A review of the environmental factors affecting optical cable design

Abstract

Absfrael-This paper reviews the environmental factors that affect optical cable designs. The main environmental factors of cuncern are fiber bending loss, hydrogen loss degradation, and stress corrosion. Each of these factors is examined with respect to the impact on optical cable design. Due ti) the limited field data available on environmental effects, it is necessary for cable designers to rely on theoretical analysis and laboratory test data; this has resulted in a conservative optical cable design philosophy. This situation should improve as mure field data becomes available.

Downhole fiber optic sensing: the oilfield service provider's perspective: from the cradle to the grave

“…29,30,31,32 Unfortunately, these carbon coatings lower the initial strength of the host fiber by approximately 50%. However, they have also been shown to increase the fatigue resistance factor, n (also known as the stress-corrosion factor).…”

“…Carbon coatings provide longterm relief from the onset of the effects of hydrogen by slowing its diffusion rate into fiber for temperatures less than approximately 150°C. 29,30,31,32 Throughout the past decade, good progress has been made with respect to pure silica core fiber and in new glass formulations that can help minimize hydrogen effects over limited wavelengths ranges 42,43 . Interestingly, if considering the combined effects of both Rayleigh backscatter and hydrogen-induced losses, it appears that a global minimum wavelength operating range exists near 1064 nm.…”

Downhole fiber optic sensing: the oilfield service provider's perspective

“…Reduction of water-induced chemical corrosion of glass fibers for in-well applications has been addressed using thin films of amorphous carbon, which is deposited directly on the outer surface of optical fibers [22,23,24,25]. Unfortunately, these carbon coatings lower the initial strength of the host fiber by ~50%.…”

Ultra-Bend-Resistant 4-Core Simplex Cable Used for Short-Reach Dense Spatial Division Multiplexing Optical Transmission

“…It would cause the micro-bending loss due to fiber compression in the longitudinal direction of the 4-core SXC [ 3 , 16 , 17 ]. Fortunately, finer control over a tight construction or adjusting the buffer coating material can be used to minimize this cabled loss degradation (<0.010 dB/km) [ 1 , 21 ].…”