70kV Sulfur Hexafluoride insulation Process
EC Number: 219 854 2Gmelin Reference: 2752RTECS number: WS4900000UN number: 1080OverviewSulfur hexafluoride (SF6) or sulphur hexafluoride (British spelling), is an extremely potent and persistent greenhouse gas that is primarily utilized as an electrical insulator and arc suppressant. It is inorganic, colorless, odorless, non flammable, and non toxic. SF 6 has an octahedral geometry, consisting of six fluorine atoms attached to a central sulfur atom. It is a hypervalent molecule. Typical for a nonpolar gas, SF 6 is poorly soluble in water but quite soluble in nonpolar organic solvents. It has a density of 6.12 g/L at sea level conditions, considerably higher than the density of air (1.225 g/L). It is generally transported as a liquefied compressed gas. The concentration of SF 6 in Earth's troposphere reached 10 parts per trillion (ppt) in year 2019, rising at 0.35 ppt/year. The increase over the prior 40 years was driven in large part by the expanding electric power sector, including fugitive emissions from banks of SF 6 gas contained in its medium and high voltage switchgear. Uses in magnesium, aluminum, and electronics manufacturing also hastened atmospheric growth.
