Abstract
Helical magneto-cumulative generators(MCGs) are devices which convert explosive energy into electromagnetic energy. The electromagnetic energy supplied from an external circuit is amplified by an explosively driven metal conductor mounted at the center of a helical coil compressing magnetic flux between the conductor and the coil. To optimize the coil design, output properties of small-size helical MCGs were measured while varying design parameters; the number of coil sections, length of the sections, pitch in the sections, and type of copper wire. Dimensions of the coil were kept constant, 50 mm in diameter and 200 mm in length. The coil was fabricated by using enamel-coated copper wire of 1 mm in diameter. The highest energy amplification ratio and figure of merit were 52.5 and 0.81, respectively. from an helical MCG with initial inductance of 63.7 $\mu$H at initial energy of 0.152 kJ Based on the experimental and calculated results, empirical formulas capable of optimizing coil designs were derived. By using these formulas, pitch in each coil section can be obtained at an arbitrary inductive load for high energy amplification ratio and figure of merit.