Voltage-time characteristics for steep-front impulse voltages ofparticle-contaminated spacers in SF6 gas-insulated switchgear

The voltage-time characteristics of spacer surfaces for steep-front impulse waves are investigated under a particle-contaminated condition in SF₆ gas. The characteristics are measured as a function of particle length, particle position, and space shapes. Flashover voltages monotonically increase in the submicrosecond region as time to flashover is shorter, and are a minimum in the 1 μs region. Applicability of the equal voltage-time area criterion for estimating the voltage-time characteristics is discussed and the estimation is clarified. Moreover, it is demonstrated that an optimized spacer with ribs greatly improves flashover voltages in the submicrosecond region as well as in the 1 μs and power frequency region     

Seismic behavior of `candle' type SF6 outdoor circuitbreakers and associated SF6 insulated current transformers

The authors analyze the seismic behavior of live tank circuit breakers of the candle-type architecture, i.e. breakers that support only one chamber per column and have a closing resistor built in the interrupting chamber. This arrangement has a lower interrupting module weight and the resistor is in the axis of the column. In the case of T or V configurations with two chambers per column and with a closing resistor chamber in parallel to the main chamber, it results in some large masses off-centered on each side of the column. It is shown that the candle architecture makes possible a simple simulation and economical solution to the problem of seismic resistance, SF₆ current transformers associated with these breakers are also modeled by a simple computational model     

Comparison of SF6/N2 and SF6/CO2 gas mixtures as alternatives to SF6 gas

The interest in SF₆ gas mixtures has been re-ignited in recent years by the issue of the greenhouse effect of the SF₆ gas, and most research work is now focused on a SF₆/N₂ gas mixture, which is suitable for application in electrical apparatus with slightly non-uniform fields. This paper presents a comparison of SF₆/N₂ and SF₆/CO₂ gas mixtures with a viewpoint of their possible applications to gas-insulated transformers, where both highly non-uniform field problems and partial discharges in gas/film insulation are inevitable. It is shown that in this case the dielectric strength of SF₆/CO₂ is superior to that of SF₆/N ₂ with a minor disadvantage related to the gas decomposition in SF₆/CO₂. However, this may not be a problem for the SF₆/CO₂ gas mixture to be used in gas-insulated transformers, where internal breakdown is not allowed     

Recovery of SF6 from N2/SF6 gasmixtures by using a polymer membrane

The investigation of gas recovery from N₂/SF₆ gas mixtures using a polymer membrane has been reported. It has been shown that the purity of recovered gas, the recovery loss, and the gas handling speed depend on various parameters such as original gas mixing ratio, gas feeding pressure, gas flow rate, and temperature of the membrane. A gas recovering system with two membrane separators connected in cascade has proved to be very efficient in attaining high purity in a recovered gas, with negligibly small recovery loss and high handling speed for practical use. Furthermore, this system could be applied for CO₂/SF₆, He/SF ₆ and even for ternary mixtures such as N₂/CO₂/SF₆ without any modification in the system, where we expect much better performance in comparison with N ₂/SF₆     

Breakdown mechanism of a gap with a small arc current in SF6 gas

Using an experimental apparatus modeled for a gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), the influence of the arc duration on the breakdown voltage between the contact and the grounded tank of the GIS was investigated in the case that the arc was kept ignited in the contact area. From the result, characteristics of the breakdown voltage vs. the arc duration were found to be divided into six stages and the characteristics in each stage were estimated     

Space charge behavior in SF6 gas and sequentialgeneration of PD pulses

We observed time-resolved partial discharge (PD) characteristics under ac and dc conditions in order to demonstrate the effects of space charge behavior and the corona stabilization effect in SF₆ gas. From the experimental results, we found that the charge magnitude of the first PD in the positive half cycle of applied ac voltage depended only on the instantaneous voltage. Under dc conditions we found that the magnitude of the PD charge related closely to the time interval between PD pulses. Space charge behavior and the PD generation mechanism are interpreted diagrammatically, and we describe how positive ions reduce the magnitude of PD charge and activate the corona stabilization effect and that the negative ions shorten the time interval between PD pulses     

SF6/N2 mixtures: basic and HV insulationproperties

The widespread use of SF₆ by the electric power and other industries has led to increased concentrations of SF₆ in the atmosphere. This causes concern as to possible effects on global warming, because SF₆ is a potent greenhouse gas. This paper first touches on this issue and then documents the behavior of high pressure gases such as N₂ and SF₆/N₂ mixtures that can be realistically considered as acceptable intermediate or long-term replacements for pure SF₆ in some HV applications. The possible use of dilute SF₆/N₂ mixtures as an alternative to pure SF₆ for some of industry's insulation needs (albeit at higher pressure) is documented, and existing knowledge on these mixtures and on the individual components (N₂ and SF₆), both basic and applied, is compiled. A guide to existing literature is provided     

六氟化硫断路器分析及检修方法

通过对SF6断路器采用SF6气体作为灭孤介质的优缺点进行了分析,论述了SF6气体优良的灭孤性能和其分解副产物的腐蚀性能及解决措施,并对SF6断路器的检修方法进行了阐述.     

Laser sensor for detection of SF6 leaks in high powerinsulated switchgear systems

A novel photoacoustic spectrometer (PA) has been developed for in-situ detection of SF₆ leaks in low concentrations. The developed system is equipped with a sound alarm system and has been tested in the laboratory for very minute SF₆ leaks. This newly developed SF₆ detection device utilizes a high quality factor resonant photoacoustic cell and continuous wave (CW) line tunable CO₂ laser at 10.55 μm wavelength. Whenever SF₆ is detected an acoustic signal is generated and no signal appears from ambient air if there is no leakage of SF₆. An electret microphone is used for the detection of these acoustic signals. The system is capable of detecting leaks of the order of 3.5 ppbv (parts per billion by volume) concentration. This device has been proved to have significant applications to industrial organizations that have electric power gas insulated systems (GIS). It could be also applied for other applications such as monitoring of environmental pollutants with minimal adjustments     

SF6新气痕量杂质对SF6电气设备寿命的影响

为了给电气设备中的SF6新气质量控制提供参考,研究了SF6新气中痕量杂质对电气设备运行寿命的影响。通过一个与电流互感器共气室的直线隔离开关装置,模拟了中心导杆上金属尖端放电内部缺陷。在220kV单电压和220kV、3 150A同步升流升压2种方式下,分别充入不同品质的SF6新气进行约100h的试验。并采用SF6气相色谱质谱分析技术、加拿大SF6杂质分析仪DPD,跟踪检测SF6气体痕量杂质各组分体积分数变化情况。结果表明,设备中充入低品质SF6新气(含有较高浓度的全氟烷烃、氟化硫酰、及碳硫氟化物等多种杂质),在放电末期产生较多的SO2F2、SOF2和SO2。而酸性的SO2对设备具有腐蚀作用,因此,当SF6新气中痕量杂质过高时,其充入电气设备后,将减少SF6电气设备运行寿命,尤其是开断设备。     

Investigation of S2F10 production andmitigation in compressed SF6-insulated power systems

The Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), established to study the production and mitigation of S₂F₁₀ (disulfur decafluoride), one of a number of toxic by-products formed in electric discharges in the insulating gas SF ₆, is described. The particular concern about S₂F ₁₀ is due to its highly toxic nature, the ceiling limit value being 10 parts per billion (ppb, or 1 part in 10⁸), and the need for development of sensitive detection techniques down to this level. In the presence of an electrical discharge such as an arc, spark, or corona, a portion of the SF₆ decomposes into lower fluorides of sulphur which can react to form a number of chemically active by-products including SOF₂ and SO₂F₂ . During the maintenance or repair of SF₆-insulated equipment, the handling of these gaseous is a matter of concern. Preliminary arc experiment results, reported health-related incidents caused by SF₆ by-products, and ongoing studies are discussed     

Dielectric strength of SF6 insulation in EHVdisconnectors

A new method for the calculation of parameters of SF₆ insulation for extra HV GIS disconnectors is given. This method is based on a new criterion for leader inception, which is connected with the value of the peripheral electric field near the boundary of the streamer zone. The presence of such a critical field is confirmed by analysis of experimental results and physical considerations     

UHF detection of leader discharges in SF6

The ultra-high frequency (UHF) technique of partial discharge detection has been used to study the partial discharges produced by electrode protrusions and surface contamination in a gas insulated substation (GIS). The paper describes the stages of discharge development from inception to breakdown. The work has shown that the UHF technique may be used to identify distinct phases of discharge activity corresponding to discharge inception and a prebreakdown condition. The prebreakdown activity is detected as an increase in the UHF signal magnitude which has been attributed to the formation of leader-type discharges. These discharges form an essential part of the breakdown process, and their detection can be used to identify when the system is close to breakdown. The paper describes a filtering technique that may be employed to optimize the sensitivity of UHF leader detection     

Dielectric breakdown of a residual SF6 plasma at 3000 Kunder diatomic equilibrium

A residual plasma at 3000 K and under diatomic equilibrium is left inside an axially blown gas blast SF₆ circuit breaker after the thermal extinction of an arc. The breakdown of such a residual plasma depends on the electron generation and loss mechanisms. Altogether six ionization and chemical reactions relevant to the time scale of breakdown have been taken into account. It has been found that the critical field strength for breakdown is proportional to the pressure and is equal to 2.0 V/(m.Pa). This field strength is in agreement with the experimental results     

Spark decomposition of SF6: chemical and biologicalstudies

Because electric arcs, sparks or corona can decompose SF₆ insulators into byproducts having chemical properties different from SF₆, environmental concerns arise regarding inadvertent human exposures to electrically decomposed SF₆. Biological assays using mammalian cell culture systems have revealed that SF₆ , spark-decomposed under specific experimental conditions, can produce cell death. Chemical analysis of spark-decomposed SF₆ has identified the major decomposition pathways and byproducts. Biological testing of individual byproduct mixtures has indicated that these major decomposition products may not account for the majority of the cell-killing effects seen in the assays. Further experiments have suggested that S₂F₁₀ may be produced and accumulate under the specific decomposition conditions and that this compound may be a major contributor to the observed cell lethality. It is concluded that testing of samples from commercial facilities and assays of decomposed gas after ameliorative treatments would both be appropriate investigations     

通过检测SO2发现SF6电气设备故障

通过几例SF6电气设备故障的分析和检出,说明检测SO2能够诊断SF6电气设备故障。SO2是SF6主要分解物SOF2的水解产物,是稳定气体,在分解物中一般含量较高,当故障涉及到固体绝缘材料时,SO2含量更高,检测SO2方法很多,用检测管简易方便,有足够的灵敏度。     

Variation of surface flashover voltage in SF6 withpressure

Surface flashover characteristics of solid spacers in a rod-plane configuration have been investigated in SF₆, at pressures to 400 kPa, for switching impulse voltages to determine the effect of spacer, spacer materials and polarity of applied impulses. The effect of spacer material on the flashover voltage is not significant. For negative polarity impulses, the influence of the spacer is also insignificant. But for positive polarity impulses, at pressures <200 kPa, the spacer efficiency becomes >1.0. On the other hand, at pressures >200 kPa, the presence of the spacer drastically reduces the flashover voltage of the system. At about atmospheric pressure also, the spacer efficiency in air has been found to be >1.0, with the same electrode geometry     

Prediction of breakdown in SF6 under impulse conditions

Prediction of fast transient voltage-induced breakdown in quasi-homogeneous field geometries requires compounding the breakdown probability over time, while taking into account the field-dependent probability of electron detachment. In this paper, a breakdown probability model has been developed to predict the impulse breakdown under quasi-uniform fields, as this is the fundamental condition, the knowledge of which facilitates computation of breakdown probability under more complex conditions. The model will facilitate computation of breakdown probability under more complex conditions. It accounts for the effect of the streamer formation length on the critical volume and the probability of initial electron production by electron detachment from negative ions. The proposed model has been verified through comparison with the measured impulse breakdown probabilities. The predicted breakdown probabilities are in good agreement (±10%) with those measured