Reconfigurable pulse power modules

Future combat vehicles will employ a wide variety of electric weapons, including lasers, rail guns, high power microwave sources and radar systems. Unfortunately, with current technology, each system requires its own unique pulse power source, which are typically large, inefficient and expensive. This paper presents and discusses a conceptual modular and reconfigurable source that could source an array of electric weapons, thus reducing cost and volume requirements. Generic power bricks can be designed and arranged in configurations to very efficiently source multiple weapon systems from a single pulse power supply. The basic module is based on a solid state switch design, coupled with high energy density capacitors. The novelty of the module lies in its ability to be bundled with other modules to produce variability in current, voltage and pulse width. Vertical stacking of the modules will result in voltage addition. Similarly, parallel stacking of the modules will result in current addition. And finally, a series of modules can result in increases of pulse widths. Therefore, a 3-dimensional array of modules can be designed to deliver a maximum voltage, current and pulse width. And since each individual module is independently controlled (or selected for use), a wide range of voltages, currents, impedances and pulse widths are achievable. This paper presents the reconfigurable pulse power module concept, supported by simulation results.