WET CONNECTION TOOLWET CONNECTION TOOL

Concept validationConcept validation

14/10/200914/10/2009 Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPMStéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM

Underwater connections Underwater connections (1/3)(1/3)• Acoustics: no power and low data rate;Acoustics: no power and low data rate;

• Light transmission: no power, medium Light transmission: no power, medium data rate and short distance;data rate and short distance;

• wet connections: high data rate, long wet connections: high data rate, long distancedistance

• Valve technology;Valve technology;

• Beam expanded technology.Beam expanded technology.

14/10/200914/10/2009 Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPMStéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM

Underwater Underwater connections connections (2/3)(2/3)• Valve technology:Valve technology:

•Adapted for copper and fibers;Adapted for copper and fibers;

•Well known;Well known;

•Precise and complex mechanics;Precise and complex mechanics;

•Can be plugged only with work class ROV;Can be plugged only with work class ROV;

•Some problems on ANTARES related to long Some problems on ANTARES related to long term unused connector;term unused connector;

•Expensive.Expensive.

14/10/200914/10/2009 Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPMStéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM

Underwater Underwater connections connections (3/3)(3/3)• Beam expanded technology:Beam expanded technology:

•Under development;Under development;

•Needs individual fiber tuning?Needs individual fiber tuning?

•Sensitive to water infiltration between Sensitive to water infiltration between connector faces;connector faces;

•Limited to fibers;Limited to fibers;

•3dB loss.3dB loss.Fiber

lensExpended beam

connector

14/10/200914/10/2009 Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPMStéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM

Concept (1/4)Concept (1/4)

• Ideal requirementsIdeal requirements•Low cost by using standard dry matable Low cost by using standard dry matable

connectors;connectors;

•No (few) moving parts for good reliability No (few) moving parts for good reliability

•Connectable with small class ROV;Connectable with small class ROV;

•Versatile for FO, power copper and data Versatile for FO, power copper and data copper.copper.

14/10/200914/10/2009 Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPMStéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM

Concept (2/4)Concept (2/4)Dry connector embedded in a filled oil gasket and pressure balanced

14/10/200914/10/2009 Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPMStéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM

Concept (3/4): ToolConcept (3/4): ToolPut connector on the toolClose isolation box and replace water by oilRemove end cap (upper part of box is hidden)Move caps out of connection areaConnect, open the box and extract connetor

14/10/200914/10/2009 Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPMStéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM

Concept (4/4)Concept (4/4)• PrototypePrototype

14/10/200914/10/2009 Stéphan BEURTHEY-CPPMStéphan BEURTHEY-CPPM

ConclusionsConclusions• Concept validated in shallow water. Concept validated in shallow water.

Promising regarding cost and reliability;Promising regarding cost and reliability;• Motorized design is studying for 2010;Motorized design is studying for 2010;

• ROV interface to be defined;ROV interface to be defined;• Needs of collaboration and interest.Needs of collaboration and interest.