Integration and Test of a Second Generation Dual Purpose Pulse Forming Network Into the P&E HWIL SIL

• Published in: IEEE transactions on magnetics 2007-01, Vol.43 (1), p.226-229
• Main Authors: Barshaw, E.J., White, J., Danielson, G., Chait, M.J., Frazier, G., Dixon, B., Marinos, B., Milner, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Armed forces; Capacitors; Degradation; Electric power generation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electro-magnetic armor (EMA); electro-thermal-chemical (ETC) launch; Exact sciences and technology; Forming; Ignition; Laboratories; Land vehicles; Lethality; Magnetism; Miscellaneous; Networks; Polyethylenes; pulse forming network (PFN); Pulse generation; pulse power; Road vehicles; Survivability; Systems integration; Temperature compensation; Temperature distribution; Testing; Various equipment and components; Weapons
• ISSN: 0018-9464; 1941-0069
• DOI: 10.1109/TMAG.2006.887679

A second-generation dual purpose pulse forming network (DP-PFN) has been developed to power both the electro-thermal-chemical (ETC)/electro-thermal-ignition (ETI) lethality capability and the electro-magnetic armor (EMA) survivability capability improvements envisioned for future hybrid-electric vehicles. ETI decreases the ignition variability associated with the launching of conventional munitions by roughly a factor of ten which, in conjunction with the systems ballistic computer, greatly enhances hit probability of the round. ETC provides maximum performance in all conditions, including temperature compensation, resulting in increased lethality and range with higher average muzzle velocities. EMA uses stored electric energy to disrupt a shaped-charge jet and reduce it's depth of penetration. The second-generation DP-PFN for driving both ETI/ETC and EMA emulators is scheduled to be integrated into the power and energy (P&E) hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) System Integration Laboratory (SIL) in Santa Clara, CA, in 2006. The DP-PFN is capable of providing either the short pulse lengths required by the EMA or the considerably longer pulse lengths required by the ETI/ETC gun as well as emulating various "degraded functionality" states such as loss of individual capacitors. Integration of this DP-PFN marks another great milestone for the SIL, ensuring that it continues to be capable of emulating all the major hybrid-electric mobility functions of a ground combat vehicle as well as the major lethality and survivability electrical loads. This paper describes the DP-PFN components, the overall DP-PFN design philosophy and the planned integration and testing of the DP-PFN in the P&E HWIL SIL