Pressure Rise due to SF6 Arcing and Energy Balance in a Closed Container

From an environmental viewpoint, when carrying out internal arc tests on SF₆‐insulated power equipment, it is necessary to prevent SF₆ from being released into the atmosphere or to replace SF₆ with air in accordance with IEC standards. However, the pressure rise and the thermal effect of the hot gas exhausted during arcing when testing in air are still considerably different from those for testing in SF₆. Thus, it is necessary to propose a specific procedure to replace SF₆ with air and to select appropriate parameters for the tests. Therefore, it is desirable to clarify the equivalent conditions causing these phenomena both experimentally and analytically. In this paper, we describe the effect of the charged gas pressure in a closed container on the pressure rise due to air and SF₆ arcing and the ratio of the arc energy to the energy contributing to the internal pressure rise () from an experimental viewpoint. Additionally, to research the energy balance resulting from SF₆ arcing in the container, the energy balance is discussed on the basis of chemical reactions, radiation, and the melting and vaporization of the electrodes. It is found that the maximum pressure rise increases for both gases upon increasing the gas pressure from 0.1 MPa to 0.4 MPa. Subsequently, good agreement with the energy balance was obtained under reasonable assumptions by taking account of the energy components related to the chemical reactions, radiation, and the melting and vaporization of the electrodes. The ratio of the radiation energy loss to the total consumption energy increased upon increasing the charged gas pressure.     

基于一维电弧模型的SF6混合气体灭弧性能评价

SF₆混合气体是广受关注的SF₆替代气体方案之一。为定量评估SF₆混合气体的灭弧性能,文中采用一维衰减电弧模型和玻尔兹曼方程相结合的方法,将电弧熄灭过程划分为热恢复阶段、弧前介质恢复阶段和弧后介质恢复阶段,分别引入热恢复率、弧前介质恢复率和弧后介质恢复率作为各阶段的评价参数,并计算三者的调和平均数作为综合评价参数,以此来评估SF₆-N₂、SF₆-CO₂、SF₆-CF₄以及SF₆-Air混合气体的灭弧性能。基于上述方法,文中初步探讨SF₆含量、背景气体种类和压强大小对SF₆混合气体灭弧性能的影响。结果表明,随着SF₆含量的减少,混合气体的灭弧性能整体上呈现下降趋势;当SF₆含量为10%～50%时,4种混合气体中SF₆-N₂的灭弧性能最优,其次...     

Voltage-current characteristics of high-current pulsed discharges in SF

A high-current pulsed discharge in SF₆ has been used as a closing switch for a pulsed power generator. The characteristics of a high-current pulsed discharge are not clear, since it is difficult to measure the time-dependent arc voltage accurately. In the present paper, the voltage-current characteristics and the time-dependent arc resistance of the high-current pulsed discharge in SF₆ are obtained accurately from the arc current and the breakdown voltage by solving the circuit equation. The electrode separation and the pressure are changed from 0.1 to 1 cm and from 200 to 760 torr, respectively. The current rise time is about 380 ns. The minimum arc resistance occurs at the maximum arc current, and is from 0.04 to 0.1 Ω under the experimental conditions. The voltage-current characteristics in SF₆, which are characterized by five phases, are similar to the characteristics in air but not in Ar.     

Consideration of radiated electromagnetic waves from partial discharge based on half‐wave dipole antenna model

Partial discharge (PD) may take place due to residual defects like metallic particles in SF₆ gas‐insulated power apparatus such as GIS. However, the signal of PD occurring in SF₆ gas is very weak and susceptible to external noise in air. Moreover, because of the complicated mechanism of PD, the radiation property of electromagnetic waves from PD has not as yet been clarified. Therefore, it is hard to distinguish the PD signal in SF₆ gas from external noise. From the above points of view, we have been investigating the radiation mechanism of electromagnetic waves from PD. We measured the polarization characteristics of electromagnetic waves radiated from PD in comparison with those of half‐wave dipole antennas. The polarization characteristics of PD were explained by the theory of half‐wave dipole antenna, rather than that of an infinitesimal dipole antenna. Moreover, we compared the power spectrum for PD measured using a biconical antenna with that received from the half‐wave dipole antenna or infinitesimal dipole. It was found that the power spectrum for PD also corresponded to that for the half‐wave dipole antenna with a length of 50 cm. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 126(4): 40–47, 1999     

SF_6断路器开断特性的数值仿真方法

笔者在LTE和LCE假设的条件下,以质量、动量和能量3个守恒方程以及电流连续方程为基础构建了SF6断路器开断过程中大电流燃弧阶段的电弧数学模型。电弧的欧姆热效应在电流场计算的基础上,通过在能量方程中加入源项来反映。文中对辐射模型以及湍流模型进行了讨论。喷口烧蚀效应通过增加独立的PTFE蒸汽质量守恒方程来考虑,从而构成了考虑喷口烧蚀效应的完备的控制方程组。这一控制方程组构成了SF6断路器开断过程大电流阶段的计算机仿真的基本数学模型,从而为"气体断路器数字化设计方法及仿真平台"的建立打下了基础。     

Arc erosion characteristics of Cu-W contact at load current range in SF6 gas

Development of SF₆ gas-insulated switches that have a long service life and are highly reliable at medium voltage ratings require arc erosion of contacts in SF₆ gas to be decreased. The effects of SF₆ gas pressure and magnetic field for arc blow-out on erosion were studied experimentally in detail using sintered Cu-W contacts. The test current, SF₆ pressure and magnetic field were 100 to 400 A, 0.1 to 0.6 MPa and 0 to 50 mT, respectively. The results show that the arc erosion rate increased linearly with the SF₆ pressure. The magnetic field effectively reduced anode erosion (i.e., the application of a mere 50 mT lowered the erosion rate to 1/3 to 1/4). These phenomena may be attributed, respectively, to the increase in evaporation rate according to the shrinkage of arcing spot areas caused SF₆ pressure and a decrease of the evaporation rate correlating to high-speed movement of the arcing spot on the anode by the magnetic field. However, the cathode erosion was insensitive to the magnetic field. The influence of both W grain size and composition ratio, Cu:W, on the erosion rate was also studied. The smaller W grain at Cu content of 50 to 70 wt.% was found to be best for suppression of erosion under the present conditions. Further, the increase of N₂ mixture ratio to SF₆ under constant total gas pressure greatly decreased contact erosion. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 118 (1): 41–51, 1997     

Asymptotic methods for calculating electric arc model parameters

A new method for calculating the parameters of electric arc models for power circuit breaker is developed. The methodology consists in the optimization of the theoretical arc voltage curve, as a function of a set of parameters, with respect to experimental data. Since the solution of the equation for the electric arc model cannot be obtained in general form, then, the theoretical arc voltage is an asymptotic solution obtained for one or several time-ranges. A case of the irregular behavior of the electric arc is analyzed. The developed methods are applied to obtain an improved arc model for a SF₆ power circuit breaker previously published in the literature. The new model has a compact form and exhibits a good correlation between the measured and calculated voltage curves.     

基于红外的GIS内部导体温度检测技术研究

为预防气体绝缘金属封闭开关设备(GIS)触头过热缺陷,解决传统测温技术无法实现GIS设备内部触头温度准确检测的难题,提高GIS设备内部触头温度的测量精度,提出一种基于红外热成像GIS内部导体温度检测技术。通过不同光程和气压条件下SF_6吸收率试验,对影响红外测温精度的光程和SF_6气体压力进行分析,得到光程、气体压力与温度修正值的关系,并计算得到温度补偿算法;将该温度补偿算法应用在红外测温装置中,能够根据被测物的光程和SF_6气体压力准确测得GIS内部导体实际温度。最终的试验结果显示,该红外测温仪在加入补偿算法后能够较准确地测量出GIS设备气室内触头的实际温度。     

基于混合气体热特性的GIL氮气使用配比研究

SF₆/N₂混合气体具有绝缘性能良好、环境效益好等优点,被认为是能替代SF₆的最具发展前景的气体之一,但SF₆/N₂混合气体在不同场景下的混合比问题尚缺乏研究。文中在保证气体绝缘输电线路(GIL)绝缘水平的前提下,建立多物理场耦合计算模型,从混合气体热特性的角度出发,分析不同绝缘气体压强、负载电流和环境温度下SF₆/N₂混合比与GIL温升之间的关系,为GIL在不同场景下选择合适的SF₆/N₂混合比提供依据。结果表明：绝缘气体压强和相同压强下SF₆含量均与GIL温升呈负相关关系;设备的负载电流长期超过3 kA时,建议SF₆含量为40%～60%;设备运行在中低纬度地区时,建议SF₆含量为40%～70%,运行在高纬度地区时,建议SF₆含量为30%～40%。此外,由于设计GIL设备时考虑了安全裕度,因此通常SF<...     

复合聚四氟乙烯耐电弧烧蚀及其介电性能的试验研究

为了提高高压断路器喷口材料的耐电弧烧蚀性能,采用在聚四氟乙烯(PTFE)中添加三氧化二铝或二氧化钛,降低电弧能量对PTFE的烧蚀,同时试验研究复合聚四氟乙烯介电性能的变化规律。研究结果表明:在PTFE中添加无机填料可以明显改善耐电弧烧蚀性能,填料的添加量和粒径是影响复合PTFE电弧烧蚀量的重要因素;复合聚四氟乙烯的相对介电常数和介质损耗角正切随着填料添加量的增加而增大;随着温度的升高,聚四氟乙烯的相对介电常数减小,介质损耗角正切增大。试验结果对于实际应用具有重要的理论指导意义。     

A highly accurate algorithm for SF6 leakage detection

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) is widely used in high‐voltage applications such as gas‐insulated switchgear (GIS) because of its excellent arc‐quenching properties. The main drawback of SF₆ is that it is a strong greenhouse gas. Detecting small SF₆ leakages in GIS is very important to protect the environment and to prevent the failure of aged GIS. To detect SF₆ leakage, the gas pressure is measured and compensated by gas temperature. Usually, the temperature of the container surface is measured instead of the actual gas temperature. However, the temperature of the container surface is affected by ohmic heating of the internal components and by ambient temperature changes. These factors lead to a difference in temperature between the container surface and the gas inside the container, causing significant fluctuations in the compensated gas pressure. To remove such fluctuations, we have developed a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) transient model that simulates the correlation between the mean gas temperature inside the container and the container's surface temperature. The CFD simulation factors in the load current and ambient temperature to estimate the true temperature of the gas inside the container as accurately as possible. The mean gas temperature inside the container is obtained using CFD simulation and by measuring the surface temperature. The fluctuations in the compensated gas pressure were reduced from 2.4 to 0.48% by using the proposed algorithm based on pressure compensation with the mean gas temperature. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Problems of the application of N2/SF6 mixtures to gas‐insulated bus

In designing a gas‐insulated bus (GIB) using N₂/SF₆ mixtures, there are many application problems, such as the mixture pressure needed in order to maintain the required dielectric and heat transfer performance. Problems of recycling SF₆ are also essential in applying N₂/SF₆ mixtures. This paper presents the minimum breakdown field strength at lightning impulse and the temperature rise of the conductor and enclosure as measured for N₂/SF₆ mixtures. Considering the dielectric and heat transfer properties, we clarify the problems of application of mixtures to a GIB and discuss the appropriate mixture ratio of SF₆ in designing a GIB comparable to the present dimensions. In addition, the lowest limit of SF₆ content in a liquefied recovering method is theoretically estimated for reference in practical SF₆ recovery from mixtures. It is important for design to consider both breakdown phenomena, including the area effect of electrode, and the heat transfer properties of mixtures. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 137(4): 25–31, 2001     

SF6断路器喷口用复合PTFE电气性能的研究

高压SF6断路器喷口用聚四氟乙烯(PTFE)的粒径、填料的种类、粒径和添加量,对复合PTFE介电性能和耐电弧烧蚀性能都有着明显影响。应用正交设计软件设计了多种因素、每种因素不同水平组合的试验方案,研究了添加Al2O3, BN,MoS2的复合PTFE的电气性能受多种因素影响的变化规律。结果表明,添加无机填料能有效提高喷口材料耐电弧烧蚀性能,当填料种类不同时,复合FTFE的电弧烧蚀量依次为:复合MoS2的PTFE烧蚀量>复合Al2O,的PTFE烧蚀量> 复合BN的PTFE烧蚀量:复合PTFE相对介电常数随填料添加量的增加而增大,随温度的升高而减小;介质损耗角正切随填料的增加及温度的升高而增大。应用正交设计软件的分析功能,对电弧烧蚀试验结果进行了分析,得出填料添加量对烧蚀量的影响最为显著,其次为填料粒径,再次为填料粒径和PTFE粒径的交互作用。     

基于SF6混合气体绝缘性能的设备补气策略研究

随着电力需求的增长和环境保护要求的提高,SF₆气体的使用逐渐受到限制。SF₆混合气体在一定程度上减少了SF₆气体用量,目前已经在电气设备中应用。文中针对SF₆混合气体在220 kV气体绝缘组合电器（GIS）中发生泄漏引起的绝缘变化展开研究,通过改变微量的气压值和混合比,探究混合气体的绝缘性能变化,分析气压、混合比因素对工频击穿电压的影响规律,获取各气压下各比例混合气体的绝缘强度曲线图,从而得到保证设备安全稳定运行的补气策略。研究发现,混合气体击穿电压的变化规律呈现出随着压强和混合比的提高,非线性程度增大的特点,并且得到了设备安全运行的混合比和气压的边界值。文中的研究可以为SF₆/N₂混合气体绝缘设备提供运维规程和技术标准,同时为制定混合气体的检测技术标准奠定基础。     

Numerical simulation of arc extinction processes in a high-voltage current breaker

A new technique for calculating processes in the arc extinguishing device of an SF₆ gas high-voltage circuit breaker is presented. Results of calculations and experiments are compared.     

Reactive ion etching of sol-gel deposited lead zirconate titanate (pzt) thin films in sf6 plasmas

Abstract

Sol-gel deposited lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric thin films were reactive ion etched in SF₆ plasmas. Etch rates increased approximately linearly with cathode power, reaching 65 nm/min at 300 W, Etch rate was independent of SF₆ flow rate but increased as pressure was reduced, indicating an etch process that is dependent on ion-induced mechanisms. Photoresist masks could be removed subsequent to etching, but mask erosion led to gradually sloped sidewalls. Use of Pt masks provided for anisotropic etching with vertical sidewalls and smooth etched surfaces.     

Re‐ignition surge and high‐frequency arc extinction phenomena at 550‐kV shunt reactor current interruption

At substations connected with transmission lines and cables, shunt reactors are sometimes installed to compensate the capacitive current of these lines and cables. It is known that re‐ignitions occur and high‐frequency currents flow during interruption of the shunt reactor currents by switches. When the high‐frequency currents are interrupted immediately after the re‐ignitions (which is called high‐frequency arc extinction), the result is often repetitive re‐ignitions or voltage escalations that produce dangerous overvoltages. The authors investigated the occurrence of high‐frequency arc extinctions in a 550‐kV one‐break SF₆ gas circuit breaker during interruption of a 550‐kV shunt reactor current. Computations for a real 550‐kV substation gave a minimum frequency of 290 kHz for the high‐frequency current. However, 550‐kV reactor current interruption tests showed that high‐frequency arc extinctions did not occur even when this frequency was lowered to 26 kHz. Since high‐frequency arc extinction is generally likely to occur at lower frequencies, it was concluded that high‐frequency arc extinction will not occur in a 550‐kV one‐break SF₆ gas circuit breaker during interruption of shunt reactor current in real substations. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 136(2): 18–25, 2001     

Creeping flashover characteristics in (N2/SF6) gas mixture under pulse voltage

The effect of a barrier between a needle electrode and a plane one in an (N₂/SF₆) gas mixture on creeping flashover was investigated using a microsecond pulse voltage. The SF₆ gas content was varied from 0% to 100%, and the gas pressure from 0.1 MPa to 0.3 MPa. The flashover voltage increased with increasing SF₆ gas content for a positive needle electrode. For a negative needle electrode, excepting the total pressure of 0.1 MPa, at which similar flashover characteristics were obtained to the positive case, a considerable decrease in flashover voltage was found in the case of a mixture of a few percent SF₆ in (N₂/SF₆) gas mixture at elevated total pressures. The corona behavior on the barrier in (N₂/SF₆) gas mixture was investigated by means of a high‐speed digital framing camera. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 131(1): 1–9, 2000     

Insulation characteristics of CO2 gas for nonstandard lightning impulse oscillations: Evaluation method of nonstandard lightning impulse waveform for CO2 gas insulation

SF₆ gas is widely used in electric power apparatus such as gas‐insulated switchgears (GIS), because of its superior dielectric properties; however, it has been identified as a greenhouse gas at COP3 in 1997, and alternative insulation gases to SF₆ have recently been investigated. One of the candidates is CO₂ gas, which has lower global warming potential (GWP). However, CO₂ gas has a lower withstand voltage level than SF₆ gas; therefore, it is necessary to rationalize the equipment insulation level and reexamine the insulating test voltage for electric power apparatus as low as possible. From our previous investigation, in SF₆ gas insulation system, we obtained that the insulation requirements of the real surges (called nonstandard lightning impulse waveform) are not as severe as those of the standard lightning impulse waveform. This paper describes the evaluation method for real surges, based on insulation characteristics of CO₂ gas gaps. Furthermore, the method was applied to typical field overvoltage waveform in the lightning surge time region for 500‐kV systems and it is obtained that the equivalent peak value of the standard lightning impulse waveform is possibly reduced by 10 to 15%. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 163(3): 1– 9, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20560     

Insulation properties of a CO2/N2 50% SF6 gas mixture in a nonuniform field

This paper describes partial discharge (PD) inception and breakdown voltage characteristics of a CO₂/N₂/SF₆ gas mixture in a nonuniform field. These voltage characteristics were investigated with ac high voltage by changing the mixture rate of each gas of CO₂, N₂, and SF₆ gas and the gas pressure from 0.1 MPa to 0.6 MPa. It was found that adding a small amount of CO₂ gas into a N₂/SF₆ mixture causes a drastic increase in the breakdown voltage. For instance, when the mixture rate of SF₆ in N₂/SF₆ gas mixture is 50%, with the addition of 1% CO₂ the maximum breakdown voltage becomes 1.31 and 1.15 times higher than that of a 50% N₂/50% SF₆ gas mixture and pure SF₆ gas, respectively. Moreover, those voltage characteristics of a CO₂/N₂/SF₆ gas mixture were also investigated by changing the electric field utilization factor as well as by applying positive and negative standard lightning impulse voltages in order to discuss the corona stabilization effect, which seems to be one reason for the drastic increase in the breakdown voltage. These results and breakdown mechanism of the CO₂/N₂/SF₆ gas mixture are discussed on the basis of the corona stabilization effect and the dissociation energies of the component gases by observing PD light images, PD light intensities through a blue and red filter, and PD current waveforms. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 140(3): 34–43, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10019