EPRI’s SF6 Management Program

Introduction Sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6) gas is widely used in circuit breakers and gas-insulated substations, but its use presents safety and environmental challenges when maintenance is needed. Utilities using SF 6 gas have a variety of needs, including best practices for handling SF 6 , new tools for detecting and mitigating leaks, and information on assessing gas purity. In recent years, EPRI has conducted research and developed tools to meet these needs. The tools will assist utilities in adopting handling procedures that are safe, economical, and environmentally sound; detecting leaks cost-effectively and reducing the cost of replacement gas; and evaluating gas quality. Background SF 6 gas has a number of qualities that make it useful as a dielectric medium for electric utility applications. It has a high dielectric strength, is not corrosive to metals at ambient temperatures, and is chemically and thermally stable, nontoxic, and nonflammable.