--

Concept for the Reuse of SFs

- A contribution to economic performance by environmental protection

This information was issued by:

DILO Armaturen u. Anlagen GmbH SOLVAY Fluor und Derivate GmbH

FrundsbergstraBe 36 Hans-Beckler-Allee 20

87727 Babenhausen 30173 Hannover

Tel.: 08333/302-0 Tel.: 0511/857-2409

Fax : 08333/302-52 Fax: 0511/857-2166

Today the principal application for SF6 is in electrical equipment where it has been used
for more than 25 years as a gaseous insulator in high voltage switch gear. Used SF6 from
a switch gear which has experienced electrical arcing should be reincorporated into the
economical cycle rather than be vented into the atmosphere. Speaking ecologically, this
approach would minimize the release of SF6 into the atmosphere down to the very slight
amount of leakage of the switch gears only.

SOLVAY Fluor und Derivate GmbH in their function as a SF6 manufacturer and DILO
Armaturen und Anlagen GmbH as a manufacturer of SF6 -maintenance and measuring
devices are conscious of their responsibility and therefore have signed a contract of co-
operation to achieve the following aims:

Cooperation in the field of material reuse of used sulphur hexafluoride (SF6 ) to offer an
practicable concept to users which makes the circulation of used SF6 economically
applicable.

The practical application of the "reuse concept" is illustrated by the following diagram:
,....-- '

~ TECNICA FASE S.A.

DILO D-87727 Babenhausen Issue

I AV.FCO.DEMIRANDA, EDF.CENTRO
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TELF.239.4030/5629· 234.5539/6530
FAX:234,6530· TELEX:23098TF~E
LA PAZ

C-1054-01
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Normal Case

Control of gas condition

- Dew Point
- Decomposition Products
- SF6 Concentration

DILO SF6 Service Device

- Suctioning
- Purifying
residue
- Evacuating Temporary Storage
- Filling

Special Case

Special Handling
- Separation
- Special Filter
residue - Others

Exceptional Case

Waste Disposal
- Waste Disposal Company

DILO D-87727 Babenhausen Issue 09.93 C-1054-01

Prior to removal of SFe from the electrical installation the status of the gas should be
clarified. With this knowledge the appropriate course of action can be determined.

1. Normalcase
All occurring contaminants are operational and can be eliminated on site. The
following table lists the type of contamination and the methods of removal.

~~~!!!-IF!~E!!!
reclaiming method adsorption with
activated alumina
adsorption with
molecular sieve
retaining with
solid filters

By the corresponding handling with DILO service devices (filtration) the gas will be
purified and finally verified. If the salvaged material meets the requirements for an
unreserved reuse* in the electrical installation, the direct re-filling with a filling and
evacuating device is the consequence. This handling covers the normal operation of
electrical switch gears (more than 95 % of all cases).

* In the international standard IEC 480 for used sulphur hexafluoride it is mentioned
that the maximum contamination should be determined by consensus of the
manufacturer and users of the electrical equipment (see point E).

2. SpecialCase
If the testing of the gas shows a non acceptable level of decay, a decision regarding
the reclaiming method has to be made depending on the level and type of
contamination. Usually reclaiming of SF 6 on site will be the most favourable solution.

DILO D-87727 Babenhausen Issue 09.93 C-1054-01

 The following table lists the type of contamination and the methods of removal.

----reclaiming method SFs-gas activated charcoal

separation device filter
single decision

11
Event oriented contamination 11 can be the result of an extraordinary fault or wrong
handling of the gas. In such cases it is recommended to contact Solvay or DILO to
discuss applicable treatment and procedures.
11
This event oriented contamination 11 can in most cases be eliminated by selective
treatment; allowing a reuse of the gas.

3. Except;onal
case( accident
)
However, if a reuse is not possible there is only the possibility of disposal. There is no
single, universal regulation regarding the disposal of SF6 decomposition products.
We suggest users to contact their regional disposal company. In case you need
further information please do not hesitate to contact DILO and SOLVAY.

DILO 0-87727 Babenhausen Issue 09.93 C-1054-01

The aim of this document is to present the practicability of this recycling concept.
Preceding such a plan are the following considerations:

A. No release of used SF5 into the atmosphere

B. Determlng the state of gas and the method of reclaiming

C. Transfilling and storage of the used SF5

D. Regeneration of SF5 to a reusable state

E. Certification of reusabillty of reclaimed SF5 gas

F. Refilling of electrical equipment with reclaimed SF5

The technology is available today and existing at most of the utilities. It is a viable concept
if companies establish and follow on internal rules and regulations. The years of
experience of SOLVAY and DILO allow us to put forward suggestions on how to introduce
this concept in a company and to offer practical guidelines.

A. Norelease
of usedSF5Intotheatmosphere
For economic and ecological reasons it only makes sense to reclaim SFs gas
contained in electrical installations. This requires a corresponding guideline or
instruction of the user, including the support of their management.

Essential to this 'no release' concept is that all SFs insulated switch gear are
equipped with a safe gas connection. It should be a fail safe design to prevent
unintended errors and discharges into the atmosphere during gas handling. Users
can (and already do) stipulate such a special connection to be used only for SFs. An-
other advantage is that the customer can use this connection for all operational
needs. In many cases the connections are stipulated in the purchase specification.

DILG-couplings of either 20 mm or 8 mm nominal diameters are already used

successfully world-wide for this purpose.

DILO 0-87727 Babenhausen Issue 09.93 C-1054-01

B. Determining
thestateof gasandthemethodof reclaiming
Preventative
gaschecks
Periodic examinations of the gas in SF5 switch gear is suggested. This approach
provides first indications on the internal state of the compartments without requiring
labour-intensive disassembly of the installed components. By this method, gas
contamination can be recognized in time before causing failure or a fatal breakdown.

QualityCriteria:
The suctioned SF5-gas has to be checked as following in order to determine the
corresponding method of regeneration:

- Dew point (moisture content)

Dew point analyzers which determine the dew point of the gas (usually measured in
°C) are used to measure moisture content.

- Concentration of Decomposition Products.

Portable S02 detectors are used to estimate the concentration of decomposition

products. This is based on the assumption that S02 always exists as a stable final
product as soon as decomposition occurs.

- Quantifying oil content.

As the oil content cannot be measured by a simple process on site, it should be

carried out if there is justifiable evidence of oil contamination.

- Determining the overall level of SF5 purity (% SF5 measurements)

SF5 volume percentage measuring devices are used in order to determine the purity
of Sf 5 in relation to other gases (e.g. air) that might be present.

These measuring devices should be designed for measurementsin the range of

determination,they should require a minimumof time to take the required readings,
require a negligible amount of SF5 gas and they should be both portable and easy
to operate.

DILO D-87727 Babenhausen Issue 09.93 C-1054-01

c. Transfimng
andstorage
oftheusedSf 2
Devices have to be provided to enable maintenance workers in case of a revision
to evacuate SFs gas from gas insulated installations, and to store it in a suitable
storage vessel.

Such units will have to be:

- made of materials which resist the potentially corrosive effects of SFs

decomposition products.

- assuring gas tightness, completely eliminating all possible air contamination of

the
SF 6 gas.

- of absolutely oil free design, no oil contamination of the SFs gas.

- capable of handling liquid or gaseous storage of the gas.

- capable of withdrawing a very high percentage of the SFs from the electrical
equipment (e.g., evacuation down to 50 mbar).

- equipped with filter units as mentioned under point D must be installed

- transportable and easy to handle

D. Rectalmiog
Sf§ to a reusable
state
Operational contamination should already be absorbed with the user's filter unit. Such
filters are already an integral part of the company's SFs maintenance devices, or are
available as separate filter units.

They should meet the following requirements:

DILO D-87727 Babenhausen Issue 09.93 C-1054-01

 The filters must remove reliably the contaminants mentioned

The filters should be of cartridge type for safe and easy disposal.

Input and output should be equipped with the same self sealing couplings
discussed earlier to avoid saturation of the filter due to ambient air.

Changing filters should not require disassembly of any fittings, tubing, or any
other connection to eliminate this additional possibility of leakage.

e. oeterm1nat100
ofreusabll!ty
ofreclaimed
Sf.§....Qll
For both safety and warranty reasons, the purified SFe gas should be examined.
Ideally the quality of reclaimed SFe would approach the quality of new gas. This
determination can only be made with much more costly analytical, laboratory
methods. The measuring devices discussed previously, however, can be used within
the following range.

Volume percentage of SFe 0 - 100 %

Dew point - 50 °C to + O °C

0.6 - 18 ppm mass

Particle Size < 1 micron diameter

The maximum contamination should be specified by consensus of the manufacturers

and users of the electrical equipment. Upon special request SOLVAY will carry out an
analysis of the reclaimed SFe gas.

DILO D-87727 Babenhausen Issue 09.93 C-1054-01

F. Refillingof e!ectrjcal withreclaimedSf 2
equipment
Devices should be available to maintenance workers to refill reclaimed SFe out of
storage vessels into electrical equipment. Features of this type of equipment should
include:

- Gas tightness

- Oil free operation

- Safe filling to pre-set pressures

- Easy handling

- Transportable

DILO D-87727 Babenhausen Issue 09.93 C-1054-01