CONCLUSIONS 



This project has demonstrated that: 



1. It is feasible to design, fabricate, and reliably 

 operate deep-ocean cable systems utilizing both wet 

 and dry high-power electromechanical cable 

 connectors. 



2. For high-power deep-ocean connectors, a 

 fluid-filled pressure-balanced system is definitely 

 superior to large urethane pots both in operating 

 performance and reparability. 



3. The wet mating technique using 0-ring seals on 

 pins is effective and is superior to any other existing 

 method for high-power deep-ocean applications. 



4. Underwater mating of large electromechanical 

 connectors by divers in the open ocean is feasible. 



5. Mating of large connectors by submersible 

 manipulators has been demonstrated. Since deep 

 mating operations are a key link in connector opera- 

 tions, further work is needed in this area. 



RECOMMENDATIONS 



1. Conduct combined systems tests at depths of 

 6,000 feet, at 360 kw, incorporating several wet 

 matings at depth over a period of 1 to 5 years. This 

 test should preferably be performed in parallel with 

 some other installed system in order to begin a 

 baseline for operational reliability data. 



2. Extend the existing technology to 34.5 kv at 

 several megawatts in preparation for high-power 

 transmission with long undersea cables. 



3. Investigate the application of the basic power 

 connector technology to such requirements as high- 

 current umbilical or coaxial connectors. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



The authors wish to acknowledge the efforts of 

 Mr. Ed Briggs and the staff of Southwest Research 

 Institute, who designed and built the experimental 

 models. There were also several NCEL personnel who 

 contributed directly to the completion of this 



development. Mr. R. N. Cordy was the original 

 project engineer and later guided the effort as 

 Director of the Construction Systems Division. LT 

 Robert Bruce, CEC, USNR was assistant engineer 

 during the procurement and early testing of the 

 experimental hardware. Mr. Lee Tucker assisted 

 during the testing of the prototype and Mr. 

 Thomdyke Roe provided supporting expertise in the 

 field of materials compatibility and chemical 

 processes. Especially important throughout were the 

 contributions of Mr. Fred Potter, project technician 

 during the entire program. 



REFERENCES 



1. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory. Contract 

 Report CR 68.004: Conceptual study of electrical 

 power transmission systems to deep ocean installa- 

 tions, by I. M. Waitsman. Groton, Conn., General 

 Dynamics Corp., Electric Boat Div., Aug. 1967. 

 (Contract No. N62399-67-C-0015) (AD 662037) 



2. F. B. Small and R. T. Weaver. "Underwater 

 disconnectable connectors," in Preprints of the 7th 

 Annual Conference of the Marine Technology 

 Society, Washington, D.C., Aug. 16-18, 1971, pp. 

 125-134. 



3. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory. Contract 

 Report CR 72.006: A wet and dry deep submergence 

 electrical power transmission system. Phases I and II, 

 by E. M. Briggs, et. al., San Antonio, Tex., Southwest 

 Research Institute, Nov. 1971. 2 vols. (Contract No. 

 N6 2 399-69-C-0001) (v.l AD 892356L; v.2 AD 

 892357L) 



4. J. F. McCartney and J. V. Wilson. "High power 

 transmission cables and connectors for deep ocean 

 applications," in Preprints of the 8th Annual 

 Conference of the Marine Technology Society, 

 Washington, D.C., Sept. 11-13, 1972. 



5. Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory. Technical 

 Report: Seafloor construction experiment, SEACON 

 I, by T. R. Kretschmer, et. al. Port Hueneme, Calif., 

 1973 (in publication). 



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