Status update of the Power Conditioning System in the National Ignition Facility

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory operates the world´s largest and most energetic laser. The facility supports studies of high energy density physics with the ultimate goal of achieving ignition and energy gain for the first time in a laboratory setting. The success of its mission depends heavily on key subsystems like the Power Conditioning System (PCS), where near 100% availability is required in supporting 24/7 laser operation. The 192 modules of PCS store and then deliver approximately 400 MJ of electrical energy to the laser amplifiers. The sheer number of modules coupled with the aggressive shot schedule present a challenge for both preventive maintenance and the implementation of engineering changes. Because the system comes into play very late during the shot process, it is extremely important to minimize the number of occurrences and duration of reactive maintenance activities. We will discuss PCS performance, training and maintenance strategies, along with a series of development and upgrades that will help assure long-term system reliability and availability while supporting NIF´s missions.