METHOD OF EVALUATING TECHNICAL STATE OF UNDERWATER COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVICE THEREFOR Russian patent published in 2017 - IPC G01V3/00 

FIELD: physics, measurement technology.

SUBSTANCE: disclosed is a method of evaluating the technical state of underwater communications. The method includes measuring distance to the bottom of a water body and analysing the state of the bottom with hydroacoustic means, and measuring parameters of the electromagnetic field emitted by the communications. Measurements are taken using an electromagnetic antenna consisting of orthogonally arranged electromagnetic field parameter measurement transducers, with determination of distance to the communication axis, as well as the value of protection of underwater communication by calculating the distance from the bottom of the water body to the top of the communication structure, and measuring loss of currents flowing through the communications. Measurements are taken with determination of the state of the insulation cover. Geodesic coordinates of measurement points are determined. Said means and devices are arranged on a carrier vessel. According to the invention, all measurements and subsequent calculations are carried out in quasi-continuous mode. Measurement of parameters of the electromagnetic field emitted by the communications is carried out with two antennae spaced apart and rigidly connected to each other. Each antenna includes three mutually orthogonal electromagnetic field parameter measurement transducers. During adjustment, the connection line of centres of antennae is set horizontally in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the carrier vessel. Two measurement transducers of each antenna are placed in a horizontal plane, wherein the axis of one thereof coincides with the connection line of centres of antennae, and the axis of the other is perpendicular to said line. The carrier vessel moves along the longitudinal axis of communications. The initial trajectory is determined by routing communications on the shore and constructing an electronic model of an underwater crossing. Movement is accompanied with calculation of values of spatial shift of the carrier vessel from the communication axis, as well as angles between its longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of the underwater communications with subsequent determination of current values of parameters of the technical state of the underwater communications. Maximum values of deviation from the communication axis during movement are determined by requirements for minimising errors in evaluating the technical state of underwater communications. Determination of the state of the insulation cover is carried out by analysing the diagram of distribution of currents along the pipeline. Protection of the underwater communications is determined as the distance on the vertical from the bottom of the water body to the top of the communication structure, calculated as the difference between the distance from the connection line of centres of antennae to the communication axis and the sum of three components: distance from the connection line of centres of antennae to the surface of the water body, distance from the antenna of the hydroacoustic unit to the bottom of the water body, distance from the communication axis to the top of the communication structure (determined from the communication design data). Also disclosed is a device for evaluating the technical state of underwater communications.

EFFECT: method enables to evaluate the technical state of underwater communications using an electromagnetic antenna.

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