What Is The Difference Between Stranded Type Optical Cable And Center Tube Type Optical Cable?

Comparing stranded type optical cables and center tube optical cables, you will find that stranded type optical cables will be used in 80% of situations due to their remarkable advantages in structure, performance, and laying methods. stranded type optical cables and center tube optical cables are two common forms of optical cables. They each have their own advantages: the former has many ways to lay optical cables and is suitable for various occasions such as overhead, direct burial, pipelines, and underwater, while the latter has a small diameter. , light weight and easy to lay. This is closely related to their different technical structures.

1. stranded type optical cable technology

The colored optical fiber and grease are simultaneously added into a loose tube made of high-modulus plastic, and the optical fiber can move within the tube. Different sleeves are twisted along the central strengthening core to form the cable core. The cable core is added with protective material to make a loose tube stranded optical cable. Its main features are: the loose tube material itself has hydrolysis resistance and high strength. The tube is filled with special grease to provide critical protection for the optical fiber; the reinforcing core is located in the center of the cable core, and the loose tube is properly twisted. The pitch is twisted around the reinforced core layer. By controlling the remaining length of the optical fiber and adjusting the twisting pitch, the optical cable can have good tensile properties and temperature characteristics; the loose tube and the reinforced core are filled with cable paste and twisted together. The waterproof performance between the loose tube and the reinforced core is guaranteed; the radial and longitudinal directions of the optical cable are guaranteed by a variety of measures; according to different requirements, there are a variety of lateral pressure resistance measures.

2. Central tube type optical cable technology

Put the optical fiber into a spiral space loose tube made of high-modulus plastic. The tube is filled with waterproof compound. A layer of water-blocking material and armoring material are applied outside the tube. Two parallel steel wires are placed on both sides and squeezed Made of polyethylene sheath into cable. Its main features are: the unique spiral groove loose tube design is conducive to precise control of the remaining length of the optical fiber, ensuring that the optical cable has good mechanical properties and temperature characteristics; the loose tube material itself has good hydrolysis resistance and relatively high High strength, the tube is filled with special grease to provide critical protection for the optical fiber. Two parallel steel wires ensure the tensile strength of the optical cable. Small diameter, light weight, easy to lay.

3. Comparison of two types of optical cables

Comparing the two types of optical cables, the stranded type optical cable has the following significant advantages:

1. Structurally, the excess length of stranded type optical fibers is easier to control than the excess length of center tube optical fibers.

2. In terms of waterproof performance, stranded type optical cables are better than center tube optical cables. This is because the diameter of the loose tube of the Central tube type type optical cable is thicker than that of the stranded type type. The core of the former is enclosed in a loose tube, while the latter is composed of multiple different loose tubes with a relatively smaller diameter.

3. In terms of mechanical properties, the tensile strength of stranded type optical cables is better than that of center tube optical cables.

4. In terms of the number of cores, the stranded type optical cable is superior to the center tube optical cable. stranded type optical cables can produce dozens or even hundreds of cores, while center tube-type optical cables can only produce dozens of cores at most and cannot produce a large number of cores. It is usually recommended to use layered optical cable when the number of cores exceeds 24 cores.

5. In terms of laying methods, stranded type laying methods are more common than center tube optical cables, and can be applied to various occasions, including overhead, direct burial, pipelines, and underwater.

6. In terms of installation, stranded type optical cables are better than center tube optical cables. All the fiber cores of the Central tube type-type optical cable are in the same loose tube. After the optical cable is stripped, all the optical fibers are exposed and filled with grease, making it inconvenient to install. stranded type optical cables are composed of multiple different loose tubes. The loose casing can be selectively stripped for easy installation and use.

7. In terms of process maturity, stranded type optical cables are superior to center tube optical cables, and most manufacturers use the stranded type process.

8. In terms of application scope, stranded type optical cables are superior to Central tube type optical cables. stranded type optical cables are used in almost 80% of cases, which conforms to national standards.