Technological Infrastructure for Subsea Observatories Neville Hazell Alcatel Submarine Networks

1. Technological Infrastructure for Subsea ObservatoriesNeville HazellAlcatel Submarine Networks Antoine Lecroart Alcatel-Lucent

2. Cable Science Observatories Solutions • Technology Pedigree • Dry-Wet from Dry-Dry • Architecture • Optical Design • IP and PTP • Powering • Ocean Engineering • Conclusion • Q&A

3. Technology Pedigree

4. Technology Pedigree

5. Trans-oceanic or Regional connectivity Deep water connectivity Dry-Wet evolves from Dry-Dry • Traditional systems are Dry-Dry – No Subsea access • Proven submerged wet equipment ; - cable, repeaters, Branching Units • Being adapted to floating structures (Platforms or FPSOs) with dynamic risers

6. Sub sea connectivity Dry-Wet evolves from Dry-Dry • Very different to go Dry-Wet • Flexibility – subsea access required • Plug & Play – standardised ports • Power needs to be treated differently • Power required locally on the sea bottom • Variable loads

7. Architecture: Overview • What are your network requirements?? • Length • Availability • Maintenance • Number of nodes • Power • Total • Node • Bandwidth

8. Architecture: Regional Overview • Gateway to local instrumentation network (or junction boxes) • Sturdy Backbone • Telco grade equipmentCable, BUs, repeaters • High Availability – 99.9 % • Duplicate routes • Extendable

9. Science Instruments Repeaters R Backbone cable JunctionBox Node BU ShoreTerminal R Science Instruments R ShoreTerminal R Science Instruments Node BU JunctionBox R R BU JunctionBox BU R Spur cable Branching Units Node Node JunctionBox Science Instruments JunctionBox Architecture: Regional Overview • ~ 800 km • Ring configuration >> High availability from duplicate routes • 9 KW of power per node, 2 Protected GigE per node • Use of Wet-mate connectors, ROV serviceable node

10. Node Node Pt. Alberni Station Node Node Architecture: Optical transmission;- Mesh vs. ring Ring can use DWDM • Each node has a set of wavelengths • Dedicated bandwidth (not shared) Ring make powering easier to control • Latching switching BU Ring is simpler • No undersea routing necessary (Level 2 is enough) Ring is sturdier • A node may be lost without affecting the rest of the network

11. Node Branching Unit Backbone Cable Power Feed Equipment MV Converter Spur Cable Node Pt. Alberni Shore Station Node Node Architecture: Power transmission Series vs. Parallel • 10 KV DC transport requireddue to network size andremote extension capabilities • Parallel mode is the onlyway to have large amountsof power at each site(9 KW) • DC/DC conversion is mandatory(MV Converter) • A DC power grid!

12. Line Design Subsea node uses a small form factor node WDM transponder • Based on Alcatel-Lucent 1696MS Compact Shelf with two transponders(facing East and West) • Transponder boards • Maps 2 GigE intoan STM-16/OC-48 • FEC • High Performance Optics • Ring is designed for future extension • Up to 1800 km • Up to 10 nodes • Some nodes could befurther upgraded to 10 Gbit/s

13. Node Data Switches Data Switches Node Gigabit Ethernet Pt. Alberni Shore Station Node Node IP and PTP Dual star with redundant GigE paths • Alcatel-Lucent 7450 Routersand 6850 Switches (stacked) Network is designed totransport PTP packets withminimum delay to distributeprecision timing • Tested with PTP serverand PTP client successfully • ~ 10 s accuracy Uses the latest Level 2 mechanisms such as LACP • Minimizes delays andallows fast path protection

14. Powering • Powering is NEPTUNE’s main departure from a telco system and requires: • An optically controlled four statepower switching BU (latching) • BUs and repeaters qualified to up to 8A of line current • High power (2 x 80 KW) PFE using the AC mains

15. Powering: Medium Voltage Converter (MVC) • Reliable 9KW 10 KV to 400 V DC converter in each node • Parallel/Series arrangement of 48 elementary converters

16. Powering: Low Voltage Power System (LVPS) • Unique 400 V monitoring, control and distribution unit in each node • Integrated with the Topside Node Controller • Built around a micro-controller

17. Ocean Engineering COTS equipment in the node call for the use of ROV wet-mate connectors to be able to service the node down to 3500 m Node is in two parts: • Trawl Resistant Frame (TRF) • Detachable Cable Termination Assembly (CTA)

18. Ocean Engineering • NodeModule (NM) • Can be disconnected fromthe Science Instrumentsand the TRF for maintenance • Node module is made almostneutrally buoyant so thatit can be handled bya work class ROV • Composed of the MVC andLV/Comms pressure vessels

19. Coastal Observatories • 10kV/400V Power system • Fixed BU • Direct fibre access to Junction Box • Simplified Node Branching Unit Node Junction Box

20. Coastal Observatories – simplified node

21. Conclusion • Alcatel-Lucent with its subcontractors (L-3 MariPro, Texcel, ODI, Heinzinger, Westermo, Omnitron) is developing the first large scale Regional Dry-Wet network • The Technology may be readily adapted for Coastal Observatories • The University of Washington and the University of Victoria were the first to see the potential of this concept for oceanography and interest is also high in Asia and Europe