AAE 450 Spring 2008 Stephan Shurn 31 January 2008 Propulsion Rail Gun Feasability
AAE 450 Spring 2008 Rail Guns Multiple variables – barrel length, Rail distance, muzzle velocity Assuming no drag or friction losses, 100kg projectile High electricity cost, high energy inputs High start-up and development costs Needed extra rocket boost, esp. with low muzzle velocity High g-loads Propulsion
AAE 450 Spring 2008 Electricity Cost Calculation Propulsion Velocity (m/s) D - Length of Rails (m) mass (kg)100 Force (N) I Current (A) Length between/of rails (m) B (tesla)10 u (Henry/m)1.26E-06 accel (m/s2) accel. (g's)2, Voltage Kilo-Watts4,000,000800,000400,000266,666200,00062,500,00012,500,0006,250,0004,166,6663,125,000 Cost ($)220,80044,16022,08014,72011,0403,450,000690,000345,000230,000172,500 Future Work Group code testing Work with group members on other parameters
AAE 450 Spring 2008 Backup Propulsion
AAE 450 Spring 2008 Electricity Cost Calculation Propulsion Velocity (m/s) D - Length of Rails (m) mass (kg)100 Force (N) I Current (A) Length between/of rails (m)0.5 B (tesla)10 u (Henry/m)1.26E-06 accel (m/s2) accel. (g's) Voltage10,000 25,000 Kilo-Watts4,000,000800,000400,000266,666200,00062,500,00012,500,0006,250,0004,166,6663,125,000 Cost ($)220,80044,16022,08014,72011,0403,450,000690,000345,000230,000172,500
Calculation Assumptions Elec. Run for 1 hr. No Drag or friction losses within rail gun Price of elec. - $ / kW*hr (New Mexico Industrial average for 2007) 100 kg projectile mass Electromagnetic Field of 10 Tesla AAE 450 Spring 2008
Calculations Current Needed I = (v 2 *m)/(2*D*L*B) Voltage V = v*B*L Wattage Watts = V*I Cost Cost = ($0.0556/kW*hr)*(Watts)*(1 hr) Acceleration A = F/(m* ) AAE 450 Spring 2008
Definition of Variables V = Voltage (Volts) I = Current (amperes) v = Muzzle Velocity (m/s) m = projectile mass (kg) D = Length of Rails (m) L = Distance between rails (m) B = Magnetic Field Strength (Teslas) a = Acceleration (m/s 2 ) AAE 450 Spring 2008
Sources Propulsion Energy Information Administraion, “Average Retail Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State”, December 13, 2007, [ Accessed 29 January ] “Jengel and Fatro’s Rail Gun Page,” April 24, 2002, [ Accessed 22 January 2008] Yavuzkurt, Savas, “Thermal Sensor Design for Electromagnetic Gun Rails,” [ Accessed 23 January 2008]