Effect of Change of Reluctance Launcher Parameters on Projectile Velocity

Abstract

In this study, it is aimed to increase the projectile velocity by changing some parameters of the reluctance launcher. Studied parameters are the initial position of the projectile, the coating of the coil with ferrite, the coil length and the barrel outer diameter. A 3D Maxwell model of the reluctance launcher was generated to examine the effect of the change of these parameters on the projectile velocity. After the 3D model of the launcher was generated, analysis was done for each parameter. During the analysis for a parameter, the other parameters were kept constant. As a result of the analysis of the projectile position, it was determined that the projectile velocity is the highest when the projectile position is −2. It has been determined that the velocity of the projectile increases if the coil is coated with ferrite. It has been determined that the projectile velocity is the highest when the coil length is 7 cm. It has been determined that the highest projectile velocity is obtained when the barrel outer diameter is 18 mm. Using these results, the Maxwell model of the improved launcher was generated. The projectile velocity in the Maxwell model of the initial launcher is 19.24 m/sec. The projectile velocity of the improved launcher in the Maxwell model is 25.8 m/sec. By improving the launcher, a velocity increase of 34.09% was achieved. Later, this launcher was built and the parameters were investigated experimentally. In the experimental work, the projectile velocity of the initial launcher was measured as 19.11 m/sec, and the projectile velocity of the improved launcher was measured as 24.9 m/sec. As a result of the experimental work, a velocity increase of 30.29% was obtained by improving the launcher.

Keywords

• Coilgun
• electromagnetic launching
• linear accelerators
• reluctance launchers