Sensitivity analysis and regulation strategy of current waveform for two-axis-compensated compulsators

Compulsators have been considered appropriate pulsed power supplies for electromagnetic railguns. In order to ensure a high projectile mean to peak acceleration ratio, it is desirable to provide a flat-topped pulse for the railgun. This paper analyzes a two-axis-compensated compulsator, which is a refined selective passive compulsator having an orthogonal displacement between compensating winding and field winding. During the discharge process, the quadrature-axis compensation is provided by the compensating winding, when direct-axis compensation is provided by the field winding. Compared to the traditional selective passive configuration, this arrangement is able to provide another degree of freedom to compensate the armature reaction, thus an output of a current waveform with more flexibility. In this paper, the self-excitation and discharge process of a two-axis-compensated air-core compulsator is simulated based on a finite-element model. Analysis of the current waveform sensitivity to compulsator design parameters is also carried out, as well as the regulation strategy to generate a flat-topped pulse. The research process mentioned in this paper could help to optimize the design of compulsators in future applications.