Optical Hybrid Dry Mate Connectors
Optical connectors have become vital to global communications, think of the massive network of undersea cables which spans the globe ensuring nations and continents are all connected to the internet via Broadband connections.
To make this work cables must run from communications hubs to other communications hubs. The fastes way to go is in a straight line. So this will inevitiably require solutions for some underwater engineering problems.
The term Dry Mate refers to a process where sections of cables are brought online using connectors which are connected in the open air before the they are submurged this is called Dry Mate. The connection is housed within two points on male and female and when the the connection is made the points of the connection are housed and protected by secure and pressurised housing.
Dry Mate is an effective solution for connecting optical cables undersea as the cable must be stored on giant reels on vessels above the water, Dry Mate allows cable sections to be connected and submerged.
As technology advances and undersea exploration advances new types of optical hybrid connectors have been inveted to keep up with demand and the different types of tasks required.
Even in the home we are aware of the different types of optical connectors on our computers and T.V's there are different number of pins in the connectors 1 -48 different types of connections.
Undersea in ROV /AUV research and exploration this is no different, except that the connectors can withstand 20,000 Psi and have to ensure that they cause the minimal signal degredation as possible. If a connector fails the cost of either bringing it to the surface for repair is massive. We take instant communication across the globe for granted but we should remember the high quality engineering which provides reliable undersea and underwater optical hybrid connectors and makes it all possible.
To make this work cables must run from communications hubs to other communications hubs. The fastes way to go is in a straight line. So this will inevitiably require solutions for some underwater engineering problems.
The term Dry Mate refers to a process where sections of cables are brought online using connectors which are connected in the open air before the they are submurged this is called Dry Mate. The connection is housed within two points on male and female and when the the connection is made the points of the connection are housed and protected by secure and pressurised housing.
Dry Mate is an effective solution for connecting optical cables undersea as the cable must be stored on giant reels on vessels above the water, Dry Mate allows cable sections to be connected and submerged.
As technology advances and undersea exploration advances new types of optical hybrid connectors have been inveted to keep up with demand and the different types of tasks required.
Even in the home we are aware of the different types of optical connectors on our computers and T.V's there are different number of pins in the connectors 1 -48 different types of connections.
Undersea in ROV /AUV research and exploration this is no different, except that the connectors can withstand 20,000 Psi and have to ensure that they cause the minimal signal degredation as possible. If a connector fails the cost of either bringing it to the surface for repair is massive. We take instant communication across the globe for granted but we should remember the high quality engineering which provides reliable undersea and underwater optical hybrid connectors and makes it all possible.
Optical Hybrid Dry Mate Connectors
Image of different types of connections available for Hybrid dry mate optics.
The robust technology with which submarine cable systems are developed is remarkable. The cables are laid on or in the sea bed for many years and carry millions of voice and data communications. The World Wide Web or the internet has been able to multiply this information flow by making it available to the international community simultaneously. Undersea fibre optic cables sometimes face challenges from the natural and manmade hazards.
There is no control over the natural calamities that occur on the sea bed but we could control the human activities to certain extent. This is necessary because as cable laying, the cable repair is a complex and costly process. Though the submarine cables’ average age is 15-20 years but the human and natural forces may require it to be changed before time.
Fishing is the biggest culprit in this regard. It is regarded to be the main cause of submarine cable faults worldwide. The fishing gears like trawls, dredges and even the large fishing anchors and grapnels which are used by fishermen to recover the lost gear are dangerous for the submarine cable systems. It is found that whenever a cable is hit hard by the trawl with sharp edges, the damage to the cable is inevitable. It could lead to cable snagging and hence cable fault.
If the fishing is done near deep water, the lives of crew members could be endangered as the cables are mostly not buried at higher depths. The fishermen will try to pull the trawling gear which will damage cable as well as the crew is at the risk of losing their live because the boat can capsize. The damage might result in bending the cable to a tight radius or the abrasive action might remove the insulation and damage the light weight fibre optic cable. Since deep water cables are not protected with armours the cables laid down there are more prone to damage.
The submarine cable systems however is not affected by some fishing methods like mid water trawling, boat seining, entangling nets, fish traps and pots. However, seeing the potential threat to the cables from fishing, it is advised to avoid using such gears that can cause damage to the cable. Whenever any vessel is fishing near the cable and accidentally the gear gets trapped then instead of pulling it, the fisherman should report the matter to the coast guard and seek their guidance.
There is no control over the natural calamities that occur on the sea bed but we could control the human activities to certain extent. This is necessary because as cable laying, the cable repair is a complex and costly process. Though the submarine cables’ average age is 15-20 years but the human and natural forces may require it to be changed before time.
Fishing is the biggest culprit in this regard. It is regarded to be the main cause of submarine cable faults worldwide. The fishing gears like trawls, dredges and even the large fishing anchors and grapnels which are used by fishermen to recover the lost gear are dangerous for the submarine cable systems. It is found that whenever a cable is hit hard by the trawl with sharp edges, the damage to the cable is inevitable. It could lead to cable snagging and hence cable fault.
If the fishing is done near deep water, the lives of crew members could be endangered as the cables are mostly not buried at higher depths. The fishermen will try to pull the trawling gear which will damage cable as well as the crew is at the risk of losing their live because the boat can capsize. The damage might result in bending the cable to a tight radius or the abrasive action might remove the insulation and damage the light weight fibre optic cable. Since deep water cables are not protected with armours the cables laid down there are more prone to damage.
The submarine cable systems however is not affected by some fishing methods like mid water trawling, boat seining, entangling nets, fish traps and pots. However, seeing the potential threat to the cables from fishing, it is advised to avoid using such gears that can cause damage to the cable. Whenever any vessel is fishing near the cable and accidentally the gear gets trapped then instead of pulling it, the fisherman should report the matter to the coast guard and seek their guidance.