Submarine cables, which are electrical equipment, are cables wrapped in an insulating material. The submarine cables are placed on the seabed and are used for the transmission of electrical energy and long distances communications. Compared to land cables, submarine cables differ in their applications and installation methods, But essentially play the same role.
"Self-defense" of submarine cables
With the development of society, The demand for communication and electrical energy has multiplied. Submarine cables occupy an irreplaceable place in the field of communication and electricity. The environment in which underwater cables are laid requires the need for a complete envelope, resistant and durable to protect them from damage caused by sea currents and friction with underwater materials. This is why the design of underwater cables pay great attention to the protection of the soul of the cable. The cables placed on the seabed are shipped with four protective layers, namely insulation, shielding, Protection and armor.
insulating coating
Insulation materials include reticulated polyethylene and ethylene-propylene rubber. Revitated polyethylene is the most used and is known under the acronym XLPE. This material is a high quality polyethylene containing organic peroxides and is more resistant to heat and corrosion than ordinary polyethylene.
shielding layer
Besides the insulation layer, The driver and optical fiber are also wrapped in a shielding layer, such as the driver's shielding and the insulation shielding. Most manufacturers choose coexted and three -layer coexted and reticulated tubes to make reticulated polyethylene cables, constituting a structure "shielding of the driver-insulation-subduction". This structure has the best shielding effect.
protective layer
Submarine cables have an internal and external protective structure.
Inside the cable, There is a gold alloy lead sheath, A semiconductor PE sheath, which protects the metal from corrosion and abrasion. The interior sheath is generally in polyethylene. Some submarine cables are also made with a polymer sheath by adding carbon black to semiconductor polyethylene.
The protective structure of the outer layer of the submarine cables is also made up of a combination of materials, such as : Rubbed cotton ribbon, Internal cushion layer in pp, Bitumen layer and external cover layer in pp. The nominal thickness of the rubberized cotton ribbon is 0,1 mm, that of the inner layer of 2,0 mm, that of the bitumen layer of 0,5 mm and that of the outer layer of 4,0 mm.
The exterior protective layer is in direct contact with sea water and is very resistant to corrosion. The exterior cover layer is generally marked with a color to facilitate identification underwater.
Armor
In addition to insulation and protective materials, Armor is a key element of the underwater cables. Armor consists of metals such as bronze, brass, copper or aluminum, Torned to a certain step in the direction of the extension of the cable, generally in one or two layers. The armor layer therefore has the structural resistance of the metal and can provide mechanical protection to the underwater cables.
Thanks to these four protective layers, Submarine cables can in principle resist most of the underwater environments. In normal circumstances, The lifespan of underwater cables is 15 has 20 ans. Besides the material itself, resistant to wear and corrosion, engineers also protect The cable by buried it, by digging it, By putting it on and covering it. The main buried protection is buried in the seabed at a depth of 2,5 has 3 meters, which minimizes the impact of natural factors.
It is only in very rare cases that a underwater cable can be damaged, For example during shark bites, collisions with large fish, earthquakes, tsunamis and other disasters. However, The incidence of these factors is very low and is not the main cause of damage to cables.
According to the results of the survey, more than 90 % Accidents due to cables are linked to human activities.
Protection of pipes for cables on the seabed
Submarine cable projects are recognized worldwide as complex and difficult large-scale projects. The design, manufacturing, l’installation, the exploitation and maintenance of submarine cables involve the application of complex technologies. When a submarine cable is damaged, This causes considerable losses, This is why all countries have formulated corresponding regulations for the protection of underwater cables and pipes.
Here is a summary of some of the provisions relating to the protection of submarine cable sheaths :
Basic principles for the protection of underwater cable sheaths
The basic principle of protecting submarine cable sheaths is to ensure secure and stable operation of cable sheaths, to prevent their damage and destruction, and maintain the correct transmission of communications and information.
Delimitation of cable pipe management zones
States must delimit the cable pipe management area and proceed to markings and warnings around the pipes. In this area, All activities likely to damage cables are prohibited, including fishing, Boat traffic, etc.
Establish the responsibilities of cable pipe users
It is the responsibility of the organization or the person who uses cable pipes to ensure that they are used in accordance with the legislation and regulations in force. The entity or the person who uses cable pipes is responsible for the exploitation, cable maintenance and protection, and is also required to take measures to ensure cable safety under abnormal conditions.
Define standards and processes for the installation and maintenance of cables
Countries must develop appropriate standards and procedures for the installation and maintenance of cables to ensure the proper functioning and maintenance. This includes provisions for work such as installation, the connection, cable repair and replacement.
Implementation of surveillance and fast alert systems for pipes
The rapid monitoring and alert system for cable pipes must be put in place to detect cable operating problems in time and take the necessary measures to repair them. Parallel, The inspection of cable pipes must be reinforced in order to guarantee the integrity of the pipes.
Strengthen international cooperation and information sharing
States must strengthen International cooperation and work together to protect the safe and stable operation of submarine cables. They must strengthen the exchange of information and collaborate to study and solve the problems encountered by underwater cables.
Reinforcement of penalties and sanctions in the event of violation
States should adopt sanctions and sentences appropriate for violations of the provisions relating to the protection of underwater cable pipelines in order to maintain the authority of the law and the stability of the international order.
In conclusion, Submarine cable protection regulations mainly include the delimitation of management zones, User responsibilities, Installation and maintenance standards, Quick surveillance and alert systems, international cooperation and information sharing. These arrangements aim to protect the safe and stable operation of submarine cables, to maintain a communication and transmission of normal information and to contribute to the development and prosperity of the international community. ZMS undertakes to provide high quality underwater cables. If you need underwater cables, you can contact us.