Optimizing Coilgun Geometry to Maximize Efficiency

Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) has been exploring methods of maximizing coilgun electrical-to-kinetic energy transfer efficiency by optimizing the geometries of wire-wound drive coils and armatures. The optimum geometry of a coilgun is heavily dependent on the application, which may include unalterable variables, such as projectile design and weight, exit velocity, source power (voltage, capacitance, and so on), and physical size requirements. However, during the course of this effort, NSWCDD has theoretically observed and applied common design trends to all geometries, resulting in increased efficiencies. To date, NSWCDD has used the optimization design trends to design, build, and test a single-stage coilgun achieving an efficiency up to 12.18% with a stored energy of 5 kJ. This achieved efficiency is 150% greater than efficiencies presented in the literature at the respective stored energy.