interconnect. These kinds of applications usually require high voltage with partial discharge-free insulation. Here again, the choice of materials does really matter, but even more important are the construction of each interconnect component and the design of the interfaces. The way the cable elements are constructed and assembled provides the resistance to the huge pressure exerted in the bottom of oceans.
Intervention on site by an Axon’ Cable engineer: The density of cabling in the Atlas detector makes it difficult to access the links. (Photo courtesy of CERN)
PROTECTING PEOPLE AND MATERIALS Inside a manned underwater vehicle, very different constraints have to be taken into account. There is no direct exposure to pressurized salt water, but within the confined vehicle environment even the slightest risk to the safety of the crew must be considered. The key issue is clearly to avoid any risk of fire, and to mitigate the consequences of a potential fire while saving space and facilitating integration with a miniaturized flexible cable. The main objective is, therefore, to select materials that will not burst into flames, and that will not release opaque, toxic, or corrosive fumes when burning. In this case, the best option is low- Heating cables for pipelines made by Axon’ Cable. This custom-designed cable is made with a special insulating material able to provide the best compromise between electrical and mechanical performance. The custom process provides pressure resistance over very long lengths.
INTERCONNECT SOLUTIONS FOR UNDERWATER EQUIPMENT: WATCH OUT FOR THE PRESSURE! Remote locations can also mean subsea applications. Common examples include systems installed on the seabed, like pipelines or data cables; vehicles, such as submarines or rovers; and surface installations like oil rigs and ships. In terms of constraints, high mechanical stress related to pressure is combined with corrosion caused by salt water. In this case, waterproofing plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of the electrical insulation around the cable or High-voltage cables and splices (>50kV) made by Axon’ Cable for the ITER nuclear fusion reactor. The system consists of cables insulated with an Axon’ special material that requires an innovative installation process. These cables are connected in a glass fiber/resin splice that can withstand high-energy radiation and extreme temperature variations (cryogenic temperature of 4 K).
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