Constructed Value:
$2.2 billion

Project Duration:
1995-2003

Parsons Services:
Advanced conceptual design, preliminary design, detailed design and construction support

The fusion process releases a huge amount of energy—roughly one million times that released by the burning of oil.

Fusion, fission, and solar energy are inexhaustible energy sources capable of satisfying the world's power needs for the next century and beyond, while avoiding the environmental impacts of fossil fuels. Fusion energy powers the sun and other stars. The simplest fusion fuels, hydrogen's heavy isotopes (deuterium and tritium), are derived from water and the metal lithium. These fuels are virtually inexhaustible anywhere on Earth. Fusion's absence of greenhouse gas emissions and accompanying acid rain are advantageous, and using hydrogen- or electric-powered machines and vehicles would reduce our dependence on non-domestic energy sources.

Parsons is a partner with the University of California and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) in the design and construction of the National Ignition Facility (NIF), a state-of-the-art program to house the world's most powerful laser expanding the envelope of fusion and physics research. NIF program will advance inertial fusion energy research supporting U.S. strategic energy goals.

NIF's objective is to ignite and burn a small fusion target—creating conditions like those in stars and nuclear weapons. One hundred and ninety two laser beams totaling 500 trillion watts of power firing for only billionths of a second can cause a small BB-sized target treated with tritium and deuterium to reach 100 million degrees centigrade and 100 billion times atmospheric pressure. This process simulates conditions existing only in the interior of stars and in nuclear explosions.

NIF is also a key component of the DOE Stockpile Stewardship Program whose mission is to maintain the safety, reliability, and effectiveness of our nation's nuclear stockpile without underground nuclear testing. NIF experiments will investigate the physics regimes in weapons effects, radiation transport, secondary implosion, ignition, and output. These processes occur at extremely high temperatures and pressures, conditions only achievable through this program. In addition, NIF will maintain the skills of weapons scientists who can assess the condition that compromise the reliability of nuclear weapons as they age.

3D rendering of NIF lab

NIF's largest component is the Laser and Target Area Building (LTAB), which will contain the laser beams, target area, subsystems such as beam control and diagnostics systems, and computer control systems. Parsons is designing the LTAB, which consists of two main structures connected at a common wall: the laser building (approximately 130 meters by 150 meters long) and the target area building (an approximately 38 meter high by 30 meter wide by 90 meter long cylindrical area).

Parsons and LLNL were responsible for the design of two phases, Conventional Facilities and Beampath Infrastructure Systems. The conventional facilities design encompasses the LTAB and associated utilities and site work. The LTAB design involves stringent vibration and thermal criteria to ensure proper operation of the laser equipment. Due to the building's complex requirements and the close integration of its special equipment, Parsons performed several cost and function optimization studies, including:

• Analysis of vibration-sensitive structures such as monoliths, target rooms, and switchyard walls, due to a possible revision in vibration criteria.

• Detailed thermal and airflow analysis to evaluate thermal stability of critical LTAB areas, including experimental equipment.

• An energy conservative design.

The design of the Beampath Infrastructure Systems entailed the installation, interconnection, and final connection of utilities for the highly specialized equipment being designed by numerous DOE and private organizations. Parsons' use of integrated 3D CAD modeling greatly enhanced the design process by coordinating and reconciling technical input from equipment researchers, designers, and manufacturers within DOE and around the world.

Crucial experiments performed as part of this program will ensure the safety and viability of the nation's remaining nuclear stockpile. These experiments will also establish the basis for power generation from inertial confinement fusion, facilitate a fundamental scientific understanding of matter, and advance many technical fields.

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