Current-to-Current Converter for Scientific Underwater Cable Networks

A new current-to-current converter, which is a key device to branch a constant direct current (DC) into two constant DCs, was proposed [K. Asakawa , Proc. OCEANS, pp. 1868-1873, 2003]. It has been verified, through computer simulations and experiments using prototypes, to have good conversion efficiency and stable operation. Because the basic circuit is simple, high reliability is expected. The current-to-current converter is a key device to realize a constant current (CC) power-feeding system for scientific underwater cable networks having mesh topology, which is necessary to enhance robustness against cable breakdowns and to deploy sensors in 2-D and efficiently over a vast research area.