Optimization of constructive and geometric parameters of lightning protection cable with optical communication module.

In recent years, lightning protection cables with integrated optical module are used fairly extensively. These cables actually have the form of a cable made of several layers of steel wires with corrosion-resistant coating and a tubular case made either of aluminum or of stainless steel (central or in a whip) filled with a hydrophobic gel and optical fibers. Circular plastic compression in the process of production of lightning protection cable with integrated optical module enables us to improve the electric contacts of wires in and between the layers and increase both the resistance to the lightning discharge impulse and mechanical strength. For the incorrectly chosen geometric parameters of wires in the first and second layers, circular plastic compression may lead to a significant deformation of the optical module and, as a result, to the unacceptable elevation of the coefficient of attenuation of the transmitted signal. By the method of computer simulation, we determine the value of guaranteed gap between the inner layer of the lightning protection cable with integrated optical module and the central tube guaranteeing the decrease in the level of deformation of the outer shell of the optical module down to admissible values. The possibility of formation of lateral contacts between the wires of the first layer contributing to a decrease in the radial component of pressure transmitted to the surface of the module is demonstrated for the optimized design of the cable. The accumulated results of computer simulation can be used for the optimization of the design and geometric parameters and the level of strand compression required to minimize the deformation of the outer shell of central tube of the integrated optical module of the lightning protection cable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]