Dr. Xiaoxing Zhang
Professor, School of electrical engineering, Wuhan University, China.

Speech Title: Evaluation and application of environmental friendly gas insulating medium as substitute for SF₆

Abstract: Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) has been widely used in the electrical industry as the insulating medium for its excellent insulation and arc extinguishing performance. However, it has been listed as the most greenhouse gas with the global warming potential (GWP) value about 23500 and the atmospheric life span about 3200 years. Moreover, it is reported that approximately 80% of SF6 sales go to electrical industry and more than 10000 tons were implemented in all kinds of gas insulated equipment (GIE). Seeking for the environmental friendly gas insulating medium to replace SF6 has become a hot topic. Recently, C4F7N (fluorinated nitrile), C5F10O (C5 perfluorinated ketone) and C6F12O (C6 perfluorinated ketone) have been introduced as potential alternative gases. All of these gases have great insulation performance and low GWP. Over the past two years, we also carried out several studies on the insulation properties, decomposition characteristics, and material compatibility performance of C₄F₇N, C₅F_10O and C₆F_12O gas mixture theoretically and experimentally. We also developed a ring switch cabinet using C₆F_12O gas mixture. As a whole, relevant studies provide significant guidance for engineering application of environmental friendly gas insulating medium.

Acknowledgements: This work was supported in part by the Science and Technology Project of China Southern Power Grid