Class
Article
College
College of Engineering
Faculty Mentor
Nicholas Roberts
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
This Engineering Undergraduate Research Project (EURP) explores the possibility of using a railgun to assist in orbital launches of unmanned space vehicles. More specifically, the EURP focuses on the problem of heat management in the armature of a railgun. Phase Change Materials (PCM) are used to increase the latent heat of solids and are a potential candidate to cooling railgun armatures during the high energy pulse of the firing sequence. Electrical current pulses are applied to different metal samples using a capacitor bank. The Ohmic heating of these samples is compared to assess how much heat is absorbed by the different kind of PCMs. Control tests will be performed using samples without PCMs as well. The results of these preliminary experiments will be presented. This presentation will showcase the advantages of using PCMs to enhance latent heat cooling of railgun armatures. This presentation will also assess the relevance of this application of PCMs considering cost, mass management, and chemical hazards.
Location
The South Atrium
Start Date
4-12-2018 10:30 AM
End Date
4-12-2018 11:45 AM
Experimental Procedure to Determine the Effectiveness Of Phase Change Materials to Cool a Railgun Armature
The South Atrium
This Engineering Undergraduate Research Project (EURP) explores the possibility of using a railgun to assist in orbital launches of unmanned space vehicles. More specifically, the EURP focuses on the problem of heat management in the armature of a railgun. Phase Change Materials (PCM) are used to increase the latent heat of solids and are a potential candidate to cooling railgun armatures during the high energy pulse of the firing sequence. Electrical current pulses are applied to different metal samples using a capacitor bank. The Ohmic heating of these samples is compared to assess how much heat is absorbed by the different kind of PCMs. Control tests will be performed using samples without PCMs as well. The results of these preliminary experiments will be presented. This presentation will showcase the advantages of using PCMs to enhance latent heat cooling of railgun armatures. This presentation will also assess the relevance of this application of PCMs considering cost, mass management, and chemical hazards.