Flexible Cooled Power Conductors for Electromagnetic Railguns

The Tai-Yang Research Company (TYRC) proposes to develop a high current density, small cross section alternative to existing pulse power cables for the Navy electromagnetic rail gun. The proposed cable system will reduce the heat generated during a firing pulse and will effectively remove the heat by active means. The proposed cable assemblies will be terminated with a variant of TYRC's patent-pending quick disconnect termination for cryogenic electrical cables. The termination simultaneously couples the electrical and refrigerant flow circuits while minimizing the heat leak from the surroundings. The cooling system for the proposed cable will leverage present development efforts to build cryogenic refrigeration systems compatible with shipboard safety requirements.