Optimization for capacitor-driven coilgun based on equivalent circuit model and genetic algorithm

This paper presents an analysis and optimal design of a capacitor-driven inductive coilgun. The electromagnetic FEA model of the capacitor-driven inductance coilgun is established and simulated by using Ansoft. In order to speed up the optimization, an equivalent circuit is designed for simulation of the performances of coilgun. A piece-wise model of projectile is built to account for the eddy current. The simulated results are compared with the modeling of FEA value to verify the developed circuit model. It shows that the results are in a good agreement. The optimization of coilgun is achieved by employing the genetic algorithm (GA) based on the circuit model. It is suggested that the proposed algorithm achieves a better result in the energy efficiency of the coilgun system, and obtain a higher muzzle velocity of the projectile. © 2009 IEEE