Electrical detector for liquid metal leaks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016123833-A1
Application number	US-201514933678-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 5, 2015
Priority date	Nov 5, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A liquid metal leak detector system including a direct current (DC) power supply and a plurality of analog to digital converters connected to the DC power supply. Each converter includes a liquid metal switch, where the liquid metal switch is closed in event of a liquid metal leak since the liquid metal leak causes electrical continuity between a conductive sheeting and a housing for liquid metal. The converter also includes a comparator connected to both the liquid metal switch for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, wherein the digital signal is configured such that a high signal constitutes no leak and a low signal constitutes a leak. An AND gate is also connected to each of the plurality of converters for combining all of the digital signals output from the converters, the AND gate configured such that the AND gate outputs a high signal if all of its inputs are high and a low signal if any input is low.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A liquid metal leak detector system, comprising:
a. a direct current (DC) power supply; b. a plurality of analog to digital converters connected to the DC power supply, each converter comprising:
i. a liquid metal switch, wherein the liquid metal switch is closed in event of a liquid metal leak, the leak causing electrical continuity between a conductive sheeting and housing for liquid metal; and
ii. a comparator connected to both the liquid metal switch for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, wherein the digital signal is configured such that a high signal constitutes no leak and a low signal constitutes a leak; and
c. an AND gate connected to each of the plurality of converters for combining all of the digital signals output from the converters, the AND gate configured such that the AND gate outputs a high signal if all of its inputs are high and a low signal if any input is low.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical relay configured to receive a high or low signal from the AND gate, wherein receiving a low signal indicates to solidify the liquid metal.

3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a transistor and solid state relay connected between the AND gate and mechanical relay.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the liquid metal is lithium.

5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the liquid metal is solidified by the mechanical relay opening a switch to shut off liquid metal heaters.

6 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the liquid metal is solidified by the mechanical relay opening a switch to shut off liquid metal pumps.

7 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a manual shut-off, wherein the mechanical relay receives a manual signal to solidify the liquid metal.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of analog to digital converters each further comprise a light emitting diode (LED) to light up in event of a liquid metal leak.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of analog to digital converters each further comprise a speaker to sound an alarm in event of a liquid metal leak.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of analog to digital converters each further comprise a low pass filter.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of analog to digital converters each further comprise a Zener diode and resistor.

12 . A method of assembling a liquid metal leak detector, comprising:
a. coupling a direct current (DC) power supply to a plurality of analog to digital converters, each converter comprising:
i. a liquid metal switch, wherein the liquid metal switch is closed in event of a leak, the leak causing electrical continuity between a conductive sheeting and housing for the liquid metal; and
ii. a comparator connected to the liquid metal switch for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, wherein the digital signal is configured such that a high signal constitutes no leak and a low signal constitutes a leak; and
b. coupling an AND gate to each of the plurality of converters for combining all of the digital signals output from the converters, the AND gate configured such that the AND gate outputs a high signal if all of its inputs are high and a low signal if any input is low.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the liquid metal is lithium.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of analog to digital converters each further comprise a light emitting diode (LED) to light up in event of a liquid metal leak.

15 . A circulation system for liquid metal, comprising:
a. a plurality of pipe and/or valve connections, each connection constructed to connect two or more pipe segments of the circulation system, wherein liquid metal passes through the pipe segments; b. an insulator layer around each connection of the plurality of connections; c. a conductive sheeting around each insulator layer; d. a leak detector circuit attached to each connection via the conductive sheeting, the leak detector circuit comprising:
i. a direct current (DC) power supply;
ii. an analog to digital converter connected to the DC power supply comprising:
1. a liquid metal switch, wherein the liquid metal switch is closed in event of a leak, the leak causing electrical continuity between the conductive sheeting and the pipe and/or valve connection; and
2. a comparator connected to the liquid metal switch for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, wherein the digital signal is configured such that a high signal constitutes no leak and a low signal constitutes a leak;

e. an AND gate connected to each of the plurality of leak detector circuits for combining all of the digital signals output from the converters, the AND gate configured such that the AND gate outputs a high signal if all of its inputs are high and a low signal if any input is low; and f. a mechanical relay configured to receive a high or low signal from the AND gate, wherein receiving a low signal indicates to solidify the liquid metal by the opening a switch which shuts off liquid metal heaters.

16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a transistor and solid state relay connected between the AND gate and mechanical relay.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the mechanical relay is further configured to shut off liquid metal pumps.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the liquid metal is lithium.

19 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a manual shut-off, wherein the mechanical relay receives a manual signal to solidify the liquid metal.

20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the analog to digital converter further comprises a light emitting diode (LED) to light up in event of a liquid metal leak.

21 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the analog to digital converter further comprises a speaker to sound an alarm in event of a liquid metal leak.

22 . A leak detector system for liquid metal batteries, comprising:
a. a liquid metal battery, comprising:
i. a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte, wherein at least one electrode comprises a liquid metal;
ii. a battery housing to enclose the electrodes and electrolyte;
iii. an insulator layer around the battery housing; and
iv. a conductive sheeting around the insulator layer; and
b. a leak detector circuit attached to the conductive sheeting, the leak detector circuit comprising:
i. a direct current (DC) power supply;
ii. an analog to digital converter connected to the DC power supply comprising:
1. a liquid metal switch, wherein the liquid metal switch is closed in event of a leak, the leak causing electrical continuity between the conductive sheeting and battery housing; and
2. a comparator connected to the liquid metal switch for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, wherein the digital signal is configured such that a high signal constitutes no leak and a low signal constitutes a leak.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the liquid metal is lithium, lead, antimony, and/or alloys of these liquid metals.

24 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the insulator layer and conductive surround the electrodes and electrolytes within the battery housing.

25 . A leak detector system for high power switches, comprising:
a. a high power switch, comprising:
i. two electrodes and a control grid between the electrodes;
ii. liquid metal surrounding at least one of the ele

Assignees

• Univ Princeton

Inventors

• Schwartz Jacob
• Jaworski Michael

Classifications

• G01R31/3679

  Physics · mapped topic

• G05B9/00

  Safety arrangements (G05B7/00 takes precedence; safety arrangements in program-control systems G05B19/048, G05B19/406) · CPC title

• G01M3/16 Primary

  using electric detection means ({G01M3/045,} G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01M3/40

  by using electric means, e.g. by observing electric discharges · CPC title

• G05B9/05

  fluidic · CPC title