Understanding heating effects in rubber to innovate continuously active sonar technologies

超电子海事系统公司在全球范围内制造和出口加拿大声纳系统， 包括基于自由淹没环（FFR）技术的水下声学投影仪。的FFR 包括一个环形压电陶瓷环，封装在一个电绝缘橡胶靴子中， 将声波辐射到周围的水中。目前，商业FFR使用脉冲模式， 指定的最大占空比，允许在ping之间散热。不过，Ultra现在正致力于 在持续主动声纳（CAS）模式下使用FFR，占空比为100%。这将为他们提供 在国际市场上具有很大的竞争优势。 在初步测试期间，来自FFR压电的ping在橡胶中引起严重的声加热 靴子，这大大降低了辐射波的强度。这种不受欢迎的机制 加热是不被理解的，消除这种能量损失对于成功的商业实施至关重要 CAS技术。为了解决这些问题，Ultra和申请人之间的新伙伴关系将寻求 通过创新血流储备分数设计技术来防止这些不必要的加热效应。这 合作将推进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.