Subsea Environmental Sensor Link for High-Voltage Repeater Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Subsea optical communication systems face challenges in integrating environmental sensors due to high voltages and potential reliability degradation, as existing sensing elements may be difficult to couple with optical repeaters and can interfere with the system's operation.
Innovation Solution
A subsea environmental sensing system where an environmental sensor assembly is coupled to a repeater assembly via an optical link, allowing power transmission over optical fibers to maintain sensors at ground potential while the repeater operates at high voltage, using optical fibers for galvanic isolation and minimizing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If environmental sensors are placed inside a repeater, then sensing capability is improved, but reliability of the optical communications system deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate functional modules: the repeater assembly (containing optical amplification components) and the environmental sensor assembly (containing sensing elements). This segmentation allows the sensor to be placed in the seawater environment for effective measurement while preventing it from interfering with the repeater's high-voltage optical communication functions, thus resolving the contradiction between sensing capability and system reliability
Solution Approach 2:
An optical fiber link serves as an intermediary between the repeater assembly and the environmental sensor assembly. This optical connection transmits power and data signals while providing galvanic isolation, allowing the sensor to operate at ground potential in the seawater environment without being affected by the high voltage in the repeater, thereby maintaining both sensing effectiveness and system reliability
2Measurement precision
If sensing elements are coupled to optical repeater controllers, then environmental monitoring is enabled, but coupling difficulty increases due to potential difference
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber link acts as an intermediary that bridges the electrical potential gap between the ground-potential sensor and the high-voltage repeater. By transmitting signals optically rather than electrically, it eliminates the coupling difficulty caused by the tens of thousands of volts potential difference while enabling environmental monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct electrical coupling (which would be complex and dangerous due to high voltage) with optical coupling. The sensor assembly converts electrical sensor signals to optical signals for transmission to the repeater, and the repeater converts received optical signals back to electrical form, thereby substituting a complex high-voltage electrical interface with a simpler optical interface that provides inherent isolation
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
Enables reliable and accurate environmental monitoring by maintaining sensors at ground potential, reducing interference and ensuring high voltage operation of repeaters, thus enhancing the reliability and accuracy of subsea communication systems.
Implementation Method 1
outputting an optical measurement signal, based upon the electrical measurement signal, over an optical fiber
Implementation Method 2
over an optical fiber of an optical fiber assembly that is coupled to a repeater assembly
Implementation Method 3
using optical fibers for galvanic isolation and minimizing interference
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
An apparatus for subsea environment sensing. In one aspect, the apparatus may include a repeater assembly, disposed in an optical repeater; and an environmental sensor assembly, disposed proximate to the repeater assembly, the environmental sensor assembly being coupled to receive power from the repeater assembly over an optical link.