With its outstanding properties, pure SF6 gas is considered an indispensable component in industrial and medical fields, especially the application of SF6 gas in SF6 gas circuit breakers and ophthalmology. Let’s explore what SF6 gas is and what SF6 gas is used for with Migco.
Applications of SF6 gas are used in industrial and medical fields. Most notably in the electrical energy industry. In this industry, Sulfur Hexafluoride gas is used as a dielectric in high-voltage circuit breakers and as an insulating material in SF6 circuit breakers for many years.
What is SF6 gas?
How to pronounce SF6? SF6 has other names such as: Sulfur Hexafluoride.
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is an inorganic, colorless, odorless, and non-flammable gas. It is an extremely potent greenhouse gas and an excellent electrical insulator.
Sulfur hexafluoride has an octahedral geometry, consisting of six fluorine atoms attached to a central sulfur atom. It is a nonpolar molecule. Typical of a nonpolar gas, it is insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar organic solvents.
It is usually transported as a liquefied compressed gas. It has a density of 6.12 g/L at sea level conditions, considerably higher than the density of air (1.225 g/L).
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_hexafluoride
What are the outstanding properties of SF6 gas?
The reason why SF6 gas – Sulfur hexafluoride is widely used is due to its unique physical and chemical properties, including:
- Dielectric strength 2 times higher than that of air
- Non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-corrosive
- Chemically stable and difficult to break down.
- SF6 molecules provide effective arc quenching, reducing wear and tear on equipment contacts and the frequency of maintenance
- Good heat transfer capability, helping to dissipate heat and reduce the temperature of equipment during operation.
- Widely available.
Is SF6 gas harmful to health?
Pure SF6 gas is completely harmless and does not pose a danger to humans and animals. It is even used in medical diagnostic devices.
What is SF6 gas used for?
SF6 gas cylinders are used in many fields. So, what is SF6 gas used for?
- Used in electrical equipment, with 42% used by electrical equipment manufacturing companies and the remaining 18% used directly by power companies.
- Other applications account for about 11% to 34% and are divided as follows: Truck tires 2%, tennis balls, sports shoe soles 3%, soundproof windows 4%, synthetic support applications 23%, other applications 5%.
Below are some important applications of SF6 gas:
Applications of SF6 gas in the electrical industry
What is the function of SF6 gas in switching equipment?
- In high-voltage and ultra-high-voltage switching equipment (e.g., high-voltage circuit breakers), SF6 is mainly used to extinguish electric arcs.
- Many integrated solutions such as GIS systems. Not only is SF6 used to extinguish electric arcs, but it is also used for excellent electrical and thermal insulation.
- About 80% of production is used for the common application of SF6 gas as insulation in substations (GIS) and as an insulating medium in circuit breakers and switchgear.
In insulating circuit breakers, SF6 gas circuit breakers
The structure of high-voltage and medium-voltage circuit breakers usually has 2 parts:
- Switching section
- Arc-extinguishing section.
What is switching equipment?
- Switching equipment is a device that functions to close and open electrical circuits when short circuits or overloads occur to protect the motors of electrical equipment from damage.
- Switching equipment includes: Conductors, contacts, springs, and electric motors.
What is an electric arc?
An electric arc is a self-sustaining electrical discharge that occurs in a gas at atmospheric or low pressure between two electrodes with a very high potential difference.
In fact, it is a form of plasma created by the continuous exchange of electric charge. It is usually accompanied by intense light and heat emission.
How does SF6 gas work in a circuit breaker?
- Sulfur hexafluoride gas used in SF6 circuit breakers acts as an arc-extinguishing medium.
- Sulfur hexafluoride gas is compressed and stored in a high-pressure tank. When interrupting the circuit, high-pressure Sulfur hexafluoride gas is dispersed through the arcs in the circuit breaker.
- After the arc is extinguished, SF6 is recovered and stored in a low-pressure device. Then, it is compressed back into the high-pressure tank for reuse.
When should SF6 gas be maintained and refilled for a circuit breaker?
- The insulating ability of SF6 gas depends on its pressure. Therefore, when accepting SF6 circuit breakers, it is necessary to check the pressure gauge.
- If the pressure is lower than the specified level, the arc-extinguishing and insulating capacity is not guaranteed, and maintenance, leak checks, and Sulfur hexafluoride gas refilling must be performed.
What is the function of SF6 gas in high-voltage circuit breakers?
SF6-insulated circuit breakers combine the outstanding properties of Sulfur hexafluoride gas and the airtight metal enclosure, providing many benefits:
- Circuit breaker operation consumes less energy,
- Reduced risk of fire,
- Non-toxic (See IEC 61634, Annex C)
- Ability to operate at altitudes higher than 1000m above sea level
- High level of protection against ambient environmental conditions provides 2 important benefits:
- External substances cannot accumulate inside and reduce solid insulation. This prevents serious damage.
- Electrical switches are protected from chemical corrosion. This reduces operating capacity or leads to serious equipment damage.
Insulating gas in power interruption units
- Used in high-voltage circuit breakers, high-voltage power transmission, switching equipment, and substations.
- Used in Radar equipment
- Particle accelerators and generators
Using SF6 gas cylinders for circuit breakers provides many important advantages:
- Reduces equipment size
- Reduces weight
- Increases operating reliability
- Easy installation
- Easy operation
- Easy and reduced maintenance frequency.
In addition to its applications in the electrical industry, SF6 also has some other applications.
Application of SF6 gas in medicine
- Sulfur hexafluoride gas is injected into the eye to fix the retina, improving vision for people with retinal detachment. The gas is also injected into the eye during complex eye surgeries.
Applications of SF6 in electronics
- For the production of semiconductor devices
- In electron microscopes.
- Chip manufacturing in the electronics industry
- In X-ray scanners
- Used in the electronics industry as an anti-corrosion gas.
Applications of SF6 gas in industrial production
- Sulfur hexafluoride is used in some types of double-glazed windows, a mixture of SF6 and argon gas is used to fill the space between the glass panes.
- Sulfur hexafluoride gas is mixed into the gas used to inflate car tires. SF6 molecules diffuse into the tire materials, helping to prevent/reduce the diffusion of air out of the tires.
- A mixture of Sulfur hexafluoride and other gases (CO2 and air) is used to protect molten magnesium from catching fire when casting machine parts because molten magnesium is highly flammable and will ignite upon contact with air.
- Used for marking in mining
- Injected into air bubbles in athletic shoes and tennis balls
- In military aircraft radar systems and many other military applications.
- Leak testing.
- Acts as a tracer gas in experiments.
- Used as a propellant in insulating windows, shock absorbers, and lasers.
- SF6 is used by the semiconductor industry for plasma etching before chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
In addition to the above applications, SF6 gas is also known as “voice-changing SF6 gas.” Sulfur hexafluoride gas will make your voice deeper and hoarser when inhaled.
However, do not inhale directly from the gas cylinder valve. Because the pressure inside the cylinder is very high, it can rupture body tissues.
Why is SF6 gas widely used in circuit breakers?
SF6 gas is widely used in circuit breakers, SF6 gas circuit breakers. Because SF6 has the following outstanding advantages:
- High electrode stability.
- Excellent dielectric strength, capable of effectively quenching arcs under high voltage.
- Non-flammable, non-corrosive gas.
- High reusability.
- Pure SF6 gas is non-toxic and does not pose a health hazard to users.
Disadvantages of Sulfur hexafluoride gas
- In addition to the applications and advantages mentioned above, SF6 is also a very potent greenhouse gas. It has a global warming potential (GWP) 23,900 times greater than CO2 with an atmospheric lifetime of 3,200 years.
- SF6 is also a double-edged sword. Indispensable for safe electricity transmission. But due to the greenhouse effect, it simultaneously poses a long-term problem if used carelessly.
Therefore, industries not only need to reduce emissions but also limit and save money in the production stage.
Above are the applications that SF6 gas brings. Sulfur hexafluoride gas plays an important role in the electrical and manufacturing fields.
>> See more other applications of SF6: SF6 gas changes voice – A little-known way to change your voice
So, where to buy SF6 gas?
If you need to buy SF6 gas or want more detailed information about this product, as well as the important applications of Sulfur hexafluoride that may be useful for your intended use, please contact us immediately.
MIG CO., LTD
093.77.55.800
MIGCO sells SF6 gas, always ensuring product quality that meets standards and can be used in all important applications of Sulfur hexafluoride, as well as customer satisfaction with our service.
