PEI-Genesis Q&A | Fiber Optic Use in Extreme Conditions

In our previous conversation with PEI-Genesis, we discussed the challenges associated with creating mil-spec connectors and the specific demands that military grade connectors require. This time we’ll be covering a different, yet no less demanding field: deploying fiber optics in extreme conditions.

Octopart: Can you provide some examples of harsh environments where fiber optics are being deployed and the challenges of doing so?

PEI-Genesis: Military deployable systems, such as communication systems (voice, video, data), radar or weapons control, UAV control or even C4ISR, all use fiber optic systems. The challenges faced are multiple. The connectors have to be durable and robust enough to sustain prolonged abuse from the environment, users, deployment and recovery, and lack of maintenance for long periods of time. The cable itself has to be specified for use, which is usually a mil-tac style cable, giving high impact and crush resistance, while maintaining flexibility for reeling and deploying when linking systems together. Finally, the users themselves often have no experience of working with fiber optics. The product selection at this phase is essential to ensure durability and uptime is maximized while minimizing maintenance and cleaning needed. Typical connector solutions for these environments are expanded beam solutions, such as F-Beam range.

What are some industries that often operate in these environments?

PEI-Genesis: One of the harshest industries is oil and gas. While pulling on many of the issues faced above, the likelihood of impact and crush is much higher and often of a higher load. The cable selection is much more durable, often using stainless steel armoring, specialists materials to mitigate damage from chemicals and mud, and central strength members for added tensile loading. The connector materials are usually stainless steel or nickel aluminum bronze, and when in a hazardous environment (explosive atmosphere), the connectors need to be certified for the zone (such as ATEX or IECEx).

Are there any guidelines that industries have adopted for utilizing fiber optics in these conditions?

PEI-Genesis: There are many standards and qualifications for fiber optics, with examples ranging from civil aerospace (ARINC, EN, BS), to military aerospace (SAE, MIL-STANDARD, DEF-STAN), explosive environments for pharmaceutical, food production, oil and gas, mining (ATEX, IECEx, IEC 60079-28) and even commercial use with IEC, TIA, EIA standards in place.

What are some examples of solutions for coping with the challenges presented by these conditions?

PEI-Genesis: The specification of a product or solution varies widely depending on the application, environment, mating cycles, user skill-set, performance expectations, loss budgets, cost, and more. Having a wide portfolio of products to choose from gives the ability to present a solution which offers the best possible system for the challenges the application and environment will bring. A technology which stands out across most of these industries due to its robustness, ease of maintenance and cleaning, and ease of use by non-skilled personnel is expanded beam. With solutions available for field deployable systems, aerospace and even oil and gas ATEX/IECEx connectors, expanded beam had really helped the adoption of fiber optics into more applications and environments than ever before.

Once again we’d like to thank our partners at PEI-Genesis for taking the time to answer our questions. If you have any additional questions you would like answered, or if there’s a specific aspect of the component industry that you’d like to know more about, drop a comment below or send your questions to contact@octopart.com.