Understanding heating effects in rubber to innovate continuously active sonar technologies

超电子海事系统公司在全球制造和出口加拿大声纳系统， 包括基于自由淹没环(FFR)技术的水声投影仪。FFR 由一个甜甜圈形状的压电陶瓷环组成，包裹在电绝缘橡胶靴中，振动到 将声波辐射到周围的水中。目前，商用FFR使用脉冲模式，具有 指定的最大占空比，允许在ping之间散热。然而，Ultra现在正在努力 在100%占空比的连续活动声纳(CAS)模式下使用FFR。这将为他们提供 在国际市场上有很大的竞争优势。 在初步测试中，来自FFR压电板的ping信号在橡胶中引发了严重的声热 Boot，这极大地降低了辐射波的强度。这种不受欢迎的现象的机制 供暖尚不清楚，消除这种能量损失是成功实现商业应用的关键 中科院的技术。为了解决这些问题，Ultra和申请者之间将寻求新的合作伙伴关系 通过创新FFR设计技术来防止这些不想要的加热影响的解决方案。这 合作将推动一项新兴的海洋相关技术，并将帮助一家加拿大公司获得 引领国际市场的独特地位。

Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems Inc. manufactures and exports Canadian SONAR systems worldwide, including underwater acoustic projectors that are based on Free Flooded Ring (FFR) technology. The FFR consists of a donut-shaped piezoceramic ring, encased in an electrically insulating rubber boot, that vibrates to radiate acoustic waves into the surrounding water. At present, commercial FFRs use a pulsed mode with a specified maximum duty cycle that allows heat to dissipate between pings. However, Ultra is now working to use FFRs in a Continuously Active Sonar (CAS) mode with a 100% duty cycle. This would provide them with a great competitive advantage in the international market. During preliminary tests, the pings from the FFR piezoelectric induced severe acoustic heating in the rubber boot, which dramatically reduced the intensity of the radiated waves. The mechanism of this undesirable heating is not understood, and eliminating this energy loss is critical for successful commercial implementation of CAS technology. To address these problems, a new partnership between Ultra and the applicant will seek solutions to prevent these unwanted heating effects by innovating the FFR design technology. This collaboration will advance an emerging ocean-related technology, and will help a Canadian company capture a unique position to lead an international market.