The Role of Air Compressors in Fiber Optic Cable Installation

Today, an increasing number of businesses and consumers require reliable, high-speed data connections through radio waves (such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or GSM signals) or cables. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of "smart working" from home, this demand has only intensified. The solution to this challenge is largely the global deployment of fiber optic cables. To effectively achieve this goal, compressed air plays an unexpectedly important role—some even say that air compressors are the silent champions in tackling future connectivity chal.

Challenges in Fiber Optic Cable Installation

Although installing fiber optic cables requires additional infrastructure, more and more countries are turning to fiber optics because one of its main advantages is its ability to handle far more data than old copper cables. Overall, fiber optic cables offer higher bandwidth, which means they can carry more information. However, this means that new cables need to be laid, rather than upgrading existing copper cables—often requiring trenches to be dug, ducts to be installed, and the fiber optic cables to be p

Fiber optic cables are made of glass fibers, each capable of transmitting digitally encoded data modulated into light waves. These fibers effectively send information encoded as light beams through glass or plastic tubes. Given the importance of maintaining cable int

The Role of Air Compressors

Cable blowing is the process of inserting fiber optic cables into ducts, combining mechanical thrust (pneumatic, electric, or hydraulic) and high-speed airflow. The pulling rollers in the blowing device push the cable several hundred meters while compressed air is injected into the duct. By introducing compressed air, the cable floats within the duct, reducing friction between the cable's outer surface and the inner walls of the duct. Therefore, the role of air compressors is crucial for efficient and reliable fiber optic cable installation. The size of the compressor must be suitable for the project, able to provide air pressure of 10-15 bar, and capable of cooling the compressed air to near ambient temperature. Our CFAIR brand has developed an After-Cooler series compressor that can be selected for this purpose.

Principle of Operation

The principle behind cable blowing is to use compressed air produced by the compressor to create a high-speed airflow inside the duct, which generates a dragging force on the cable, allowing it to be pushed through the duct. To generate enough dragging force to overcome the friction between the cable and the duct, as well as the cable's own weight and other resistances, the compressor must provide the corresponding pressure. If the pressure is insufficient, the cable may not be able to move smoothly, or the blowing speed will be too slow, affecting construction progress and efficiency. However, if the pressure is too high, it could damage the cable and duct, while also increasing the compressor's energy consumption and operational costs.

When air compressors are used for cable blowing, the required pressure is typically between 10 bar and 15 bar. Below are the specific requirements:

Pressure Range and Corresponding Work Conditions

• 10 bar - 13 bar: When the blowing distance is short (e.g., within 1 kilometer) and the cable has a smaller diameter, lighter weight, and the duct has simple installation conditions without too many bends or slopes, a pressure range of 10 bar to 13 bar is usually sufficient to ensure the cable moves smoothly through the duct.

  
  

• 13 bar - 15 bar: If the blowing distance exceeds 1 kilometer, or the cable has a larger diameter, heavier weight, or the duct installation involves more bends, slopes, and other complexities, higher pressure is needed to ensure the blowing effect and efficiency. Typically, the air compressor should provide a pressure of at least 13 bar, with a maximum of around 15 bar, to provide sufficient power to move the cable through the duct.

  
  

Airflow Requirements

• Common airflow range: When blowing cables, the compressor's airflow should typically be no less than 10 cubic meters per minute. For example, in some typical telecom cable blowing projects, compressors with airflow between 10-15 cubic meters per minute are often used to ensure there is enough gas flow to push the cable through the duct smoothly.

  
  

Factors Affecting Airflow Selection:

• Cable Diameter and Weight: The larger the cable diameter and the heavier the weight, the larger the airflow required. For example, a 50mm diameter cable requires a greater airflow compared to a 30mm diameter cable, under the same blowing distance and duct conditions.

• Blowing Distance: The longer the blowing distance, the greater the resistance to airflow in the duct, requiring a larger airflow. For instance, for a blowing distance of 2 kilometers, compared to 1 kilometer, the compressor must provide more airflow to maintain the airflow speed and pressure within the duct, ensuring the cable reaches its destination.

• Duct Conditions: If the duct has many bends, slopes, or changes in diameter, it will increase the resistance to airflow. In such cases, a larger airflow is required to overcome these resistances. For example, blowing cables through a duct with several 90-degree bends requires more airflow compared to a straight duct.

  
  

Preparation

Cleaning the duct is crucial to ensure the success of the entire process by minimizing friction when the fiber optic cables are later blown in. For this purpose, a pressure of 10-15 bar is used to blow a sponge through the duct to remove initial dirt. Then, another sponge is blown through, this time with a lubricant to reduce friction.

At this stage, when the fiber optic cable is mechanically fed into the duct via the blowing machine, maintaining a constant, reliable airflow of 10-15 bar is crucial, as fiber optic cables, which may stretch for hundreds of meters, are fed from the reel into the machine. The reel should be positioned correctly to ensure the cable is fed smoothly.

Impact of Fiber Optics on the Environment

As concerns about climate change increase, people are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of technology. In this context, digitization is one of the levers for reducing carbon emissions, as it creates new applications that improve work efficiency and save energy. The use of fiber optics enhances the level of digitization, thereby making various industries more eco-friendly.

Fiber optics also directly contributes to the development of a green society. While copper wires or wired networks need to boost electrical pulses, the light signals in fiber optics can transmit over much longer distances. As a result, fiber optic networks work faster, meaning that more information can be transmitted using the same amount of energy.

Contact Us

For more information, visit our website at [www.caifuair.com](http://www.caifuair.com) or email us at info@caifuair.com. Our dedicated CFAIR 24/7 service hotline is always available to answer your questions and concerns. CFAIR is innovative and reliable, helping you improve your compressed air experience.