Embodiments include an optical fiber cable comprising a length extending between a first end and a second end, a central cooling tube, a plurality of optical fibers disposed radially around the cooling tube, each optical fiber comprising a fiber core and a cladding disposed around the fiber core, an outer protective cover, and an inner thermal filler disposed between the outer protective cover and the central cooling tube and surrounding each of the optical fibers, wherein each of the central cooling tube, the outer protective cover, the inner thermal filler, and the plurality of optical fibers extend the length of the cable. Various systems and methods for removing imperfections from individual optical fibers and for distributing power across long distances using the optical fiber cable are also provided.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a glass fiber strand in which a glass fiber strand is formed by bundling a plurality of glass fiber filaments comprising molten glass drawn out from a nozzle, wherein said method for manufacturing a glass fiber strand is capable of detecting breakage of the glass fiber filaments in a more reliable manner. This method comprises: an image capturing step for generating a plurality of items of image data by continuously capturing images of a plurality of glass fiber filaments f; an image processing step for extracting, from the image data, a high luminance object having a luminance of a prescribed value or more; and a breakage detection step for detecting that a glass fiber filament f has broken on the basis of the results of the image processing in the image processing step.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a glass fiber strand in which a glass fiber strand is formed by bundling a plurality of glass fiber filaments comprising molten glass drawn out from a nozzle, wherein said method for manufacturing a glass fiber strand is capable of detecting breakage of the glass fiber filaments in a more reliable manner. This method comprises: an image capturing step for generating a plurality of items of image data by continuously capturing images of a plurality of glass fiber filaments f; an image processing step for extracting, from the image data, a high luminance object having a luminance of a prescribed value or more; and a breakage detection step for detecting that a glass fiber filament f has broken on the basis of the results of the image processing in the image processing step.

Embodiments include an optical fiber cable comprising a length extending between a first end and a second end, a central cooling tube, a plurality of optical fibers disposed radially around the cooling tube, each optical fiber comprising a fiber core and a cladding disposed around the fiber core, an outer protective cover, and an inner thermal filler disposed between the outer protective cover and the central cooling tube and surrounding each of the optical fibers, wherein each of the central cooling tube, the outer protective cover, the inner thermal filler, and the plurality of optical fibers extend the length of the cable. Various systems and methods for removing imperfections from individual optical fibers and for distributing power across long distances using the optical fiber cable are also provided.

A porous glass base material manufacturing apparatus for an optical fiber includes: a liquid mass flow controller for controlling a flow rate of raw material liquid of an organic siloxane; a vaporizer for mixing raw material liquid and carrier gas to vaporize raw material liquid to form mixed gas; a raw material liquid nozzle for ejecting raw material liquid into the vaporizer; a carrier gas supply pipe for supplying carrier gas into the vaporizer; a raw material liquid pipe for introducing raw material liquid into the nozzle; a burner for combusting mixed gas with combustible gas and combustion supporting gas to produce SiO.sub.2 particles; a mixed gas pipe for supplying mixed gas to the burner; an open/close valve on a flow path of the raw material liquid pipe; and a purge gas supply pipe that joins the raw material liquid pipe between the valve and the raw material liquid nozzle.

A porous glass base material manufacturing apparatus for an optical fiber includes: a liquid mass flow controller for controlling a flow rate of raw material liquid of an organic siloxane; a vaporizer for mixing raw material liquid and carrier gas to vaporize raw material liquid to form mixed gas; a raw material liquid nozzle for ejecting raw material liquid into the vaporizer; a carrier gas supply pipe for supplying carrier gas into the vaporizer; a raw material liquid pipe for introducing raw material liquid into the nozzle; a burner for combusting mixed gas with combustible gas and combustion supporting gas to produce SiO.sub.2 particles; a mixed gas pipe for supplying mixed gas to the burner; an open/close valve on a flow path of the raw material liquid pipe; and a purge gas supply pipe that joins the raw material liquid pipe between the valve and the raw material liquid nozzle.

A system for precoating a preform for drawing optical fiber including a diameter sensor to determine a diameter of pulled optical fiber, a cooling system to cool the optical fiber once it is pulled from a furnace, a coating system to apply a coating to the optical fiber once it has cooled and an ultra-violet lamp to cure the coating.

A system for precoating a preform for drawing optical fiber including a diameter sensor to determine a diameter of pulled optical fiber, a cooling system to cool the optical fiber once it is pulled from a furnace, a coating system to apply a coating to the optical fiber once it has cooled and an ultra-violet lamp to cure the coating.

Embodiments include an optical fiber cable comprising a length extending between a first end and a second end, a central cooling tube, a plurality of optical fibers disposed radially around the cooling tube, each optical fiber comprising a fiber core and a cladding disposed around the fiber core, an outer protective cover, and an inner thermal filler disposed between the outer protective cover and the central cooling tube and surrounding each of the optical fibers, wherein each of the central cooling tube, the outer protective cover, the inner thermal filler, and the plurality of optical fibers extend the length of the cable. Various systems and methods for removing imperfections from individual optical fibers and for distributing power across long distances using the optical fiber cable are also provided.

Embodiments include an optical fiber cable comprising a length extending between a first end and a second end, a central cooling tube, a plurality of optical fibers disposed radially around the cooling tube, each optical fiber comprising a fiber core and a cladding disposed around the fiber core, an outer protective cover, and an inner thermal filler disposed between the outer protective cover and the central cooling tube and surrounding each of the optical fibers, wherein each of the central cooling tube, the outer protective cover, the inner thermal filler, and the plurality of optical fibers extend the length of the cable. Various systems and methods for removing imperfections from individual optical fibers and for distributing power across long distances using the optical fiber cable are also provided.