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Title: Pre-fire warning system and method using a perfluorocarbon tracer

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6883344

A composition and method are disclosed for detecting thermal overheating of an apparatus or system and for quickly and accurately locating the portions of the apparatus or system that experience a predetermined degree of such overheating. A composition made according to the invention includes perfluorocarbon tracers (PFTs) mixed with certain non-reactive carrier compounds that are effective to trap or block the PFTs within the composition at normal room temperature or at normal operating temperature of the coated apparatus or system. When a predetermined degree of overheating occurs in any of the coated components of the apparatus or system, PFTs are emitted from the compositions at a rate corresponding to the degree of overheating of the component. An associated PFT detector (or detectors) is provided and monitored to quickly identify the type of PFTs emitted so that the PFTs can be correlated with the respective PFT in the coating compositions applied on respective components in the system, thereby to quickly and accurately localize the source of the overheating of such components. 4 figs.

DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH00016
Assignee:
Associated Universities, Inc., Washington, DC (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5362568; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 8-068664
OSTI ID:
6883344
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 27 May 1993
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English