ExtremeEnvironnments

Specialist in fiber optics for extreme environments

We have developed a strong expertise in extreme environments. Since 1951, we have been designing solutions for extremely low or high temperatures, extreme pressures ranging from ultra-high vacuum to hyperbaric, and radiative, corrosive, and abrasive environments.

Fiber optic for extreme environnment

Long-standing expertise that goes far beyond harsh environments

A harsh or extreme environment refers to harsh or hostile conditions in which humans or systems must operate. These environments may present physical, climatic or geographical challenges that require specific adaptation.

These conditions can affect the health, safety and operating capacity of infrastructures and their equipment. This is where fiber optics comes into play, in all those places where electronics cannot survive or present disadvantages.

Extreme temperature

Cryogenic temp. down to -273°C

High temperatures up to +1000°C

Extreme pressures

Ultra-high-vacuum down to 10-11mbar

Hyperbare up to 5000 bars

Radiations

Radiations up to 100 Mgray

Solarisation UV jusqu’à 200 nm

High-voltage

Dielectric breakdown

up to 1 kV/cm

Atmosphères hostiles Hostile atmospheres

Corrosive or arbrasive : SF6 gas, hydrogene, oil, chemicals, sand, mud, rocks, moisiture, sea salt, dust… Electromagnetic fields

Extreme conditions

Mechanical stress : shocks, vibrations,

acceleration up to 20 G, strtching, bending…

Optical fiber is the solution of choice in extreme, hostile or dangerous environments for human beings

Properly packaged (choice of coating, protective sheath, sealing technology, etc.), optical fiber offers a number of advantages in such environments.

Here are just some of the advantages:

  • Resistance to extreme temperatures: Optical fiber can withstand extreme temperatures, whether very high or very low. As a result, it can be used in environments such as deserts, polar regions, and industrial plants, where temperatures can reach extreme levels, without suffering any degradation in performance.
  • Chemical tolerance: Optical fiber is also resistant to corrosive chemicals, such as acids, solvents, or aggressive chemical substances. It can therefore be used in industrial environments where hazardous chemicals are handled, or in chemical processing plants.
  • Insensitive to vibration and shock: Optical fiber is insensitive to vibration and mechanical shock. It can therefore be used in environments subject to constant vibration, such as construction sites, heavy factories, offshore platforms, or moving vehicles.
  • Operator safety: The use of fiber optics means that transmission equipment can be moved away from hazardous environments, reducing the risk to operators. For example, in nuclear facilities, optical fibers can be used to transmit data from highly radioactive areas without exposing operators to high levels of radiation.
  • Reliability and durability: Fiber optics are extremely reliable and durable. It can withstand extreme environmental conditions such as vibration, shock, humidity, and dust, making it an ideal choice in environments where reliability is essential, such as power plants, oil platforms, or war zones.

In short, optical fibers offer significant advantages in extreme, hostile, or human-hazardous environments, including resistance to extreme temperatures, chemical tolerance, insensitivity to vibration and shock, operator safety, and outstanding reliability and durability.

In these hostile environments, research and development often play a crucial role in developing appropriate technologies, infrastructures and strategies.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with your specific requirements.

Optical fiber is essential in difficult environments

Indeed, fiber optics offer a number of advantages in such environments.

Here are just a few of them:

  • High bandwidth: Fiber optics offer high bandwidth, enabling large volumes of data to be transmitted at high speeds. This makes it an ideal solution for harsh environments where massive amounts of data need to be processed, such as data centers, scientific research facilities, or video surveillance networks.
  • Data security: Optical fiber is inherently secure, as it does not radiate electromagnetic signals that could be intercepted or hacked. This makes it a preferred choice for security-sensitive applications, such as government networks, defense systems, or financial services.
  • Resistance to electromagnetic interference: Optical fiber is insensitive to electromagnetic interference, making it an ideal choice in environments where such interference is commonplace. As a result, it can be used in industrial environments, factories, power plants, etc., without suffering disturbance from electromagnetic fields.
  • Immunity to atmospheric disturbances: Unlike copper cables, optical fiber is unaffected by climatic variations such as rain, snow, storms, or temperature variations. It can therefore be used in harsh outdoor environments.
  • Long transmission range: Fiber optics enable data transmission over long distances without significant signal loss. This makes it suitable for applications requiring extensive connectivity, such as telecommunications networks, critical infrastructures, surveillance networks, and security systems.

All in all, optical fiber offers many advantages in harsh environments in terms of resistance to electromagnetic interference, immunity to atmospheric disturbance, long transmission range, high bandwidth, and data security.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with your specific requirements.

SEDI-ATI fiber optic components are widely used in extreme environments

We address complex applications for the military and aerospace markets, as well as for the energy, laser industry, data communications, research, and medical markets.

Our fiber assemblies are used in niche applications in extremely aggressive and hazardous environments, such as those found in the oil and gas industry, nuclear power plants, electric utilities, or the maritime field, for example. Applications for our components are as diverse as opto-pyrotechnics, downhole oil well pressure sensors, endovenous ablation catheters, or high-power lasers that can cut and weld steel.

As we design and manufacture our optical components almost exclusively to our customers’ specifications, our wide range of products is ultimately the result of careful consideration of their requirements.

Our main product lines include:

  • Multimode fiber optic couplers
  • Multimode wavelength multiplexers
  • Hermetic fiber optic feedthroughs for pressure and vacuum applications
  • Fiber optic bundles for spectroscopy and fiber optic sensors
  • Disposable fiber optic spools for wire-guided vehicles
  • Special fiber optic cables and patchcords
  • Optical connectors and adapters
  • Medical probes and fiber needles