Parabolic reflector for focusing of underwater acoustic waves

Abstract

Kongsberg Maritime has produced a transponder placed on the seabed designed for receiving and transmitting sound waves from vessels and ROVs. The soundwaves contain data regarding depth and location, and can be transformed to energy thus increasing the transponder battery lifetime. The transponder can only receive a small amount of energy, since its receiving area is small. This project aims to create a parabola that increases the accumulation of soundwaves subsea, on behalf of Kongsberg Maritime. Emphasis has been placed on achieving a functional parabola construction that is adaptable to the existing transponder, without making changes to its design. The most important factor during the project has been to create a design that can receive more soundwaves than current transponder properties. The following problem statement was the basis of this thesis: ""How to design a parabolic reflector with optimal acoustic and reflecting properties that maximize the energy accumulation from sound waves, while handling the rough subsea environment?"" This report comprises phases of a product development process, ranging from a literature study to a final design of the parabola. The report also consists of a specification table with rules and regulations applicable to the product, a material selection process, and analyses of the design. The report concludes with a design that increases the sound wave accumulation, embodying features that enable it to function in a harsh subsea environment. Although a variety of transducers are currently available and have been developed by several different companies, none of them has the benefit of a parabola that increases the amount of sound waves received