NBGs wide range of design options allow for customized designs in the harshest environmental conditions, including but not limited to:
Environments such as the Large Hadron Collider, nuclear power plants, and low Earth orbit expose optical fibers to radiation, resulting in a permanent increase in attenuation known as Radiation-Induced Attenuation (RIA). Utilizing radiation-resistant optical fibers (RAD-hard fibers) in combination with stainless steel ensures long-term protection and reliable performance. These fibers are essential for applications in particle accelerators, space missions, nuclear power monitoring, and other high-radiation environments.
NBG’s loose tube designs keep fibers strain-free, ensuring long-term reliability and consistent performance. In collaboration with leading fiber suppliers, NBG provides an extensive portfolio of design and material options, allowing the selection of the most suitable fibers for challenging and demanding environments. Our cables are engineered for applications reaching and exceeding 300°C, where proper material selection is critical to prevent temperature- or chemically-induced degradation, ensuring optimal performance under extreme conditions.
Fiber optic monitoring at ultra-low temperatures is crucial for the safe and reliable operation of LNG tanks, pipelines, and superconductors. NBG’s metal-based cables and specialized fibers are engineered for long-term cryogenic exposure and can even be directly submerged in liquid nitrogen, ensuring dependable performance in the most demanding environments.
Acidic liquids and gases can cause corrosion of the outer sheath, leading to structural degradation and compromising the overall integrity of the cable. To mitigate these effects, high-grade nickel alloys such as Incoloy 825 and Inconel 625 are used, offering outstanding resistance to oxidizing and reducing acids, pitting, stress-corrosion cracking, and chloride-induced damage. These materials ensure long-term reliability and mechanical stability, even in highly aggressive chemical environments.
Hydrogen-induced darkening in optical fibers results from the diffusion of H₂ molecules into the glass matrix, where they form OH-groups that increase attenuation and degrade signal quality. Mitigation strategies include the application of aluminum layers as hydrogen diffusion barriers, the use of gels incorporating H₂ absorbers, and the deployment of pure silica fibers with carbon coatings to minimize permeation. These methods significantly extend fiber lifetime and maintain optical performance in hydrogen-rich environments such as oil and gas facilities, subsea installations, and energy infrastructure.
A metallic encapsulation made of stainless steel or nickel alloys provides superior mechanical protection for the fibers while shielding them from environmental influences. By ensuring stress-free operation, this design guarantees maximum measurement accuracy and extends the lifetime of the fibers.
Fiber optic sensing offers key advantages over legacy measurement sensors: the cable functions as a fully passive, multipoint sensor, completely immune to electromagnetic interference (EMC), and capable of spanning dozens of kilometers with a single interrogator.
Every application has unique requirements and project-specific environments. NBG’s strength lies in its wide range of design possibilities, ensuring we deliver the most suitable product for each case.
To ensure NBG can design the right product, please provide: a general description of the application and intended installation procedure (e.g., pulling, blowing); minimum and maximum temperature range; sensing or data transmission requirements, including desired fiber count and type; applicable standards and restrictions; environmental factors such as chemicals, radiation, or hydrogen; and required single and overall lengths.
The operating temperature range is a key factor in the overall cost of a fiber optic cable. Lowest costs are achieved with standard telecom-grade fibers, suitable from -40°C to +85°C. For lower temperatures, polyimide-coated fibers are required. Higher temperature ranges can be met with various coatings: mid-temperature acrylate (up to 150°C), carbon/mid-temperature acrylate (up to 180°C), silicone/PFA (up to 200°C), polyimide and carbon/polyimide (up to 300°C), or metal-coated fibers such as copper, aluminum, and gold for applications above 300°C.
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