Simultaneous helical generator

A need is emerging for a class of short-pulse, high-voltage, magnetic flux compression generators (FCGs). It is desirable that these generators be compact, inexpensive, and have modest prime power requirements. Toward this end several concepts have been worked on in the authors laboratory, one of which is the conical helical generator described in this paper. One of the more obvious approaches to generating a short high-voltage pulse from a FCG is to simultaneously close the armature upon the stator winding. This produces a relatively high dL/dt in the final moments of the generator run. By making the initial inductance of the generator high, the prime power requirements can be reduced and the output voltage can be increased. If the cost of the FCG is to be kept low, then an end-detonated explosive is desirable. All of these considerations led the authors to considering the helical conical design