Search by company

Novel fibre coils up for hydrophones

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Feb 10, 2004

SM 1500 (4.2/50) is a world-class highly bend-insensitive ultra-low-profile single-mode fibre that can be used in fibre-optic hydrophones.

SM 1500 (4.2/50) is a world-class highly bend-insensitive ultra-low-profile single-mode fibre that can be used in fibre-optic hydrophones to protect harbours, naval bases, oil refineries and other key coastal installations.

The SM1500 (4.2/50) is one of the first products to benefit from the company's world-class business processes and its 22 years of experience pioneering ultra-low-profile fibres for the aerospace and defence industries.

The SM1500 is a 50um fibre, and has been especially designed to deliver optimum performance and lifetime, even within the smallest hydrophone enclosure.

The reduced diameter of the fibre, together with its high strength (proof-tested at up to 3% strain/2068MPa) dramatically enhances reliability when compared with existing low-profile designs.

When this exceptional reliability is combined with the highly bend-insensitive design of SM1500 (4.2/50), use in 10mm diameter coils becomes possible.

When these ultra-low-profile sensor coils are deployed in towed arrays for oil exploration or marine surveys, the resulting reduction in hydrodynamic drag allows the array to be towed by smaller, less costly vessels.

Further, Fibercore's world class research and development process revealed that although fibre-optic hydrophones were one of the most challenging environments for the deployments of optical fibre, the low bend stress and ultra-low-profile characteristics can demonstrate a predicted lifespan of over 30 years.

Managing Director of Fibercore, Dr Chris Emslie explains: "When compared with a standard telecommunications-type fibre, the performance of the SM1500 (4.2/50) is little short of astounding.

If a telecomms fibre were deployed in a 100m coil, 10mm in diameter, light launched in one end would never actually reach the other - in contrast this new fibre can be used under the same conditions with absolutely no measurable loss whatsoever.

This also makes the new fibre perfect for the towed hydrophone arrays used in oil exploration".

"We developed the first 80um fibre for commercial use in 1983 and since then have continued to be at the forefront of manufacturing highly reliable specialty fibres for acoustic sensors.

Our market leading products are a testament to the company's successful philosophy of addressing the full spectrum of specialty fibre applications in defence, telecommunications aerospace, homeland security and medical research".