Optical Fiber Power Cable Layout for Risk Early Warning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power transmission cables lack the capability to transmit information simultaneously and do not provide early warning for potential safety risks due to quality issues or environmental disasters.
Innovation Solution
A cable structure incorporating a power transmission unit and an optical fiber unit with both communicating and sensing functions, where the optical fiber unit includes single-mode and multimode fibers for information transmission and risk data acquisition, respectively, and is integrated within the cable to provide early warning and enhance safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If only power transmission unit is used, then power transmission function is achieved, but information transmission capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power transmission unit and optical fiber unit into a single integrated cable structure. The optical fiber unit includes communicating optical fiber for information transmission and sensing optical fiber for risk monitoring, both integrated within the same cable outer sheath as the power transmission components. This merging approach enables simultaneous power and information transmission while sharing common protective structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable structure is designed to perform multiple functions: power transmission through the power transmission unit, information transmission through the communicating optical fiber, and risk monitoring through the sensing optical fiber. This multi-functional design allows a single cable system to replace what would traditionally require separate power cables, communication cables, and monitoring systems.
2Reliability
If traditional cable structure is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but safety risk monitoring capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing optical fiber is pre-installed within the cable structure during manufacturing, positioned between the outer sheath and insulating layer. This preliminary placement ensures the fiber is protected and properly positioned before the cable is put into service, enabling immediate risk monitoring capability upon installation without requiring additional field installation work.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber unit is nested within the cable structure, with the optical fiber placed in a protective casing that is itself positioned between the outer sheath and insulating layer. This nested arrangement protects the delicate optical fiber while integrating it into the existing cable architecture, minimizing manufacturing complexity additions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If optical fiber unit is added to cable, then information transmission and sensing functions are achieved, but cable structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is divided into distinct functional units: power transmission unit with conductor and insulating layer, and optical fiber unit with optical fiber and protective casing. These segmented units are positioned in separate regions within the cable, with the optical fiber unit placed in the space between the outer sheath and insulating layer. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized independently while maintaining overall integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cable structure enables simultaneous information transmission and risk early warning, reducing the likelihood of major safety accidents by providing real-time monitoring and alert systems for cable health and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the communicating optical fiber unit consists of a single-mode optical fiber and a casing for protecting the optical fiber; the sensing optical fiber unit consists of a single-mode optical fiber and/or a multimode optical fiber and a casing for protecting the optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
the casing and an interior of the power transmission unit are tightly wrapped by a heat-shrinkable material
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a cable structure with information transmission and risk early warning functions and a method of using the same. An optical fiber unit includes a communicating optical fiber unit and a sensing optical fiber unit. The communicating optical fiber unit consists of a single-mode optical fiber and a casing for protecting the optical fiber. The sensing optical fiber unit consists of a single-mode optical fiber and/or a multimode optical fiber and a casing for protecting the optical fiber. The optical fiber unit includes a single optical fiber or a plurality of optical fibers. The optical fiber in the communicating optical fiber unit and the optical fiber in the sensing optical fiber unit are packaged separately in separate casings or packaged together in a same casing. The optical fiber unit is placed between an outer sheath and a waterproof insulating layer of the power transmission unit.