Interconnection


Meeting the connectivity demands of an ever-changing market


Mark Berry, product line manager at Bulgin, takes a look at the latest environmentally-sealed fibre optic, data and power connectors, and the advantages they offer for the oil and gas industries


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here is an increasing need to fit ever more technology into the available space. Where separate connections


have previously been used for power and data, there is now a growing demand for hybrid solutions accommodating several different technologies in a single fit and forget unit. Bulgin’s unique Buccaneer range of IP-rated, dust and waterproof circular connectors for power and data offers robust solutions suitable for the harshest conditions, making them ideal for maintenance-free applications across a variety of outdoor and industrial environments.


Rising to the challenge Faced with the increasing development and manufacture of low cost connectors,


suppliers must find a way to differentiate, offering high quality products and adding value for the customer. Having the flexibility to diversify to meet the demands of evolving technologies is essential, enabling the company to become far more than just a manufacturer or supplier of components. Bulgin’s multidisciplinary engineering teams and manufacturing capabilities provide an end-to-end service – development, R&D, and mass production. This enables the company to offer a broad range of off-the-shelf products, such as the popular Buccaneer range of connectors, as well as providing the expertise and strength in depth to support custom designs, taking core technology back to first principles and applying it across different industries to create novel solutions to meet specific customer demands. An example of this is the use of known fibre termination techniques alongside tried and tested connector coupling methods in remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).


Meeting the demands of remote operation The growing global ROV fleet is forecast to reach around 1,176 units in 2019, with operational expenditure over the five years from 2014 expected to total $14.2bn – almost 19 per cent more than the previous five-year period. As the industry has grown, it has seen many iterative advances in technology. For example, the introduction of fibre optics in the 1980s revolutionised the video imaging and control of ROVs. Since then, there have been further step changes, with the development of improved sensing technologies and data transfer networks allowing more sophisticated control techniques to be incorporated. Fly-by-wire technology has enabled automation of repetitive tasks such as ‘grab the hand hold


to stabilise’ and ‘move to here’ commands for hands-free piloting. Advances in technology have also helped to improve reliability, minimising the likelihood of unplanned downtime causing projects to overrun. Downtime during offshore projects can be particularly costly, and all efforts are being made to improve the mean time between failures (MTBF), as well as implementing mitigation plans when possible hazards are identified. The tether connection is a known weak point of ROVs, and Bulgin has used its extensive expertise in environmental sealing to address this issue. The Bulgin Tether Connector – a


pressure balanced oil-filled (PBOF) connector capable of operating at subsea depths of up to 7,000 metres – was developed in collaboration with the world’s largest ROV manufacturer. It has a rapid, secure coupling and locking mechanism able to withstand demanding subsea conditions – such as high pressures and extreme temperatures – offering the same uninterrupted power and data connectivity as the company’s standard product ranges, as well as fibre optic signal feeds. Where a typical ROV cable termination box can take hours to re-terminate if signal loss occurs,


the Bulgin Tether Connector offers a potential tether termination time of less than an hour. For the client, this was a fundamental aspect of the design, vastly reducing periods of downtime and minimising the associated unforeseen costs for subsea projects.


Providing the complete package For most customers, storage space is at a premium. The ability for OEM manufacturing to directly procure complete sub-assemblies not only allows them to take advantage of plug and play connectivity, but also helps to reduce storage needs. Bulgin’s dedicated raw materials supply base and in-house manufacturing capability ensures its products are fully traceable and certified to meet a range of specifications and standards – including UL, CSA, VDE, CCC, ATEX – making it straightforward for OEM manufacturers to achieve approval of the final product. Ultimately, this result improves production efficiency and generates cost savings for the customer. Moving forward, there is a drive to develop modular-type connector systems that allow end users to build a connectivity solution from standard components, selecting the required rating and appropriate combination of power, data and fibre optics for their specific application.


Solutions for all applications Looking ahead, the industry expects to see continued growth, particularly in the fields of data and telecommunications, especially fibre optics. Manufacturers must ensure that their product development aligns with the global forecast, keeping ahead and building unique selling points into their technologies. To counteract increasing cost pressures, it is vital to invest in design and R&D resources, working with customers to supply high quality bespoke solutions and sub-assemblies. In an era where manufacturing efficiency is under increasing pressure from low quality/low cost suppliers, a supplier offering complete connectivity solutions, such as Bulgin, is greatly valued.


www.bulgin.com 18 June 2016 Components in Electronics www.cieonline.co.uk


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