New tools and technology for the offshore industry
Draka has launched its Engineered Lighting Solution (ELS). Draka ELS provides practical solutions by supplying lighting to spaces that are traditionally difficult to access, replace, or illuminate properly. The product offers solutions for issues often associated with conventional lighting, such as limited efficiency, costly maintenance, minimal commonality between components, cumbersome light fixtures, and electrical shock hazards.
This solution uses remote source lighting (RSL) technology, a process by which light generated by an engine is transmitted through a fiber optic cable and emitted at a distance from a light diffusing device (Luminaire). Using the RSL concept as a baseline, Draka ELS offers the marine, oil, and gas markets an easy-to-use, low-maintenance lighting solution for offshore application.
The Draka team underwent over four years of development, which included pilot installations on Navy ships, field trials, and close collaboration with major shipbuilders, the Office of Naval Research, and with several Navy agencies. The ELS that resulted from these efforts has been implemented on a series of US Navy vessels and is also being specified on new classes of ships. All hardware, including illuminators, assemblies, and luminaires, were certified for use aboard US Navy vessels through stringent testing to medium weight shock, vibration, EMI, and US Coast Guard requirements.
Benefits of the Draka ELS include:
- improved lighting efficiency
- high luminous concentration (95% of the emitted light is focused on the illuminated area)
- cable losses of < 15dB/Km (PMMA ~ 200 dB/Km)
- industry safety and flammability requirements (UL-1581, LSZH) met on all cables
- the ability to remotely activate the light emission point from the light source by up to 200 m
- improved illumination pattern distribution, with virtually no light pollution
- small, lightweight luminaires
- low installation costs (based on US Navy trade studies)
- low system operating costs
- high commonality of components
- ease of installation by technicians with basic fiber optic and lighting skills
The Draka ELS, which is based on significant design advances made in fiber optic illumination technology, addresses the shortcomings of traditional remote source lighting systems and is ideally suited for implementation aboard US Navy vessels, offshore drilling rigs, and production platforms. It is suited for use where extreme mechanical forces may be experienced, where there are long distances between light sources and luminaires, or when high-intensity illumination is needed.
