Testing of a Rapid Fire Compensated Pulsed Alternator System

A compensated pulsed alternator (compulsator) has been designed and fabricated to drive a rapid-fire railgun system. Initial testing of the compulsator resulted in the failure of the compensation shield at full speed. An ambitious rebuild effort was undertaken, allowing testing to begin in August 1987. Since then, several rapid-fire shots have been performed, firing two 3 m guns at a 60-Hz repetition rate. A 65-g solid armature projectile was accelerated to 1.8 km/s during the initial tests with the compulsator operating at half-speed and reduced excitation. These preliminary results suggest a high probability that the compulsator rapid-fire system will meet and exceed the design goals