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: Hi, im building a rail gun and I am using capcitors to power it, but i
: also want to use a compulsator to compare the results and see which is
: better. If anyone has any detailed information about complusators by all
: means tell me. thanks.
:
: -Pete-
:
:
: Pete,
:
: A compulsator is the short name for a Compensated Pulse Alternator, a
: special purpose high current device that's designed to rapidly convert
: rotational energy stored in a large flywheel into a huge pulse of
: electrical energy. The device uses very heavy windings and special
: inductance cancellation winding techniques that allow it to deliver a very
: fast rising heavy current to a low impedance load (such as a rail gun).
: Because they must handle extremely large magnetic forces and torques,
: compulsators are very heavy, custom made devices that are beyond the reach
: of a casual hobbyist. The world leader in compusator work is the Center
: for Electromechanics in Austin, TX.
: http://www.utexas.edu/research/cem/programs/pulsed_ac.html
:
: While it may be possible to convert a large (surplus) motor into a high
: power alternator, the challenges to convert it into a true compulsator
: would be formidable. For details about how compulsators work and how they
: are constructed see the following patents: #4200831 and 4935708. For
: considerably more technical discussions about some of the design
: considerations that go into building and using compulsators (from one of
: the experts at the Center for Electromagnetics), go here:
: http://www.xlrotor.com/Paper_PDFs/cceml.pdf
:
:
: http://www.xlrotor.com/Paper_PDFs/PR%20216,%20Lab%20testing%20of%20CCEMG.pdf
:
:
: http://www.xlrotor.com/Paper_PDFs/PR%20207,%20CPA%20rotor%20and%20susp%20dsgn%201996.pdf
: http://www.xlrotor.com/Paper_PDFs/PR%20262,%2010MJ%20flywheel.pdf
:
:
: http://www.xlrotor.com/Paper_PDFs/PR%20273,%20Rotor%20Dsgn%20and%20Test%20Rslts%20for%20model%20scale%20CPA.pdf
:
: As you can see, high voltage capacitor energy storage systems are child's
: play compared to the design and construction of large compulsators... :^)
:
: Best regards,
:
: -- Bert --
:
: gee, that looks complex. but what is it really? It looks like a regular
: electric motor used as a generator. The wheel is kept spinning in a low
: friction environment, and when the pulse is needed, the rotational energy
: can be converted into electricity -by completing the circuit- which powers
: the railgun. (wheel spins due to inertia, mostly when not needed) right?
: is there more than that to it? Im giving it a shot anyways.
:
Hi,
Conceptually, these are very simple machines... the devil is in the details. A very heavy flywheel is also used to store additional rotational energy. The major design challenges will be to keep short circuit path inductance very low, have a very strong mechanical linkage between the flywheel and rotor, and prevent the conductors (especially in the high current path) from shifting and shorting out from the high magnetic forces during the short circuit. The motor stator mountings must also be very robust to prevent the motor from being torn off its mountings when firing. A number of these and other related design issues are addressed in the above technical papers.
Good luck and please keep us posted on your progress.
Best wishes,
Bert
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