compulsators was presented in this paper. Although the mechanical analysis theoretical bases of iron-core and air-core compulsator topologies are the same, the analysis processes are different. In the iron-core passive compulsator, the compensation conductive shield was assembled by a thermal shrink fit. The compensation conductive shield would be separated from the rotor as the rotating speed increased above critical speed. Therefore, the critical speed and reasonable value of interference fit were calculated. In the air-core passive compulsator, the compensation aluminum shield was epoxy bonded to the carbon fiber banding, because the elevated temperature about a few hundred degrees centigrade of thermal shrink fit requirement would result in a breakdown of carbon fiber epoxy resin banding. The bonding strength was evaluated, then the reasonable epoxy resin system was chosen, and safe layer thickness was calculated. Due to the large discharge pulse current, the pulsed tangential and radial forces applied to the rotor and armature windings in the stator were also analyzed for iron-core and air-core compulsators. The prototypes operated safely and smoothly, and the design and calculation results were validated.