Practical Coilgun Design

Critical Damping

Our latest coilgun assumed that a critically-damped system does not suffer from the series damping resistor. But how much energy penalty is in a critically-damped RLC design? Let’s mathematically compare critically-damped to undamped RLC circuits.

The approach is to examine the peak current value in each situation. We’ll analytically find the time t and current I when the current is maximum. Then we’ll compare the two peaks by finding their ratio.

You can skip the messy details and read the surprising conclusion at the bottom of this page.

Critically-Damped Circuit

In general, the current as a function of time for a capacitor discharge is:

(Eqn. 1)Equation where Equation

For a critically-damped RLC circuit this is simplified by using a specific resistance. From this page we know resistance R in critically-damped circuits is:

(Eqn. 2) Equation

Using this value we can simplify α:

(Eqn. 3) Equation

To find the point of maximum current, set the first derivative of I(t)=0 and solve for time t. Let's start by finding the first derivative using the chain rule [f*g]' = f'g + fg':

(Eqn. 4) Equation

Now set this derivative equal to zero and solve for time t:

(Eqn. 5) Equation

Substitute the known values from equation (1) and (2) above to get the time t of peak current, resulting in the widely accepted value of:

(Eqn. 6) Equation

Now we can find the maximum current peak Imax by inserting this time t into the original equation (1):

(Eqn. 7) Equation

Undamped

An 'undamped' capacitive-discharge is an RLC circuit where resistance R = 0. Although it's not possible to build one, it is very useful because it represents the limiting case of a very high-Q circuit.

The general equation for current as a function of time is:

(Eqn. 8) Equation

The terms α and β are simplified in this manner for an undamped circuit where R = 0:

(Eqn. 9) Equation

Substitute α and β into the general equation (8) to find I(t) for an undamped circuit:

(Eqn. 10) Equation

Equation (10) above describes an ordinary sine wave. To find the maximum current, we know the first peak occurs at exactly the first quarter of a cycle, or time t = π/2.

Solve for time t at the first peak:

(Eqn. 11) Equation

Solve for the maximum current Imax at the first peak, by substituting sin( )=1:

(Eqn. 12) Equation

Comparing Critically-Damped and Undamped Circuits

The equations above have solved for the peak current in both cases. To summarize:

 

Time
at Peak

Current
at Peak

Undamped

Equation

Equation

Critically-damped

Equation

Equation

We can compare the results by finding the ratio of peak current from each case:

(Eqn. 13) Equation

RLC wave shapes

Conclusion

There are two interesting results:

  1. A critically-damped RLC circuit will deliver a current peak that is only 36% of the maximum possible peak from an undamped circuit. This is a very heavy penalty for the convenience of a simple circuit!
  2. It is somewhat amazing to see a simple result from a complicated analysis. The ratio of 1/e was completely unexpected!
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