Naval Research rail gun
Daniel Uhrenholt, Sun Jan 21 2007, 10:44PMHi all.
I just fell over this article
This is some serious rail gun eksperiments!!! 8-megajoule of power, who else would like one in their backyard?
Cheers, Daniel
Re: Naval Research rail gun
Dr. Shark, Thu Jan 25 2007, 03:41PM
8MJ is not so much if you consider that an average car engine (80kW) would take only two minutes to spin up a flywheel to that kind of power. The problem would be the compensated alternator to extract all the power from the flywheel quickly, I think modding your average car alternator is not going to do the job
Still, yes, I definitely would like that system in my backyard, or better yet, mounted to a pickup-truck.
Dr. Shark, Thu Jan 25 2007, 03:41PM
8MJ is not so much if you consider that an average car engine (80kW) would take only two minutes to spin up a flywheel to that kind of power. The problem would be the compensated alternator to extract all the power from the flywheel quickly, I think modding your average car alternator is not going to do the job
Still, yes, I definitely would like that system in my backyard, or better yet, mounted to a pickup-truck.
Re: Naval Research rail gun
Caesar02, Tue Apr 17 2007, 12:02AM
<quote> 8MJ is not so much if you consider that an average car engine (80kW) would take only two minutes to spin up a flywheel to that kind of power. </quote>
Likewise, 1 liter of diesel fuel contains a little over 40mj of energy. A Flux Compression Generator ( ) operating at 40% efficiency and burning 1/2 a liter of diesel fuel would match that 8mj. And even if you had to embed the whole thing in cement to protect against shrapnel, it would probably still be smaller and lighter than the huge capacitor bank the navy railgun requires.
Caesar02, Tue Apr 17 2007, 12:02AM
<quote> 8MJ is not so much if you consider that an average car engine (80kW) would take only two minutes to spin up a flywheel to that kind of power. </quote>
Likewise, 1 liter of diesel fuel contains a little over 40mj of energy. A Flux Compression Generator (
) operating at 40% efficiency and burning 1/2 a liter of diesel fuel would match that 8mj. And even if you had to embed the whole thing in cement to protect against shrapnel, it would probably still be smaller and lighter than the huge capacitor bank the navy railgun requires.Re: Naval Research rail gun
ShawnLG, Tue Apr 17 2007, 02:21AM
I have seen this railgun on Future Weapons last week. They also presented a coilgun prototype.
I found the video of that episode on YouTube. You can see the 8MJ railgun warehouse filled with shelfs of pulse capacitors.
ShawnLG, Tue Apr 17 2007, 02:21AM
I have seen this railgun on Future Weapons last week. They also presented a coilgun prototype.
I found the video of that episode on YouTube. You can see the 8MJ railgun warehouse filled with shelfs of pulse capacitors.
Re: Naval Research rail gun
GreySoul, Tue Apr 17 2007, 04:43AM
anyone else bothered by this?
I've (intentionally) blown up a microwave oven cap.... I wouldn't want a 8MJ bank blowing up near me.
Granted, a single cap failure would probably be better than a whole munitions bunker going off at once... but the way they are passing this system off as "harmless" to the operators is a bit misleading, no?
GreySoul, Tue Apr 17 2007, 04:43AM
anyone else bothered by this?
wrote ...
Because the gun uses electricity and not gunpowder to fire projectiles, it's safer, eliminating the possibility of explosions on ships and vehicles equipped with it.
Because the gun uses electricity and not gunpowder to fire projectiles, it's safer, eliminating the possibility of explosions on ships and vehicles equipped with it.
I've (intentionally) blown up a microwave oven cap.... I wouldn't want a 8MJ bank blowing up near me.
Granted, a single cap failure would probably be better than a whole munitions bunker going off at once... but the way they are passing this system off as "harmless" to the operators is a bit misleading, no?
Re: Naval Research rail gun
Marko, Tue Apr 17 2007, 08:20AM
Those large railguns use compulsators, not cap banks.
Compulsator may fall apart and wreak havoc but it's still far more safe than tons of explosive shells.
Marko, Tue Apr 17 2007, 08:20AM
Those large railguns use compulsators, not cap banks.
Compulsator may fall apart and wreak havoc but it's still far more safe than tons of explosive shells.
Re: Naval Research rail gun
Madgyver, Tue Apr 17 2007, 12:19PM
MO Caps are sealed and explode very easy. You can make casings which will not exploded violantly. They will just crack open (if at all) and release all the pressure.
Have you ever witnessed ammunition (I mean artillery shells) going off? A cap explosion is just a faint joke compared to that.
Madgyver, Tue Apr 17 2007, 12:19PM
GreySoul wrote ...
anyone else bothered by this?
I've (intentionally) blown up a microwave oven cap.... I wouldn't want a 8MJ bank blowing up near me.
anyone else bothered by this?
wrote ...
Because the gun uses electricity and not gunpowder to fire projectiles, it's safer, eliminating the possibility of explosions on ships and vehicles equipped with it.
Because the gun uses electricity and not gunpowder to fire projectiles, it's safer, eliminating the possibility of explosions on ships and vehicles equipped with it.
I've (intentionally) blown up a microwave oven cap.... I wouldn't want a 8MJ bank blowing up near me.
MO Caps are sealed and explode very easy. You can make casings which will not exploded violantly. They will just crack open (if at all) and release all the pressure.
Have you ever witnessed ammunition (I mean artillery shells) going off? A cap explosion is just a faint joke compared to that.
Re: Naval Research rail gun
Quantum Singularity, Sat Apr 21 2007, 08:55AM
A fellow I knew blew a 25kJ Maxwell while doing quarter-shrinking. Other than a huge inside-out dent, no hazard. I am sure they could blow up more violently, but your big caps are usually built in some heavy steel housings. Ofcourse as mentioned, multi-MJ usually uses compulsators like above.
Quantum Singularity, Sat Apr 21 2007, 08:55AM
A fellow I knew blew a 25kJ Maxwell while doing quarter-shrinking. Other than a huge inside-out dent, no hazard. I am sure they could blow up more violently, but your big caps are usually built in some heavy steel housings. Ofcourse as mentioned, multi-MJ usually uses compulsators like above.
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