Switch Pulsed Generators
Plasma Electrode Pockel Cell Pulse Generators
Customer: National Ignition Facility
Project Description
Figure 1. NIF PEPC Switch Pulsed Generator |
In a contract structured by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) as a series of annual procurements for its National Ignition Facility (NIF), Raytheon Ktech completed the delivery of the first order of 16 Plasma Pulsed Generators (PPGs) and eight Switch Pulsed Generators (SPGs) in 2004. In 2005, we delivered 32 PPGs and 16 SPGs on time and within budget. Raytheon Ktech manufactured and delivered the balance of the systems—80 PPGs and 40 SPGs—in July 2007. The PPG (shown in Figure 2) is a 5 kV Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s -designed pulse generator packaged within a rack-mountable chassis. The SPG (shown in Figure 1) is a higher-voltage (40 kV) pulse generator packaged within a custom electronics rack. Raytheon Ktech manufactured each unit in-house to LLNL specifications, and fully tested each into dummy loads provided by LLNL.
Figure 2. NIF Plasma Pulsed
Generator. |
During fabrication and testing of the first set of pulsers in 2004, Raytheon Ktech identified numerous discrepancies on both the drawings and bill of materials received from LLNL. We made suggestions on improvements to LLNL’s design documentation package. These discoveries and suggestions were documented per contract requirements and delivered to LLNL. Raytheon Ktech made the revisions and incorporated them into updated LLNL documentation to ensure that the units built in 2005, and into the future, were of higher quality and more precise manufacturing and testing. Raytheon Ktech was agile and responsive to a change in the scope of the design of the PPGs and SPGs in both 2005 and 2006.
In 2006, LLNL initiated another design change to the units by upgrading a resistor and adding a custom inductor to the PPGs. This change replaced the Rogowski Coil used in the 2005 with a commercial-off-the-shelf coil for the SPGs. Raytheon Ktech again set up a special operation to wind the new inductors for the PPGs and adapt the inventory and build plan to the new design upgrades maintaining configuration management throughout the process.
On schedule and with 100% yield after operational performance and qualification testing Raytheon Ktech delivered and placed into service 128 PPGs and 64 SPGs at LLNL’s National Ignition Facility (NIF). This manufacturing contract demonstrates Raytheon Ktech’s production of complex components, customization of a quality product, responsiveness to customer requests, and willingness to improve both processes and products on time and within budget.
