Overview and Status of the Power Conditioning System for the National Ignition Facility

Conference · Tue Sep 11 00:00:00 EDT 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/PPPS.2001.1002078· OSTI ID:15005438

Newton, M A; Fulkerson, E S; Hulsey, S D; Kamm, R E; Pendleton, D L; Petersen, D E; Smith, C R; Ullery, G T; McKay, P F; Moore, W B; Muirhead, D A

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) Power Conditioning System (PCS) is a modular capacitive energy storage system that provides over 34 kilojoules of energy to each of the nearly 8000 flashlamps in the NIF laser. Up to 400 megajoules of energy can be stored in the NIF PCS system, discharged through spark gaps and delivered to the flashlamps through a coaxial transmission line system requiring nearly 100 miles of high-voltage cable. The NIF PCS has been under development for nearly 4 years. During this time, the system was developed and designed by Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM (SNLA) in conjunction with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Extensive reliability testing was performed at SNLA on the First Article NIF Test Module (FANTM) test facility and design improvements were implemented based on FANTM test results, leading to the final design presently undergoing system reliability testing at LLNL. Low-cost energy-storage capacitors, charging power supplies, and reliable, fault-tolerant components were developed through partnerships with numerous contractors. Extensive reliability and fault testing of components has also been performed. This paper will provide an overview of the many efforts that have culminated in the final design of the NIF PCS. The PCS system design will be described and the cost tradeoffs discussed. Plans for fabrication and installation of the NIF PCS system over the next 6 years will be presented.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 15005438
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC-142112; TRN: US200322%%440
• Resource Relation: Journal Volume: 1; Conference: Pulse Power Plasma Science - 2001, Las Vegas, NV (US), 06/18/2001--06/22/2001; Other Information: PBD: 11 Sep 2001
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
25 ENERGY STORAGE
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CAPACITORS
CONTRACTORS
DESIGN
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
FABRICATION
POWER CONDITIONING CIRCUITS
POWER SUPPLIES
POWER TRANSMISSION LINES
RELIABILITY
SPARK GAPS
TESTING
US NATIONAL IGNITION FACILITY