High Energy Density Capacitive Power Source for Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch Systems

Advanced power systems for Future Naval Capability rely on capacitors as the first stage of pulsed power. Significant electrical energy is necessary to support a range of applications including electro-mechanical aircraft launch systems, EMALS. It is anticipated that each ship will require over one trillion joules of capacitor energy, estimated at over 1,000 m3 and 1,000 tons using current technology. As a result, advanced dielectrics that allow for increased capacitor energy density are necessary to ensure successful technology insertion. Recent Phase I results support potential for significantly reducing capacitor size and weight. Unique methods for assembling nano-size, high dielectric constant particles in a polymer matrix were developed. Measured properties of the structured composite support capability for amplifying the nano-particle's contribution to dielectric constant by over a factor of three while maintaining dielectric strength. Film capacitor's produced with the novel dielectric are anticipated to yield an energy density of over 8 J/cc. TPL proposes a Phase II program to demonstrate the performance of a structured nano-composite dielectric in a wound film capacitor. The material will be optimized for continuous film fabrication and use with `self-healing' metal electrodes. Processes will be developed for fabricating sub-scale capacitors and evaluated with respect to an EMALS application.