An Economical, 2 Stage Flux Compression Generator System

A two stage Magneto-Cumulative Generator employing simple construction techniques and inexpensive explosives has been explored by the Air Force Weapons Laboratory. The first stage in the cascade MCG system is constructed with a helically wound, insulated cable stator and an aluminum armature filled with (Comp C-4) explosive. The 0.5 1 MJ output energy of this generator is coupled, inductively, to the second helical stage via a single turn aluminum coil. The 12 microhenry second stage helical stator is wound with progressively increasing diameters of insulated cable that increases the pitch and thereby decreases the generator inductance gradient toward the output. The cascade system is expected to multiply a 250 KA, 150 KJ initial charge to an approximately five Megamp, five Megajoule output delivered to a 400 nanohenry coaxial load.