Preliminary design of a 1 gigajoule homopolar generator

A high-energy, high-voltage homopolar generator (HPG) has been designed. The HPG will have composite flywheels to maximize energy storage density and a multipass armature to achieve high output voltage. The HPG is designed to discharge a constant 895 kA into a 460 V load for several seconds and recharge in less than a minute. The designed energy density is in excess of 15 J/g. Output current control will be achieved by increasing the field coil current proportionally to the decrease in rotational speed.<
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