An Electromagnetic Transducer for Generating High Pressure, Underwater Pulses

Dr. Michael Raleigh, BAE SYSTEMS Advanced Technologies Inc.
Dr. James Galambos, BAE SYSTEMS Advanc ed Technologies Inc.

Abstract:
BAE SYSTEMS Advanced Technologies, Inc is developing an electromagnetic transducer for generating high pressure underwater pulses.  This technology is being developed to provide an alternative source of energy for shock testing ships along with other defense related applications. The transducer consists of a radiating element in the form of a circular disk mounted in a baffle, a multi-turn pancake coil positioned behind the disk and supported from the baffle, a high conductivity facing on the side of the disk adjacent to the coil, and a capacitor bank to pulse the coil.  The high energy pulsed power system inductively drives the disk against the water creating the pressure pulse.  Following the generation of a pulse, ancillary systems arrest the motion of the disk and restore it to its original position. Substantial modeling and simulation along with experimental tests have been conducted.  This paper will discuss the development of electro-hydraulic simulation techniques for transducer performance that include, circuit behavior, magnetic soak in into the coil and the disk facing couple with the motion of the plate in water.  A Three-dimensional water response is included via a convolution of the disk motion and the step response of a disk in a baffle.  Simulations of arrays capture the interaction of neighboring disks via convolutions involving mutual step-response functions.  Results of simulations and verification tests will be presented. The simulation work has primarily been funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR).  Engineering development and testing of electro-magnetic transducers has been funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

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