Fibre optic media options and trends Presented by D Stockton & P Lascelles of Miniflex Ltd, branded as m2fx 23 February 2012 1
Contents Cable constructs Indoor/outdoor LSZH Armouring Micro Bends Singlemode, Multimode debate System Evolution Modular Solutions Installation Techniques Microducts Cable Selection Other Developments Termination Trends Interfacing Fire Codes 2
Loose tube Cable constructs Tight buffer Loose tube More robust - resilient to temperature fluctuations, better water blocking and better tensile strength. Tight buffer Can be higher density, less mess, can be lighter. Historically, more likely to be suitable for indoor use. 3
Cable constructs Slotted core Ribbon 4
Cable constructs Alternative dry loose tube polymer cable Light weight Tough Compact Made from materials that are not usually flexible, but processed to be so. 5
Indoor/outdoor LSZH PSTN One cable with many applications Removes confusion and reduces risk No demarcation improves performance and cost Less stock diversity for installers 6
Armouring Rodent resistance (and crush) Traditional approaches Metallic armouring SWA and CST Issues with: Lightning ground loops Hydrogen increasing attenuation (1310-1383nm) Cable theft Weight and handling Alternative approaches Non metallic armouring Polymer constructions Aramid Glass rovings Chemicals - Rodrepel 7
Micro bending Sharp bends and kinks cause performance issues. An angle greater than compatible with confinement is created, so causing light to be lost tinto the cladding. Kinks cause damage that may not manifest for some time. Tensile load, moisture and temperature can cause flaws introduced during installation to cause failure much later. Solutions include: Cable with bend limiting properties and Bend Insensitive Fibre (BIF). Micro Bending 8
Dispersion The spread of light pulses as they travel in fibre, proportional to length (Hetch 1999) Light takes a different path depending on its angle of entry, causing a timing issue, pulses blur. Single mode or Multimode Gets worse as distance and speed increase. Reduced using graded index multimode and single mode, increasing possible distance and speed. Graded refractive index smooth's out timing TX Dispersion Only one mode or path possible RX 9
Single mode or Multimode Singlemode Allows for greater speed and distance. Often a lower cost cable. Offers greater future proofing. Lack low cost Laser solution Multimode Provides adequate performance over shorter distances. Compatible with lower cost active equipment. Installers more likely to be equipped to terminate and test. Will copper catch it up? 10
Systems Evolution Gigabit Ethernet and beyond 10GBase-T 100m for copper - competing with 10GBASE-SR MM fibre, 400m+ Fibre moving to 40 and 100 Gb/s OM3, OM4 Parallel optics means fibre cable must be precise length, not well suited to field termination SM 1310nm VCSEL and systems possibilities mean modular fibre desirable 40 Gb/s copper standard envisioned Cat 7A cabling 1000MHz 500 Gb/s and Terabit/s on Singlemode fibre using Wavelength Division Multiplexing MPO TX Parallel optics MPO RX 11
Modular Solutions Modular fibre optic cable solutions Consist of Microducts that act as a pathway into which fibre is installed. A replaceable, repairable, upgradeable solution. Fibre can be: Blown Pulled Pulled and blown EPFU Pulled or blown or pushed (m2fx) 12
Blowing, Pulling and Pushing Installation techniques Blowing Empty micro-ducts are preinstalled, pressurised air carries specially coated fibre along the duct. Fibres are easily replaced, for upgrade or repair. Pulling Pull cords are connected to conventional cables, the cables are then pulled manually or mechanically through the duct. Pushing Specially constructed cables are pushed from the entry point, through ducting. Pushing can be manual or mechanical. The force dependency in the 3 install methods varies greatly. Cables and microduct are installed into open containment systems, like tray, basket or plastic trunking and otherwise, are typically laid in situ. A manual activity. 13
Installation techniques Pushing Pulling This gives the Exponential build up shortest installation around bends - the distance. Very capstan effect sensitive to friction and to the number of route bends 14
Installation techniques Normalised pressure gradient Blowing Distance depends on the non-linear pressure gradient in the microduct. If a cable starts to install it should continue. Proportion of route installed 15
Installation techniques d/m 400 Low pressure Distance comparison 300 200 100 Blowing The graph shows distance achievable at low pressure (5 bar). High pressure (10 bar+) can be used to install fibre over 1Km. Technique 16
Microducts Now a standardised product class IEC 60794-5, IEC 60794-5-10, IEC 60794-5-20 CENELEC pren 50411-6-1 1 Currently outdoor orientated Mechanical properties etc read across Tensile Temp Crush Impact Bending Fire Ratings - standards problem USA vs EU vs RoW 17
Microduct and Lining Technology Microducts need to use a tough outer material and an internal bore optimised for installation. It is possible to incorporate lubricant into the tube bulk but this is wasteful and can cause handling and connection problems in the field. Better to use a different inner layer for the microduct. Some suppliers use siloxane based liners (silicones). These are effective but do not give the best or most permanent result. Optimum liners use solid lubricant materials (proprietary) Low mass cables (eg fibre unit) that can be charged can benefit from added anti-static agent. This can be Relative Humidity (RH) activated or RH insensitive 18
Cable Selection 1000m 1000m + Blown cable 800m + Blown fibre 500 120m + Pushed/pulled cable 100 Cable type/distance 19
Other developments Ruggedized cabling Crush resistance protection in containment Manual handling damage during installation Mechanical interaction unplanned physical contact 20
Termination Trends Pre-termination and Rapid termination De-skilling Cost reduction Expedited installation Parallel optic solutions need levels of termination precision that are not easily achievable in the field. 21
Interfacing Cable construction interfaces Different cable construction types interface within outdoor/indoor closure dome/box. Connected together using fusion splices and/or connectors. Allows cost effective use of materials to service final leg. PE/PP cost effective PBT hard V0, PA12 hard and LSOH PEEK high temp, solvent resistance, polymer alloys for specialised use 22
Fire Codes EU CPD 23
Fire Codes FIRE PERFORMANCE SYSTEM & BROAD EQUIVALENCES product NEC (USA) CSA (Canada) (New) CPD (EU) (Existing) IEC (global) Comments OFNP/OFCP FT 6 (plenum) Class B1 (S2) N/A IEC 60332 rating does not cover Plenum plenum use. OFNR/OFCR FT 4 (riser) Class C & B2 N/A IEC 60332 rating does not cover riser use. Riser OFN/OFC FT 2 Class D IEC 60332 3 The closest test to IEC 60332 3 is UL 1581 (tray) VW 1 FT 1 Class E IEC 60332 1 VW 1 is a vertical wire test and not an NEC cable class LFH PE LF 24
Thank you! 25