Detection of leaks of liq. metal - by coded locally, electrically conductive fabric woven from refractory isolating mineral threads

摘要

A fabric of mineral, refractory and electrically isolating threads in which electrically conducting wires are incorporated, is intended for use in a system for the detection of leakages of liq. metal by which it is impermeable. The fabric has at least one strip comprising several electrically conducting wires at the surface which is liable to come into contact with the liq. metal, over lengths and/or with different spacings. Defined transverse zones can thus be identified electrically relatively to each other. For pref. the zones defined by the strip of fabric are all of the same length. Each conducting wire appears regularly at the surface of the fabric which may be contacted by the leaked metal, over lengths and spacings which are equal and constant; the lengths and spacings defined by the electrically conducting wires embodied in the strip of fabric mentioned are multiples and submultiples of each other. For enclosing wholly or in part long stretches of conduits in which the liq. metal circulates. The invention utilises the impermeability of closely woven silica threads by liq. sodium to pinpoint leaks over ten metre sections.