Gases for Electrical Insulation and Arc Interruption: Possible Present and Future Alternatives to Pure Sfe
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; NIST PUBLICATJONS AuiDs 3S5t5p ^^^^H United Ststes Department of Commerce Technology Administration iMisr National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST Technical Note 1425 Gases for Electrical Insulation and Arc Interruption: Possible Present and Future Alternatives to Pure SFe L. G. Christophorou, J. K. Olthoff, and D. S. Green QC 100 1U5753 1997 rhe National Institute of Standards and Technology was established in 1988 by Congress to "assist industry in the development of technology . needed to improve product quality, to modernize manufacturing processes, to ensure product reliability . and to facilitate rapid commercialization . of products based on new scientific discoveries." NIST, originally founded as the National Bureau of Standards in 1901, works to strengthen U.S. industry's competitiveness; advance science and engineering; and improve public health, safety, and the environment. 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CO 80303. ^Some elements at Boulder, CO. NIST Technical Note 1425 Gases for Electrical Insulation and Arc Interruption: Possible Present and Future Alternatives to Pure SFe L. G. Christophorou J. K. Olthoff D. S. Green Electricity Division Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory and Process Measurements Division Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001 ^^et^^o^co^^ 1^ ^Q^ "tL ff ^.v -^ % November 1997 U.S. Department of Commerce William M. Daley, Secretary Technology Administration Gary R. Bachula, Acting Under Secretary for Technology National Institute of Standards and Technology Raymond G. Kammer, Director National Institute of Standards U.S. Government Printing Office For sale by the Superintendent of and Technology Washington: 1997 Documents Technical Note 1425 U.S. Government Printing Office Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Washington, DC 20402 Tech. Note 1425 48 pages (Nov. 1997) CODEN: NTNOEF Bibliographic Information Abstract The electric power Industry's preferred gaseous dielectric (besides air), sulfur hexafluoride (SFg), has been shown to be a greenhouse gas. In this report we provide information that is useful In Identifying possible replacement gases, in the event that replacement gases are deemed a reasonable approach to reducing the use of SFg in high voltage electrical equipment. The report focuses on the properties of SFg as a dielectric gas and on the data available for possible alternatives to pure SFg (i.e., SFg alone). On the basis of published studies and consultation with experts in the field, it was attempted to identify alternative dielectric gases to pure SFg for possible immediate or future use in existing or modified electrical equipment. The possible alternative gases are discussed as three separate groups: (i) mixtures of SFg and nitrogen for which a large amount of research results are available; (ii) gases and mixtures (e.g., pure Nj, low concentrations of SFg in Ng, and SFg-He mixtures) for which a smaller yet significant amount of data are available; and (iii) potential gases for which little experimental data are available. Keywords gaseous dielectrics; gas mixtures; gas recycling; global warming; nitrogen; SFg; SFg-Ng mixtures; sulfur hexafluoride Ordering Copies of this document are available from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, at (800) 553-6847 or (703) 487-4650. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors benefitted greatly from the suggestions and comments provided by individuals in industry, academia, and government. Shown below are the individuals who contributed by providing information relevant to the report, or by reviewing and commenting on draft materials. While these individuals influenced the development of this document, the authors are solely responsible for the views expressed in the document. The presence of a reviewer's name here is not intended to suggest endorsement or agreement with all of the views contained in this report. Christophe Boisseau Electricite de France, FRANCE Phil Bolin Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc., USA Lowell Brothers Southern Company Services, Inc., USA John Brunke Bonneville Power Administration, USA Ian Chalmers University of Strathclyde, U.K. Alan Cookson National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA Steinar Dale ABB Power T&D Company, Inc., USA Benjamin Damsky Electric Power Research Institute, USA Armin Diessner Siemens, GERMANY Elizabeth Dutrow US Environmental Protection Agency, USA Lois Ellis Allied Signal, Inc., USA Fumihiro Endo Hitachi, JAPAN Michael Frechette Hydro-Quebec, CANADA Yoshikazu Hoshina Toshiba, JAPAN Edmund Kuffel University of Manitoba, CANADA Richard LaLumondier National Electrical Manufacturers Association, USA Donald Martin G&W Electric Co., USA Hugh Morrison Ontario Hydro, CANADA Koichiro Nakanishi Mitshubishi Electric Corporation, JAPAN C. M. A. Nayar GEC ALSTHOM, FRANCE Lutz Niemeyer ABB Corporate Research, SWITZERLAND Marshall Pace University of Tennessee, USA Reinhold Probst DILO Company, Inc., USA Bryan Smith Cryoquip, Inc., USA Xavier Waymel Electricite de France, FRANCE Howard Withers Air Products and Chemicals , Inc., USA Roy Wootton Formerly at Westinghouse, USA Gases for Electrical Insulation and Arc Interruption: Possible Present and Future Alternatives to Pure SFg / NIST 1 Section 1 - Introduction Gases for Electrical Insulation and Arc Interruption: Possible Present and Future Alternatives to Pure SFg Contents 1. Introduction 1. Introduction 1 Sulfur hexafluoride (SF^), the electric power 1.1 Sulfur Hexafluoride 2 industry's presently preferred gaseous dielectric (besides 1 .2 Principal Uses of SF^ by the Electric air), has been shown to be a greenhouse gas. Concerns Power Industry 2 over its possible impact on the environment have 1.3 Concentrations of SFf,in the Environment ... 3 rekindled interest in finding replacement gases. In this 1 .4 SFf, is a Potent Greenhouse Gas 4 report we provide information that is useful in identifying 1.5 SF(i Substitutes 5 such gases, in the event that replacement gases are 1 .6 Scope of this Report 6 deemed a reasonable approach to controlling emissions of 2. Properties of Gaseous Dielectrics 6 SFft from high voltage electrical equipment. The report 2. Intrinsic Properties 6 focuses on the properties of SF^ as a dielectric gas and on 2.1.1 Basic Physical Properties 7 the data available for possible alternatives to pure SF^ 2.1.2 Basic Chemical Properties 8 (i.e., SFfi alone). On the basis of published studies and 2.2 Extrinsic Properties 8 consultation with experts in the field, we attempt to 2.2.1 Reactions and Byproducts 8 identify alternative dielectric gases to pure SF^ for 2.2.2 Electrical Discharge and Breakdown . 8 possible immediate or future use in existing or modified 2.3 Other